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Children's nature experiences can lead to deeply rooted attitudes and a lasting commitment to environmental stewardship. In Childhood and Nature noted educator David Sobel identifies universal "play motifs"—such as adventure and creating small worlds—and shows you how to use them to design compelling educational experiences. Click here for details! |
STUDENTS: "WHAT HELPS US LEARN"
Here's the last in a series of articles from the What Kids Can Do organization, drawn from their new book Fires in the Middle School Bathroom. In this segment, middle schoolers talk about what teachers and schools can do to help them grow into confident learners. You will likely nod your head and say, "Yes, schools should be doing these things." Earlier book excerpts cover topics from "what makes us tick" to fair grading practices and school lunch. The book would be a good addition to your professional library. You can find out more about it here (it's about $16.50 at Amazon).
SPECIAL
RESOURCES FOR NEW TEACHERS
Check out our ever-expanding page of resources that can help new
teachers through the first weeks and months of classroom and curriculum
management. Come back often. We add something new every week!
CLASSROOM
2.0 — WORKING TOWARD EXCELLENCE
This website showcases the work of teachers (and their students)
involved in a two-year project sponsored by the Microsoft Partners
in Learning program. The Alabama-based project helps schools make
strides toward 21st Century teaching and learning.
STUDENTS CAN DO HARD THINGS
"What can our students possibly learn if we only gave them easy tasks?" asks middle grades teacher Anthony Cody in this recent Teacher Magazine essay. "On the other hand, how can we motivate our students to accept a challenge if they doubt their own ability?" Students who lack motivation are often not convinced that the effort they invest in themselves is going to be rewarded, says Cody, a science content coach in the Oakland CA schools. "They simply have not been academically successful in the past, so why bother?" He offers several useful strategies that can increase students' willingness to embrace and master difficult assignments.
LOOKING
FOR GRANTS?
Take advantage of this page at the Edutopia website which regularly posts
information about new grant and scholarship opportunities -- including
leads to other sources of grant announcements. .
THE
BEST MIDDLE GRADES RESOURCES ON THE WEB! Do not miss
our Of Particular Interest page and archives. You'll find
hundreds of key Web resources.
HOT LINK OF
THE WEEK: Research Paper Strategy –This detailed lesson describes how picture books can give middle school students frames for structuring research projects, "freeing them from the language of their encyclopedia sources." Visit
all our Hot Links
GATHERINGS
OF SPECIAL INTEREST
ACCELERATE YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOL REFORM
The National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform invites middle school educators to join Forum members on June 19-21 in Washington, DC to learn from high-performing middle grades schools across the nation. Learn more about the 2008 Schools to Watch Conference at the webpage linked above. The National Forum, by the way, is a coalition of 60 major organizations and leaders, "speaking with one voice about the education of students in the middle grades."
INSTITUTE FOR MIDDLE LEVEL LEADERSHIP
Sponsored by the National Middle School Association, this gathering of middle-level leaders (including teacher leaders) will be held twice in July -- in Colorado Springs (July 13-16) and in Charleston SC (July 20-23). The conferences have a team focus, stressing collaborative school improvement around middle school principles.
PLAN NOW FOR NEXT FALL'S NMSA CONFERENCE
Jim Collins, Marlee Matlin and Alan November make up a pretty alluring set of keynoters for the 35th annual conference of the National Middle School Association, scheduled for Denver from October 30 through November 1. They'll be joined by 100s of other presenters, including many of your middle school colleagues from across the US and elsewhere. Jot the dates on your calendar and be sure to register before October 1 and save $80.
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