Discusses program changes at Harshman Middle School, in Indianapolis, Indiana, that helped it become a safe, inviting, and invigorating place of learning. Considers the role of principal Marcia Capuano and her initiatives of improving the school health clinic, student assistance program, reading achievement, and community involvement. Describes…

A teaching team from Fall Creek Valley Middle School in Indianapolis, Indiana sought to improve their students' writing skills by collecting writing samples in portfolios in each of their subject areas. This approach allowed the eighth-grade students to assess their progress as writers, see connections between the disciplines, and understand the…