The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the impact of flexible scheduling in school libraries on incorporating information literacy skills into the core curriculum. Participants included school librarians from middle schools in neighboring suburban and urban counties. In addition to an open-ended questionnaire, interviews and focus…

This qualitative case study analyzed how one interdisciplinary team within a large middle school fostered a responsive adolescent-centered community for eighth-grade team students. Data were collected during the spring semester of the 2009 school year via observations, individual interviews, and focus group interviews with nine participants,…

Explains why block scheduling has become accepted practice at the secondary level and describes potential benefits for middle level schools. Shares common scheduling approaches and discusses their appropriateness for use at the middle level. Presents alternative models that would permit middle school faculties to capitalize on the benefits of…

This paper presents a model of a successful student scheduling pattern for a 45-15 year-round middle school (grades 6-8). The model allows for scheduling 100 percent of resource lab teaching time for all the student population in attendance at any one time, and formulates a house design and team teaching structure that facilitates smooth ingress…

Discusses the transition from traditional teaching and scheduling to a comprehensive block schedule with team teaching at the middle school level. Describes the process of educational change, including framing the problem, establishing consensus for change, creating pure teams, designing the master schedule; also discusses implementation issues.…

This book investigates school schedules by examining the use of time at the middle level and discussing strategies that schools may use to provide greater flexibility to the school day. Eleven specific scheduling models are presented and described. Complementing the models is a discussion of the factors that propel a school's investigation of…

For children, change can be frightening, and the middle school years are a time of dramatic change for them. Young adolescents are grappling with confusing and often difficult changes in their emotions, their bodies, their schools, their schedules, and the social and academic expectations placed upon them. Middle school administrators, teachers,…

Building and implementing a school master schedule is one of a school administrator's most crucial tasks. A master schedule can either create opportunity or hinder teaching students. This is particularly true in middle-level schools, many of which are using information about the learning characteristics of early adolescents to reexamine how…

An individualized French course for seventh- and eighth-grade students in which student achievement is evaluated in terms of mastery of learning "paquets" is outlined in this teacher's guide. The two-year course is described in sections treating (1) learning packages, (2) developing a sense of responsibility, (3) grading, (4) the year-round…

The ability of the school administrator to schedule teachers' and students' time so that each receives the most from each school day has become an essential skill. This book has been prepared for school administrators at the elementary and middle school levels who need appropriate management techniques for scheduling students into classes. Chapter…

Biggest obstacle to Eugene, Oregon's plans to integrate middle school curricula is finding time to enable staff to develop a common vision of the future to build upon. Despite adoption of a flexible scheduling pattern, more time is needed for staff development, training, and cooperative instructional unit development. Creating teaching teams to…

An unusual new program in Lexington, North Carolina, which is a drastic change to the schedule and methods of presenting learning material, is described. (DB)

The interdisciplinary team organization allows teachers to allocate time to accommodate the curriculum and young adolescents' instructional needs. For maximum flexibility, several scheduling options may be considered: large-group instructional time, one less period daily, heterogeneous class grouping, and "top class" team scheduling. Advantages,…

Describes two different modular scheduling plans designed for use in middle schools. (Published by National Middle School Association, P.O. Box 968, Fairborn, OH 45324) (JG)

Middle school scheduling is a major instructional activity reflecting understanding of human growth and development, agreed-on school objectives and purposes, and available human and physical resources. (Author/JM)