This book presents a research-based, three-sided, educational framework for incorporating picture books into the classroom. The triad integrates creative arts, cognitive skills, and learning styles. The purpose of the book is to provide a format that invites and encourages intermediate and middle school teachers and students to explore the rich…

Focusing on the middle grades (4-8), this book promotes an integrative and thematic approach to curriculum development. The book provides mini-lessons organized around three interactive constructs: the purpose for communicating, the audience, and the organization of the content to be communicated. Separate chapters in the book on each of five…

The concept maps contained in this book (for grades 7-12) span 35 topics in life science. Topics were chosen using the National Science Education Standards as a guide. The practice exercise in concept mapping is included to give students an idea of what the tasks ahead will be in content rich maps. Two levels of concept maps are included for each…

This book contains lessons that teach students about rights and responsibilities through activities designed to develop character and community. Students are encouraged to learn about the concepts of human rights and responsibilities, and being environmentally responsible citizens. The book employs a variety of learning strategies, allowing for…

Methods of eliciting writing from children are explored in this monograph, which includes samples of nine- and ten-year-old students' writing. The monograph offers four recommendations for improving writing skills: make writing a daily activity; take children's writing seriously; maintain flexible standards of form and language; and identify group…

This practical guide for parents who care and want to help children learn to read and enjoy reading discusses ten ways in which parents and the home environment can influence reading habits and attitudes. These include: (1) encouraging the child while he or she reads, (2) reading aloud to the child and listening while he or she reads aloud, (3)…

Idea development is a concrete skill that can be taught in a systematic way. This step-by-step guidebook provides educators in all content areas with the tools they need to help students think more critically and write with more fully developed ideas. The guide (authored by instructors with the Kentucky Writing Program) offers the…

Intended for teachers of grades 4-8, this book presents a flexible format for reading, designed to be used with students who have different backgrounds and experiences with reading literature. The book's first 3 sections, "Character,""Setting," and "Plot," proceed step-by-step through the recognition of these basic…

This book discusses a study of teacher communities in two middle schools. Chapter 1 examines community and teachers' work, highlighting what a teacher community is, the theory and practice of community, problems in constructing a theory of community, and reform efforts to build teacher professional communities. Chapter 2 describes the efforts of…

Presenting the viewpoint that teaching reading is not an "either/or" situation of phonics versus whole language, this book offers a comprehensive compilation of research and best practice on the specifics of skill development and how skills should be organized, taught, and integrated into the language arts program. The book helps…

This book helps middle school teachers and curriculum planners organize integrated units of study on the world and weather, for grades 5-9. Intended to generate interest in science, build scientific knowledge, and help students make the transition from fiction to expository text, the book offers a variety of projects that connect popular fiction…

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…

The 1990s will likely be a watershed period for middle level education, as the real challenges surrounding making "second level" changes replace the euphoria that accompanied early growth of the middle school movement. Yet, zealousness still characterizes reform efforts at the middle level. This study, the most comprehensive ever…

This book provides stories to generate ideas on how to put students at the center of curriculum and how to create a classroom environment that is not based on a "win lest you lose" mentality. This focus is on an inclusive curriculum for all races, ethnic groups, both sexes and all "other" groups. These stories are true, but all student and parent…

EQUALS is a teacher education program that helps educators acquire methods and materials to attract minority and female students to mathematics. The Investigations Units, of which this document is an example, provide ideas and materials for middle schools. This unit is primarily about displaying data using number-line plots and scatter plots and…