A survey to determine the feelings of sudents attending a new middle school showed a decline in motivation among eighth graders. A majority of parents agreed that school discipline should be stricter. (LD)

Guidelines are offered for those involved in a shift from a more secondary oriented, departmentally organized school to a middle level perspective that is more sensitive to the needs of young adolescents. (MLF)

In a recent survey, 53% of responding middle and elementary school counselors reported testifying in a formal hearing involving students. Child custody cases most frequently required counselor involvement, followed by sexual and child abuse cases. Counselors most frequently utilized school attorneys, personal attorneys, professional counseling…

To assist adolescents with career exploration, counselors should help students identify their unique interests, skills, and personality characteristics; distinguish among several broad occupational areas; learn about different educational options as related to career choices; identify future decisions needed to achieve various goals; and make…

According to a 2-year study of over 1,500 middle-level classrooms in California and Missouri, most writing programs are not woven into the fabric of middle-school programs, practices, or policies. Programs are couched within the English/language arts curriculum. Four factors affect programs--teacher characteristics, commitment to middle-school…

Discusses results of a study examining self-perceptions of students moving from middle level to high schools. Kids reported a significant drop in perceived physical appearance, job competence, romantic appeal, conduct, and global self-worth. A transition team can help eighth graders develop an understanding of the academic rigors and cocurricular…

Parent and community concerns in the authors' recent study were organized into seven themes: anonymity, rigor and challenge, safety, sociability and civility, school responsiveness, instruction methods, and information accessibility. Middle schools should hold dialogs with the community, stop rationalizing, acknowledge weak achievement areas,…

Following a review of the development of the middle school concept, this essay cites six ideal characteristics of the middle school and questions whether many middle schools have attempted to embody them. The need for change for continued development of middle schools is emphasized. (MJL)

Describes a comprehensive study skills program used in a Kansas middle school, noting the skills and teaching techniques emphasized at each grade level. (JW)

Describes Mathematics in Context, a middle-level mathematics curriculum developed by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Utrecht, in the Netherlands. Instead of proceeding from a generalization to specific examples, the math originates in real problems; conversely, the mathematics learned is used to solve…

The team-block program, in keeping with current junior high/middle school research, represents a varied and flexible organizational and instructional approach. An Illinois middle school developed a student-centered program design that offers certain grouping, scheduling, and teacher planning benefits and accommodates remedial, gifted, and…

Exploratory programs provide stimulating and enriching experiences that help young adolescents realize their strengths and weaknesses before deciding about future educational directions. A survey of teachers and principals at two Southeastern middle schools underscored exploratory programs' articulatory nature. Implementation problems and…

Most states have only a 2-year foreign-language requirement for college-bound students. Two 1999 federal initiatives--the Foreign Language Education Improvement Amendments and the Educational Excellence for All Children Act--provide support for expanding foreign-language education opportunities. Four exemplary Georgia middle-school programs are…

Many middle schools use teaming or other models to create smaller teaching and learning units. Too often, schools align these models with characteristics advocated in the literature, rather than focusing on collaborative work environments' effects on teachers' and students' lives. These structures' true value lies in the collaborative work…

A study of 358 students at a western middle school examined academic, general, home, and social variables. Regarding self-esteem, girls viewed themselves more positively than boys in social experiences. Low achievers were not as satisfied with school facilities as high- and middle-achievers. (MLH)