This document presents a curriculum for counselors to use with parents and their children between the ages of 10 and 13. It consists of an introduction and detailed descriptions of four educational sessions. The introduction describes the rationale and background information, curriculum organization, criteria for leaders, values, an overview of…

Analysis of writing samples from 135 students and interviews with 6 students about their experiences as sixth graders centered around 4 questions: (1) informants about school; (2) amount of stress; (3) safety; and (4) students' perception of school. Outlines activities that might improve the informant role of parents, siblings and peers, and…

Research indicates that middle schools are very successful at meeting the needs and developmental characteristics of young adolescents. Middle schools use a team approach, providing stability and continuity as teachers integrate subject areas into broader themes and units. Parental involvement is encouraged at the middle school level. (SM)

Presents ideas to help parents make readers and writers out of their 11 and 12 year olds. Reading ideas include subscribing to teen magazines, reading aloud, and finding movies based on books. Writing ideas include writing lyrics to popular melodies, creating time lines, and making crossword puzzles. (SM)

Parents and PTA members are actively involved at every level at the Applied Learning Academy in Fort Worth, Texas. This year-round public middle school is driven by applied learning. Parents are involved in school planning and design and actively participate in student assessments. (SM)

By understanding the development of the human mind, parents and teachers can learn how to help guide children and adolescents into adulthood. The article examines mental growth at various ages, stumbling blocks to learning, ways of understanding the adolescent mind, and what to look for in a middle school. (SM)

Presents two sets of calendars for July and August that include simple science or math activities for each day. The first set is for students in grades 3-5; the second set is for middle school students. The activities motivate students to investigate and collect data and reinforce concepts learned in school. (SM)

The purpose of this book is to familiarize middle and high school administrators, teachers, and students with the laws concerning sexual harassment and strategies for dealing with it. The book can also help educators avoid liability for sexual harassment. Part 1 defines sexual harassment and emphasizes that men and women may perceive the same…

Designed for use by junior high and middle school students, this annotated bibliography of over 1,100 titles of fiction and nonfiction also serves as a resource for teachers, librarians, and parents in search of titles that might catch the attention of such students. The bibliography presents annotations of books published or reissued in 1993 and…

Family Life Education is a unit which teaches facts and encourages the development of skills and attitudes that contribute to self-understanding, healthy interpersonal relationships, and successful family life. It promotes the development of physical, emotional, social, and intellectual well-being of young people. This brochure is designed to…

Interest in a science fair is low when students feel undirected and lack the information they need to produce a successful project. For many students, parents, and teachers, planning and carrying out a science fair project may be very frustrating. This book is designed to be a reference that helps teachers guide students through this process. The…

This booklet focuses on self-esteem, especially as to how reading at home can affect reading and school performance and how poor reading attainment can affect self-esteem. Specific steps to help middle school children gain self-esteem are discussed. Practical questions from parents are answered and activities are described which can be used at…

This booklet is written for middle school students and their parents. It provides information about middle schools in Virginia, and includes suggestions about how parents may help their children during the middle school years. Chapter 1, "Starting Middle Schools," begins with a section on getting acquainted with middle school, discussing…

This booklet is designed to help middle school students and their parents analyze student study habits, plan a study schedule, organize a place to study, and actually study their subjects. Students and parents should analyze a typical day's activities to see how the student spends his or her time, using a chart to see how each hourly (or…

This booklet focuses on reading motivation, especially on specific steps to motivate the middle school child to learn. The main topics explored are: finding or making time for reading for pleasure; filling or flooding the house with interesting reading materials; and reading as a way of life. Practical questions from parents are answered and…