While a number of studies have yielded useful information regarding the status of middle level schools in the United States, four linked national surveys provide a longitudinal perspective on the degree of implementation of key middle grades programs and practices. These studies were conducted in 1968 (Alexander, 1968), 1988 (Alexander & McEwin,…

Given that students cheat so infrequently in elementary school and yet by high school cheat so routinely, the question arises, "What happens to students during the middle school years?" The conditions that lead to such drastic change in student behavior may be tied to a number of environmental factors evident as students advance to higher…

Fifty-one sixth graders participated in three rounds of online literature circles and three face-to-face literature circles. The authors describe how the online literature circles were introduced and organized in the classroom and discuss the tensions, struggles, and successes from their implementation. An analysis of qualitative data yielded…

The authors describe the development and implementation of the Career Institute, a program designed to provide opportunities for young adolescents to explore their interests and abilities in relation to their current educational experiences and future college and career goals. They share details about how the school-wide career development program…

Researchers used student-generated photographs to mediate interviews with middle grades students about their school environment. Findings suggest that school leaders and facilities planners should be responsive to students' needs for both personal and social spaces and be aware of ways the built environment may shape the perceptions students hold…

The authors investigated characteristics middle grades students associated with social success among peers in school and studied how these perceptions changed over time. They suggest that interdisciplinary teams can promote positive student-student relationships and a healthy peer culture based on positive peer values. (Contains 2 figures.)

Middle school is a time of many changes for young adolescents. They are "searching for individual identity, struggling with society's norms, and grappling with moral issues." They are changing and maturing physically, cognitively, socially, and psychologically as they develop their identities; establish, maintain, and end friendships and social…

Members of the educational community, especially teachers and students, need to understand the roles of diversity, prejudice, and privilege in the educational community, but "an understanding of a multicultural perspective must begin with self-inquiry." In addition to self-inquiry, brain-based research validates that long-term understanding comes…

As teachers, they are always looking for creative ways to engage their students. They start the school year determined to bring to the classroom creative projects that generate student interest and foster critical thinking skills. Reaching today's Gen M student is challenging and changing the way they teach. The idea of using music to teach…

In this final series, the author draws wisdom from the story of Hansel and Gretel to recommend a path forward and to call everyone to action in the critical work of educating every young adolescent. The author believes that middle school educators can learn an important lesson about survival during difficult times from the classic German fairy…

Despite recent attention to the library needs of adolescent English language learners (ELLs), 70% of eighth grade ELL students scored below basic proficiency in reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) compared to only 26% of their native English-speaking peers. Since the majority of reading done in the content areas…

Pressured to comply with state and district mandates, teachers may follow scripted, back-to-basics lessons and, as a result, feel frustrated about the assaults on their professionalism and the prevalence of "test-prep pedagogy." As they experience relentless pressure to improve test scores, teachers face a constant challenge to maintain their…

Teachers in middle level schools face overwhelming demands and challenges in their classrooms. They are expected to know content and pedagogy, develop engaging lessons that meet the needs of diverse learners, and use a variety of instructional strategies that will boost student achievement while they simultaneously develop positive relationships…

The authors, Angiline and Al, are university teacher educators who share similar experiences building community in middle grades mathematics classroom. As eighth grade mathematics teachers, they began the year building relationships with their students and encouraging communication to establish a caring ethic. In their mathematics classes, a…

Fostering engaged learning for middle grades students is a significant challenge for teachers everywhere, and in some jurisdictions, it has even become a government priority. As one might expect, this policy has raised broader questions about what teachers' actually mean when they talk about engagement and whether or not these criteria are, in…