Middle-level educators in grades 4-8 are responsible for teaching intellectual skills and knowledge while attending to specific adolescent developmental needs in two of the following content areas: English language arts, mathematics, science and/or social studies. Our urban communities need highly skilled, compassionate and advocacy-oriented Middle Level teachers whose content knowledge and instructional practice honor students' diversity and promote equity. Middle Level teachers create learning environments that develop learners' opportunities across several content areas: In English Language Arts, teachers teach reading literature, writing for multiple audiences, expressing ideas and opinions in speech and interpersonal communication and exploring the potential of the arts in language arts. In Mathematics, teachers enable students to learn mathematics by engaging them in mathematical practices and using critical thinking to make sense of core mathematical ideas. In Science, teachers enable students to learn science by thinking critically, engaging them in scientific practices and using core science ideas to make sense of phenomena from the natural world. In Social Studies, teachers develop young citizens who can participate in our democracy and the global community by thinking critically in history, geography, political science and economics content areas.