Making the Most of Middle School: A Field Guide for Parents and Others

by Jackson, Anthony W.

• ISBN13: 9780807744765
• ISBN10: 080774476X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-04-01
• Publisher: Teachers College Pr

Summary

This breakthrough guide offers sound advice for choosing the right middle school and for working with teachers and principals. It describes, in the students' own words, what they think about a range of issues#x14;such as favourite and least favourite subjects, school safety, teacher quality, peer pressure, and parent-child relationships#x14;and includes examples of effective parent/middle school partnerships.

Author Biography

Anthony W. Jackson is Executive Director, International Studies Secondary Schools Network at the Asia Society P. Gayle Andrews is an assistant professor at The University of Georgia Holly Holland is the former editor of Middle Ground magazine and the author of several books about education reform Priscilla Pardini is a former middle-grades teacher and newspaper reporter who writes about education

Table of Contents

Introduction	vii
1. Children in the Middle	1	(25)
"You're Not Sure if You're an Adult or a Kid"	4	(7)
Leveling the Playing Field	11	(3)
The Face of the Future	14	(3)
Leaps in Learning	17	(6)
Healthy Habits	23	(3)
2. A School of Their Own	26	(17)
Muddled Views about the Middle Years	28	(3)
A Better Design	31	(2)
Middle Schools That Work	33	(3)
How to Advocate for Great Schools	36	(1)
The Parents' Place	37	(3)
What If Your Time Is Limited?	40	(3)
3. Achieving Excellence	43	(16)
Reaching and Teaching Them All	44	(4)
Please Understand Me	48	(3)
Their Last Best Chance	51	(2)
What Do They Need to Know?	53	(3)
Soaring in School	56	(3)
4. Getting to Know You	59	(12)
"It's Like She's Cheering Me On"	61	(1)
Turned Off, Tuned Out	62	(1)
Connecting with Their Peers	63	(1)
A Good Place to Be	64	(3)
Smaller Is Better	67	(4)
5. Teachers Make the Difference	71	(15)
Great Teaching = High Achievement	74	(3)
Hiring the Best	77	(3)
Teachers as Lifelong Learners	80	(2)
What Parents Can Do	82	(4)
6. Safe Schools	86	(11)
Schools Are Safe	86	(2)
Reality Versus Perception	88	(2)
Battling Bullies	90	(1)
Keeping Kids Safe	91	(2)
Celebrate Diversity	93	(1)
What Happens After School?	94	(2)
Staying Involved	96	(1)
7. Leadership for Learning	97	(12)
Putting Parents Back in School	100	(4)
An Invitation to Help	104	(5)
8. "Get to Know Me Better!"	109	(16)
Be Involved in Their Lives	112	(6)
Hotline for Homework	118	(7)
Appendix: Survey Results-What Matters to Kids in the Middle	125	(5)
Resources for Parents	130	(3)
Notes	133	(10)
Index	143	(7)
About the Authors	150