Teaching in the Middle School builds the pedagogical foundation shared by both M.A. Middle Grades tracks (Math and Science) — what actually makes the middle-school classroom distinct.
What C966 covers
The course examines the guiding principles and best teaching practices for educating middle school students. It explores the history of middle school; the philosophy, theory, and rationale behind middle school organization; and the differences between elementary, middle, and secondary schools.
The course also examines the unique needs of middle school students and teaching methods used to meet the needs of these learners. This course has no prerequisites.
The C966 performance assessment
Expect a performance assessment requiring you to design instruction addressing the specific developmental needs of middle-school learners, distinct from elementary or secondary approaches.
Key topics in C966
- History and philosophy of middle school organization
- Differences across elementary/middle/secondary levels
- Unique needs of middle-school learners
Writing tips for C966
Follow the task instructions and rubric line by line
WGU performance assessments for C966 are graded against a fixed rubric — every rubric line has to be visibly addressed, usually with a labeled heading that mirrors the rubric language. Skipping a rubric point because it seems minor is the single most common reason a competent submission comes back "Not Yet Competent" for revision.
Remember this program serves already-licensed teachers adding an endorsement
M.A. Science Education courses like C966 are designed for candidates who are already licensed teachers seeking an ADDITIONAL science endorsement, not first-time teacher-candidates. Written work can assume a baseline of classroom experience and should focus on the specific science content and pedagogy gap the endorsement fills.
Because WGU is self-paced, don't let "no deadline pressure" become no submission
There's no weekly due date forcing progress, which means procrastination costs more at WGU than at a traditional term-based school — a stalled task can quietly eat weeks of a term. Treat your own target date for each C966 assessment as a real deadline.
Stuck on your C966 task?
Our writers know WGU's competency-based format and this course's performance assessment. Get an original, properly cited paper matched to your task instructions.
Why students seek help with C966
Candidates sometimes adapt an elementary or secondary lesson without genuinely addressing what's distinct about middle-school learners — the rubric typically wants that middle-school-specific developmental reasoning made explicit.
How GradeEssays helps with C966
Share your topic and rubric, and your writer will build instruction genuinely grounded in middle-school-specific developmental needs, not an adapted elementary or secondary lesson.
Get Help With C966
Share your task instructions and rubric and we match you with a writer who knows this course and WGU's evaluation standards.
Place Your Order View All ServicesPrerequisites and program context
C966 has no prerequisites and is shared across both M.A. Middle Grades tracks (Mathematics and Science Education).
- Master of Arts in Mathematics Education (Middle Grades)
- Master of Arts Science Education (Middle Grades)
Related courses
Frequently asked questions
C966 (Teaching in the Middle School) is a shared pedagogy course used by both the M.A. Mathematics Education (Middle Grades) and M.A. Science Education (Middle Grades) programs. The content is the same; only your program context and eventual endorsement subject differ.