Publisher's Synopsis
Adolescence is a time of change - physical change, cognitive change, social and emotional change. It's a period of transformation and experimentation in which children are attempting to find a place for themselves in an adult world. If we want our students to be successful, we must pay attention to changes in their development, understand the challenges that lie ahead of them, and listen to what they say - every one of them. This important new book describes everything a middle school teacher should know when teaching adolescents. Blending research with realistic applications, Trudy Knowles and Dave Brown present background information on adolescent development, a concise review of the history of the middle-level movement, and a model of middle-level reform that changes the way we view curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Also included is a review of organizational changes in the middle school such as teaming, advisory groups, and flexible scheduling. Knowles and Brown believe that the most effective learning environments are created when teachers and adolescents work democratically. In these environments, students' concerns and questions ultimately shape the curriculum.;A separate chapter on instruction addresses the changing role of the middle-level teacher in such classrooms. Here, the teacher operates as a facilitator who actively assists students in their quest for answers. Readers will emerge from this book with a deeper understanding of the lives of young adolescents. They will also gain a new perspective on meaningful middle-level education and begin thinking about teaching and learning in different ways.
