Educational contracts define the parameters of teacher obligations to students, parents, and other stakeholders freeing teachers to design and implement instruction rather than trying to fulfill roles (counselor, social worker, parent) best filled by other stakeholders. Describes analogous contracts used in the business world and provides examples…

Analyses of data for three cohorts of middle-school students (more than 5,600) show that communal organization was not related to mathematics achievement or attendance, but academic press was positively related to both mathematics achievement and attendance. Results call for more skepticism about the currently popular communitarian approach to…

Evaluated effectiveness of school-based social skills program. Middle school children (N=34) selected for behavior problems were assigned to social skills training or to a no-treatment control group. Assessed change by teacher, parent, and self-report measures. Findings suggest significant improvement in social activity and parental report of…

Finds surface-level metacognitive knowledge across three metacognitive domains--declarative, procedural, and conditional. Finds that average middle school students' (grades four through eight) metacognitive knowledge of science reading, science text, and science reading strategies is similar to that of younger and poorer readers of narrative text.…

Examined extent to which sixth and seventh grade students' (n=133) preference for outdoor activity changed during middle school. Found that boys', compared to girls', preference to play outdoors existed only in sixth grade. Factor analyses indicated three factors describing students: Teachers' Choice, Active Female Oriented, and Outdoor Male…

Finds that, compared to national norms, academically at-risk students (a sample of 2,793 academically at-risk students at 14 urban, large, predominantly minority middle or junior high schools) are more apprehensive of communication and lower in self-perceived communication competence. Suggests several pedagogical strategies for responding to…

Describes an instructional program designed to promote scientific literacy among middle grade students. The program used a collaborative group instruction approach and focused on the development of tasks that provided students with opportunities to solve problems and to employ concepts useful to scientific problem solving. (PAM)

Discusses how students acquire curriculum knowledge and beliefs in typical upper-elementary and middle-school social studies and science units, and how the cognitive processes involved in acquiring knowledge are themselves acquired through classroom experiences. Uses evidence from a series of classroom studies to demonstrate how classroom learning…

This literature review pays particular attention to research that: (1) focuses on gender differences in mathematics and science achievement; and (2) offers implications for middle school educators addressing young adolescents' gender-specific needs. The review offers a list of recommendations for middle school educators based on the research. (EV)

Examines similarities in implementing theories of multiple intelligences, learning styles, and brain-based education in middle schools: (1) theories are learning and learner-centered; (2) teacher is a reflective practitioner and decisionmaker; (3) student is a reflective practitioner; (4) the whole person is educated; (5) the curriculum has…

Describes Internet tools that can be incorporated into the general music class structure and are appropriate for upper elementary and middle school students: (1) electronic music dictionaries and encyclopedias; (2) Internet practice-and-drill web sites; and (3) virtual learning centers. Discusses the structure of Internet projects and the use of…

An alternative education program in Virginia helps suspended students keep on track. The school district contracts with student teachers at two nearby private colleges--Bridgewater College and Eastern Mennonite University--to tutor middle and high school students who are on long-term suspension of at least a semester. (MLF)

A year-long interpretive study, framed by the theory of symbolic interactionism, examined the meanings of care to middle school students. Five themes emerged: care as control, equality, forgiveness, concern, and good teaching. Findings indicated not only some agreement between students and teachers on meanings and symbolic acts of care, but also…

An eastern Kentucky teacher has run the gamut of classroom challenges, from statewide educational reform to her own bout with technophobia. But through her application of the Foxfire approach, her students have engaged in active learning projects in their school and community and with other students in Nebraska and China, with lasting results.…

Provides background information on Rene Magritte and his work. Offers an activity in which elementary and middle school students can learn about Magritte's sky and silhouette series of painted wine bottles. Explains that the lesson should be used when students are learning about poetry in language arts classes. (CMK)