Open Call for Manuscripts

The editor of Middle School Journal is seeking manuscripts for upcoming issues. Middle School Journal publishes articles that promote middle level education and contribute to an understanding of the educational and developmental needs of youth between the ages of 10 and 15. Article formats may include: reports of successful programs, descriptions of effective techniques, thought-provoking essays, and discussions of research applications. Articles submitted should specifically relate to the theory and practice of middle level education and should speak directly to practitioners in the field. Authors should connect submissions to at least one of the 16 characteristics of successful schools for young adolescents as discussed in This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents. The following special themes have been selected for Volume 44 (2012–2013):

The Common Core in the Middle Grades
Volume 44, Number 3 (January, 2013)
The Common Core State Standards Initiative has established standards in English language arts and mathematics that have been adopted by the school systems in nearly every state. Middle level schools and classrooms will be impacted as states implement these standards: states and districts will create professional development so that teachers understand the new standards, teachers will modify instruction and assessment to reflect the standards, and stakeholders at all levels will provide feedback regarding the implementation process and outcomes. Articles in this issue may include:

• Successful instructional strategies aligned with the Common Core.
• Analyses of Common Core implementation in states, districts, or schools.
• Conceptual discussions relating the Common Core to the middle school concept.

Submit by June 1, 2012

Middle Level Educator Preparation and Professional Development
Volume 44, Number 4 (March, 2013)
This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents calls for middle level educators who "value young adolescents and are prepared to teach them." Outstanding teacher education programs throughout the country prepare thousands of educators for middle grades classrooms each year, yet many middle level educators begin as elementary or secondary teachers or enter the middle grades through alternate route or lateral entry programs. Exemplary middle level schools have organizational structures that help new faculty and staff adapt to the school culture and learn about the joys and challenges of working with young adolescents, and effective middle level educators continually seek out opportunities to learn and grow throughout the span of their careers. Articles in this issue will focus on the preparation and professional development of middle level educators and include:

• Descriptions of effective programs and practices focused on middle level teacher preparation and professional development.
• Analyses of issues related to middle level educator preparation, including teacher recruitment, retention, and certification policy.
• Descriptions of exemplary practices in schools that have implemented teaming, professional learning communities, and other structures to support teacher learning and development.

Submit by July 1, 2012

If you are submitting a manuscript for a themed issue, please specify the theme in your cover letter. As you prepare your manuscript, please consult our Editorial Policy & Guidelines for Authors located at: http://www.amle.org/MSJguidelines. Address inquiries to Editor David Virtue at msjeditor1@gmail.com

All manuscripts must be submitted online at http://www.editorialmanager.com/msj