Discusses ways to make middle school classrooms student-friendly by motivating students to take control of their education, understand themselves, and assess their own progress. Notes the teacher's role in this student-centered classroom. (JPB)

Discusses implications of the National Middle School Association's position paper "Developmentally Responsive Middle Level Schools" on the use of evaluation to promote learning. Considers the importance of involving students directly in every step of the teaching-learning process, including goal setting and evaluation. (JPB)

Discusses six transformations in teachers' thinking to facilitate implementation of integrative curriculum. The transformations include rethinking the teacher as a curriculum theorist, reconceptualizing the roles of teachers and students, affirming student voices, conceptualizing authentic assessment, and restructuring the classroom environment.…