Middle School Developmental Milestone Rubric

6th through 8th Graders

Name of Observer:
Mary Bridgers

School:
South Edgecombe Middle School

Class and Grade Observed:

7th Grade

Date of Observation:
11-18-16

Developmental Needs/Characteristics
Physical
Needs/Characteristics

Observe
d

Become a little more clumsy as

height and weight change
quickly

Start showing uneven

development in skills like agility,
balance, strength and flexibility;
may be able to run fast, but not
gracefully

Have a difference between body

and brain growth; may be more
mature physically or emotionally

Experience fluctuations in basal

metabolism causing
restlessness and listlessness

Need more rest since much

energy is being used for growing

Mature at various rates of speed

Are highly physical

Not
Observe
d

Not
Applicabl
e

Comments

Not
Applicabl
e

Comments

Overly concerned with bodily

changes and sexual
development

Lacking in good nutritional

habits

Developmental Needs/Characteristics
Intellectual

Observe
d

Needs/Characteristics

Are highly curious (Questions

Prefer active to passive

learning experiences

Related to real-life problems

and situations (Want to

Egocentric (self-centered)

Not
Observe
d

things)

contribute and make money)

Begin developing a worldview,

including a basic set of values
Enjoy human behaviors

S Science experiment

Seek constant approval and

reinforcement

Intellectually curious about the

real world

Developmental Needs/Characteristics
Psychological
Needs/Characteristics

Erratic and inconsistent in

behavior

Observe
d

Not
Applicabl
e

Comments

Bow to peer pressure to be liked

others; have experiences with
bullying

Experience mood swings

Emotionally vulnerable; highly

sensitive to the opinions of
others

Comments

Optimistic and hopeful

Seek independence

Not
Applicabl
e

Highly sensitive to criticism

Moody, restless, and selfcentered

Not
Observe
d

Developmental Needs/Characteristics
Not

Social
Needs/Characteristics

Observe Observe
d
d
X

Rebellious towards authority

figures (i.e., parents, teachers,
administrators)

Confused and frightened by new

school/social settings
Fiercely loyal to peer group
values

Often aggressive and

argumentive

Need frequent affirmation of

love from adults

Exhibits immature behavior

Tend to overreact when

criticized or embarrassed

Experiment with new identities

Developmental Needs/Characteristics
Moral & Ethical

Needs/Characteristics

Idealistic
Have strong sense of fairness

Observe
d

Not
Observe
d

Not
Applicabl
e

Comments

Reflective and introspective in

thought and feelings

Confront moral and ethical

questions head on

Ask large ambiguous questions

about the meaning of life

Show compassion for underdog

situations and environmental
issues

Slow to acknowledge own faults

Impatient with pace of change
and flaws

Comments:
Student was observed while conducting a science experiment. Behavior was very immature and
student was bouncing/jumping around. Student did not follow instructions for the experiment and
was seeking reinforcement/guidance from the teacher as what to do. You could tell this caused
some fear in the student. In the end, the experiment turned out okay; it just took longer than
expected. Student was asked to reflect and write about what happened. What could he do
differently next time?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Mary Bridgers

November 18, 2016

Signature

Date