It's Not Easy Being Tween / Poetry
by Cheryl Mizerny · Published 04/09/2017 · Last modified 03/30/2024
Over the years Cheryl Mizerny has crafted poetry experiences that her students really enjoy. Her reading and writing ideas enable kids to understand poems without dreading the annual “poetry unit” she herself disliked as a tween. She shares 10 of her favorites.
Leila Christenbury and Ken Lindblom pack the voices of teachers and students, activities, stories, recommended reading, and references into the journey they lay out for new and novice ELA teachers. Forty-year veteran Linda BIondi recommends their book highly.
Jennie Magiera urges teachers to launch edventures, pursuing innovations that boost student engagement, build class culture, differentiate, promote digital citizenship and more. Laura Von Staden also likes Magiera’s plentiful ideas about professional learning.
Now’s the time to empower middle grades girls with understanding of their own STEM skills, strengths, and potential. Anne Jolly recommends hands-on problem solving, teamwork, and critical thinking to pave the way for success in engineering, life sciences and more.
Rosalind Wiseman’s Owning Up takes on the ambitious task of talking to middle schoolers about some of the complex social situations adolescents encounter. Maeghan Warburton recommends the 17 flexible lessons addressing bullying, social cruelty, and injustice.
Classroom Recordings / Meaningful Math
by Michelle Russell · Published 03/27/2017 · Last modified 04/28/2024
When Michelle Russell reviewed video of the classes she had recorded, reality turned out to be much different than what she had imagined was happening. In her usual transparent style, Russell describes what she’s learning and what she’ll do to improve her practice.
Art of Movie Making / Close Reading the Media
by Frank Baker · Published 03/26/2017 · Last modified 12/02/2019
As moviemaking transitions from analog to ever advancing computer-driven technologies that meet the expectations of today’s audiences, the blended learning options involving media literacy, art, science and tech grow apace. Frank Baker explores the possibilities.
Kids on the Cusp / Modeling Learning
by Mary Tarashuk · Published 03/26/2017 · Last modified 11/17/2019
As she receives the Educators’ Choice Award for her blog post “Teaching By Doing Something Meaningful” at her first national conference, Mary Tarashuk remembers Madeline Hunter’s simple wisdom and considers the teaching power that comes from writing with students.
Book Reviews / Project Based Learning
by MiddleWeb · Published 03/23/2017 · Last modified 12/03/2019
Todd Stanley’s units of study address the need of today’s students both to problem solve and present findings to an audience. Jennifer Wirtz implemented a well resourced Oral Presentation unit and will use more of the easily adapted projects with her 7th graders.
What’s one of the best things a school day can offer? Exposure to newly learned words – provided that exposure is in context, well-timed, multisensory, and question-based. Literacy expert Amy Benjamin suggests five ways to achieve these “durable learning” goals.
