Angela Stockman’s attitude of respect and awe for students flows from the pages of “Make Writing” and inspires teachers to think differently about their approach to writing instruction. Amber Chandler recommends this easy-to-follow, forward thinking “making” guide.
Future of History / Middle School History / New Teacher Advice
by Lauren S. Brown · Published 07/19/2016 · Last modified 11/26/2019
After many years teaching high school & college students, Lauren Brown re-entered a middle school classroom last fall as a full-time social studies teacher. She describes her delight with young adolescents who greeted history with enthusiasm and deep discussions.
Many teachers are not well equipped to teach “argument” and prepare students for assessments that require them to build an effective claim. Author and consultant Erik Palmer deconstructs current efforts to teach persuasive writing and offers better solutions.
Literacy consultant Regie Routman’s determination to interact meaningfully with her teen granddaughter led her to take up tennis again. Her 10 takeaways apply to life on the court and in the classroom, including the value of joy and the necessity for follow-through.
Concept mapping is one of those underutilized but potentially powerful tools than can deepen learning and teaching significantly. In his new MiddleWeb blog, Class Apps, teacher educator Curtis Chandler shares three online mapping tools to get students started.
Digital Portfolios / Working Draft
by Kevin Hodgson · Published 07/06/2016 · Last modified 11/15/2019
Kevin Hodgson and his 6th graders learned how to build digital portfolios together in recent months, creating a reflective space to re-examine and “curate” a year’s worth of digital projects. He shares tools created to guide the process and the lessons learned.
We always hear about the “real world” vs. the world in school. Project Based Learning helps to break down that barrier and better merges the two. It’s also undeniably engaging and lures kids into rigorous learning, as in Heather Wolpert-Gawron’s “Invention Unit.”
Beyond the Textbook / Future of History
by Sarah Cooper · Published 06/27/2016 · Last modified 11/22/2019
In Sarah Cooper’s never-ending effort to reach beyond textbook basics, she sometimes asks students to read a selection from a scholarly journal article or popular history book. Carefully sharing a JSTOR piece on Sherman’s March helped students grasp “total war.”
Troublemakers. Forgetters. The Clingers. The Confused. Barbara Blackburn looks at how we often jump to conclusions and miss chances to build trust, explore the needs behind the behaviors, and help students grow. Once we jump, she warns, it’s hard to jump back.
Book Reviews / Visual & Media Literacy
by MiddleWeb · Published 06/22/2016 · Last modified 11/30/2019
DIY Literacy by Kate and Maggie Roberts is not only a how-to book on designing visual learning tools but also a source of advice on implementing them in the classroom. It has just what lead teacher Sandy Wisneski needs to augment her lack of artistic talent.
