April 2006 • Volume 9 • Number 4

Creating Safe, Secure Schools

Features

Listening for Differences
Marcia Rogat
No two people experience the world in exactly the same way, and we need to hear everyone's story in order to weave the entire tapestry of humanness.

Keeping Students and Staff Safe
Jim Paterson
Here are some ways experts say middle schools can determine if their security measures up.

Safe Schools: Part of the Fabric
Robert Ruder
While strategies can help create and sustain a safe school environment, they are only successful if they are woven into the very fabric of the school.

When It's the Thought that Counts
Jan Burgess
How many ways can you say thank you?

River of Words: Discovering a Sense of Place and Self
Jeffrey Marshall Baird
One of the most powerful ways middle school students learn about themselves is through writing, and one of the most effective ways for students to learn about themselves is by writing about a place.

Becoming a Multicultural Educator
Brenda A. Dyck
A safe, secure learning environment is a place where teachers are aware of their students' race, ethnicity, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, first language, ability challenges, and other unique characteristics.

The Community Festival as a Teachable Moment
Paul Parkison
Community festivals give students an opportunity to learn more about their neighborhoods and their region.

Six Steps to Conflict Resolution
Suzanne Lindt
Teaching middle school students to deal with conflict productively at an early age will help them throughout their lives.

Ask the Students: Transitions that Target Student Needs
Paul Frushour
Asking rising middle school students what information they want to know about their new schools ensures a more successful transition.

Departments

Editor's Note
Patricia George

Perspective
Sue Swaim
Relationships Do Matter

News to Use
Information to promote effective middle level education.

Teams in Action
Beatrice K. Price
Opening the Door to Parents

Hot Links
Brenda A. Dyck
Teaching in Unfamiliar Places

Teaching in the Middle
Rick Wormeli
Late Work: A Constructive Response

The Mark of Leadership
Marian White-Hood
Targeting the School Bully

Reviews and Resources
Books and resources of interest to middle level educators.

Megaphone
Amusing, interesting, and provocative comments from the field of middle level education.

Spotlight on the Arts
Trudy Knowles
Bringing Learning to Life Through the Arts

Lesley Roessing
With a Song, You Can't Go Wrong