Developing Scientific Inquiry During Middle School

     As an outgrowth of the Sister Cities Foundation (SCF) work between Albuquerque, New Mexico and Rehovot, Israel we find common concern among educators about wasted time and challenges in education of Middle School children aged 10-13 years old. Though, multiple variables make each community unique in their struggles, similarities are reported in global education literature. This initial link through the SCF network will invite discussion between educators in Sasebo (Japan), Chihuahua (Mexico), Helmstedt (Germany), Hualien (Taiwan), Guadalajara (Mexico), Ashgabat (Turkmenistan), Lanzhou (China), Alburquerque (Spain), Rehoboth (Israel) and interested New Mexico educators. HFV invites any interested registrants to join in active discussion exchanging information, experiences and research findings.

     Collecting information about what works to enrich the educational experience in different settings could include various approaches such as staying in the same school location with the same students, having a “buddy” system with seniors and newcomers linked within a school, building, curriculum around biopsychosociocultural issues related to adolescent students, growing the tutoring and mentoring model (Perach) developed at the Weizmann Institute of Science, and other positive experiences. 

     This website discussion will be moderated by three or four educators in different centers. Aviva Breiner, Ph.D, Superintendent of Rehovot Middle and High Schools is suggested as an example of a moderator candidate. Registrants can post anytime. The educator moderator will hold a live session once per week. Replay will be available on demand. Webinars on special topics may be developed throughout the course of the discussion group. Moderators and scientific advisors will review and publish a monthly summary. Depending on the wish and needs of the participants, a consortium may evolve a research protocol.