Youth effectiveness training administered to a group of delinquent children in a Wisconsin Middle School caused no significant change in self-concept over the 10 weeks of the program. Measure used was a pretest, posttest model of the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale. (CM)

Replicates a 1980 study of Wisconsin junior high and middle school teachers that investigated the extent of teacher involvement in schoolwide and instructional issues, teachers' interest and expertise in decision issues, and teachers' job satisfaction. After a decade of explicit attention to enhanced teacher professionalism and empowerment,…

This report provides information about the program evaluation study of a national biodiversity education program for youth in the United States known as "Windows on the World" launched by the World Wildlife Fund. The curriculum development project is organized into four phases: (1) a biodiversity needs assessment; (2) the development of…

Professional staff in school libraries and instructional media centers (IMCs) located in 229 Wisconsin middle and junior high schools were surveyed anonymously to collect information on censorship attempts in their schools during 1978-79 and 1979-80. A total of 212 surveys were returned. Survey participants were asked to respond to questions…

This paper presents findings of a study that explored the relationships among principals' leadership behaviors and teacher efficacy in Wisconsin middle schools involved in building-level change efforts. An adaptation of Bandura's social cognitive learning theory of self-efficacy (A. Woolfolk and W. Hoy 1993) provided the theoretical framework.…

Findings are reported from a statewide survey of middle and junior high schools in Wisconsin. The study had two major purposes: (1) to determine the extent to which the clinical supervision cycle was a component of staff development programs; and (2) to identify characteristics of existing clinical supervision practices within staff development…

Ten high-ability middle school students participated in a 13 week enrichment program on inferential statistics. Consistent with the NCTM Standards, classes emphasized problem solving in real world contexts and the communication of mathematical ideas. Students struggled with written assignments, yet worked effectively in pairs, small groups, and…

This multidisciplinary, progressional unit involves students in discovering wetlands and why such areas are important, and in learning they can make a difference in saving wetlands. The unit is designed to be taught with two options: (1) entirely in the classroom; and (2) a combination of classroom and field experience. Fourteen classroom lessons…

This text describes an approach to middle level education that focuses on the work children will be expected to do as adults. This approach requires teachers to use instructional strategies that support the development of thinking skills. Chapter 1 explains the rationale for adopting a new approach to middle level curriculum. Chapter 2 examines…

Designed for middle school through high school students, this unit contains eight lesson plans that focus on Wisconsin 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…

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)

To determine the extent of changes being implemented in the middle grades in Wisconsin school districts, 532 surveys were mailed to Wisconsin middle level schools that include grades 7 and 8; the return rate was 81 percent. After reviewing the development and content of the survey, this document relates survey findings to the eight principles of…

Reports on interviews with school personnel to determine the intensity of K-8 exposure to prevention topics and teaching strategies and to describe the degree of school support for prevention topics. Results indicated that the topics and strategies considered most necessary for successful prevention were those least used. Support for school…

This resource guide is the outcome of a 1989-1990 survey of school practices and programs that was distributed to all middle-level principals in Wisconsin public schools. The purposes of the survey were to assess the extent of middle-level programming in Wisconsin; highlight some needs in a school improvement effort; and share promising practices.…

This compiltation of articles provides ideas and solutions for creating and improving family, community, and school partnerships. A broad variety of topics are covered in the 20 articles of this issue, including: (1) ideas to help parents improve the thinking skill of their children; (2) four models of parent involvement developed by the Superior…