This paper describes the findings of a study of general and special educators' perceptions of co-teaching in elementary and middle school classrooms. A total of 85 students, 20 general education, and 11 special education teachers participated in this investigation in which student drawings were used as both data and as tools to spark teacher…

There is a need for leadership in the development of effective middle level schools in the United States. Despite the increasing numbers of schools that call themselves middle schools, there has not been much change in the educational program for pupils in grades 6, 7, and 8. Leaders in middle grades education need to examine current data about…

This curriculum guide describes the instructional program at the Ada H. H. Lewis Middle School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In brief, the goals of the program are to provide the schools' fifth-grade through eighth-grade students with educational opportunities based on an eclectic team-teaching approach. Four separate "houses" accommodate…

Students between the ages of 10-14 are going through tremendous physical changes and shifting from great dependence on parents to a strong sense of independence. Building an interdisciplinary curriculum around these students' needs, taught by teaching teams in schools administered at the site level, can prove very successful. (Author/PGD)

Teachers should have the authority to teach as they think best in their own classrooms and be held accountable for academic results. Proposes teams of teachers who are responsible for teaching the same group of children for four years. Teams of primary teachers would work with children from ages 6 through 10, and teams of intermediate teachers…

Notes that a clearly defined purpose with identification of performance goals is crucial to the success of middle school teacher teams. Provides several practical ways for teacher teams to discover or define their purpose, including naming the team and identifying desirable qualities for team members. (HTH)

This manifesto outlines the purposes, instructional program, facilities, allocation of resources, financing, and implementation of a private elementary and middle school that is based on the concepts of professional accountability and individualized learning. The school would be organized around learning families that cross grade and ability…

Describes the founding of Washington, D.C.'s Brookland School, a preschool-to-grade-eight facility that embodies the middle school philosophy. (Author/JM)

Explored how a middle school integrative learning environment at a Florida school influenced students' perspectives of curriculum, schooling, and learning. Students in grades 9 and 10 were interviewed. Results indicated three themes pertaining to students' perspectives--thinking and learning integratively, constructing knowledge socially, and…

Explored the professional knowledge that two teams of interdisciplinary teachers exchanged during their daily interactions using observation of team planning meetings, teacher interviews, and teachers' personal reflections. The following five types of mentoring among highly collaborative teachers emerged: collaborative, clerical, professional…

A step-by-step manual of worksheets, templates, forms and examples, this comprehensive handbook is designed for librarians, classroom teachers, and technology specialists who are interested in training students to be technology aides. The "Tech Team" program not only systematically outlines how one organizes and manages a support program, but…

Examined the effects of a 4-week interdisciplinary unit on middle school students' problem-solving ability. Subjects, 459 students in 4 Midwestern school districts, were taught by 6 teams of teachers. Pre- and posttest results indicated that students identified as formal operational thinkers made significant gains in their problem-solving ability,…

Examined use of integrated, interdisciplinary, or multidisciplinary (I/ID/MD) curricula in Missouri schools. Qualitative and quantitative analyses suggest that: use of I/ID/MD is affected by school size; nonuser schools are primarily rural, with student bodies of low SES status; and teacher involvement in decision making is higher among schools…

Examines effective lesson-planning under the integrated curriculum approach. Proposes a seven-step plan of writing, discussing, and revising proposed plans. Suggests that using the writing process in lesson planning as a team creates a multidisciplinary, integrated curriculum with organized, power-packed lessons and activities, offering a…

Describes a model used for implementing middle grade reform in California public schools. Ten regional networks of 8 to 12 schools in geographic proximity were formed. Results of an evaluation indicated that, when supported by colleagues in their regional network, educators working in interdisciplinary teams implemented reforms in curriculum,…