Middle School Matters
The second edition of the Middle School Matters Field Guide is a collection of research-based practices deemed essential for middle school success.
The Middle School Matters Field Guide is one of many resources developed by the Middle School Matters Institute, a partnership between the George W. Bush Institute and the Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk at The University of Texas.
Middle School Matters draws upon solid research to develop practical tools and engaging support opportunities for middle grade campuses, allowing research-based practices to be brought to life in classrooms across the nation. The Field Guide is a compilation of the principles and practices distilled from rigorous research conducted in the middle grades over the past 15 years. These principles and practices are organized into nine areas:
- Reading and Reading Interventions
- Writing and Writing Interventions
- Mathematics and Mathematics Interventions
- Cognitive Science and Advanced Reasoning
- Dropout Prevention
- School Climate, Culture and Partnerships
- Student Behavior and Motivation
- Extended Learning Time
- Performance Management
Middle School Matters Field Guide content dimensions
Free Downloads
- Complete Field Guide includes:
The Field Guide contains examples and illustrations for each recommended practice to help educators understand and then implement these practices in their classrooms and schools. Additional implementation support can be found in the resources.
Research Base
Contrary to popular belief, a strong research base for effective instructional practices in the middle grades does exist, and this led to the creation of the Middle School Matters Field Guide. Rigorous research studies conducted in the middle grades over the past 15 years were compiled and synthesized by a group of nationally renowned education researchers. From this data, researchers distilled a set of principles and practices (focused on instruction, student supports, and data management) that accelerate student learning, raise attendance rates, and increase positive behaviors in the classroom. These practices are described in the Field Guide, which contains examples and illustrations to help educators understand and implement each of these practices in classrooms and schools.
Support Options
Middle School Matters provides various support options to meet the needs of all middle grades educators and is designed to help schools enhance their implementation of research-based practices.
Schools may either request Free Support or Customized Support (at cost).
Middle School Matters provides resources that support the implementation of principles and practices described in the Field Guide.
Coaching Forms