Thoughtfully and thoroughly reviews the past, analyzes the separate subject approach, and outlines a proposal for a new general education program that would transform the middle level school.

Originally published as a special issue of the Middle School Journal, this book presents integrative curriculum as a foundational element of the middle school. By addressing the current gap in literature on curriculum integration in the middle grades, this text explores how learning can be organized around authentic concepts or questions which cut across disciplines and speak to young adolescents. Providing a current, nuanced, and comprehensive review of what it means to embrace and implement an interdisciplinary and integrative curriculum, the volume considers how educators can create and deliver a high-quality integrative curriculum which is enjoyable, challenging, and inclusive. Examples of implementation in teacher preparation programs and middle grade classrooms showcase integrative approaches and illustrate how curricula have been key in tackling social inequities, increasing engagement with STEM, and supporting collaboration. This text will be of great interest to graduate and postgraduate students, researchers, academics and libraries in the field of Middle School Education, Curriculum Studies, Teacher Education, Theories of Learning, and STEM Education.

Sound research-based strategies have made The Essential Middle School a must-have resource inservice middle school teachers for years. Now with even more applications in the planning and management sections , written by a practicing teacher, readers can easily see how research-based strategies can be applied in today's classrooms. Emphasis on new technologies and Internet resources are included, as well, making this a valuable resource for instructors and students alike. Strong emphasis on curricular, instructional and organizational issues of middle schools--How these affect teachers and learners, and less emphasis on the design, and development of middle schools. Better prepares teachers to understand the curriculum and the instructional issues of middle schools, which is where teachers live. Thorough coverage of the role of technology in today's middle schools. Inservice teachers' awareness and acceptance of the presence and impact of technology on classroom operations is brought into focus through this coverage. Thorough discussion of curriculum standards--The role of standards in teaching and learning in the middle school. Practicing teachers gain an understanding of the impact of standards in their classroom lives and how to address these standards. Up to date demographics--Affecting middle schools and the impact of demographics on instruction. New teachers can gain understanding of their students and learn how to individualize instruction for the variety of students they will teach. Coverage of the role of parents' involvement in their middle student's learning. Inservice teachers are enlightened to how they can incorporate parent presence in the educational experiences of their students.

So you've decided to homeschool but don't know where to start? Don't worry, Homeschooling 101 offers you a step by step practical guide that will help you get started and continue on in your homeschooling journey. Erica will walk you through all of the aspects of getting started, choosing and gathering curriculum, creating effective lesson plans, scheduling your day, organizing your home, staying the course and more! This book is a must read for new homeschoolers who need tangible advice for getting started! It also includes helpful homeschool forms, and a FREE planner! Erica is a Christian, wife, and a homeschooler. She is author of the top homschooling website: www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com

This volume provides an up-to-date study of theory and practice on the importance of technology in teaching and learning. The contributions are carefully peer-reviewed from over 100 submissions to the International Conference on Teaching and Learning 2006, held in Hong Kong. Sample Chapter(s). Chapter 1: Faculty Perceptions of ICT Benefits (391 KB). Contents: Faculty Perceptions of ICT Benefits (R Fox et al.); Thinking about Thinking Online (K Downing et al.); Teacher''s Sharing Pedagogical Experiences in a Learning Environment that Supports Self-Regulated Learning (G Dettori et al.); Online Interaction: Trying to Get It Right (L Chow and R Sharman); Crossing Borders: How Cross-Cultural Videoconferencing can Satisfy Course Goals in Dissimilar Subjects (J S Wilkinson & A-L Wang); The Evaluation of Information and Communication Technology Use in Professional Schools (P Gabor & C Ing); Using Technology in Education: The Application of Data Mining (K H Chye et al.); A Comparison of WebCT, Blackboard and Moddle for the Teaching and Learning of Continuing Education Courses (K S Cheung); The Object-Oriented Database Application and the System Architecture of a National Learning Objects Repository for Cyprus (P Pouyioutas et al.); and other papers. Readership: Graduate students, researchers and practitioners involved in the development and education of e-learning.