Presents data from a survey of the effectiveness of middle school programs in 34 states. The data show that changing to middle school organization results in student achievement gains, decreased discipline problems, enhanced personal development among students, and other positive effects. (MD)

A 1991 Florida survey of teachers and students identified five crucial characteristics of effective teacher advisors, including ability to care about students and relate to advisees' individuality, availability, and possession of a positive attitude and a unique advising style. The main qualification is enjoyment of children. (MLH)

In the last five years, a growing number of large, urban school districts have moved to close what are termed "troubled" 6-8 middle schools and have opened K-8 schools in their place: Boston, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Newark, New Orleans, New York City, Oklahoma City, and Philadelphia have been among the first to do…

Argues that the participatory leadership model is especially effective at the middle school level because the team concept is vital to the middle school construct. Asserts that principals who use such a model can truly become instructional leaders. (FL)

Traces the middle school movement from the early 1960s through the year 2,000 and beyond. (JM)

Discusses "pods,""team areas," and "houses" as middle school physical environments that support the type of learning opportunities young adolescents need. Offers examples of such school designs from Cleveland, Tennessee; British Columbia; and Milledgeville, Georgia. Concludes by suggesting specifications for new middle school buildings. (EV)

Summarizes 10 major difficulties associated with ability grouping, including unfair and inaccurate student placements; the "locked-in" nature of ability grouping; undue emphasis on ability over effort; erosion of self-esteem; racial, ethnic, and income isolation; unequally distributed learning resources; illegal practices; and the need for a…

A Florida survey shows middle school students' favorite advisement activities to be parties, holiday and special day celebrations, discussion, service projects, games, group activities, and freedom to choose activities. Teachers' favorites are student of the day/week, academic advisories, organization and goal-setting days, career exploration,…

Although the middle school movement has been around for decades, it is still new in many places. The middle school concept has been adopted for several reasons: (1) to use as a tool for desegregation; (2) to cope with changing demographics and exploding enrollments; and (3) to meet state funding requirements. The revived middle school movement of…

According to two recent surveys, middle-level administrators' essential job skills include an ability to understand developing adolescents' characteristics and needs, develop and communicate a vital, responsive school philosophy, promote shared decision making, guide creation of an interdisciplinary team organization, develop a continuous school…

This study analyzed the opinions of exemplary middle school principals concerning what constitutes highly effective interdisciplinary teams. The schools that the principals represented were chosen according to the Department of Education's, Phi Delta Kappa's, and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development's assessment of threshold…

Presents 36 reasons why middle level educators should be cautious of an integrated curriculum approach. Fifteen reasons relate to unsubstantiated claims about the superiority of integrated curriculum, while 21 reasons relate to negative outcomes that might accompany excessive attention to an integrated curriculum. Urges caution and further…

In the context of today's turbulent university life, public education debates, and highly charged political milieu, the phrase "middle school teacher education" might be said to describe a less-than-quiet target of opportunity for a whole host of groups who despise the values, meanings, and the central goals of the middle school movement…

Over the past 30 years, Florida's 500 middle schools have become more sizeable, racially segregated, and security conscious. Other features include interdisciplinary team organization, warring curricula, block schedules, integrated technology, inclusion, ability grouping, corporate practices, and female and minority principals committed to…