Drawing on the wisdom of educators, researchers, and twenty years of personal experience in the middle school classroom, Rick Wormeli lays out a clear vision of what responsive middle-level teaching can be. Both a "how-to" book and a thoughtful narrative on important topics, Meet me in the middle gives you successful strategies for addressing key middle-level teaching challenges, including: differentiating instruction; motivating early adolescents; teaming; teaching in block-length classes; using authentic and alternative assessment effectively; writing in all subjects; holding students and teachers accountable; involving parents; mentoring teachers; using games in the classroom; applying the latest in brain research; the National Board Certification process; and understanding the young adolescent.