Describes a Wyoming junior high school teacher's expansion of a library research assignment to an Eagle Writing Project stressing practical skills applications, including critical thinking, listening, note taking, reviewing, respecting different opinions, communicating with government officials, writing as a practical tool, and respecting the…

In this interview, 16-year-old Samantha Abeel, who is learning-disabled in math, describes the frustrations of dealing with seventh-grade responsibilities like locker combinations, unfamiliar teachers, and algebra. Sam is gifted in writing but didn't receive special help with math until entering a special education class in eighth grade, where a…

Adolescent children of alcoholics (AdCOAs) take with them the habits and customs learned at home. Describes the distinguishing characteristics of AdCOAs, how they can be helped, and school-based intervention programs. Lists key points for alcohol awareness for all educators, and provides addresses for four resources. (15 references) (MLF)

A study of three middle school principals about their instructional leadership activities before and after the establishment of shared decision making revealed an enhancement of leadership. The nature of the middle school teacher's role demands participative leadership and communication and decision making revolved around instructional issues.…

Volunteer staff members at a Missouri junior high school met one on one with 25 students selected because of poor academic performance and poor attendance records. Meetings were held at least once per week to discuss personal and school-related happenings. By the end of a year grades improved and absences decreased. (MLF)

Administrators who focus on school-community relations for an uninterrupted time daily or several times each week will strongly affect community relations, parental involvement, and, ultimately, student achievement. (MLF)

A collaboration between Queens College (New York) and an urban middle school places graduate students at the school site for three full days each week. Prospective teachers spend time with a variety of teachers and a variety of situations and gradually move toward total responsibility. (MLF)

Studied the meaning of caring as constructed by 25 eighth graders, based on interactions with their teachers in a southwestern suburban middle school. Found that students had six major interpretations of caring, centered on control, equality, forgiveness, talking and listening, knowing students, and good teaching. (KB)

Traditionally, composition teachers have offered instruction at only two points: before the writing (through lessons in grammar and style) and after the writing (through error correction and evaluation). The most important part of the learning process comes during the writing activity, when students are struggling with ideas and issues like form,…

Prospective students and their parents need as much information as possible about a school's programs, staff, administration, and expectations. One Missouri middle school begins its orientation program with a school/PTA newsletter and a coffee for parents of fifth graders. Simultaneously, the middle school works with the local high school to…

A seventh grade student in Nebraska asked for information about becoming a teacher in middle schools. The letter was forwarded to present and former members of the National Association of Secondary School Principals' Council on Middle Level Education. Ten responses provide a broad look at the complex question, "What makes a successful teacher at…

Studied reasons for tardiness given by students in private middle school for girls. Found that some sort of transportation problem was the most common reason, followed by health-related causes, sleeping habits, family-related excuses, no reason given, and miscellaneous excuses. (KB)

During 3-year period, Arizona junior high school's site-based team developed and implemented 10-step process for becoming middle school. They assessed the school and community, researched school reform, built a team, developed a mission statement, set goals and empowered staff members, established teaching teams, trained staff members and parents,…

Describes successful programs in urban middle schools that focus on bringing students and their families together. (MLF)

Middle school students' real-life interests and preoccupations with themselves make them ideally suited to enjoy reading. Lists eight premises about teaching writing that have parallels in the teaching of literature. (12 references) (MLF)