Because teachers share the same students and have a common planning period, they are able to respond more quickly to the needs of individual students though collaboration, meeting jointly with parents, and designing thematic units which foster the transfer of ideas among disciplines and increase relevance. The purpose of this program is the development of close, trusting relationships between students and adults and to increase engagement with learning and feelings of positive self-esteem and belonging. Learning tasks are developmentally appropriate and adapted to individual differences. Exploratory programs capitalize on the innate curiosity of young adolescents, exposing them to a range of academic, vocational, and recreational subjects for career options, community service, enrichment, and enjoyment. Exploratory topics include foreign languages, intramural sports, health, clubs, student government, home economics, technological arts, independent study projects, music, art, speech, drama, careers, consumer education, creative writing, and several other special areas.
Transition programs focus on creating a smooth change of schools for the young adolescent.
A common approach is for elementary school students to visit the middle level school they will be attending, while administrators of the elementary and middle level schools meet to discuss programs and the middle school counselors to discuss ways to help students make a smooth transition from elementary to middle school and from middle school to high school. National Middle School Association. National Middle School Association. The rhetoric and the reality. New evidence for the middle school.