Writing achievement among young adolescents has become a significant concern. According to data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) (2000), writing achievement has not changed appreciably in the last 15 years. However, NAEP data suggest that teachers have increased the amount of time students spend writing. In other words,…

Examines the role of literature in the middle school curriculum and how this role affects young adolescents' reading habits. Argues that literature's role lies in the aesthetic experience of literature as an end in itself. Considers the necessity of ensuring that students understand this personal payoff of reading. (JPB)

Writers' workshops are a type of small-group interaction designed to provide middle school students with a forum for sharing their writings and receiving direct and functional feedback to support their rethinking and revising. Students in one sixth-grade class learned that other students could comment as insightfully on their writing as their…

Reading comprehension involves more than efficient information acquisition. Literature instruction that is student centered and focuses on students' active construction of meaning and personal engagement emphasizes the aesthetic stance. This article offers tips for designing instruction that supports aesthetic reading and helps ensure students'…

Describes development of San Diego State University's middle level teacher preparation program. Details how the program was designed explicitly to prepare credential candidates to: work effectively with young adolescents; be productive contributors on interdisciplinary teams; serve as effective advisors; accommodate diversity by focusing on the…