Rights of Passage

This review of literature and research concerns innovative programs and services for students in the transition between elementary and secondary schools. Chapter 1 identifies the areas of focus, methodology, context, guiding assumptions, and report structure. Chapter 2 looks at the characteristics and needs of early adolescence and discusses the cultures of elementary and secondary schooling, and the transition between these two cultures. Chapter 3 focuses on the process of transition itself: the problems of transition (anxiety, adaptation, and curriculum continuity), and the responses to transition (school choice, planning, record keeping, and reorganization). Chapter 4, which concentrates on the curriculum for the transition years, covers curriculum problems, the process of restructuring the curriculum, the core curriculum, and instructional strategies (team teaching, interdisciplinary options, cooperative learning, learning styles, and experiential career education). Chapter 5 deals with assessment and evaluation, discussing definitions, purposes, patterns, and alternative strategies. Chapter 6 looks at issues concerning Franco-Ontarian schools. Chapter 7 draws together the findings of the review and identifies key issues. A reference list of about 500 items is included. (SH)