Motivated by peer pressure and the principle of least effort, middle schoolers often make poor choices--not to work, listen, or hand in assignments--that can lead to failure or underachievement. To avoid "social promotion," a Colorado middle school has initiated transition classes that give students a second chance to learn last…

Using Total Quality Education principles, a Colorado middle school formed an action team to research discipline situation and develop a new system. Consequences for infractions now range from Saturday school to visiting local prisons and performing community service (to replace suspension). Program success is based on consistency, learning…

Assesses the concerns raised by a group of middle-level teachers when developing and implementing interdisciplinary curriculum, teaming, and teaching. Participants progressed through various stages, including information, personal, management, and collaboration. Concerns at each level had to be resolved before teachers could reach the final…

Before designing an interdisciplinary portfolio project, educators at a Colorado middle school surveyed seventh- and eighth-grade students about their most memorable work. Students' most memorable work in school included hands-on science, independent research projects, speech making, research on foreign cultures, field trips, and art projects.…

Colorado's residents are reminded of the land's past residents, the Northern San Juan Ancestral Puebloans. Their artifacts are encountered throughout the state. What can people learn from the Ancestral Puebloans about how to live on this landscape? The "Escalante Pueblo Curriculum" is designed to enhance a teacher's options for…

Since middle schools vary in their degree of implementation of middle school practices, this research was designed to compare the job satisfaction of middle school teachers with the degree of implementation of these practices. Six teachers from each of Colorado's 50 schools with the name "middle school" were randomly selected to serve as…

Designed for middle school through high school students, this unit contains eight lesson plans that focus on Colorado state law. The state lessons correspond to lessons in the volume, "Antidote: Civic Responsibility. Drug Avoidance Lessons for Middle School & High School Students." Developed to be presented by educators, law student,…

During the 1995-96 school year, the Colorado Department of Education supported Comprehensive Health Education Programs as authorized by the Comprehensive Health Education Act of 1990. This report summarizes the projects funded under that grant along with additional observations and recommendations regarding the operation of such grants. Grant…