Middle schools were designed to promote exploration in the curriculum in a way that is appropriate for young adolescents. However, this vision has not been fully embraced, and many middle schools still function as junior versions of high school. Gary Weilbacher explores the history of the middle school movement and describes how the…

The pandemic era had an enormous influence on teaching and learning activities in all regions of the world. For urban areas that generally already have a variety of adequate facilities and infrastructure, it still has an impact on their learning activities. However, this outbreak in rural areas with limitationsin teaching and learning activities…

While there is considerable research concerning co-teaching among special educators and regular classroom teachers, little work has been published regarding co-teaching that involves teacher candidates and their cooperating teachers. During the last three years, two middle level education faculty members involved in their University's Professional…

There is a perceived shortage of male teachers in education, particularly at the primary/junior (P/J) level where male teachers in Canada account for a dwindling minority. Included among the many factors inhibiting males from becoming P/J teachers are perceptions that males might be unduly vulnerable to false accusations of inappropriate conduct…

This action research study examined the role of the Migrant Graduation Specialists in public middle schools, junior high schools, and high schools participating in a special project called HOPE (Honing in On Post-secondary Education); and analyzed the viewpoint of migrant students participating in this project in order to determine their…

It is not unusual for people to attend their high school or college class reunions, but who would want to go back and visit their old junior high? After all, this is a time that most people overlook or want to forget. However, it was a meaningful time for this author, and laid the foundation for whom he had become. It was during his junior high…

Since 2004, the National Standards for Physical Education have endorsed the notion that physical educators should teach personal and social responsibility. Continuing professional development (CPD) programs, based on teaching personal and social responsibility, are needed to support teacher's adherence to the national standards. The purpose…

This module presents a curriculum on violence prevention for middle school students. It begins with a discussion of what violence is. The second lesson helps students to examine the portrayal of violence in various media. In the third lesson, students examine their own anger and their own tendencies toward violence. The fourth lesson examines the…

Discusses how sexual abuse impinges on the developmental issues of early adolescence. Symptoms of sexual abuse in young people are listed, and ways in which school counselors can be helpful are described. (CH)

This paper describes preliminary analyses of data from an ongoing project entitled "Connecting In-School and Out-of-School Mathematics Practice." During this project the authors are: (1) investigating how middle school students use mathematics concepts and processes in a variety of out-of-school situations, and (2) working with middle…

Describes oral activities that help middle and junior high school students develop decision-making skills. The activities, based on Gary Paulsen's novel "Hatchet," focus on struggling for survival. Recommends "Hatchet" as a vehicle for observing the maturing process and for teaching skills that students can apply to their own…

A study determined whether first year middle school drama students in a talented, magnet program were able to demonstrate more credible characterization in a scene study project after they had been taught some basic directing methods. These methods included blocking (the movements of the actor) and beat breakdowns (the small acting units in a…

Kentucky is one of 27 states selected to participate in Carnegie's grant-sponsored Middle Grade Schools State Policy Initiative. This publication offers a blueprint for change in Kentucky's middle grades. Data were collected through surveys of: (1) a total of 214 administrators, 909 teachers, 878 parents, and 1,047 students at 228 Kentucky…

Student Study Teams were established at the middle and junior high school levels to address the needs of at-risk students not being served by special education programs. Also, communication and cooperation between existing Student Study Teams (SST) and other referral teams had been lacking and needed to be improved. The goals were to strengthen…

This study examined the validity and reliability of the Back Saver Sit-and-Reach test for middle school students. Students completed the test during physical education class. Results indicated that the test was moderately related to hamstring flexibility, but its relationship to lower back flexibility was quite low for both sexes. (SM)