Anyone—parent or teacher—starting the new school year with tweeners or teenagers should think about immediately ordering a copy of The Advisory Book by Linda Crawford!

Just published by Origins in Minneapolis, The Advisory Book is a treasure trove of information that reflects a precise understanding of middle schoolers’ needs and of what motivates them cognitively and socially. It’s simply the best book of its kind available anywhere, offering over 200 activities, greetings, and sample advisory meetings, along with sage advice and developmental knowledge about children “in the middle.”

Author Linda Crawford is founder and director of Origins, established in 1979 as a nonprofit organization with a mission to foster learning and community in school, museums, and other educational institutions. As a regional center for the work of Northeast Foundation for Children, Inc., developers of the Responsive Classroom® approach to teaching and learning, Origins serves Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Origins also has a complete professional development approach for middle school education called Developmental Designs® and provides workshops and seminars nationally. The Advisory Book is a key resource for this program, but it’s also an exceptional book for anyone interested in middle school education.

Whether or not you teach in a school that has a formal advisory program, you’ll find a wealth of activities to integrate into any content area. If your school is considering an advisory program, reading this book with a study group would be a great way to begin your investigation. If you’re a parent, this book will give you a peek into the possibilities for the best kind of engaged middle school learning communities.

To order: www.originsonline.org.