Figure 1.--This Year 7 student t a preparatory school is staying after schhol to pursue his interest in music. The prep schools tend to have excellent music programs to stimulate the interest of younger children.
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Figure 1.--This Year 7 student t a preparatory school is staying after schhol to pursue his interest in music. The prep schools tend to have excellent music programs to stimulate the interest of younger children. |
These children normally begin Year 7 at about 11 years of age and turn 12 sometime during the school year. Most New Zealand children at this age begin intermediate schoolm although this can vary. It is a very turbulent age. The children vary greatly in maturity. The girls in particular tend to be more mature--if a bit prone to giggle. The boys have great difficulty sitting still for any period. They can misbehave especially the boys in front of their friends. The girls are more subtle--"crafty" the boys might say. The changes they are undergoing significantly affect their academic capabilities and many in a year or two will be capable of adult reasoning. Change is the order of the day for these children. The same child which in one class might misbehave badly may pursue the next lesson with seriouness.
The type of school a child in Year 7 attends can vary. Most begin intermediate school in this year. Children living in rural areas might attend a full term primary school which keeps the year 7 and 8 classes so they do not have a long bus ride to the closest intermediate school. For the same reason, some might attend area schools in small towns or rural areas with all 13 years. Some attend colleges or other secondary schools with
programs beginning at year 7. Catholic secondary schools, for example, often include year 7 and 8 with the older children. Children attending private schools may also find in year 7 in a variery of settings.
This age is a very turbulent one for children. Children vary tremendously, of course, but at about 12 years, many children experience
significant changes. Some a little ealier, some later. There are also significant differences in gender. One educator describes the boys at this age. They are in between the scared sweetmess of primary Year 6s and the maturity rush of Year 8s as senior high school nears. The Year 7 boys can "go all goofy" as one teacher put it. Boys are nolted for often irrational outbursts at this age. And such outbursts and the notoreity that accompanies with it cancarry considerable prestige with their piers and the popularity that goes with it that is all important at this age. Such behavior can be disruptive in class and this age group can be very difficut to teach. Girls also misbegave at this age, but their behavir is usually more subtle as they are generally more mature than the boys. They may pass notes, brush their hair, whisper to each otherm not behavors that will disrupt an entire class. For boys it is different. As one observer writes, "... for a sizeable group of boys, sitting still as thir bodies scramble into adolesence is excruciating. They have an irrepressible need to act out, and these actions make noise." Thus it is ud\sually the boys' begavior that attracts the teacher's attentions.
Some of the changes children at the age experience, significantly affect their acafdemic performance. At this age the thinking begins to change from the picture building of the child to the intellectual (logical or cause and effect thinking) of the adult. However, it is only beginning, and science makes a memorable gateway to the awakening intellect for the child in pre-puberty. The first science lesson is often taught in a way that bridges the gap between the artistic and the intellectual; for example, the hildren's music studies now lead to acoustics, and colour studies and painting
lead to optics. Similarly, in geography, map drawing may be treated in an artistic as well as in a scientific manner, as is the drawing of plants in botany The children's
earlier knowledge of free-hand form drawing is now put to use in geometrical studies, combining beauty and accuracy in construction. Drawing, too, becomes more
technical, with recognition of shadows. In history the Roman era and the Middle Ages may be studied.
Have a look here at the activities at some representative New Zealand Year 7 classes. Some of the descriptions are in the children's own words.
The Senior School comprises Year 7 and 8 with four classes at each level. There is an intake of approximately 30 boys at the Year 7 level giving an average class size of 28. At each level we have one accelerate and 3 parallel classes. Within the Parallel class system the timetable has been designed to allow for cross-grouping to occur in Mathematics and Literature subjects, thus catering for varying abilities and needs of students. This can allow for class sizes to be further reduced to between 16 - 25 students. Students are involved in Specialised teaching in the fields of Science, Art and
Craft, Craft Design Technology, Physical Education,
Divinity, Languages and Performing Arts. All of these
areas are set in fully equipped and purposely designed rooms, labs, workshops, studios or gymnasium. Within our own structures we end each semester with formal examinations and
comprehensive reports to our parents on the progress of their sons.
My school is situated in an inner city suburb of Auckland called Western Springs. We are just across the road from the Auckland Zoo and the Museum of Transport and Technology.
There are nine classes and five specialist rooms. The class that I'm responsible for is Room 8. Our class is made up of year seven and year eight students ranging in age from 11 to 13. Our ethnic mix is very diverse including asian,polynesian and european cultures. The balance of boys and girls is slightly male dominated but this does not affect the
way we work. The sporting strengths in our room are mainly team sports like soccer,netball and rugby league. We have some students learning musical instruments- piano,guitar and claranet. There are a few pupils that consider themselves computer nerds because they spend
quite a bit of their free time web surfing and experimenting with new software. The class timetable is jam packed full of interesting activities.All students have a balance of the basic curriculum subjects,and this is enhanced through the use of the technology room, computer suite,cooking room and music room.The opportunities for enrichment and extension programmes are growing all the time.
