The Early Adolescent Block Program is offered by St. Cloud State University (Minnesota) to prepare prospective teachers for successful teaching in middle level schools. The program is a response to a Minnesota law which requires elementary or secondary school teachers wishing to teach middle school to take an additional number of courses geared toward middle school instruction. It is felt that middle school students, typically early adolescents, are unique in comparison to elementary or secondary school students and that they need to be taught differently. Middle level students also have different physical, intellectual, social, and emotional needs. The Block Program consists of 19 quarter credits of course offerings in the areas of philosophy and organization, interdisciplinary teaming, psychology, teacher experience, and special learning disabilities. The Block courses are taken during one fall semester, in which students and faculty involved in the program have continuous contact, evaluation, sharing, and feedback. (CB)