Based on the belief that effective middle school teaching practices must be developmentally responsive, this core text provides an insightful introduction to young adolescents ages 10 to 15, and to the middle school and middle school movement. Coverage balances the practical and the theoretical to provide all of the essential knowledge today's middle school teacher needs concerning the development and characteristics of adolescents; principles, goals, and attributes of the middle school movement; and, organization, curricula, strategies, and concepts of contemporary middle schools. The authors emphasize the diversity of adolescents - in development, culture, gender, and sexual orientation - and the importance that these differences portend for educational experiences and guidance efforts.