In this final series, the author draws wisdom from the story of Hansel and Gretel to recommend a path forward and to call everyone to action in the critical work of educating every young adolescent. The author believes that middle school educators can learn an important lesson about survival during difficult times from the classic German fairy…

The author contrasts conservative and progressive worldviews and discusses the development of the middle school movement as a major success of progressive education reform. The future of the middle school movement is considered and an agenda for continued advocacy and research is recommended.

For the last 40 years, the author has had the privilege of being a participant/observer/reporter in middle grades education in a wide variety of circumstances, both in the United States and abroad. During this lengthy period, the author has observed and reported on what he considers to be a continuing series of accomplishments in middle grades…

Renewing the Middle School is a special three-part series in which the author, an eminent scholar in the field of middle grades education, offers his view on the status of middle grades education and its prospects for the future. In this part of the series, he responds strongly to some of the criticism that has been aimed at American public…

Describes strategies used by one middle school to successfully challenge gifted students in the context of the regular classroom, satisfy their parents, and preserve the best of the middle school concept for all students. Strategies include block scheduling, regular schoolwide recognition programs, a school climate characterized by academic rigor…

Increasing numbers of middle school educators believe that the education of young adolescents can be enhanced when teachers and students are members of classrooms and small team groups characterized by long-lasting relationships. This book describes how to offer students the benefits of smallness within increasingly larger schools by ensuring…

Discusses ways to improve collaborative communication between core and exploratory curriculum teachers in interdisciplinary team-taught middle schools. Considers techniques of curriculum integration, homebase/advisory alliances, extended teams, core-exploratory liaisons, rotating team connections, exploratory teams, equalized assessment,…

Studies done in the 1960s and 1970s which sought to compare middle schools with junior high schools were ineffective. Intended to fill the frequently noted research void in the middle school movement, this monograph summarizes previous research on the effectiveness of middle level schools and presents results of a 1993 study on middle schools…

Because of the learning experiences of thousands of school leaders during the last decade, the guidelines presented are more likely to lead contemporary educators to successful implementation rather than to reactionary upheaval or paper pretense. (Author/IRT)

Discusses the new roles for school counselors in helping middle school students achieve academic and personal success. Roles include nurturing the school mission, guiding program development, facilitating instruction and group involvement, and belonging to a leadership team. (BL)

Proposed guidelines for preparing teachers to meet the unique challenge of teaching adolescent students are outlined. (JD)

According to a 1987 survey of administrators in 154 exemplary middle schools, certain implementation strategies are essential to ensure success, including participatory decision-making, leadership and philosophical vision, windows of opportunity, staff development, and evaluation and public relations expertise. Postimplementation strategies are…

Concludes this journal focus section on curriculum integration with transcripts of questions asked by conference attendees and answers by Professors Beane and George. Areas addressed included experience levels with children and teachers, studies that point to the failure of curriculum integration, and how teachers can continue curriculum…

Author is Coordinator of Middle School Teacher Education Programs at the University of Florida at Gainesville. (Editor)

As this survey of 18 Florida middle school principals shows, experienced junior high principals can make the transition to effective instructional leadership in newly reorganized middle schools if given proper support. Using team planning, these principals can create a harmonious balance of elementary and secondary perspectives--the hallmark of a…