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Essential Principles
The reformation of schooling for young adolescents involves eight fundamental principles:
Divide
large middle schools into smaller communities for learning.
Convey a core of common knowledge to all middle grade school
students.
Organize middle grade schools to ensure success for all students.
Teachers and principals have the major
responsibility and power to transform middle grade schools.
Teachers for the middle grades are precisely prepared to
teach young adolescents.
Promote good health - the education and health of young adolescents are inextricably linked.
Ally families with school staff through mutual respect, trust, and communication.
Schools and communities become
partners in educating young adolescents.
Creating a Community for Learning
"Schools should be placed where close,
trusting relationships with adults and peers create a climate for personal growth and intellectual development."
Restructure the large middle grade school in a more human scale. Students should feel that they are part of a community
of shared educational purpose.
Each student is able to work with a small group of adults.
Each student has at least
one thoughtful adult to talk with about academic matters, personal problems, and the importance of performing well in middle
grade school.
Middle grade schools can develop these qualities by:
Forming smaller learning environments;
Combining
teachers and students into teams; and
Appointing an adult advisor to each student.
Teaching a Core of Common Knowledge
"Every student in the middle grades should learn to think critically through mastery of an appropriate body of knowledge,
lead a healthy life, behave ethically and lawfully, and assume the responsibilities of citizenship in a pluralistic society."
Middle grade curricula and instruction programs can be improved by unification with state and local authorities:
Teach youth to think critically;
Teach youth to develop healthful lifestyles;
Teach youth to be active
citizens;
Unite subject matter across disciplines; and
Train students to learn and test successfully.
Ensuring
Success for all Students
"All young adolescents should have the opportunity to succeed in every aspect of the middle
grade program, regardless of previous achievement or the pace at which they learn."
The educational program
must fit the needs of the students to guarantee they learn.
Group students for learning
Schedule classroom periods
to emphasize learning
Develop the opportunity for learning
Empowering Teachers and Administrators
"Decisions
concerning the experiences of middle grade students should be made by the adults who know them best."
Give classroom
teachers greater authority;
Establish building-wide committees for shared decision making; and
Designate leaders
to create conducive teaching environments
Preparing Teachers for the Middle Grades
"Teachers in middle grade
schools should be selected and specially educated to teach young adolescents."
Middle grade education be converted
by developing expert educators of young students.
Improving Academic Performance Through Better Health and Fitness
"Young adolescents must be healthy in order to learn."
Every middle grade
school should have a coordinated system to identify health problems and provide treatment or referral to outside health agencies
and individuals. To meet these objectives, the middle grade school must:
Ensure student access to health services;
and
Establish the school as a health-promoting environment.
Re-engaging Families in the Education of Young Adolescents
"Families and middle grade schools must be allied through trust and respect if young adolescents are to succeed in
school."
Parental involvement, and close rapport between parents and school staff are crucial for the successful
education of adolescents.
Offer parents significant roles in school management;
Keep parents informed; and
Offer families opportunities to bolster the learning process at home and at school.
Connecting Schools With
Communities
"Schools and community organizations should share responsibility for each middle grade student's success."
Place students in youth service;
Ensure student access to health and social services;
Support the middle
grade education program;
Augment resources for teachers and students; and
Expand career guidance for students.
Critical Issues for a State Task Force on Middle Grade Education
Ascertain whether technical aid is available
to separate large schools into several subschools or houses and to create teams.
Examine the basic curriculum.
Review
program background and limitations, and textbook selection procedures.
Examine expectation levels for students reflected
in test requirements, grade-retention standards, and policies toward between-class ability grouping.
Consider school
regulation principles.
Appraise the physical and mental health of the 10- to 15-year old population.
List community
assets to identify local organizations willing to work with schools in a supportive role.
Check certification standards.
Rank the characteristics of staff development for experienced instructors.
Consider encouragements that increase
teachers' interest in middle grade schools.
Appraise the part parents are permitted in the middle grade program.
Assess
the spirit of faculty and students in the middle grade program.
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