The whole middle school movement is based on the knowledge that children between the ages of 10 and 14 have special developmental needs. Summarizes recent research findings. A sidebar lists eight recommendations for middle school executives adapted from the Carnegie Corporation document "Turning Points: Preparing American Youth for the 21st…

Through a review of the transition literature and a survey of 225 students about to enter middle school, the most significant anxieties identified were the following: (1) space concerns about a new and larger building, especially getting lost and being late to class; (2) contact with older and possibly rougher students; and (3) heavy homework…

This guide presents a new focus, called future options education, for career and college planning for students in the middle grades. Chapter 1 introduces the concept of future options education, describing it as a sustained, comprehensive, age- and stage-appropriate mix of guidance and counseling, with an enhanced curriculum and supplemental…

Teachers who recognize the value of working together can put their belief into practice through the use of collaboration and cooperative learning methods. Lists 19 characteristics of a well-functioning and collaborative team. (MLF)

Middle school students' real-life interests and preoccupations with themselves make them ideally suited to enjoy reading. Lists eight premises about teaching writing that have parallels in the teaching of literature. (12 references) (MLF)

This module presents a curriculum on violence prevention for middle school students. It begins with a discussion of what violence is. The second lesson helps students to examine the portrayal of violence in various media. In the third lesson, students examine their own anger and their own tendencies toward violence. The fourth lesson examines the…

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…

A Georgia school system addresses the need for middle schools and high school personnel to work cooperatively to assist eighth graders in making a smooth transition to ninth grade. (MLF)

Research evidence suggests that the most important condition for language learning is hearing it spoken often and well. Central to a language program must be the cultivation of listening skills. Such training not only enhances the likelihood of success in learning a second language, but careful discrimination is essential for all learning. (26…

Notes that, although literature on middle school teaching focuses on developmental stresses of young adolescents, it rarely offers specific ways to respond to student behaviors associated with these changes. Delineates the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional motivations behind typical early adolescent behaviors and then offers middle school…

William McKinley Middle School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has a parent volunteer program called FOCUS that targets average students who are not doing well academically. Program goals are to improve students' organizational skills, help them complete homework assignments, and reteach and preview lessons to increase understanding, so that students will…

These lesson plans are designed for use by middle school social studies teachers who take their students on a tour of the regional airports of Louisville, Kentucky. Twelve lesson plans are included: "Let's Go There Next, Mom"; "Who Wrote That?"; "The Games They Play!"; "You Flew on What?"; "I Wonder…

This report examines the stepfamily phenomenon and how stepfamilies are treated. After the introductory first chapter the second chapter provides a clear definition of what constitutes a "stepfamily" and explores some of the demographics regarding stepfamilies. Next the report examines the major issues with which stepfamilies deal. How these…

Developing self-motivated, empowered middle school students is an ongoing struggle for teachers and administrators. This practicum was designed to address the problem teachers have in finding specific teaching strategies that would help students become empowered and self-motivated learners. This study focuses on directly integrating techniques…

This pamphlet lists authors and titles of a collection of 554 young adolescent books presented to 40 Indiana colleges and universities. Books in the collection listed in the pamphlet were chosen by librarians, consultants, and teachers from five Indiana middle schools. A chart listing contact persons and the location (curriculum center in…