3. W.C. Taylor Middle School was originally
a high school that opened in September
of the year 1952
The school was originally a segregated
school, designated for Black students
only
Today, however, W.C. Taylor Middle
School is open to all students, offering
grades 6 through 8
4. Taylor Middle School is home to
approximately four-hundred students
Each class consists of approximately
twenty students
Most classes are taught by one individual
teacher; however, if there are more than
twenty students in a class or if he
engages in “inclusion,” the teacher will
be assigned an aid
5. Despite the fact that Taylor Middle School is
over fifty years old, the school is very well-
kept.
Their yearly budget is approximately
$29,000, and it is put to good use, as the
classrooms are well kept, the halls are well
lit, and the cafeteria serves, as the students
call it, “edible food.”
› Furthermore, there is an immense amount of
technology available to teachers and students.
10. Mr. Meister has been teaching for over
twenty-five years
This year was his first at Taylor Middle
School. Prior to this, he had taught in a
school in Pennsylvania
Regardless of his status as “the new
teacher,” Mr. Meister is respected by
other staff members, by parents, and
most importantly by the students
17. Mr. Meister teaches four periods
of English each day. This is in
addition to his duties as the play
director, the co-coach of the
football team, and other
administrative work that he is in
charge of on a daily basis.
Mr. Meisier‟s students have a true,
unwavering respect for him.
Having witnessed multiple classes
in multiple grades, I have come to
realize that such respect from
eighth grade students is not easily
“earned.”
18. Miss. Pierson‟s “Middle School
Assignment:”
(Displayed with permission of the
students and of Mr. Meister)
- What students did and did not
like
- What they would change
- Tips on how to be a good
teacher
19. Students in Mr. Meister‟s class are very passionate about bullying.
20. Students in Mr. Meister‟s class are very passionate about bullying.
21. No two students are the same. It was interesting to see how
different students had different approaches to the assignment I
had given.
27. I separated the class into groups of three and four. The
assignment was to describe flowers, pizza, or outer space.
28. Though their spelling was not always perfect, their imaginations
were soaring. Again, it was interesting to see how different
students had different takes on the assignment.
29. This assignment was also an excellent formative assessment. It
allowed me to see how the students were performing in
regards to subject/verb agreement and the 8 parts of speech.
31. On the last day of my
practicum, Mr. Meister
presented me with an
opportunity to teach all
four periods of English. I
was very excited, as it
was an excellent
opportunity (He allowed
me to teach twice). While
it was a challenge at
times, the students
seemed to respond
well, and more
importantly, they seemed
to understand my lesson
plan.
Several students handed
this to me before class
ended.
32. The male students said
they “Couldn‟t possibly
have any part in such a
„girly‟ thank you note…”
Thus, they handed this to
me, before leaving.
These notes were reaffirming, to say the
least.
33. As previously
mentioned, I had
assigned the students
a journal entry that
was to be about
what they would
change and what
they liked about
Taylor Middle School.
They were asked to
include adjectives
and, if possible,
predicate adjectives.
They were aware
that this assignment
was going to be a
part of my portfolio.
One student, hoping
for his “thoughts” to
be included in my
portfolio, felt
compelled to write
Professor Killough a This student made a point to inform me that
note, himself. in all seriousness, he meant what he wrote.
“By the way…I used three Predicate
Adjectives.”
35. I spent a little over forty-three hours in Taylor
Middle School. It wasn‟t a lot of time, but it
was enough time for me to realize that
teaching is one of the most
demanding, thankless jobs in existence…
It is also one of the most rewarding. Having
the opportunity to observe Mr. Meister and
his (nearly 80!) students was one of the
most humbling experiences I have ever
been blessed with.
36. When I become a teacher, I will not forget
the “words of wisdom” that Mr. Meister‟s
students left me with. I will remember that
my students are not “just kids.” They are
people, and if given the opportunity, they
can learn…they want to learn.
My practicum experience at Taylor Middle
School has had an immense impact on me.
I cannot thank Mr. Meister and his students
enough.
37. Most information regarding W.C.
Taylor Middle School was
retrieved from various staff
members. Nevertheless, some
information was retrieved from
the Taylor Middle School
website.
Taylor Middle School. "Taylor Middle School - About Us."
Taylor Middle School. Fauquier County Public
Schools, 1 Mar. 2011. Web. 8 Apr. 2011.
<http://www.fcps1.org/education/components/
scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=201&>.