Do you remember Judith Viorst's story about Alexander, who had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day? For some middle school students, each day of the school year is an Alexander kind of day as defeat after...

Middle school is a transition time for tweens and young teens who may be ready to move on from elementary school but still have much to learn about responsibility and self-reliance. Guiding students toward these...

We asked Debby Dodge, grant manager for Lead2Feed/Lift a Life Foundation, a series of questions about the important part service learning and common vision play in developing caring, compassionate young...

As schools around the world prepare to celebrate Middle Level Education Month in March, we wish to bring you enduring words of wisdom from Dr. John Lounsbury, a middle level education advocate and founding member of...

Early adolescence is a distinct period of human growth and development situated between childhood and adolescence. During this remarkable stage of the life cycle, young adolescents, 10- to 15-year-olds, experience...

There probably isn't an educator alive who hasn't heard—or made—comments like these: Too bad his momma is in jail! He never had a chance. If she just wasn't from that neighborhood! Why does he hang...

What’s wrong with these kids? Do they really think we’ll hold their hand? This isn’t elementary school! I treat mine all the same. And you know what? It’s sink or swim. How are they going...

It’s 1 p.m. I have just given my sixth grade science class an assignment reviewing several concepts and key vocabulary words related to energy. The students are free to use their textbooks, past assignments, and...

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...

During the Tennessee Council of Teachers of English conference a couple of weeks ago, I was walking around the spacious grounds of the event between sessions when I did something regretful and then noticed something...