Alternative Accessible Version
TCSII Preview Video
This document provides text translation for a 2007 video presentation highlighting the challenges facing middle grades students. It includes information about TCSII, a Web portal to resources for middle grades educators to help young adolescent learners succeed. The video (non-AAV), posted as a WMV, should be the version selected by most users.
Preview Video (WMV; 5:09)
Middle Grade students are unique. There are 1.4 million middle grades students in California. These include the young adolescents who are eager to learn as well as the apathetic.
The "in" crowd and the isolated;
The distracted and the focused.
They are idealistic, curious, energetic.
They challenge authority.
They are self-conscious, awkward, and sensitive.
They have an intense need to be accepted.
They are predictably unpredictable.
All are at risk simply because they are adolescents.
These are our children.
They must not only cope with the myriad of changes going on within their own bodies and minds, but also must keep up with increasing academic demands facing them in the middle grades.
Over 40 percent live in poverty.
More than a third of middle grades students are classified as English language learners.
Only four out of ten test academically proficient on the California Standards Tests.
A rigorous and engaging middle grades education is essential in helping students tackle their future...our future.
They will be called upon as adults to solve the economic, social, and environmental challenges of the twenty-first century.
We cannot afford to let any of our students slip into the achievement gap.
These unique students require exceptionally skilled, patient, motivated, caring, and innovative teachers to reach and teach them.
Middle grades educators are a unique group of people, dedicated to teaching young adolescents.
They must be masters of content, understand the heads and the hearts of young adolescents, and match their instructional strategies to the needs of their students.
They teach students to dream, plan, and think big.
They nurture gifted learners and those who struggle; make time to know their students and create caring relationships; make learning exciting.
They believe in our children and in their future.
These professionals are innovative and engaging; respectful and patient; passionate and life-long learners.
These are the people who will guide our children and help them succeed in the future.
Touching the future by teaching today's adolescent is a professional challenge:
- How do teachers engage adolescent learners and close the achievement gap?
- How do middle grades practitioners address the unique challenges facing their students?
- Where do educators find accurate information about successful school and classroom practices that will continuously move middle grades students forward?
The California Department of Education developed Taking Center Stage—Act II, or TCS two, for middle level educators who are trying to answer these questions and address the challenges they face in serving young adolescent learners.
TCSII is an innovative project dedicated to promoting excellence in middle grades education.
TCSII builds on the best practices of middle grades educators and supports their efforts in making a difference and closing the achievement gap.
Twelve recommendations for middle grades excellence form the foundation of the content of Taking Center Stage—Act II.
Created by educators for educators, Taking Center Stage—Act II presents ideas and resources in one easy-to-access Web portal.
The Taking Center Stage—Act II Web portal is a continuously evolving repository of ideas, research-based approaches and best practices intended to support middle grades educators as they prepare their students today to be productive citizens and leaders in an uncertain tomorrow.
Available twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, the free Web portal contains features such as:
- recommendations, research about effective practices; and
- engaging videos showing teachers in action.
It includes tools and strategies to guide school staff discussions, sharing, planning, and action.
These are just some of the features...there are many more!
Explore the possibilities...
Together, we can continue our quest to help each student achieve.
Get in to the Act!