The current interest in identifying gender differences in young adolescents suggests a need to focus on how gender differences affect teaching and learning situations and on how middle level school educators can address these differences. This book explains what gender differences are, how gender differences affect learning, how both girls and boys need their gender differences addressed, and how gender differences can be addressed. Chapter 1, "Gender and Young Adolescents," encourages middle level educators to accept the professional responsibility to understand and address gender differences. Chapter 2, "Gender Differences in Young Adolescents: Research and Literature," examines selected studies on gender differences in socialization, roles and behaviors, self-esteem, moral development, health concerns, academic achievement, and school participation, focusing on females' gender differences on the assumption that schools have traditionally based educational experiences of methods to which many males respond well. Chapter 3, "Gender Equity and the Middle Level School Concept," shows how gender and gender issues can be threaded into essential middle level school concepts such as teacher advisories, exploratories, and positive school environments, especially as they accommodate girls. Chapter 4, "Gender and the Middle Level School Curriculum," shows how gender, gender differences, and gender concerns can be reflected in the middle level school curriculum. Chapter 5 provides a look at additional sources of information on gender equity and resources for educators. (KB)