Calera middle school finds creative way to encourage students

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) - Transitioning to Middle School can be difficult. That’s why Calera Middle school has found a fun way of offering support by dividing students in groups they call villages.

Desaree Jackson is the principal at Calera Middle School and she says that she has already seen big improvements since they implemented the villages.

“I have seen an increase in student to student conversation and also students willingness to help each other,” she explains.

They divided all students into villages based on characteristics and personalities. Their village meets every day for 7th period and in each village is a 7th or 8th grader that the 6th graders can get to know.

During this time of the day they play games, study, have motivation speakers, or goal setting projects. I spoke with 6th grader Madison Wayne who says now she can’t imagine 6th grade without her village.

“It would be very hard because I wouldn’t have many friends,” she admits. “I became more of a social person more talkative beside sitting in the corner reading a book kind of person,” she states.

School leaders and students look forward to the rest of the school year and the impacts that their villages will make.

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