In the Middle is a book about teaching reading and writing to middle grade students using a workshop approach. This book is suited for teachers of all experience levels. I found the bookís philosophy of how to teach reading and writing and itís step by step look at setting up workshops to be very comprehensive. The appendix and assessment section of the book was also very useful.

• Student self-assessment and evaluation should be the foundation of assessment.
• The student and the teacher set goals about the progress that they would like to see.
• A "balanced" reporting system includes, "Ö the fullest possible picture of a studentís abilities, reflects what happens in our classrooms, involves parents, doesnít exhaust the teachers (not totally, anyway), and relies on studentsí assessment of what they know, can do, have done and need to do next. (Atwell, 1998, p.302)
• When evaluating, teachers need to take into account the range of ability that is present in their class.
• Teachers should collect, and analyze student work and write a description detailing growth and suggestions on improvement.
• A minilesson should be given to the students focusing on the criteria that will be used in evaluation.

"We wonít get the best from middle school students until we stop blaming adolescents for their adolescent behavior and begin to invite their distinctive brand of middle school best" (Atwell, 1998, p.54).

" To convince students of their academic potential, we have to demonstrate our expectation that every student has an academic potential"(Atwell, 1998, p.80).

" The longer I teach, the more I know whatís possible and the less Iím willing to leave to chance" (Atwell, 1998, p.110).

"Minilessons are the ritual that bring us together as a community of readers and writers at the start of each workshop, when we come in from the rest of our lives- from lunch or science or the playground- and put on the cloaks of writers and readers" (Atwell, 1998, p.150).