As educators, we are constantly battling the pressures to bolster test scores, give more time and resources, and stay up to speed with new technologies and teaching methods, all while providing a comprehensive...

According to the National Association of Health Education Centers, the chief stressor for students ages 9-13 is school. No middle grades educator is surprised by this, given the factors involved in a student's school...

“If you spend 10 minutes with a room full of students between the ages of 11 and 15, they will reveal the hundreds of different people they can be in a matter of moments.” Thus, in their book Fires in the...

It is difficult for me to look at an autumn leaf and not think about Greek mythology. There is an undeniable connection between the rich reds, auburns, ambers, and crimsons of fall and the ancient gods and goddesses....

Society faces pressing problems on many fronts today. Economic crises mean more families require assistance to meet basic needs, environmental degradation contributes to natural disasters, and disparities in...

The Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) strongly supports efforts to prevent future acts of violence in our nation’s public schools. As an organization we especially know first-hand what is needed to...

Creating a unique climate and culture in which all students feel welcome, safe, and secure is the responsibility of the school community. This is especially important in a middle school where students are trying to...

When you think about guidance counselors, do these words come to mind: isolated, unaccountable, uninvolved, inaccessible, or out of touch? Counselors can have the reputation of being reactive crisis workers who...

I was sitting in my office when I heard the distant sounds of crying. I found the source in the girls' bathroom. Kesha, the president of the student council, was collapsed on the ground, sobbing. I got her to her feet...

In the middle of an ordinary day in an ordinary Los Angeles school, four middle school students shared fascinating insights in response to the question, "Does advisory help you feel connected to school?" Without...