First-year outcomes of a restructuring project in four Maryland middle schools are summarized in this paper, with a focus on new rules, roles, and relationships. Methodology involved interviews with 52 teachers and building administrators and 18 state department of education staff members; observation of school improvement teams; and document…

The mathematics curriculum activities presented in this guide were developed as one component of a total career education demonstration project for Appalachian Maryland, and are intended for use as supplements to the total middle or junior high school curriculum. Introductory material lists career education concepts and outlines career and…

The science curriculum activities presented in this guide were developed as one component of a total career education demonstration project for Appalachian Maryland, and are intended for use as supplements to the total middle or junior high school curriculum. Introductory material lists career education concepts and outlines career and…

Developed as one component of a total career education demonstration project for Appalachian Maryland, the art curriculum activities presented in this guide are intended for use as supplements to the total middle or junior high school curriculum. Introductory material lists career education concepts and outlines career and occupational development…

The Maryland Middle Grades School Policy Initiative addresses the polices and practices that support improved school and student performance. To document changes in policies and practices, this series of publications entitled "Milestones" was developed. Each publication traces the development, implementation, evaluation, and refinement…

Four Maryland middle schools, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), and the Carnegie Corporation are collaborating to develop models of early adolescent education that: (1) improve overall student and school performance; (2) coordinate comprehensive service delivery to students requiring such care; (3) stimulate collaborative…

For the past 5 years at Boonsboro Middle School in Washington County, Maryland, a full-time lab coordinator has been responsible for all aspects of running the school's computer facilities. In a survey conducted at the end of the current school year, students, teachers, administrators, and district-level supervisors had the opportunity to evaluate…

The language arts curriculum activities presented in this guide were developed as one component of a total career education demonstration project for Appalachian Maryland, and are intended for use as supplements to the total middle or junior high school curriculum. Introductory material lists career education concepts and outlines career and…

Designed for middle school through high school students, this unit contains eight lesson plans that focus on Maryland state law. The state lessons correspond to lessons in the volume, "Antidote: Civic Responsibility. Drug Avoidance Lessons for Middle School & High School Students." Developed to be presented by educators, law student,…

Reports on a study comparing the effects of two types of instructional language on students' attitudes and conceptual understanding of recorded orchestral music. Finds that students who were taught using a combination of analytic and figurative language scored significantly higher than those that were taught using only analytic language. (CFR)

To examine how performance-based assessment changed mathematics teaching under conditions of moderate and low-stake assessment, middle school teachers were studied in five districts in Maryland and Maine, with interviews of 82 teachers and administrators. Findings suggest that effects of state testing on teaching may be overrated by both advocates…

A middle school reform initiative, sponsored by the Program for Disadvantaged Youth of the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation 4 years ago, has taken hold in 12 urban middle schools nationwide. The article discusses that reform, noting the lessons about change to accommodate student diversity that urban middle schools can teach. (SM)

This document is designed to help administrators and teachers plan, develop, and implement technology education (TE) programs. It provides a philosophical foundation and broad outline for constructing comprehensive TE programs that develop middle school and high school students' technological literacy by focusing on the ways in which ingenuity,…

The social studies curriculum activities presented in this guide were developed as one component of a total career education demonstration project for Appalachian Maryland, and are intended for use as supplements to the total middle or junior high school curriculum. Introductory material lists career education concepts and outlines career and…

Argues middle schools must focus on students in its space, textures, color, furnishings and materials used to address academic and emotional needs. Describes Kettering Middle School's mission to accomplish this goal by providing small learning communities, mentoring, opportunities for parental involvement, innovative instructional approaches, and…