This paper reviews and critiques empirical evidence concerning knowledge gaps and misconceptions among secondary school students, parents/guardians, and educators about postsecondary education and student financial assistance opportunities and prerequisites, in particular, how Michigan's middle school based Project Awareness may affect student…

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Division of Undergraduate Education, is undertaking a major effort to significantly improve the mathematics and science education of prospective elementary and secondary school teachers. NSF had two major goals in organizing this workshop. The first goal was for the Foundation to learn from active…

To explore several categories of variables strongly associated with professional satisfaction and dissatisfaction in American middle schools, responses of 540 out of 900 targeted middle school teachers to two open-ended questions were analysed. (The two survey items were drawn from the Status of the U.S. American Middle School Teacher…

Provides direction for developing appropriate, meaningful social studies instruction for the middle school. Identifies characteristics of early adolescents that have a direct relationship to curriculum design and the selection of appropriate social studies instruction strategies. Offers National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)…

Reports on a study of the use of museums by 541 middle and high school art education specialists. Finds that art specialists see the art museum as important to supplement classroom instruction in study work and art history. Includes four tables of data and recommendations for enhancing the use of museums by art educators. (CFR)

Reports on a study of the planned, written, and actual art curricula of 40 selected middle schools. Finds that, although design principles and art appreciation were identified as part of the curriculum, both the written and implemented curriculum was highly oriented toward art production. (CFR)

The link between caring and learning is very strong. Research suggests that the pervasiveness of a caring ethos and an empathetic regard and respect for students that focus on individual and interpersonal growth and development can result in measurable, positive outcomes in schools (Beck, 1994; Noddings, 1992). Caring schools foster a sense of…

This manual is intended to serve as a resource book for law professors and program directors who would like to conduct a program for teaching law students to instruct the public in their areas of the law. Over 30 law schools nationwide offer credit or compensation to law students to teach in the community, primarily in high schools, but also in…

Renne (Oregon) Intermediate School offers an innovative program of personalized instruction to students in grades 6-8. Teachers work closely with individual students, following a continuous progress curriculum which allows cross-grade-level placement in the core areas of math, reading, and language arts. Based on cooperative district planning, the…

Oaklea (Oregon) Middle School provides an innovative program of instruction to district students in grades 5-8. To facilitate this individualized approach, the school is divided into four smaller schools in which teachers and students spend four years together as students proceed through the instructional program. An important feature of this…

This information booklet contains the information necessary to administer the annual Department of Defense Dependent Schools Pacific Region Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) at the school level. It is intended to be used by teachers and administrators as they manage the JSHS program within their schools and by students as they conduct…

This guide to improving middle school guidance programs is based on two premises: (1) that the primary goal of the guidance program is to help students find meaning in their lives, and by this means, find relevancy in what schools have to offer them; and (2) that this sense of relevancy is accompanied by higher motivation to learn, and as a…

This planning and development guide suggests that careful, comprehensive, long range planning combined with gradual program implementation and effective administrative leadership can create responsive middle school programs. Sample sequential objective charts and activity lists are included. (DCS)

Competition is a significant reality of life, but its potentially demoralizing effect when practiced in the middle level classroom demands controlled, effective introduction by teachers. Before student competition, the student and teacher should agree on the following concerns: sufficient mastery, competitive skill proficiency, willingness,…

The personal development needs of preadolescents make extended guidance programs for middle school students crucially important. This article describes steps for teacher advisory program development--including a sample curriculum outline and learning activity--and summarizes the program role of the principal, counselor, and teacher. (DCS)