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Middle Years of School

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State & Territory Information

Australian Capital Territory

  • Introduction to the Framework
    ‘The curriculum framework is designed to ensure that all ACT students, from preschool to year 10, are provided with a comprehensive and balanced curriculum. ’ The .pdf download for Early Adolescence [which would cover the Middle Years] can be found here.
  • Middle Years Study
    ‘This review addresses the literature on the history and practices of middle schooling within Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and Finland. The focus has been to source material which documents the successes and failures of middle schooling.’ Available as a .pdf download from the ACT Department. Quite extensive.
  • No specific programs exist as at this date.

New South Wales

  • Breaking Barriers …
    [To Ease a Tough Transition]
    A Sydney Morning Herald article from 2002 relating to the position of the NSW Department of Education & Training regarding middle schools.
  • Focus on The Middle Years of Schooling
    A .pdf download from the Strategic Initiatives Directorate, 2005.
  • Middle School Management
    A .pdf report about a ‘unique teacher training scheme that is geared towards the often-difficult middle-school years’. University of Technology, 2002.
  • Middle Years [NSW]
    A downloadable .pdf document from the NSW Department of Education & Training as part of their “future projects” consultation.
  • Middle Years of Schooling [NSW]
    A very brief position statement, indicating ‘a slow but sure steady evolution towards acceptance of the model.’

Northern Territory

Queensland

  • … A Way Forward
    [The Middle Years of Schooling in Queensland]
    A discussion paper prepared for Education Queensland in 2002. Available in .pdf format.
  • Middle Phase of Learning, The
    This is the State School Action Plan which can be downloaded in .pdf format. There are also Tip Sheets for parents and students available from this page.
  • Qld Catholic Education Commission
    As part of its Education Committee, this body has a Middle Years Task Force. For further information, contact should be made with this committee, then the Task Force.

South Australia

  • Action Research in the Middle Years
    ‘Aboriginal Education Teachers in school and CPC sites have been involved in Action Research projects over the past few years. The reports of these projects can be found in two Aboriginal Education Unit publications : Cycles for Success & Partnerships for Success.
  • Middle School Network, Mt Barker District
    This is an email link for the Middle School Network discussion list.
  • Middle Years [SA]
    A brief description about curriculum design & policy in this area.

Tasmania

  • Middle Years of Schooling [Tas.]
    A very brief position statement from 2005, indicating ‘a slow but sure steady evolution towards widespread acceptance of the model.’
  • Some schools are more advanced in this area than others, though the model is not always the same. Brooks High School is one which was indicated as proceeding in this direction during the last several years.

Victoria

  • new !Building Breadth & Depth, Years 5-8
    The home page for a range of information including curriculum, MYPRAD and more.
  • new !MYPRAD
    [The Middle Years Pedagogy Research and Development Project]
    ‘Provides a strategy for planning and implementing pedagogical change in the middle years of schooling.’
  • new !MYPRAD to PoLT
    ‘To assist MYPRAD schools in updating their data collection processes to reflect the Principles of Learning and Teaching P-12, MYPRAD to PoLT data conversion tools [Excel documents] have been developed.’
  • new !Years 5 to 8
    ‘This period of schooling, referred to as the middle years, coincides with early adolescence. This is a time when many students are developing rapidly - physically, mentally and emotionally.’ links to various information.

Western Australia

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A - F

  1. Australian Groups
    Links to sites other than those listed in the States & Territories section above. This includes Commonwealth Government sites.
    2.
  2. Books, Reports & Other Publications :

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G - L

  1. General Sites & Portals :
    • Middle School
      Information compiled at Wikipedia. Covers the pedagogy, as well as looking at its implementation and use around the world.
    • Parents Against Change
      See what one group of English parents, in conjunction with their schooling system feel about a ‘three-tiered’ system and plans to change it.
  2. International Groups :
    • European League for …
      [Middle Level Education (E.L.M.L.E.)]
      Find all about them at this site.
    • MiddleWeb
      ‘MiddleWeb provides a wealth of resources for schools, districts, educators, parents, and public school advocates working to raise achievement for all students in the middle grades.’ [US] Their Resources page also has worthwhile links.
    • National Middle School Association
      ‘NMSA has been a voice for those committed to the educational and developmental needs of young adolescents. NMSA is the only national education association dedicated exclusively to those in the middle level grades.’ US based. Find publications, research, professional development and preparation, news and much more.
    • National Middle Schools’ Forum
      ‘Represents the interests and aspirations of middle school headteachers, staff, pupils and governors. As “The Voice of Middle Schools” we have contacts with many national bodies.’ Articles, research, International links, good practice, forums, resources and considerably more. [UK]
    • NZAIMS
      [New Zealand Association for Intermediate & Middle Schooling]
      ‘An association that is inclusive, welcoming and supportive of the broad range of Years 7-10 educational practitioners who work with, teach and are responsible for the education, development and welfare of early adolescents.’
    • Some UK Middle Schools to be Cut
      A report from the BBC on Suffolk County plans to cut many middle schools by 2011.
  3. Journals :
    • Literacy Learning : the Middle Years
      Featured articles online. Archive from 2001. from Australian Literacy Educators’ Association.
    • Meridian
      ‘Meridian is an electronic journal dedicated to research and practice of computer technology in middle school classrooms. It is published twice yearly.’ [US]
    • Middle School Journal
      ‘Offers articles that promote middle level education and contribute to an understanding of the educational and developmental needs of youth between the ages of 10 and 15.’ [US]
    • Primary and Middle Years Educator
      From the Australian Curriculum Studies Association. Access via the ‘Publications’ link.

