Chapter 21: Turning Points: Some Questions to Ask

To compensate for the continuing and historic lack of specific preparation and experience for teaching and leading at the middle level (Cooney, 2000; McEwin, Dickinson, & Jenkins, 1996; Scales, 1992; Scales & McEwin, 1994; Valentine, Clark, Hackmann, & Petzko, 2002), comprehensive professional development which is embedded in the day-to-day activities of the school must become a reality (Sparks, 1997). Using the recommendations of Turning Points (Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development, 1989), we developed and modified over the years, “Turning Points: Some Questions to Ask,” (Clark & Clark, 1992, 1994, 2002) and have used it successfully in many middle level schools as a vehicle for learning about the recommendations of Turning Points, to guide schoolwide reform efforts, and to evaluate the effectiveness of current programs.