Many educators believe that middle grades schools have a responsibility to capitalize on the natural curiosity of young adolescents through the use of an exploratory curriculum to help students understand the world in which they live. This study examined the status of middle grades exploratory programs in Alabama. A 22-item questionnaire was sent…

There are currently three popular models of exploratory programs in middle level schools: (1) traditional exploratory courses (art, music, industrial arts); (2) elective mini-courses (newspapers, environmental issues, video productions); and (3) integration of exploratory opportunities within the core curriculum (relating a single topic to social…

A study sought to identify current practices and trends in middle level certification of teachers and other selected middle level personnel. Certification officers in all 50 state departments of education were surveyed to secure current certification regulations and related information during the 1984-85 academic year. It was found that 26 states…

Offers a series of recommendations for middle grades social studies reflecting a conscious commitment to three educational goals: (1) personal development; (2) communication and learning skills; and (3) on history, government, and geography; use of a variety of teaching methods; and recognition of the uniqueness of middle school students. (GEA)

With administrative support, guidance from Georgia Southern University's middle-grades program, and much hard work, teachers at a rural Georgia elementary school (K-7) have fashioned a developmentally appropriate middle-grades program. The results are greater middle-grade/high school articulation, an exploratory curriculum, differentiated student…

The current state of middle grade schools in Vermont and New Hampshire was examined by a questionnaire survey of sixteen middle grade schools in Vermont and 33 in New Hampshire. Middle grade schools were defined as those serving between three and five grade levels, including grades six and seven. Information gathered from each school included:…

Describes the changing social characteristics of early adolescence; provides research finding implications of the effects these changes have on the school climate and academic acheivement and offers suggestions to middle school educators who interact daily with early adolescents. (BB)

There are many compelling reasons for introducing foreign language study at the middle school level. Adolescents are initiating new and higher levels of cognitive processing, their curiosity is high, and they are concerned with intellectual, philosophical, biological, sociological, moral, and ethical issues. A survey of 82 middle school foreign…

This publication seeking to assist social studies educators at the middle grades level, this publication considers some of the salient issues in the field of social studies; ways to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the important developmental stage of early adolescence; and how to recognize the importance of developing and implementing…

This study provides a data profile on Vermont's middle level schools and draws several comparisons between these data and those collected in a similar study conducted in 1980. Section One reports the current data from surveyed principals. Section Two offers several comparisons between 1980 and 1989 data. Section Three draws conclusions and offers…

This book is designed to help social studies teachers develop interdisciplinary-integrated curriculum and instruction at the middle grades. The information provided is for preservice and practicing middle grade educators and offers: (1) an overview of the historical and philosophical antecedents of social studies education; (2) a brief review of…

Grouping students homogeneously by ability level is a common practice in public middle and secondary schools. This practice persists despite research evidence that it actively hinders students' learning. To change grouping practices, however, concurrent changes must be made in the design of schedules, curriculum, and instruction. Such changes can…

This study surveyed the nature and extent of exploratory programming in intermediate schools. A 22-item questionnaire was sent to all 285 of the state's middle and junior high schools. Of the 163 respondents, 160 indicated that they had some form of exploratory programming. The latter number included: (1) 155 schools with traditional exploratory…

A study was conducted to provide a current data profile on Georgia's middle grade schools that could serve as a baseline for periodic reassessments of the state's middle grade schools. A 19-item questionnaire was mailed to Georgia's 284 public middle grade schools in October 1990, requesting information on administration organization; grade…

An important component of sound middle school education is a commitment to providing coordinated advising and counseling services in the school setting. This handbook describes how middle school professionals can develop small group advisory support for each student. Known variously as home-base, advisor-advisee, or teacher advisory (TA) programs,…