I need help

I work in a traditional middle school in South Minneapolis. I used to teach 8th grade. I taught Algebra 1 to all the 8th graders.  I worked very hard to be sure all 8th graders were included, regardless of past performance.  It had its ups and downs but generally went okay.  I think some (maybe even many) of my students left me with a deeper appreciation of the beauty of mathematics.

My job has changed.  I am now the "Math Specialist".  My responsibilities are to teach support classes of 8 to 12 students who are struggling.  I teach two sections each of 5th graders, 6th graders, 7th graders, and 8th graders.

I'm the one who is struggling.  One-fourth of the school year has passed and I still have not figured out how to make it work.  Behavior, disenchantment, and a little bit of outright sabotage have been too much for me to overcome.

I know this model of instruction is not a good one - segregating the lowest achievers.  But that's what I'm stuck with for this school year.  Can anyone help me?

Does anyone else see a problem here?

http://www.thecottageweb.com/sleepwear.html

I teach math in a middle school.  About a month ago, about 30 kids showed up to school wearing pajamas. The kind of pajamas you see above. The administration got upset, called the kids together during recess and I think they each got a one day detention.

Last Friday (October 29), Advisory teachers asked students to wear orange to school (if they were 8th graders) and black (7th grade).  If they wore their color, they received a piece of candy during Advisory.

Am I the only one who sees a problem here?

What is school for?

What is school for?

Judging from a meeting I am attending at the moment, it is to teach kids how to pass standardized tests.

This complaint is trite - you've heard it 10^6 times. But I'm feeling it in my gut so strongly right now that I must scream and typing this post is preferable to actually screaming in this civilized atmosphere.

So what is school for? It's a place for young people to have the opportunity to develop their personality, their skills, their talents with the guidance of skilled, caring adults.

Please comment - what is school for?

Students as "Freakish Sponges"

I was watching this video about Project Based Learning created by students at the Minnesota New Country School. Towards the end (at 27:10), a student at the school describes traditional schooling like this

They spit a bunch of facts at you. You absorb it like some kind of freakish sponge and squeeze yourself out on a test and then forget it a couple of weeks later.

I thought it an apt metaphor. (Is it a metaphor?)