Discusses good spelling instruction and spelling research at the middle school level in the form of a conversation with Clint Eastwood as the fictitious principal at Highland Middle School. (SR)

Presents, in the form of a conversation with a vampire, results of a teacher's research on middle school students' reading preferences. Includes a list of favorite books mentioned, favorite authors mentioned, and how students found these favorite books. (SR)

Describes eight creative inquiry projects for middle-school students, complete with description, time investment, level of difficulty, and student rating. (SR)

Reviews mail sent in response to a year's worth of "Middle School" columns in this journal. Notes that the column on a middle scholar's inquiry excursion went completely unnoticed and that the column on portfolio assessment received the most attention. (SR)

Presents four questions from teachers regarding "classroom dilemmas" (such as seating assignments, requests for bathroom visits, and parent/teacher communication) with the responses by "Ms. Affirmation," a middle-school guidance counselor who collaborates with teachers to assist them in working with students. (SR)

Presents research results (in the form of a story) regarding parents', teachers', and students' observations about the students as readers, and their goals for the students as readers. Discusses the role of teacher as researcher. (SR)

Describes an inquiry project that middle school students complete during the first quarter of the year, and that serves as a foundation for future inquiry undertakings, research papers, and writing workshops. (SR)

Describes 10 variations on the portfolio for assessment: literacy portfolio, reflection portfolio, "reflection the beauty" portfolio, process portfolio, student portfolio, reading portfolio, featherweight portfolio, showcase portfolio, exit portfolio, and literacy portfolio revisited. Accompanies each one with a "recipe." (SR)