In an attempt to stimulate students to apply themselves academically and develop their pride in their school a competitive program was designed to turn negative aspects into positive ones. (Author/RK)

Describes a Prescriptive Discipline Plan developed by teachers at a Florida middle school. The plan featured three offense categories: minor infractions handled by teachers, intermediate offenses (cheating, disrespect, and insubordination) handled by administrators, and serious offenses (fighting, assault, sexual misconduct) invoking automatic…

Describes the scheduling changes that allowed for program improvement at the New Platz, New York, Middle School. (DS)

Describes a program based on student-teacher discussion groups that resulted in improved student conduct and increased student participation. (IRT)

Described a project designed to help students improve upon their reading ability. (RK)

Describes the reading program for gifted readers implemented in the Hauppauge Middle School on Long Island (New York). Covers selection criteria, curriculum, objectives, and strategies and provides a list of references for further reading. (Author/WD)

It is especially important that junior high and middle school teachers recognize the importance of interrelating curriculum areas. Details how this goal was achieved at one junior high school. (Editor/RK)

The article describes the benefits of the "Person-to-Person" career education program designed to help students, through contact with the community, make informed career choices. (DS)

Describes a system for dealing effectively with middle school students' learning and behavior problems through a team approach. (Author/DS)

A homeroom guidance program in middle schools is one way of helping adolescents adjust to the changes in their lives. One such program at a middle school in Massachusetts strives to develop a supportive group atmosphere where students can discuss adolescent issues and obtain useful advice. (TE)

Describes Mathematics in Context, a middle-level mathematics curriculum developed by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Utrecht, in the Netherlands. Instead of proceeding from a generalization to specific examples, the math originates in real problems; conversely, the mathematics learned is used to solve…

At a Utah middle school with low reading achievement, a service-learning program was introduced to put reading into action. Children read to elderly shut-ins, quilted for homeless persons, and wrote about these experiences. Staff adopted the Community of Caring's core values: caring, respect, responsibility, trust, and family. (MLH)

An Indianapolis magnet middle school is successfully using mental models and multiple intelligences theory to guide collaborative professional development and equitable education. A curriculum originally developed for gifted and talented students is now accessible to all students. The program draws upon students' individual strengths across all…

To address deficiencies in basic skills, a Florida middle school is piloting a program that immerses 75 students in a mastery-learning curriculum centered around reading, writing, basic language arts, and functional math. The program covers science and social studies thematically and has a social/personal skill development unit. The principal's…

Since students possess intimate knowledge about their academic progress, they should be invited to participate in, or even lead, parent-teacher conferences. Interested middle schools should consider piloting their models, focus on the conference model process, have students identify personal goals, clearly define participants' roles, and evaluate…