Blogs We Like

Here are some blogs we like to read. You’ll find outstanding teachers and school leaders, teacher librarians, PD experts and others with a particular interest in the middle grades, alpha by author. Visit their blogs to discover intriguing discourse, helpful advice, and provocative ideas. We’ll be adding more soon. (Many of them tweet, too, and you can follow that.) If you’d like for us to consider your middle grades-related blog, send us a note.

Project Based Learning – Journalist Suzie Boss writes about PBL, empowering students’ success and more in her Edutopia blog.

Technology for Teachers – Richard Byrne, former teacher, current writer & consultant, is a must-follow blogger for anyone interested in the intersection of tech and instruction.

Evolving Educators – Scott Russo is a progressive-minded asst. superintendent for personnel in New Jersey. Go figure.

Scripted Spontaneity – The Musings and Whinings of a Middle School Science Teacher (Paul Cancellieri)

Living in Dialogue – Anthony Cody, middle grades science coach, Oakland CA, blogs on policy and practice at Education Week. See his MiddleWeb article.

Learning is Messy – 30-yr veteran Brian Crosby, a leader in tech-infused learning, moves from upper elementary to middle school this fall.

Rush the Iceberg – MS English teacher Stephen Davis in Cypress, CA.

Cool Cat Teacher – Vicki Davis, innovative technology specialist at GA’s Westwood School.

Middle School Matrix – Hadley Ferguson, history teacher, Web 2.0 geek!

Larry Ferlazzo (see his MW interview)
Resources of the Day – awesome teaching resource center
Classroom Q&A (Education Week) – exploration of enduring learning issues, with many contributors
Engaging Parents in School – spinoff from his book of the same title

The Tempered Radical – Bill Ferriter, author and award-winning 6th grade teacher in Wake County, NC. See his MW interview.

Teacher in a Strange Land – Nancy Flanagan, former middle grades music teacher and Michigan TOY, keeps a sharp eye out for ed policies that hamper teacher effectiveness. At Education Week. See her MiddleWeb article.

Middle School, day by day – Cossondra George, MS and HS math teacher, Newberry, MI. See her MW interview.

A Place at the Table – Susan Graham, retired FACS teacher, Virginia
(archives only – great middle school reflections)

Patti’s Ponderings – Patti Grayson, Virginia-based 4th grade teacher and 21st century teaching advocate.

A Media Specialist’s Guide to the Internet – Julie Greller, cybrarian, NJ junior/senior high.

Mr. Guymon’s EduBlog – Dave Guymon is a husband, father and dog owner. He’s also a 6th grade teacher and advocate for connected learning for kids and educators.

Technology Integration – Mary Beth Hertz, Philly gr K-7 tech teacher and tech integration specialist. At Edutopia.

View from the Nest – Bill Ivey, Stoneleigh-Burnham middle school dean, MA. See his MW article.

The Daring Librarian –  Maryland MS librarian Gwyneth Anne Jones known for tech & infographics. See her MW interview.

Leading From the Classroom – Patrick Ledesma, middle grades special educator/technologist; now Director of Educator Engagement at the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. In Ed Week.

Mr. McClung’s World – Joe McClung, MS teacher becoming EL assistant principal.

The Book Whisperer – Donalyn Miller, 4th grade teacher, author, Texas. An Education Week blog that ended in Sept. 2012 after four years. See her MW interview.

MindShift: How We Will Learn – Fascinating reports from the learning edge (KQED, San Francisco).

TeachMoore – Renee Moore, former Mississippi teacher of the year, Milken winner, Carnegie Scholar.

21st Century Collaborative – Teacher turned edupreneur Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach on professional learning in a connected world.

mrspal – This MS classroom teacher, Megan Palevich, doesn’t post a lot, but when she does…

Reflections of a Techie – Marsha Ratzel, middle grades science/math teacher, Kansas. See her MW article.

The Dream Teacher – Cindi Rigsbee, 2009 National TOY finalist, now a NC Regional Education Facilitator.

On the Shoulders of Giants – Ariel Sacks, 8th Grade English, Brooklyn NY.

Lessons Learned in the Middle – Maryland MS principal Tom Saunders.

Kathy Schrock’s Kaffeeklatsch – An entry point for librarian Kathy Schrock’s extensive techy resources.

Let’s Talk Speech & Language – Tejwatie Sohan, a NY middle school Speech-Language Pathologist, writes about behavior management and creative, cost-effective ways to target various speech and language skills.

The Line – Henrietta, NY 7th grade English teacher Dina Strasser writes about teaching & other wonderful stuff

Inspiration, Unexpected – subtitled “Evolving Practice,” NH 5th grade teacher Jess Valenti is just getting started with her blog, but we can tell it’s going to be a good one.

NeverEndingSearch – Joyce Valenza, PA teacher librarian and national TL leader (at School Library Journal).

The Jose Vilson – MS math teacher/coach, Lower East Side, NYC. See his MW article.

Voices from the Learning Revolution – Group blog includes 4-8 educators who have shifted to 21st century teaching & leading. Edited by MiddleWeb’s John Norton.

The Wejr Board – K-6 principal Chris Wejr looks into the future of education.

Mr. Wiemer’s Shop – Galyn Wiemers teaches 21stC shop, Gr. 6-8, Iowa

Brain Based Learning – Judy Willis, MD, a neurologist, EL/MS teacher and speaker who blogs at Edutopia about the impact of brain research on teaching.

TweenTeacher – Heather Wolpert-Gawron, CA E/LA teacher and author, who also blogs at Edutopia. See her MW interview.