Summarizes a survey of 300 middle school principals about their characteristics and their views about the important components of middle schools. (JM)

Offers a step-by-step procedure for teaching intermediate grade poor readers three important text-based strategies that boost their comprehension of expository prose by stimulating their thinking. (FL)

Discusses the New Zealand Geography Olympiad for 4th, 5th, and 6th form geography students, focusing on the schools round, the regional rounds, and the National Final, which produced a four member team that traveled to Toronto (Canada) to compete in the 4th National Geographic International Geography Olympiad. Discusses the International Olympiad.…

The purpose of a planned career education program was to provide rural students in grades seven through ten a variety of experiences and knowledges which would form a basis for future educational and occupational choices. The program explores occupational models in the home, family, and local community; occupational choices available in the State…

Describes a one-week summer law course that taught 15 gifted students (grades four through eight) about the U.S. court structure, the sources of law, juvenile law and how it differs from laws governing adults, the Fourth Amendment, the relationship between students and schools, and gifted education and the law. (CR)

Describes a "Talents Unlimited" program, based on the work of Calvin Taylor, that was used successfully in a class of fifth-grade remedial readers. Includes some of the activities devised by members of the class. (FL)

Describes San Francisco State University's development of a teacher education program to prepare middle school teachers. Its eight components are nature of the preprofessional field experience; subject matter preparation; preenrollment orientation; seminars on middle school teaching; curriculum and instruction; team teaching; teacher advisors; and…

This digest reviews some of the literature on middle grades teacher preparation focusing on the following topics: (1) characteristics and needs of early adolescents (aged 10-14); (2) the kinds of schools and programs suited to early adolescents; and (3) characteristics of a teacher education curriculum that would adequately prepare teachers for…

This digest describes three teacher education program models designed to concentrate on: (1) a philosophy of middle school education; (2) an understanding of the unique psychological, social, and intellectual needs peculiar to the 10- to 14-year-old student; (3) an ability to increase student motivation; and (4) a command of subject area. The…

The Round Meadow Environmental Laboratory School is an exemplary project designed to aid District of Columbia 6th grade children in overcoming the educational disadvantages of urban minority group isolation, both cultural and geographical, through a school-based and camp-based interracial and intercultural environmental awareness program. During…

ADELANTE (Spanish for Forward), Alliance for Developing and Enhancing Latino Awareness and Needs in Teacher Education, is a program designed to enhance the cultural sensitivity and teaching skills of experienced teachers. Developed cooperatively by Harrison-Morton Middle School, Kutztown University, and the community-based organization, Casa…

A comparative investigation of the place of the sixth grade in public education used a shadow study technique to address three questions: (1) What is a sixth grader's day in school like? (2) In what ways do programs provided for sixth graders differ, depending on where the grade is located in the school system? (3) How does what is known of the…

This revised New York state social studies curriculum guide presents teacher development materials and a syllabus for fourth grade social studies classes. The teacher's section elaborates on key features of the program and suggests relevant classroom applications. Contents discuss or provide: (1) concept goals; (2) skill goals; (3) evaluation…

This study examines the relative impact of classroom and nonclassroom sources of political information on the political awareness of students in grades 4, 5, and 6. To this end, (1) the sociopolitical content of a classroom source of political information, the "Weekly Reader," is analyzed and compared to the content of evening network news; (2)…

Discusses issues to be considered in efforts to determine whether programs are effective for improving education of all middle school students. Details directions effective programs are taking in mathematics, reading, writing and language arts, thinking skills, science, and social studies. Discusses common components of the programs. (BB)