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M - R

  1. Policy & Policy Positions
    Positions from government, Departments & associations .
    • ASPA
      [Australian Secondary Principals Association]
      Available both online and as a download in Word format.
    • Middle Schooling Principles
      From the Australian Curriculum Studies Association. Access via the ‘Policies & Papers’ link.
  2. Research
    Research, papers, publications and forums.
    • Developing Lifelong Learners …
      [In the Middle Years of Schooling]
      ‘A report about the practices, processes, strategies and structures that best promote “lifelong learning” and the development of “lifelong learners” in the middle years of schooling’ Available from MCEETYA in .pdf format.
    • Integrated Curriculum in the Middle School
      An ERIC/CUE Digest looking at this topic.
    • Learning to Read …
      [Reading to Learning Research Report]
      ‘This research project aimed to measure the impact of the particular approach to scaffolding the literacy development of underachieving adolescents in the middle years of schooling.’
    • Middle School Education …
      [The Critical Link in Dropout Prevention]
      An ERIC/CUE Digest looking at this topic.
    • Middle Schooling for the Middle Years
      ‘[A] Discussion paper prepared for the Australian Education Union by Rod Chadbourne, Edith Cowan University. The report critiques and questions some of the assumptions about middle schooling.’
    • Middle School Configuration
      Looks at organisational structures covering a variety of groupings, their advantages and disadvantages, research behind them, middle years student characteristics and provides an overall summary.
    • Middle Years Literature Review
      ‘A report by Associate Professor Roslyn Arnold [University of Sydney, Faculty of Education].’ Available in two parts in .pdf/Word formats.
    • Phi Delta Kappan
      Though a decade old, this report is broken into sections relevant to numerous aspects of Middle Schooling.
    • Reading [and Writing] to Learn
      [In the Middle Years of Schooling]
      PEN 157, from PETA. This is Fee-based.
    • Student Achievement and the Middle School Concept
      A research summary from 2006 which provides information, references and recommended resources. There is also a .pdf version for download.
    • Transition from Middle School to High School
      A research summary from 2006 which provides information, references and recommended resources. There is also a .pdf version for download.
    • What the Research Says
      [0r Doesn’t Say] about K-8 versus middle school grade configurations]
      A short article with extensive bibliography.
  3. Resources
    Links to sites for resources specifically geared to the Middle Years.
    • Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers
      A listing of available resources specifically for the Middle Years.
    • Balancing the Options
      ‘In the Balancing the options series of learning objects, students are provided with an opinion organiser that allows them to measure and compare the worth of different courses of action to dissenting groups in a local community.’ Specifically designed for students in the Middle Years.
    • CEEP Middle School
      Though US-centric and not updated since 2004, there is a wealth of information contained in this site from the Clearinghouse on Early Education and Parenting. 12 sections cover from the History of Middle Schools through developmental needs, key elements, research, references, web sources and ERIC Digest entries.
    • Effective Middle Schooling
      A downloadable [.pdf format] manual that should be of help. Australian.
    • Middle Years Resources
      A selection of resources listed by Curriculum Support, Department of Education & Training, NSW.
    • Turning Points
      ‘Turning Points helps middle schools create challenging, caring and equitable learning communities that meet the needs of young adolescents as they reach the “turning point” between childhood and adulthood.’ US, Fee-based.

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S - Z

  1. Tips, Tools & Techniques :
    • Creatively Teaching Science …
      [In the Middle Years]
      ‘The [ ] handbook evolved from a Science Teachers Focus Group conducted at Ballarat High School in Victoria.’
    • School Improvement Toolkit
      This provides a comprehensive process that looks at strengths, areas that require improvement, directions for school improvement and options for staff development. This is US, and also Fee-based, but may be worth considering in whole or part.
    • Middle Years Programme Curriculum
      Provided by the International Baccalaureate and covers all learning areas.

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