Becoming A Middle Level Teacher outlines an approach to student focused instruction that can provide greater academic success for the most students, and at the same time, assist early adolescents in navigating the difficult transition of puberty. The text revolves around four recurring themes: -A critical link exists between developmental needs and learning. -Relationships are key to motivation, which is key to learning. -Middle school students are entitled to be involved in decisions that affect their learning. -Implementing student focused instruction is both challenging and rewarding for teachers. With over 50 successful learning activities in language arts, social studies, science, math, art, music, and physical education from 20 practicing middle school teachers, the text is rich with examples of actual programs and practices from several outstanding middle schools.
Dr. Cathy Vatterott is an Associate Professor of Middle Level Education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. During her career, she has been a junior high school teacher, a middle school principal, and a middle school parent. She is the author of over a dozen articles about education, published in such journals as the Middle School Journal, Schools in the Middle, Current Issues in Middle Level Education, and the New England League of Middle Schools Journal. Her first book , Academic Success through Empowering Students, was published by the National Middle School Association in 1999. Over the last 15 years, she has conducted workshops for hundreds of middle school teachers and principals, and has been a frequent presenter at the National Middle School Association's Annual Conference. She has developed an NCATE-approved university program for middle school certification at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and has prepared pre-service middle school teachers for over 10 years. She and her university students continue to work on-site with a student-focused middle school which serves as their Professional Development School.
On a broader note, she is considered to be a national expert on the topic of K-12 homework, her latest research interest. She has presented her homework research to over 3000 educators and parents in the United States, Canada, and Europe, and has been interviewed as a homework expert by newspapers, magazines, television, and radio.
