This practicum report describes the development and implementation of a middle school program in King and Queen County in Virginia's Middle Peninsula designed to improve the achievement of sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students whose achievement scores were consistently lower than national and state averages. A literature review and…

A study compared the achievement of students in three Ottawa French programs: early French immersion (EFI), begun in kindergarten; middle French immersion (MFI), begun in fourth grade; and late French immersion (LFI), begun in sixth grade, with students in core French instruction since kindergarten. Extensive testing and data-collection…

This study investigated interaction and achievement in cooperative small groups in four junior high school mathematics classrooms. Ninety-six students learned a one-week unit on consumer mathematics in mixed-ability or uniform-ability groups. Students in mixed-ability groups scored higher on a problem-solving test than students in uniform-ability…

Preconference, conference, and post conference activities are described. The introduction of Latin into grades 6 and 7 of District of Columbia schools is discussed in the keynote address. Committee reports consider (1) Latin in grades 6, 7, and 8, (2) Latin curricula for levels 1 and 2, (3) teacher education, and (4) public relations. The largest…

The curriculum materials for grades 6-8 presented in the guide have been classroom developed and tested; they are the result of a project to establish a comprehensive career education program in the Cashmere and Peshastin-Dryden, Washington School Districts. An introduction discusses goals and is supplemented by the National Standard Career…

The general objective of this project is to enhance the educational and psycho-social development of seventh and eighth grade students who are experiencing learning or psycho-social deficits. This is accomplished through a meaningful tutorial relationship with a senior citizen aide. Together, the adolescent student and tutor create educational…

This interim report on an experimental program to increase student motivation to learn French at the Cultural Centre of Intensive French (CCIF) examines objectives, evaluation procedures, and results of the experiment. Part 1 contains sections on: (1) French achievement in Ottawa, Canada, grade 8 classes, (2) Pimsleur listening comprehension test,…

The elective course of study about the lives of selected Americans who shaped events is intended for grades seven through nine and arranged to fit the quinmester administrative organization of schools. Aims for students are to: study key individuals in the context of their time to understand how they affect culture and history; identify with…

Details the educational objectives achieved by an 8th grade U.S. history class using a cooperative learning research model. Using the Group Investigation Model, the class learned to use text headings, subheads, and key words in their reading. They also became familiar with synthesizing information and linking key ideas. (MJP)

Examines a six-step "lesson plan" for teaching writing. Details the pairing of eighth-grade students with first graders about whom they will write a story, the collection of information about the main character, the composition and revision of the stories, and the sharing of the final product with the students participating in the project. (AA)

Describes the personal development of a private-school teacher involved in course restructuring in U.S. history. Lists and discusses the use of seven themes as the basis for the course. Concludes that history, more than any other subject, is linked to personal identity. (CFR)

Presents practical suggestions for resources and instructional strategies for teaching the Holocaust to middle school students. Describes the experiences of a classroom teacher working with an eighth-grade class on the topic of the Holocaust. Discusses the use of novels and includes a list of 11 recommended titles. (CFR)

This article describes the results of a "teacher as researcher" project, which helps preservice teachers learn how to develop meaningful curriculum by creating interdisciplinary connections between literacy (reading and writing) and one (of both) of their two areas of specialization, and supports the author's own learning about how to best help…

This report summarizes and analyzes the impact of a collaborative project joining Conestoga Valley Middle School and Millersville University (Pennsylvania). The project, part of the Keystone Integrated Framework Project, promoted partnerships between local schools and teacher education programs in Pennsylvania. This project was a 7-week, role…

The problems that middle school special education students experience in the academic area of social studies were addressed in this practicum. The students could not grasp the ideas, received poor grades, and exhibited a very poor attitude about the relevance of social studies as an academic concern. The special education social studies classes…