ABSTRACT
Propelling the middle school movement was the implementation of a conceptual framework made up of organizational structures and principles designed to support the developmental characteristics and needs of young adolescents. While the junior high school model was defined by subject-centered curriculum, an emphasis on cognitive development, and the departmentalization of content, the middle school model centered on student-oriented curriculum that focused on both cognitive and affective development, and was interdisciplinary in nature. Similar to the calls to meet the developmental needs of young adolescents that started the middle school movement and resulted in creating school structures such as interdisciplinary teaming, there is a new call within middle-level education that urges educators to meet the cultural needs of young adolescents. As educators, we should strive to make school an enjoyable and inclusive space for all students. This chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
