Principal educators' and policy makers' predominant expectation from school principals to serve as instructional leaders--who engage primarily in a wide range of activities that clearly focus on improving teaching and learning for all students--has scarcely been applied in practice by principals in today's schools. Researchers have found several…

Discover the teaching practices that make the biggest difference in student performance! The new edition of this practical, research-based book gives leaders and teachers an even closer look at instructional practices from top award-winning urban schools. With refreshed examples from high-performing teachers and detailed analyses of these…

In the Fred S. Engle Middle School, an experiment in the structure of a middle school student council has been in progress for the last two years. Here students learn to develop leadership and become involved with many cultural and socio-economic groups. (Author/RK)

How far have middle schools made a distinctive contribution to the education of children in their age-group? Have their chances of innovation now gone forever? Looks at some of their current difficulties. (Editor/RK)

In recent research undertaken by the author a panel of middle school experts judged a number of criteria to be essential in order for a school to consider itself a true middle school. The qualities included in this article for the six middle school subsystems are derived from their valuable input. (Author/RK)

Developmental characteristics of students in middle schools (grades 5-8) are detailed and a social studies curriculum tailored to their particular needs is outlined. (JMF)

Discusses the developmental needs of young adolescents (e.g., self-exploration, meaningful participation, positive social interaction, physical activity, competency, achievement, structure, clear limits, appropriate curricula, knowledgeable and understanding educators, and integrated learning). Identifies ways Catholic schools can help meet these…

This report describes a program for advancing character education by expanding school goals of respect and responsibility and developing emotional intelligence by using the current curriculum. Targeted population consisted of elementary students in one first grade class and one fourth grade class, and middle school students in one sixth grade…

Chris Barbic, a Teach For America corps member, started Project Youth Engaged in Service (YES) in 1995. He wanted to offer his former elementary-school students an alternative to the low-performing middle schools they otherwise would attend. Since then Barbic has led a high-energy team of educators in refining a comprehensive approach to helping…

Identifies features of junior high schools that are undergoing change and those that are enduring; reviews four characteristics that have been sought, and to varying degrees attained, and whether they should continue. Describes three other characteristics that many professionals seek. Concludes with a tentative model of the new middle school that…

This digest describes the development of the standard middle school and its impact on rural areas, discusses the original goals of middle schooling, and suggests how rural schools can meet these goals despite their small size. The earliest middle schools were innovative rural junior high schools that enriched their programs with additional…

A remediation approach developed by the Vilonia public schools (Arkansas) to remediate content/skill deficiencies in middle level students resulted from three conditions: state laws and regulations regarding minimum competency testing; more awareness of problems with at-risk students; and recognition of the need to reach students academically…

This document provides the direction for the development of middle grades (5-8) programs in all Vermont schools. A mission statement identifies the means through which the purpose of young-adolescent education can be achieved. Goals for students and a scenario depicting a responsive middle school follow. The next section outlines the conceptual…