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This article addresses the actions the middle level schools which participated in NNPS have taken to meet the NCLB requirements. One of the actions is School-Parent Compact which is the partnership between school and family. Examples of the annual action plan of school-parent compact are provided. Epstein, J. L. (2004). Meeting NCLB requirements for family involvement. Middle Ground, 8(1), 14-17.

The Middle School Portal is built specifically for middle school math and science teachers. Improve your content knowledge, more effectively integrate technology, connect to just in time teaching ideas, and search or browse by subject lists based on the national math and science education standards.

A major national report that examines the crucial stage at which middle school students and their parents must begin to make choices about going to college. Parents of adolescent students are in a unique position to help ensure their children's success in postsecondary education as they could provide early guidance in the relevancy of college to success in life, academic preparation, and high educational aspirations.

The former Principal Sherril Ray suggested a creative schedule as one strategy to meet students' needs at Furman Middle School in Sumter, South Carolina. Scheduling and associated academic activities are also provided as examples. McLeod, J. (2005). Kick-off, half-time, and over-time: Flexible scheduling scores points. Middle Ground, 8(4), 12-13.

Students achieve at higher levels when teachers think more deeply about how their classroom assessments fit into the larger instructional environment. Chappuis, S., & Stiggins, R. (2008). Finding balance: Assessment in the middle school classroom. Middle Ground, 12(2), 12-15.

Three paradigms related to teaming and how the might be revised to improve the quality of today's middle school programs are discussed: team configurations, teaming for interdisciplinary instruction, and teaming and advisory. Rottier, J. (2003). Variations on a team: changing paradigms. Middle Ground, 7(2), 10-12.

The Consortium for School Networking reports the emerging technologies in the areas of instruction and assessment and their characteristics. Recommendations for technology decision makers are also provided.

The benefits and criticism of increased assessment or testing are discussed. Increased testing helps teachers monitoring students' learning process and their own teaching strategies and school curriculum. The main criticism is "lack of value to education in its current incarnation." Suggestions of improved assessment are recommended.

In this article the authors illustrate how Peter Senge's 5 disciplines: (1) systems thinking, (2) personal mastery, (3) mental models, (4) building shared vision, and (5) team learning can be used for the development of a learning organization in middle schools. Thompson, S., & McKelvy, E. (2007). Shared vision, team learning and professional learning communities. Middle Ground, 10(3), 12-14.

A special page for teachers who are just beginning their classroom careers. Among recent additions: Links to a series of Teacher Magazine's Teaching Secrets articles; ideas for creating a positive and engaging classroom environment, and practical advice on developing the "Organized Middle Schooler." Check back often.

The report was written by Linda Darling-Hammond and a team of researchers from the Stanford University School Redesign Network. It examines what research has revealed about professional learning that improves teachers' practice and student learning. The report describes the availability of such opportunities in the United States and high-achieving nations around the world, which have been making substantial and sustained investments in professional learning for teachers over the last two decades.

Using the example of Shelburne Community School in Shelburne, Vermont, the authors emphasize the importance of involving students and parents in assessment and portfolio processes. Smith, C., & Myers, C. (2001). Students take center stage in classroom assessment. Middle Ground, 5(2), 10-16.

This is the top 12 (and adding) best web sites for middle grades as chosen by Middle Web. The sites cover all disciplines and include professional resources.