The paper summarizes a National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report, "Reading, Science and Mathematic Trends: A Closer Look," in which achievement trends are compared in several subjects for 4th, 8th, and 11th grade black students, white students, low achievers, and high achievers. Findings indicate that while overall…

One innovative course for prospective middle school science teachers, theoretically grounded in pedagogical content knowledge, was taught by an instructional team of scientists, science educators, and practicing teachers who utilized discussion and experiential learning. Data from discussions and observations indicated that students were…

This study compared the preparedness of middle school teachers graduating from either traditional teacher education or professional development school (PDS) programs. Surveys and interviews with graduates and enrollees of both programs indicated that PDS graduates felt better prepared for middle level teaching in terms of knowledge about early…

Presents the results of a study contrasting conventional instruction with protocol lessons (a sequence of lessons based on developmental stages of learning with each lesson building on the previous one) concerning sketch maps. The students taught with the protocol lessons showed significant improvement over the other group. (MJP)

Describes a collaborative in which graduate students who were learning about participatory research and cultural diversity in the classroom worked with middle school students who were learning about research. The paper examines the stories of six middle school research clubs, focusing on collaborative interactions between researchers and students.…

Recommends that students learn about Islamic civilization by presenting a "medieval banquet in the Alhambra Palace." Provides information about middle eastern culture and history that students could use to plan and produce the banquet. Includes a list of 26 "guests" who would be role-played by students. (CFR)

Maintains that content-rich, meaningful curricula can provide learning opportunities to all students. Describes an informal, nonprofit community-based learning program that extends the school's curriculum beyond the classroom by providing access to multimedia resources. Presents an 11-step collaborative model for the project. (CFR)

Proposes the use of literature to introduce new mathematical concepts. Presents a story to develop the concept of grouping, and follows with 11 activities related to the story in which students use dramatization and manipulative materials to develop new groupings, predict outcomes, validate their predictions, and discuss findings to develop the…

Asserts that the growing interest in multicultural and global education is encouraging teachers to search for new ways to teach history. Describes the use of historical fiction in a sixth-grade, interdisciplinary, multicultural unit on World War II. Includes an annotated bibliography of 33 recommended books. (CFR)

Provides a lesson for middle school students, examining the expansion and contraction of civil rights in response to sociopolitical developments. Suggests that students review voting rights extensions and analyze case studies involving students' freedom of speech. Lists topics for student research on a variety of free speech issues. (CH)

Maintains that elementary teachers are encouraged to integrate the curriculum to motivate students. Describes an instructional unit in which students set up and run an "international store," in which the items are priced in foreign currency. Provides recommendations on designing the unit and operating the store. (CFR)

Describes good sources of real-time science data available on the World Wide Web for grades 5-12 classrooms. Highlights include preparation and software tools; ways to integrate scientific investigations into classroom instruction; data manipulation, including trend analysis, animation, enhancement, and measurement; and student assessment. (LRW)

Once a week, several classrooms of Philadelphia 4th-grade girls participate in Sisters in Science, an afterschool, intergenerational program sponsored by Temple University that provides hand-on activities exploring urban environmental issues. A two-week summer camp program helps these students explore the rivers of Philadelphia. Participants…

Describes a school-university collaboration that developed alternative teaching strategies for motivating inner-city, African-American middle school students (effort-based grading, multiple performance opportunities, increased student responsibility/choice, and validation of cultural differences). Observations, teacher journals, and student…

The Urban Intergenerational Outreach Education Program transferred cancer prevention from a cancer center to community and school settings, involving a university, an academic medical center, a school district, and a nonprofit arts organization. Project staff developed the culturally and developmentally appropriate curriculum for urban middle…