The Young Adolescent And The Middle School

(Sponsored by the Middle Level Education Research SIG and the National Middle School Association) The Young Adolescent and the Middle School focuses on issues related to the nature of young adolescence and the intersection of young adolescence with middle level schooling. This volume of the Handbook of Research in Middle Level Education marks the sixth installment in the series. The Handbook series, begun in 2001 by Vince Anfara, the series editor, has addressed varying thematic issues important to middle level education research. This volume, The Young Adolescent and the Middle School, focuses on the unique developmental needs of young adolescents and the role of the middle school in attending to these needs. The contributing authors in this volume address one of three developmental areas critical to young adolescents—physical development, intellectual/cognitive development, or social and personal development—and how these developmental characteristics affect the educational environment and the organization of middle schools.

At a time when the public, researchers, and policymakers are losing confidence in public schooling, this presentation of case studies of four schools offers solutions and concrete models of diverse ways in which excellence can be attained in middle-grade schools. Asking what "effectiveness" means for the young adolescent age group (a hitherto unexplored area in research literature), how effective schools come about, and how they achieve acceptance in their communities, Lipsitz identifies and examines successful middle-grade schools, noting that the major problem in schooling is meeting the massive individual differences in the development of early adolescents.

Many young adolescents, possibly as many as half, feel boxed in and bored in their middle schools. Research suggests that schools, parents, and the rest of the community must do more to make middle schools places where young adolescents thrive. In spite of the emergence of the junior high school and later the middle school in the 20th century, gaps still exist in understanding how context, culture, and environmental change affect young adolescents. Nevertheless, there has been significant progress in the past 25 years, and slightly more than half of middle schools today seem to be using practices that are exactly what experts say is needed for excellence. Developmentally responsive middle schools are characterized by educators committed to young adolescents, a shared vision, high expectations for all, an adult advocate for every student, family and community partnerships, and a positive school climate. Responsive middle schools provide: (1) challenging, integrative, and exploratory curriculum; (2) varied teaching and learning approaches; (3) assessment and evaluation that promote learning; (4) flexible organizational structures; (5) programs and policies that foster health, wellness, and safety; and (6) comprehensive guidance and support services. A discussion of the characteristics of normal adolescence emphasizes the ways these school characteristics and schools can mesh. Support through caring relationships with family and unrelated adults is the single most important asset young adolescents can have. Schools and communities need supportive teachers and other adults to present a shared vision for success. (Contains 88 references.) (SLD)

Early adolescence as a developmental period is examined, the physical, psychosocial, and cognitive characteristics of 10-to-15-year-olds are described, and recommendations are given on how middle level schools can provide developmentally appropriate educational experiences. The book shows how young adolescents' physical, psychosocial, and cognitive developmental characteristics can form the basis for curricular, instructional, and organizational decisions. Resources for middle level school educators are listed, including professional associations, Web sites, and resource centers. The author is affiliated with Old Dominion University. There is no subject index. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR