Discusses careful planning, enlightened leadership, informed and enthusiastic teachers, and continuous evaluation as prerequisites for successful interdisciplinary teamwork. Suggests that interdisciplinary teaming allows better use of faculty members' skills, and provides better strategies for dealing with diversified populations, better…

Profiles two middle school teacher-education programs: (1) the undergraduate program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; and (2) the graduate program at Maryville University in St. Louis County, Missouri. Emphasizes the need to provide special preparation to the teachers at this level. Discusses problems related to the rarity of…

Discusses four principles that can help middle school environments overcome common behavior problems and become places where young adolescents develop responsibility for their learning: (1) foster natural human development; (2) respond to individual needs; (3) avoid artificially imposed classroom order and promote self organization; and (4) value…

Discusses the needs for restructuring the curriculum, instruction and environment of middle schools to better meet the needs of learners and teachers. Suggests that most reform today is moving toward a developmentally appropriate, child-centered approach. Issues under consideration include a definition of developmentally appropriate programs at…

Discusses the advantages of using a holistic language approach, its relationship to middle school theory, and guidelines for its implementation. Suggests that holistic language literacy approaches hold great promise for the middle grades. By integrating language skills and using real literature and authentic activities focused on students'…

Examines social aspects of literacy learning; presents some thoughts on reading development and literacy instruction. Suggests that teachers should promote literacy by incorporating students' interests in their activities. Developing chat rooms, posting messages on the Internet, and making a radio play for younger students all provide meaningful…

Discusses instructional strategies that address five affective needs of middle school students: freedom of choice, appropriate peer interactions, instructional diversity, personal expression, and broadened perspectives. Suggests that when incorporated into existing curriculum and laced with relevant application, these strategies can lead to a…

Examines the use of technology under two different contexts: university courses for future middle school teachers, and middle school classrooms. Emphasizes the need for young adolescents to become technologically literate. Discusses different programs to help middle school students learn how to use technology, and at the same time helping them…

Examines the application of Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences at the middle school level. Suggests that planning, teaching and assessment should be based upon learner's individual needs and intelligences, aiming to help develop particular intelligences and strengthen the existing ones. Proposes several learning activities for…

Discusses the need of young adolescents to belong to their own culture wherein they can attain peer status and achievement. Presents a project in Castle Hill School (Pittsburgh) as an example of helping urban young adolescents to build a culture of achievement. Emphasizes the importance of this culture for young adolescents who cannot separate…

Studies have berated American students for poor academic performance on standardized tests compared to their Asian and European counterparts. But education philosophy, pedagogical methodology, and learning objectives in the U.S. are simply different from those of these other countries. Rather than emphasizing rote memorization, American schools…

This Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) position paper identifies the curricular areas that should be addressed in a program intended to prepare teachers of children birth through age 8. Outlines preferred knowledge in the following areas: general education, foundations of early childhood education, child development, the…

This Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) position paper identifies the curricular areas that should be addressed in a preparation program for teachers at the elementary level. Outlines preferred knowledge in the following areas: general education, foundations of elementary education, child development, the learning and…

Reviews research on how stress affects young children and how it can be managed. Provides information on internal and external sources of stress, symptoms of stress in children, the four stages of stress experienced by children (alarm, appraisal, search for a coping strategy, and implementation of the strategy), and stress prevention and…

Summarizes recent ERIC documents and journal articles that discuss the use of the project approach as a teaching method in early childhood education. Provides paragraph-length abstracts of nine ERIC documents and seven journal articles, as well as information about ERIC and ordering ERIC documents. (EV)