Examined how different middle schools, with different curricula, differed in their approach to teaching the same pickleball activity, comparing the enacted curriculum of schools using a multi-activity curriculum to a school using curriculum developed through the Saber-Tooth Project. Schools were similar managerially. Differences were apparent when…

Notes that magnet schools are part of reform desegregation efforts in many school districts. Describes a study that explored perceptions of isolation among parents of students from different races in upper elementary and middle school magnet programs. Characterized the sensitivity of teachers to isolation in their schools. (Author/LPP)

Middle school principals and teachers (n=714) responded to questions about inclusion, the degree of change needed, the importance of collaborative strategies for teaching, and concepts for inclusive education. Collaboration as an instructional strategy for included students was a high-priority item, but there were many points of disagreement. (SLD)

The present study focuses on the relationship between teacher empowerment and teachers' organizational commitment, professional commitment (PC) and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). It examines which subscales of teacher empowerment can best predict these outcomes. The data were collected through a questionnaire returned by a sample of…

This study examined high school and middle school transition practices from the perspective of special education teacher leaders. Results indicated that the majority of schools offer functional curricula, social skills training, and an array of school-based functional learning opportunities. However, a significant number of schools did not provide…

In today's schools bullies have the power to be more tenacious, more vicious, and meaner than ever. We are all beginning to understand that victims of bullying are at a greater risk for depression, suicide, and hurting others through violent acts. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate common threads of effective Bully-Free…

When 29 percent of final grades for students at Bendle Middle School showed up as Ds and Es, teachers knew something had to give. Kenkel, Hoelscher, and West describe how the ABCI approach, based on mastery learning, shook up a community culture of low expectations for working class kids, and opened the way for more appropriate teaching methods…

Involving middle school students in decision making is an important way to make them feel that they are part of the educational process in their school, that they are part of the "school team." A key way to involve students is through the creation of a Student Advisory Board (SAB), such as the one in place at Schmucker Middle School in…

The relationship of the middle-level writing curriculum to four influences on English language arts teachers' writing practices and instructional programs are explored in this report. The four variables include school organizational structure, philosophical commitment to middle-school programs, policy structure, and teacher characteristics. The…

The attitudes of grade 6 middle school students and teachers toward their social studies textbook, "American Neighbors," (Macmillan, 1980) were measured through conversations, interviews, classroom observations, questionnaires, attitude measures, student letters to textbook authors, and a metaphor task. The case study, which took place…

A study examined student initiated and teacher initiated influence patterns that make up aspects of bidirectionality. The study also identified ways in which these patterns relate to student learning and attitudes. Study subjects included 21 fifth-grade students and their teacher. Thirty-six social studies lessons, representing a unit, were…

Using an attitudinal questionnaire, the National Middle School Study surveyed 153 principals and 567 teachers in "exemplary" middle schools in 37 states. The questionnaire sought to learn the respondents' attitudes concerning the needs or functions of middle school students, teachers, principals, curricula, facilities, and organization.…

The 32 articles in this volume suggest many ideas to be considered in planning a middle school. The traditional junior high school organization and program have for some years caused much concern. This level of schooling has seemed to some to be too much influenced by the high school curriculum. Observations suggest that sixth graders are more…

This paper provides an analysis of a teacher development experiment (cf. Simon, 2000) designed to support teachers' understandings of statistical data analysis. The experiment was conducted as part of collaborative efforts between the author and a cohort of middle-school mathematics teachers during the 2000-2001 academic year. Analysis of the…

More than 70 percent of San Antonio (Texas) urban school children are Hispanic, and approximately 85 percent are from minority ethnic groups. This paper is the second in a series of reports from a 3-year study of private and public school-choice programs in San Antonio. The paper discusses the characteristics of private and public schools as…