Reviews the establishment, purposes, current status, problems, and prospects of middle schools. Identifies five goals generally accepted by middle school educators. Reports that middle schools' exemplary features include such components as interdisciplinary team organization, flexible schedules, and home base/individual counseling programs. (GEA)

Describes the implementation of flexible scheduling in an elementary school library media program. Topics addressed include integration of library skills into the curriculum, cross-curriculum teaching, integration of the library media program into the school's total program, making certain all students are involved, managing library resources, and…

Discusses ways to implement interdisciplinary teams to create high performance learning communities for students. Considers team tasks and needs, applying team tasks to responsive school structures, and enhancing instruction through flexible time use. (JPB)

Explains the rationale for and operation of the four basic middle school organizational components (i.e., interdisciplinary team organization, flexible scheduling, exploratory courses, and advisor-advisee programs), and their implications for Catholic education. (DMM)

Examines the use of various networks in schools for productivity, including student assignments, interactive learning systems, attendance, student schedules, student placement, electronic mail, classroom presentations, library automation, and shared CD-ROMs; and collaboration, including curriculum discussions, constructivist activities,…

Discusses outdoor education to improve student participation and learning in skill and subject areas. Relates outdoor education to constructivism, flexible scheduling, hands-on experiences, performance-based standards, multiple intelligences, cooperative learning, and interdisciplinary curriculum. Lists Web sites related to outdoor education. (DLH)

Suggests that much of the research on middle level education is weak, sparse, and inconclusive. Presents critiques of research and an overview of the research findings of several highly-rated middle level programs. Identifies four factors contributing to the problem, specifically: an insufficient number of studies, utilization of weak research…

Noting that academic failure begins early and that the focus of school reform should be at the elementary level, this book describes the Basic School, an idea based on best practice in elementary education. A Basic School pushes school reform back to the first years of formal education; gives priority to language and suggests a coherent core of…