This book examines the qualities of schools that successfully deal with the developmental diversity of young adolescents (10 to 14 years old). In part I, the author reviews literature on school effectiveness and develops a framework for evaluating schools that are not simply "effective," but are "successful." Seven criteria are outlined: (1)…

This report examines the condition of America's young adolescents and how well middle grade schools, health institutions, and community organizations serve them. In its plan for action, the Task Force on Education of Young Adolescents of the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development makes recommendations for new structures for middle grade…

This document comprises reviews of recent studies on the influence of classroom environment; curriculum tracking; child, parent and teacher beliefs; and middle school environment on the achievement of high risk students. Chapter 1, "Competitive, Cooperative, and Individualistic Structures of Classroom Learning," reports on the negative effect of…

The basic purpose of this text is to provide teachers with a practical guide for understanding and improving classroom management. Case studies included in the publication represent problems and issues common to urban, suburban, and rural school districts and personnel. Chapter 1, which focuses on broad perspectives on discipline, provides a…

With funds received under the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act (ECIA) Chapter 2, the Computer Discretionary Grant was designed to train Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) School District teachers in personal computer operations. Teams comprised of middle and junior high school teachers were allowed to enroll in the staff development program.…

The junior high school, typically grades 7-8 or 7-9, offers a program that is "not-quite-yet-but-trying-to-be" a high school. The organization of the middle school (commonly the grades 6-8), however, is based on a philosophy of education that was specifically designed to meet the special needs of a preadolescent learner; middle schools incorporate…

This publication provides a catalog of VHS-format videocassettes available only to members of the National Science Supervisors Association (NSSA). Topics covered are: biology, chemistry, earth sciences, environmental sciences, guidance, general sciences, health, physics, and psychology. All levels of students are represented including elementary…

This booklet focuses on reading motivation, especially on specific steps to motivate the middle school child to learn. The main topics explored are: finding or making time for reading for pleasure; filling or flooding the house with interesting reading materials; and reading as a way of life. Practical questions from parents are answered and…

The purpose of this report is to describe the programs that make up Oregon's Disadvantaged Child Project (DCP) and document the ways in which students benefited from participation. The DCP was established in 1967 to provide supplemental services to children in low-income and culturally deprived areas. The project contains three major components:…

This paper describes the implementation and effects of a behavior management system in eight middle schools, including control schools, in an urban school district. The components of the system included school discipline policy review and revision, computerized behavior tracking, classroom organization and management, and positive reinforcement.…

This guide contains a minicourse based upon the content of "About the Middle School Years, Book 3" of the Educational Opportunities in Virginia publications. The minicourse has been designed to help students, with the involvement of their parents, to begin planning for their middle school education. Included in this guide is a sequential…

Two middle schools, one junior high school, and two senior high schools participated in a study conducted from 1977-81. The study project included both development and research activities. The goal of development activities was for each school to start or refine administration-organization arrangements and improvement strategies. Research…

The Portland Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program was designed to remedy the underrepresentation of particular ethnic groups in mathematics and science-based careers and professions. It provides enrichment instruction on a weekly basis in eight middle schools and three high schools to enhance mathematics and science skills…

This model for a competency-based home economics program covers the four areas from the 1984 Colorado Middle/Junior High Curriculum, entitled Basic Skills for Quality Living. They are (1) Developing Self, (2) Being a Family Member, (3) Being a Consumer, and (4) Becoming Employable. A conceptual outline from the Basic Skills for Quality Living…

Intended for teachers of grades 7-16, this book discusses "heuristic" writing--writing that produces new, irreversible knowledge for the writer leading to a fuller understanding of the self and of the act of writing--as well as principles and practices having direct implications for a wide range of students. Chapter 1 examines the…