A pilot program at an upstate New York school district involved 11 middle school students identified as at risk. Basic program elements included the following: (1) placement of students with the regular group; (2) increased on-on-one contact between students and adults; (3) positive involvement of parents; (4) use of computers; and (5) team…

Defines the digital homeless as those middle-aged persons running schools, businesses, and the country who are lacking in computer and technology skills and uses. Describes the efforts of the American Technology Honor Society (ATHS), a student group whose mission is to share technological knowledge with peers, teachers, administrators, and the…

From site-based management to parent involvement and student self-esteem programs, a Louisville, Kentucky, middle school provides students, staff, and parents with opportunities to participate in education at all levels. (MLH)

In response to adolescent girls' concerns about teen violence, rumors, grooming, careers, and equity, four women teachers and a woman administrator at a Maryland middle school developed the Delta Program. The program provides positive learning experiences, teaches social skills and conflict management techniques, empowers girls through mentoring…

Suggests that parent/student computer clubs are an effective use of technology to bring parents into the middle school and promote family time. Describes how sixth through eighth graders and their parents/guardian attend monthly evening meetings in which they are introduced to computers, word processing, databases, spreadsheets, graphics,…

School improvement that considers families moves toward greater understanding of learning barriers. Strategies designed to make adolescent students "feel good" must be rejected for those that encourage family involvement by creating family partnerships, using the community as a learning laboratory, promoting performance-oriented tasks that tap…

Describes instructional methods to make mathematics relevant to middle level students without inducing math anxiety. Discusses methods to prevent negative math experiences at the middle level, including discussing negative attitudes through math autobiographies, math self-talk, and journals; reducing anxiety through cooperative-learning…

A group of reading teachers at a Pennsylvania middle school was charged with developing a uniform reading program and selecting reading materials to meet their students' needs. This article describes the committee's work, focusing on the selection and adaption of a whole-language basal-reading program that incorporates writing and other language…

A September 1991 National Council for Social Studies report urges that social studies instruction for middle school students should focus on developing young adolescents' self-esteem, personal ethics, democratic values, and concern for the larger world. These values are fostered by using experiential learning, interdisciplinary instruction,…

Maintains that school failure can be prevented if at-risk students are provided with a coordinated set of interventions. Presents recommendations for principals and teachers and describes several successful programs that promote at-risk student learning, including cooperative learning, mentorships, instructional technology, and the whole-language…

Argues well-designed middle schools support the physical, social, cognitive, and emotional changes students experience. Promotes a design that is a hybrid of the home-based, child-centered elementary model and the elective-based, campus high school model. Focuses on enabling cross-curriculum, interdisciplinary team instruction in smaller,…

Provides advice to school leaders in working with the school community to design, develop, and implement plans for a safe and secure learning environment. Argues the process requires communication with students, staff, parents, community, and the school district. Focuses on analyzing potential threats, incidence management, and incident reporting.…

Provides strategies for school-level personnel to take an active role in improving how their facility functions in the education process. Includes advice on seeking a role in facilities design, encouraging the district to use facilities management tools, considering the unusual, and championing the cause of better school facilities. (SD)

Provides examples of middle school facilities design considerations for both new and remodeled buildings. Argues that the planning process is critical and offers advice including developing and reviewing the philosophy, selecting planning participants, conducting a Futures Workshop, beginning the process, planning at the microlevel, research, and…

Argues middle schools must focus on students in its space, textures, color, furnishings and materials used to address academic and emotional needs. Describes Kettering Middle School's mission to accomplish this goal by providing small learning communities, mentoring, opportunities for parental involvement, innovative instructional approaches, and…