Barriers / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 03/15/2016 · Last modified 12/11/2019
With Spring comes the opportunity to take another crack at co-teaching barriers that keep students from reaching their learning potential. Elizabeth Stein invites co-teachers to drop shoulders, flex legs, and push those barriers aside! Coaching tips included.
Effective group work sparks student engagement and builds communication skills for the future. But how do teachers structure teamwork activities so kids are cooperative and everyone learns? Instructional expert Barbara Blackburn offers a step-by-step blueprint.
Susan Brooks-Young offers a gateway to designing a Hybrid Mobile Technology Program in any unique school district setting. Her brief book features an abundance of resources, guidelines, and questions, says Joshua Zagorski, a K-12 STEM supervisor and instructional technologist.
Meaningful academic conversation makes for sticky learning, but most students don’t bring a high proficiency in the needed skills to the classroom. Expert Jackie Walsh describes a step-by-step process that can help teachers cultivate deep student discussions.
Research and Rhetoric, based on the CLEAR curriculum, is a must-read for teachers who have been wondering how to foster creativity and increase student engagement while teaching research and persuasive writing, says classroom teacher Linda Biondi.
The professional wisdom of teacher educator and consultant Barbara Blackburn shines through in “Motivating Struggling Learners,” writes 7th grade math teacher and coach Karen Bloom. Blackburn’s clear advice and multiple resources make the book “fantastic.”
Katie Egan Cunningham stresses the importance of caring for our students’ stories even as we explore fiction and story-making with them. Reviewer Mary Langer Thompson highly recommends the book for its practical focus mixed with a philosophy beautifully expressed.
Setting Goals / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 02/14/2016 · Last modified 11/27/2019
Setting goals with students is necessary but not sufficient, writes co-teaching coach Elizabeth Stein. Co-teachers must then focus their attention on helping students develop actionable steps to achieve the goal, with teacher guidance all along the way.
Book Reviews / Common Core State Standards
by MiddleWeb · Published 02/11/2016 · Last modified 11/18/2019
The activities in Lisa Morris’ book on teaching ELA with the CCSS in grades 2-5 are easily adapted for each level, including middle grades 4&5. Reviewer Linda Biondi also liked the extensive mentor texts and came away with oodles of lesson ideas.
Research Projects / Working Draft
by Kevin Hodgson · Published 02/09/2016 · Last modified 12/12/2019
Kevin Hodgson’s sixth graders are fresh off a research-based essay writing project. He describes the process they followed to choose their topics, use Google Research, manage citations, avoid plagiarism, include media, and pursue an optional extension project.
