Discusses the demands that will be placed on schools, especially middle and high schools, to shape education for the next century. Notes four features of the new paradigm: assessment, cognitive apprenticeship, early graduation, and a seamless system of education. (SR)

Suggests that the course and malleability of maladaptive behaviors are partly rooted in early aggressive behaviors occurring in poorly managed classrooms. Encourages teacher education training programs incorporate classroom management training. Concludes that the nature and severity of aggressive behaviors in middle school depend on effective…

Asserts that inquiry-based activities increase student interest and motivation. Describes classroom management problems teachers may encounter in inquiry teaching. Outlines numerous ways to avoid or reduce the severity of problems by rearranging desks, dividing groups according to reading level and language skills, and by addressing student…

Describes briefly the School Development Program, a long-lasting school improvement movement. Discusses in particular a research project at Neal Middle School in Durham, North Carolina, that will demonstrate what and how much students learn between elementary school and high school. (SR)

Describes a project at a middle school in Michigan, stretching across several years, that provided students with the equipment and training to make them computer literate. Discusses hopes and plans for educational uses of the Internet, e-mail and electronic bulletin boards, and various software. (SR)

Discusses what multicultural empowerment means and why it should play a major role in educating middle-school students; how elements of multicultural empowerment can be incorporated into middle-school social studies; and how drama pedagogy can be used to integrate middle-school multicultural education and social studies, outlining a progression of…

Discusses the importance of aesthetic education in middle schools. Imagines a school as an aesthetic environment. Describes how several content area teachers have enhanced the learning of traditional content through aesthetic projects and activities. Notes students' enthusiastic response. Outlines a five-step approach to incorporate aesthetics…

Argues that international children's literature is one of the most effective ways to integrate global perspectives into the middle school curriculum. Presents an annotated list of 15 international children's literature titles to provide teachers and other education professionals with a starting point in identifying quality children's literature…

Maintains that all teachers on interdisciplinary teams in middle schools should teach writing. Examines how content area teachers can use writing to enhance learning. Looks at three levels of student writing (correlated with complexity and time) that may be useful in content area classes. Discusses concerns about writing in content areas. (SR)

Discusses challenges particular to urban middle schools. Describes collaborative services programs, and culturally relevant teaching as two effective ways to meet some of those challenges. Offers the example of an effective urban teacher, and discusses moving from a pedagogy of poverty to a pedagogy of success. (SR)

How a carefully planned health education curriculum can help overcome seven health problems of American society.'' (Author/SP)

Author is Coordinator of Middle School Teacher Education Programs at the University of Florida at Gainesville. (Editor)

An unusual new program in Lexington, North Carolina, which is a drastic change to the schedule and methods of presenting learning material, is described. (DB)

Urges educators to engage in higher-order thinking about at-risk young people in an effort to develop interrelated communities of caring and learning. Argues that middle-level schools can provide a sense of community and provide a place where young adolescents practice "cooperative individualism." (SR)