Chapter 10: Aligning Student Self and Identity Concerns with Middle School Practices

At every level of education, there is a need to match the characteristics of students with the practices of their teachers and schools. Of course, students are faced with increasingly complex learning materials as they move through their schooling. From preschool, to elementary school, to middle school, to high school and college, they also need to learn new routines, study skills, and how to best manage their time and behavior. At the same time, social, cognitive, and developmental changes require that school practices at all levels must adapt to keep pace with students. There are good arguments to be made that, when it comes to self and identity issues, middle level schooling is the most important, volatile and difficult time for matching student characteristics with school practices.