When youth in the middle know their “sparks” – their inner energizing interests – they’re more likely to stay engaged in school and develop a sense of purpose. Expert Susan Ragsdale shares motivational research & activities to help uncover those sparks.
In “Engaging Minds in Science and Math Classrooms,” Eric Brunsell & Michelle A. Fleming explain in just 55 pages the why & how of joyful learning that supports today’s ed initiatives. Excellent resource for new and veteran STEM teachers, says math teacher/coach Lynne Menechella.
One hallmark of rigor in the classroom is an effective grading system, says PD consultant Barbara Blackburn. Teachers with ineffective practices often overvalue simple tasks and need to be clear about the “what, why and how” behind their grades. She analyzes a weak social studies grading rubric.
Book Reviews / Common Core State Standards
by MiddleWeb · Published 09/16/2014 · Last modified 11/16/2019
Common Core Literacy for ELA, History/Social Studies and the Humanities deserves a place on the bookshelf of all educators in the Humanities, says reviewer and rookie SS teacher Michael DiClemente. The book offers detailed strategies and timely tech advice.
When ELA teacher Ariel Sacks wrote a book tying the teaching of novels to student empowerment, her hopes for reader interaction were modest. Now she’s become part of a community of connected educators, digging deep into everyone’s ideas.
Erik Palmer makes a compelling case for the explicit instruction of communication skills in Teaching the Core Skills of Listening and Speaking, relating them to CCSS anchor standards and providing helpful lessons and good advice, says reviewer Rebecca Crockett.
Principals and others who want to serve as principals will find a “symphony of theory, practice, data, advice and inspiration” in Michael Fullan’s The Principal – Three Keys to Maximizing Impact, says reviewer Holly Foley.
Teaching with Heart gives voice to teachers and explores the nature of teaching in a totally new way. Reviewer and teacher-leader Ariel Sacks also finds it a testament to the power of poetry in a culture that often forgets its value.
The spectrum of health issues our students face is mind-boggling, but our response to their needs shouldn’t be. With forethought and guidance from school personnel, worries about children with health conditions can be reduced, says teacher Beth Morrow.
Even though the tragedy in Ferguson is fading from the headlines and our twitter feeds, the issues and social dynamics that led to it remain firmly in place and schools need to address them, says middle school dean Bill Ivey. He suggests an “incredible resource.”
