High-quality support and resources for the middle grades
The Middle School Matters Institute (MSMI) designs, develops, and disseminates resources that support the implementation of practices and principles defined in the Middle School Matters Research Platform.
The MSMI Implementation Blueprint (see diagram below) provides suggestions for using these resources. Resources developed by MSMI are listed below by each implementation stage. Schools may contact MSMI at any time for support.
This brief, 10-item tool is for school leaders interested in implementing research-based practices and receiving support from the Middle School Matters Institute. The assessment determines a school’s strengths and areas in need of improvement. Upon completion, users receive a customized report with helpful guidance.
The assessment can be completed online or offline by downloading the PDF to the right of this page.
The Middle School Matters Field Guide, like the Research Platform on which it is based, is a dynamic document that is continually updated and augmented to reflect current research.
This booklet summarizes the Middle School Matters Research Platform principles and practices.
This series of practice guides is based on information in the Middle School Matters Research Platform and Field Guide. Each guide, aimed at practitioners, presents key information in a question-and-answer format.
This tool provides descriptions of each key role, followed by checklists of recommended qualities or skills. School leaders may use these checklists to determine appropriate individuals for the MSM School Leadership Team.
The Middle School Matters Blog provides implementation tips from researchers and practitioners.
These templates walk users through the processes of self-reflection, needs determination, and goal setting to develop an overall plan for improving implementation of the principles and practices described in the Middle School Matters Research Platform and Field Guide.
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MSMI implements a rigorous search and review process to select evidence-based resources developed by other researchers and research organizations that extend knowledge of the 13 content dimensions described in the Middle School Matters Research Platform and Field Guide. MSMI regularly updates the clearinghouse with newly reviewed resources.
These instructional practices were derived from the Middle School Matters Field Guide and have been a focus at various professional development events hosted by the Middle School Matters Institute. Each practice includes a brief description, research citations, resources that extend understanding of the practice, videos, and instructional materials.
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From June 15 to 17, 2015, district leadership teams and leaders from two schools in each district attended the third annual Middle School Matters Institute Summer Conference in Austin, Texas.
Throughout each school year, MSMI provides a series of webinars for Tier II and Tier III schools to engage in continued professional development. These webinars focus specifically on one content dimension of the Middle School Matters Field Guide and feature an MSMI researcher.