Teacher-pupil planning means teachers and students working in a partnership to articulate a problem/concern, develop objectives, locate materials/resources, and evaluate progress. The intent of this volume of Middle Level Education and the Self-Enhancing School titled, "School is Life, Not a Preparation for Life"-John Dewey: Democratic Practices in Middle Grades Education, is to take the thoughts about the middle grades school curriculum presented in volume one (Middle Grades Curriculum: Voices and Visions of the Self-Enhancing School) and demonstrate the efforts taking place in teacher education programs and middle grades classrooms today. Volume two is organized into two parts, efforts within teacher education programs and efforts of practitioners in the middle grades classrooms. We asked authors in both contexts to address the following questions: 1. Antecedents: What knowledge, skills and dispositions must be in place in all stakeholders to have teacherpupil planning serve a central role in the middle grades teacher education program or middle grades classroom? 2. Implementation: What does the teacher-pupil planning process look like within your teacher education program or middle grades classroom? 3. Outcomes: What benefits (knowledge, skills, and dispositions) are derived from the implementation of teacher-pupil planning in your teacher education program or your middle grades classroom?

Teacher-pupil planning means teachers and students working in a partnership to articulate a problem/concern, develop objectives, locate materials/resources, and evaluate progress. The intent of this volume of Middle Level Education and the Self-Enhancing School titled, "School is Life, Not a Preparation for Life"-John Dewey: Democratic Practices in Middle Grades Education, is to take the thoughts about the middle grades school curriculum presented in volume one (Middle Grades Curriculum: Voices and Visions of the Self-Enhancing School) and demonstrate the efforts taking place in teacher education programs and middle grades classrooms today. Volume two is organized into two parts, efforts within teacher education programs and efforts of practitioners in the middle grades classrooms. We asked authors in both contexts to address the following questions: 1. Antecedents: What knowledge, skills and dispositions must be in place in all stakeholders to have teacherpupil planning serve a central role in the middle grades teacher education program or middle grades classroom? 2. Implementation: What does the teacher-pupil planning process look like within your teacher education program or middle grades classroom? 3. Outcomes: What benefits (knowledge, skills, and dispositions) are derived from the implementation of teacher-pupil planning in your teacher education program or your middle grades classroom?

High stakes testing, standards, and accountability politics is taking us away from the importance of the affective domain in curriculum development. This critical learning domain is often an unrecognized and infrequently considered topic in the literature. Through this book we extend the current knowledge base by addressing a curriculum model developed in the 1980s. We add a 2012 knowledge base as we delineate the role of self-perceptions in school-related learning, how middle level curriculum affects self-perceptions, and the type of curriculum planning which enhances self-perceptions and improves learning in the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains. The combination of sound psychological principles and practical teaching and curriculum suggestions with an empirical basis makes the book attractive to both higher education and local school professional libraries. In the former it will serve as the primary text in graduate and advanced undergraduate middle level education programs and practices courses. It might also be a primary text in courses or workshops in affective education or other experiences which emphasize affective, values, and self-concept. It also has potential as a supplementary text in undergraduate educational psychology courses. At the in-service level this book could be used as a workshop resource or as a professional reference for middle level teachers, administrators, curriculum workers, and supervisors. Our interest in young adolescents and their school setting coincides with the fourth edition of This We Believe (NMSA, 2010). The self-enhancing school is characterized by "from-to" statements; for example, "from" avoiding parents "to" working with parents. Using theory and research we discuss the costs of staying in the "from" position and the benefits derived from moving to the "to" position. By combining educational psychology and curriculum development we make a unique contribution to middle grades curriculum developers.

High stakes testing, standards, and accountability politics is taking us away from the importance of the affective domain in curriculum development. This critical learning domain is often an unrecognized and infrequently considered topic in the literature. Through this book we extend the current knowledge base by addressing a curriculum model developed in the 1980s. We add a 2012 knowledge base as we delineate the role of self-perceptions in school-related learning, how middle level curriculum affects self-perceptions, and the type of curriculum planning which enhances self-perceptions and improves learning in the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains. The combination of sound psychological principles and practical teaching and curriculum suggestions with an empirical basis makes the book attractive to both higher education and local school professional libraries. In the former it will serve as the primary text in graduate and advanced undergraduate middle level education programs and practices courses. It might also be a primary text in courses or workshops in affective education or other experiences which emphasize affective, values, and self-concept. It also has potential as a supplementary text in undergraduate educational psychology courses. At the in-service level this book could be used as a workshop resource or as a professional reference for middle level teachers, administrators, curriculum workers, and supervisors. Our interest in young adolescents and their school setting coincides with the fourth edition of This We Believe (NMSA, 2010). The self-enhancing school is characterized by "from-to" statements; for example, "from" avoiding parents "to" working with parents. Using theory and research we discuss the costs of staying in the "from" position and the benefits derived from moving to the "to" position. By combining educational psychology and curriculum development we make a unique contribution to middle grades curriculum developers.

This guidebook is designed to be the middle-level teacher's friend in addressing a wide variety of questions regarding the use of educational and instructional technologies. It can serve as a companion and guide through the myriad challenges and opportunities related to the effective use of technology in one's classroom and school. A sample of middle level U.S. teachers provided us with detailed answers about their experiences with using technology in their teaching. Specifically, they shared their challenges, barriers, ideas, and suggestions for working successfully with administrators, technology specialists, students, fellow teachers, and parents when teaching with technology. We have organized the teachers' experiences and recommendations according to each stakeholder. Rather than recommending or reviewing specific educational technology companies, applications, or tools, we provide a large number of strategies that are "built to last" and should be applicable regardless of the specific tool under consideration. We assume that it doesn't ultimately matter what the tool or technology is that you're using-it's how and why you're using it for teaching and learning that will determine whether it is successful or not. The "how" and "why" aspects encompass the built-to- last strategies included in this guidebook.

This guidebook is designed to be the middle-level teacher's friend in addressing a wide variety of questions regarding the use of educational and instructional technologies. It can serve as a companion and guide through the myriad challenges and opportunities related to the effective use of technology in one's classroom and school. A sample of middle level U.S. teachers provided us with detailed answers about their experiences with using technology in their teaching. Specifically, they shared their challenges, barriers, ideas, and suggestions for working successfully with administrators, technology specialists, students, fellow teachers, and parents when teaching with technology. We have organized the teachers' experiences and recommendations according to each stakeholder. Rather than recommending or reviewing specific educational technology companies, applications, or tools, we provide a large number of strategies that are "built to last" and should be applicable regardless of the specific tool under consideration. We assume that it doesn't ultimately matter what the tool or technology is that you're using-it's how and why you're using it for teaching and learning that will determine whether it is successful or not. The "how" and "why" aspects encompass the built-to- last strategies included in this guidebook.