The middle years of schooling are increasingly recognised as a crucial stage in students' lives, one that has significant consequences for ongoing educational success. International research indicates that young adolescents benefit from programs designed especially for their needs, and the middle years have become an important reform issue for education systems. Teaching Middle Years offers a systematic overview of the philosophy, principles and issues in middle schooling. It includes contributions from academics and school-based practitioners on intellectual and emotional development in early adolescence, pedagogy, curriculum and assessment of middle years students. Written for teachers, student teachers, education leaders and policy makers, Teaching Middle Years is an essential resource for anyone involved in educating young adolescents. Teaching Middle Years is the first comprehensive Australian book to match and surpass the quality of many overseas publications.' Professor Robert Hardingham, former President of the Middle Years of Schooling Association

Table of Contents

Section One: The middle years as a site for educational reform1. The emergence of middle schooling - Donna Pendergast2. The philosophy of middle schooling - Rod Chadbourne & Donna Pendergast3. The middle years learner - Nan Bahr4. Understanding the adolescent brain - Michael C. Nagel5. Producing resilient middle school students - Lesley Newhouse-Maiden, Nan Bahr & Donna Pendergast6. Researching the middle years - Katherine Main & Fiona BryerSection Two: Curriculum practices for the middle years7. Literacies and Multiliteracies - Rod Maclean8. Numeracy - Shelley Dole9. Bodies and minds - Lisa Hunter & Doune Macdonald 10. Integrating the middle years curriculum - John Wallace, Grady Venville & Leonie J. Rennie11. Negotiating curriculum - Lisa Hunter & Nicola ParkSection Three: Pedagogical practices for the middle years12. Learning collaboratively - Raymond Brown13. Higher order thinking - Annette Hilton & Geoff Hilton14. Teacher-student relationships - Amanda

Reviews

For those of us who need something more than anecdotal evidence, Teaching Middle Yearsgives the reader many ideas and examples based on sound research. It's an excellent coverage of the current thinking in this critical area of education.' (Teacher, Dec 2005)