There are many compelling reasons for introducing foreign language study at the middle school level. Adolescents are initiating new and higher levels of cognitive processing, their curiosity is high, and they are concerned with intellectual, philosophical, biological, sociological, moral, and ethical issues. A survey of 82 middle school foreign…

In October 1999, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) received a GEAR UP state grant. TEA's project, Texans Getting Academically Prepared (TGAP), was originally a five-year grant. However, additional federal funding extended the project for a sixth year. TGAP begins at the middle-school level to prepare low-income and minority students for higher…

This report describes a program for improving the motivation of sixth grade students in the music class and for increasing their understanding of the relevancy of music in their total curriculum. The students are part of a low to middle class suburban community located in northeastern Illinois. The problem was noted originally by the music teacher…

Four case studies were conducted to evaluate the Arts Partners project, an umbrella program which brings together schools and art agencies who hire professional writers, artists, dancers, and musicians to hold 10-week residencies with students. The four schools, chosen randomly, included three elementary schools--one in upper Manhattan, one in the…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the services provided by elementary and middle school media centers to support whole language instruction, and to determine how the media program contributes to the goals, resources, and teaching strategies of the whole language movement. The population for the study included all 81 elementary and 15…

This booklet reviews research on the middle school environment, the characteristics of the middle school student, and the factors involved in teaching effectively at the middle school level, and then proposes a method that middle school teachers can use for analyzing their own classroom behavior and their instructional options. The booklet's first…

A study was conducted to determine what subject areas should be taught in a prevocational agriculture program, as perceived by instructors with existing prevocational programs. Following a review of literature that found only a few sources on prevocational agriculture programs, most of them guides for middle school curricula, a survey instrument…

The goals of this practicum were to provide performing arts experiences for middle school students to: (1) create an atmosphere of appreciation for the performing arts; (2) stimulate the interests of artistically or potentially artistically talented students; (3) provide performance opportunities; and (4) encourage these students to pursue…

This report provides a description of the experimental design, including the procedures, instrumentation, and sample, of the Junior High School Management Improvement Study. The research leading up to this study is briefly described along with the conceptualization of the management function of teaching and the development of training manuals for…

The purpose of this study was to develop and test written and observational instruments and to investigate the relationship between the attitudes and behaviors toward gifted children among teachers of the gifted and those among teachers of regular classes. The subjects consisted of 13 teachers of the gifted and 25 preservice and inservice teachers…

This junior high/middle school career exploration implementation manual is designed to assist in implementing a comprehensive career exploration program using four career exploration components developed in the Improving Career Exploration project. The first of six sections addresses career exploration and career/vocational development. Basic…

The "Quest for Less" is designed for teachers in grades K-8 to use as one of the many tools in the development of lesson plans. Activities and concepts in this resource can be incorporated into existing curricula, or teachers can create special week-long units on the environment and solid waste or use the activities to commemorate Earth Day. This…

This report summarizes preliminary findings from the Youth Engaged in Leadership and Learning project in Redwood City, California, which prepared and supported youth in becoming knowledgeable and active decision-makers in their schools and communities, and played a key role in developing youths' leadership skills and encouraging civic engagement…

An applied dissertation was designed to improve the performance of sixth-grade social studies students based on content-area work and teacher-made tests. Teachers used difficult, low-level, performance-based assessment methods to identify student achievement. This indicated that students possessed very limited opportunities to think beyond the…

The purpose of this research report was to analyze the effectiveness and attitudes of students in grades six through eight who are enrolled in a balanced literacy program. There were 188 students enrolled in the program ranging in ages from 11 to 17. Twenty percent of the students in the program have been retained at least once. The program…