Pushback against equity-centered trauma-informed practices is present at all levels today. It’s overwhelming, and teachers feel disempowered. How can we become changemakers with so much stacked against us? Educator and trauma specialist Alex Shevrin Venet shares three insights.
Students who struggle with academic reading can benefit from “a compass of sorts” to help them navigate texts. To accomplish this, educator Ron Klemp developed a four-step quickwrite protocol that’s been “extremely effective” in boosting their engagement and understanding.
Creating a well-rounded middle school student goes way beyond the textbook! Anne Jolly shares the core learning skills and life skills middle-schoolers need and invites teachers – especially STEM teachers – to take up the challenge to help students achieve their potential.
Grammar instruction has barely changed since our grandparents were in school. It’s time to flip that script. ELA teachers Patty McGee and Tim Donohue share fun, effective techniques to help students evolve into grammar rock stars. Welcome to the FANBOYS conjunction fan club!
Given the high level of anxiety among teens today, teachers need to focus more on students’ need for safety. Gravity Goldberg suggests ways to use what we know about the body-brain connection to help kids experience the kind of regulation needed for any learning to happen.
Finding ways to scaffold in classrooms with a mix of readers – both well behind and well ahead of grade level – can be overwhelming. Author and coach Jennifer Throndsen shares low-prep, easy to implement, research-based strategies teachers can use to support all students.
Creating neurodiversity-affirming schools is not merely an educational shift; it’s an act of advocacy, equity, and justice. Our actions ensure that every student can express themselves openly and thrive academically and socially, write Amanda Morin and Emily Kircher-Morris.
AI should be more than a tool; it could be a true creative partner and not a crutch. It is our job to get our students to that point. Practice at choosing the best words for prompts, refining those prompts, and evaluating and adjusting the responses can help get them there.
Adolescent Development / Book Reviews
by MiddleWeb · Published 05/22/2025 · Last modified 05/23/2025
What do middle graders need from adults, especially their parents? Looking into brain science and social, academic, tech and ethical issues, educator and parent Jody Passanisi asks parents to think back to their own childhoods and then consider how to best support their kids.
Artificial Intelligence / STEM By Design
by Anne Jolly · Published 05/20/2025 · Last modified 06/28/2025
Every student needs to understand AI basics, including its potential and problems. They need to be aware of current AI tools and understand how to use them. Perhaps most important, they need to understand the social and ethical issues AI can create. Anne Jolly shares ways to get students started.
