Notes that, although literature on middle school teaching focuses on developmental stresses of young adolescents, it rarely offers specific ways to respond to student behaviors associated with these changes. Delineates the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional motivations behind typical early adolescent behaviors and then offers middle school…

Examines how results of research on the brain and learning can be applied to the education of middle level students. Considers neural, experimental, and reflective intelligence and the importance of emotion in learning. Suggests ways to use natural curiosity to enhance learning by introducing engaging problems and reflecting on the problem-solving…

This study investigated the effectiveness of color coding, accomplished by highlighting, used to help students differentiate between exact meaning (explicit information) and implied meaning (implicit information) in both narrative (short story) and expository texts. Subjects were 78 sixth-grade students randomly enrolled in four language arts…

This research summary focuses on learning preferences of early adolescents and their relationships with academic achievement and gender. The classroom structures under study were cooperative (working with peers in accomplishing academic material), competitive (competing with peers in academic endeavors), and individualistic (having no involvement…

Glasser's Control Theory deals with self-motivation by explaining all behavior as the drive for satisfaction of five internal needs: to survive and reproduce, to belong and love, to gain power, to be free, and to have fun. The theory posits that individuals always choose to do what is most satisfying at any given time. This paper discusses the…

A study was conducted to determine the impact of overage middle school students on middle schools. Four groups of educators were surveyed to determine their perceptions of the impact of overage middle school students. Questionnaires were returned by 183 teachers, 44 counselors, 24 principals, and 7 central office staff members, all of whom had…

This action research project devised a program designed to increase the use of visual elements in middle school core subjects and assessed its impact on student recall, teacher awareness, and use of visual/spatial elements. Observation, surveys, and interviews documented teachers' and students' limited knowledge and use of visual/spatial elements…

This curriculum guide allows teachers to help middle school students become more effective at handling conflict nonviolently and use what they know about interpersonal conflict resolution to understand conflict in the larger world. The curriculum is based on a model called the Peaceable Classroom, a caring classroom community that emphasizes…

Teachers are evaluated daily by their students. By examining students' criteria for teacher evaluation, teachers are able to broaden their existing base of understanding and develop a greater perception of the complex dynamics of the classroom. This study was conducted to evaluate students' comments regarding "good" teachers to determine whether…

A study investigated the effects of having a classroom book collection on the reading comprehension, reading attitudes, and reading habits (quantity and type of books read) of 54 students of English as a second language in two middle school classes in southern California, grades 5 and 6. Approximately half of each class had access to a collection…

A middle school teacher of writing to learners of English as a Second Language describes two techniques used to improve student participation and guide the writing process. The first is to select a writing topic to which all students can relate. In this case, the teacher asked students, in a class discussion, to give their own definitions of…

The choice theory holds that people can control only their own behavior, and that all people need a sense of belonging, freedom, power, and fun. This article argues that teachers must recognize that these needs motivate student behavior, and describes how a middle school turned its discipline and achievement problems around by using choice theory.…

Task engagement and conceptual change were studied for 12 sixth graders in 2 classrooms where teachers and instructional materials provided students with extensive support to understand science better. Results indicate that some students recognize the value of science learning and demonstrate cognitive engagement, whereas others pursue alternative…

A program was implemented for increasing writing and problem solving skills to increase educational achievement. The targeted populations consisted of sixth and seventh grade students from two growing middle class suburban communities located in the Midwest. The problems of inadequate writing and problem solving skills were documented through data…

Each of the seven chapters in this guide presents current research with practical applications for the middle-level teacher and integrates these instructional approaches with the developmental needs of the young adolescent. After a foreword by David H. Reilly, chapter 1 provides a general overview of current cognitive research and its…