Stimpson 1

Lydia Stimpson

Sister Robinson

English 252.02

13 October, 2017

Academic Journal Review

In 1994 the NCTE, or National Council of Teachers of English, began publishing an

academic journal titled, Voices from the Middle. This journal is aimed towards helping middle

school level teachers practice their craft with confidence. Often, public school teachers do not

receive the materials or administrative support they need to be effective. They are

underappreciated and overworked, which has resulted in a mass exodus from the teaching field.

Voices from the Middle publishes insightful articles filled with research, innovative ideas, and

motivating sentiments in an effort to provide these teachers with the support they need.

The first goal of Voices from the Middle is to provide middle level educators with

pertinent research that they can easily apply to their classrooms. Usually, these articles discuss

how students learn best, which is the main question held by educators. In the September 2017

issue Lisa Scherff reported on a recent experiment done with 114 eleventh-grade students. In this

study, Matthew McConn taught half of his classes intensively, and the other half extensively.

Ultimately, McConn concluded that both approaches were equally effective in terms of gains in

comprehension and analysis, with no statistical differences between his two groups (Scherff

99). However, at the end of the article Scherff concludes that the best form of teaching is

whichever method fosters rather than kills the students desire to learn.
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While the research itself is beneficial to teachers across the nation, the delivery is even

more important. Voices from the Middle has not only provided access to the study, but they have

published an interpretive response towards it. This starts a conversation that invites input from

many different teachers and professionals. Typically, the research they publish is somewhat

informal and completed by a certified teacher or group of teachers. Statistics are often based off

of test scores and performance reviews. The article also compounds the information into an

easily digested format, which can be valuable for teachers who dont have the time to search

through longer research journals. The most important aspect teachers gain from the research is

the feeling of community. They can see that others care about providing a quality education and

are thinking about many of the same issues. While the results are interesting, they are mostly

used as a jumping off point for teachers who strive to improve their classrooms.

The next type of article that is regularly published in this journal falls under the category

of New Voices. In the September 2017 issue Christopher Lehman wrote an article about the

importance of teaching mentors. In it, he addresses the difficulties faced by new teachers and

how they can benefit from a strong relationship with a mentor whos had years of experience

(Lehman 100). This accomplishes three of the journals main goals. It provides teachers, authors,

and professionals with the opportunity for their voices to be heard. This increases the confidence

of teachers who feel they are overlooked, while providing hope that they can follow suit. It also

provides ideas for how to fix common problems in education. In this case it is the lack of support

teachers receive. By choosing a topic that many educators can relate to Lehman has connected

with the audience and drawn them into a journal that can be very beneficial to them. This type of

article also brings important issues to the attention of administrators or other professionals. Once
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they see that teachers are struggling to receive support they may feel impressed to act on this by

implementing new programs.

The third and final type of article that was analyzed does not fit under any one category.

It is purely motivational, and is not owned by a single author. Instead, it contains inspirational

stories, experiences, anecdotes, and advice from teachers across the nation. In addition, novelists,

NCTE board members, and college professors have all written in their two cents. In the

September 2017 issue, for their twenty-fifth anniversary editors chose to focus on the importance

of middle level educators ("Voices from the Field: Why does Middle Level Matter?). They are

praised for having the patience and compassion towards students during a difficult time of

growing up. They are also encouraged to keep going regardless of the challenges they face.

While the messages contained in this piece are highly motivational, the execution is also key.

Approximately thirty eight short paragraphs were chosen to be highlighted in this issue, from

people of varying authority, and professions. This provides a great opportunity for teachers who

feel that their voices go unheard. While the paragraphs are brief, they are published ideas

nonetheless.

Voices from the Middle is a great choice in literature for any educational professionals

who desire to stay up to date with research and relevant discussions regarding their middle

school students. This journal provides teachers with the support of fellow professionals that they

need to continue in their efforts. It also offers real classroom-applicable ideas to improve their

teaching methods, and creates a community where teachers voices can be heard while real

issues are discussed at length. While it does require a small subscription fee, the money is well

spent by anyone looking for guidance on their journey through middle level teaching.
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Works Cited

Lehman, Christopher. "Teaching Mentors Matter: A Critical Relationship to Retain and Develop

Great Teachers." Voices from the Middle, vol. 25, no. 1, 2017, pp. 100-102, Research

Library, https://search-proquest-

com.byui.idm.oclc.org/docview/1942183091?accountid=9817.

Scherff, Lisa. "Depth Or Breadth?" Voices from the Middle, vol. 25, no. 1, 2017, pp. 98-99,

Research Library, https://search-proquest-

com.byui.idm.oclc.org/docview/1942179055?accountid=9817.

"Voices from the Field: Why does Middle Level Matter?" Voices from the Middle, vol. 25, no. 1,

2017, pp. 10-16, Research Library, https://search-proquest-

com.byui.idm.oclc.org/docview/1942177278?accountid=9817.

Voices from the Middle. [Electronic Resource]. Urbana, IL : National Council of Teachers of

English, 1994. EBSCOhost,

byui.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat

03146a&AN=BYUID.4367092&site=eds-live.