Middle school students need materials that encourage them to finish meaningful assignments without coercion or teacher intervention. Teachers who motivate middle school students to think and work on their own will allow students to express their feelings, have a part in decision making, and eventually share their product with other people. It is vitally important to present students with information that they need and to do so in the most efficient way possible. In organizing instruction, teachers need to: (1) determine whether students possess necessary entry level competencies; (2) select materials for a variety of stimuli; (3) prepare appropriate strategies before giving the lesson; and (4) present materials in an orderly manner. Researchers conclude that teachers should be involved with academic content, give clear sequential directions, emphasize main points, ask questions, conduct reviews, and ignore irrelevancies. Practitioners may find the included checklist useful for evaluating materials. Sample materials for analysis are provided. (RH)