Framingham implemented changes this year in how middle schools are organized, and how instruction is delivered in these important grades, incorporating recommenda-tions from a Middle School Task Force of teachers, administrators and parents. Students are assigned to teams of two to four teachers, who are responsible for Language arts, math social studies, science, reading in the content area and study skills.
Teams have common planning time and are empowered to make scheduling decisions.
Students of varying academic abilities and achievement levels are assigned to each team, but teachers can re-group students flexibly to address their needs, making it possible to pursue a differentiated curriculum, for instance math in 8th grade. The six day cycle remains, so special subjects are assigned to different days. Both remediation and gifted programs continue. The district continues to offer more professional development on teaming, planning and strategies for teaching children in heterogeneous groups.