While incorporating digital technologies into the classroom has offered new ways of teaching and learning into educational processes, it is essential to take a look at how the digital shift impacts teachers, school administration, and curriculum development. "Academic Knowledge Construction and Multimodal Curriculum Development" presents…

Demonstrates use of a threaded model of integration to promote collaborative learning across the middle-school curriculum. By beginning the year with literature portraying characters who feel richly rewarded by working together, teachers can promote collaboration as a social necessity and reading for pleasure and social growth. The spirit of…

Describes a whole-class strategy called Imagine, Elaborate, Predict, and Confirm designed to improve reading comprehension and writing among middle school students. Reviews research and describes modeling, prereading, reading, post reading, and follow-up stages for classroom procedures. Includes sample lessons for science, literature, and social…

This publication seeking to assist social studies educators at the middle grades level, this publication considers some of the salient issues in the field of social studies; ways to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the important developmental stage of early adolescence; and how to recognize the importance of developing and implementing…

Offers instructional activities (in the form of a three-day lesson plan and extension activities) for middle-level students that allow adolescents to recognize heroic people and actions, and then explore their own characters and behaviors for signs of courage, leadership, and sincerity. Lists resources about heroes. (SR)

Recommends that teachers prompt intellectual preparation of adolescents by asking intriguing questions, presenting captivating tasks, opening compelling investigations, or assigning appealing roles. Discusses discipline-based inquiry by young students in science, mathematics, social studies, English, and the fine arts. Challenges teachers to…

Development of four pilot units for an integrated, content-based second language curriculum for Taipei American School, Taiwan reported. Units were adapted from an existing mainstream middle school social studies curriculum, and are designed for beginning students of English as a Second Language (ESL), particularly in international schools. An…

A September 1991 National Council for Social Studies report urges that social studies instruction for middle school students should focus on developing young adolescents' self-esteem, personal ethics, democratic values, and concern for the larger world. These values are fostered by using experiential learning, interdisciplinary instruction,…

This paper describes a study that examined relationships among students' goals, efficacy beliefs, news-seeking behavior, and current events knowledge. The study expands on previous work on students' achievement related goals by examining the effects of goals and self-efficacy on knowledge of current events, a sub-domain of social studies. A sample…

A unit in a Glendale, California sixth grade social studies curriculum is presented as a model for addressing two problems in the instruction of the growing population of limited English-proficient (LEP) students: (1) inadequate teacher training; and (2) shortage of appropriate, effective instructional materials. For the curriculum segment on…

This paper suggests that emerging adolescents in middle schools will do better in social studies if activities are encouraged that develop and maintain student interest. Goal centered, interesting learning opportunities are a must in the social studies curriculum. Middle school students need ample opportunities to engage in problem solving.…

This task force report is designed to focus attention on the young adolescent learner and provide direction for developing appropriate and meaningful social studies instruction for the middle school. Schools at the middle level characteristically focus on the unique developmental needs of young adolescents. A number of these needs are listed, in…