Interdisciplinary Team Development in the Middle School: A Study of the Delta Project

Abstract

The Delta Project involved one team of four middle school teachers and their approximately 100 students working together throughout grades 6-8 to make a number of changes in team organization, curriculum, and instruction. The purpose of this study was to examine the development of these four teachers as they worked together as an interdisciplinary team. The four data sources were: (a) observations of team planning sessions, (b) group interviews with the teachers, (c) interviews with the school administrators, and (d) a chronicle of the Delta Project written by the teachers. The teachers functioned with a great deal of autonomy. The Delta teachers' commitment to and vision for middle school education led to extensive team collaboration. Their planning emphasized decision making about scheduling, grouping, and interdisciplinary curriculum and instruction. This study documents the development of an interdisciplinary team; this can help deepen our understanding of how to improve schools for young adolescents.