The Beauty of the Brain

Features

Surfing the Brainwaves
Judy Rosenfield
So-called brain-based learning is a lively field of study these days, shaped by a growing stream of new research and crackling with controversy. Judy Rosenfield steers us to new research about the habits of the mind.

A Hunch About Hovering
Brenda A. Dyck
Canadian teacher Brenda Dyck credits classroom observations and professional development with helping her understand that young adolescents need adults to closely walk them through the brain's maturation processes. Such "hovering" means putting detailed structures into place, sharing successful organizational strategies, and using varied methods of explaining new concepts.

Cultural Consciousness
Robert Ruder
Children and adults learning from and with each other, respecting the contributions that each person can make, is the surest way to build community in a middle school. Robert Ruder tells how.

The Principal's Role in Special Education
Les Potter, Mark Carruthers, and Karen Green
Today's middle school principals must be well versed in the regulations that shape the schooling of special education students. Les Potter, Mark Carruthers, and Karen Green emphasize the critical importance of leadership in setting high standards for all students.

Departments

The Electronic Thread
Caroline McCullen
Using portable computers and thin-client computer servers, middle school teachers in North Carolina are improving the quality and efficiency of their instruction. Caroline McCullen takes us to classrooms that are literally on the go.

One Teacher to Another
Rick Wormeli
Our rapidly expanding knowledge of how humans learn offers exciting possibilities for teachers. Rick Wormeli shows us how effective teachers can beat a path to the brains of young adolescents.

The Mark of Leadership
Barbara Albright
Who says intramural sports programs must be dull and uneventful? Certainly not the folks at Fort Scott Middle School in Fort Scott, Kansas, where a thriving and inclusive athletic program is more than just a sporting idea. Barbara Albright describes the action.

Spotlight on Science
Jan Coleman-Kight
Insects, space travel, and water pollution — they're all stimulating science topics in the hands of teachers who let investigations lead the way to understanding.