ABCs of Highly Effective
Middle-Level Teaching

The NYS Middle School Association and The Corning Museum of Glass are proud to host the 10th Annual Middle-Level Institute at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY. Participants will select one of three workshop being offered by expert practitioners and will receive twelve hours of intensive middle-level instruction. Each session is explicitly aligned to the Board of Regents’ Reform Agenda (Race To The Top) to ensure that all NYS students are college and career ready upon graduation. We understand the important role that middle-level educators play in preparing our students for college and careers, and our workshop offerings are designed to support middle-level educators in that role. Access the Institue pamphlet for more details, check out the invitation, or register now!.

What Works in Middle Level Schools and Programs

• A philosophy and mission that reflect the intellectual and developmental needs and characteristics of young adolescents.
• An educational program that is comprehensive, challenging, purposeful, integrated, relevant, and standards-based.
• An organization and structure that support both academic excellence and personal development.
• Classroom instruction appropriate to the needs and characteristics of young adolescents provided by skilled and knowledgeable teachers.
• Strong educational leadership and a building administration that encourage, facilitate, and sustain involvement, participation, and leadership.
• A network of academic and personal support available for all students.
• Professional learning and staff development for all staff that are ongoing, planned, purposeful, and collaboratively developed.

To find about more about the Essential Elements, just click on the Middle Level Essentials button to the left. You'll find details, ready-to-use presentations, protocols for implementation, etc. Visit the Essential Elements wiki to join in a discussion.
 

 Essential Elements: Schools-to-Watch
Click on the Schools-to-Watch button from the navigation menu on the left of the page for all you need to know about the Essential Elements: Schools-to-Watch school recognition program.

Help for Implementing the Essential Elements
A set of three protocols have been developed to guide a school's use of the Essential Elements of Standards-Focused Middle-Level Schools and Programs. Taken together, the three protocols represent a comprehensive set of tools and guidance for beginning and sustaining a system of continuous reflection and improvement based upon the research-based Essential Elements and their rubrics. Each protocol can be used independently of the others.