Author and veteran teacher educator Ann Weber outlines 3 key supervisory steps – preparation, coaching and evaluation – that can help cooperating teachers shine in their advisory roles and assure new teachers are ready to launch their careers in the middle grades.
Articles / Social & Emotional Learning
by MiddleWeb · Published 10/23/2016 · Last modified 11/27/2019
In a culture where we’re always connected, writes digital citizenship consultant Devorah Heitner, the challenges of adolescence are intensified in ways that adults and kids themselves don’t always fully grasp. Tweens and teens need a special brand of mentorship.
Help students build scientific literacy with the research-based strategies developed by Jennifer Altieri in her book Reading Science. Science teacher Joyce Depenbusch finds the ideas for vocabulary instruction and cross-curricular projects especially helpful.
STEM Across Curriculum / STEM By Design
by Anne Jolly · Published 10/17/2016 · Last modified 11/24/2019
Some schools are putting all subjects under a big STEM tent. Can they stay true to STEM’s engineering focus? Anne Jolly talks to schoolwide-STEM expert Judy Duke, who points to History class. Teachers writing lessons should always ask: “What problems needed to be solved?”
Always on the lookout for opportunities to enrich her 4th graders’ learning, Mary Tarashuk made a test run with the Global Read Aloud’s 2016 choice, “Pax,” and is ready with added resources for October/November’s worldwide immersion in Sara Pennypacker’s book.
Screenwise by Devorah Heitner is a book for both educators and parents that adopts “a gloriously positive attitude” about adults’ ability to learn and model wise use of the digital tools that engage people of all ages today. Teacher-author Heather Wolpert-Gawron finds lots of wisdom and lots to use.
As they compose non-fiction paragraphs or essays, students must frame selected quotes (evidence) with appropriate context and explanation, says literacy consultant Sarah Tantillo. But they often struggle to compile these “quote sandwiches.” Try some of her solutions.
Rose-colored glasses are a key accessory for instructional coaches, writes Rita Platt in her first article for MiddleWeb. Platt shares five promises that she makes to herself and her collaborating teachers to keep things positive, appreciative and ever-improving.
While Mindsets for Parents seems geared towards parents, anyone who works with or interacts regularly with children will find this book helpful, says math coach Lori Hochstetler. Opportunities for reflection plus concrete examples fill the book.
New teacher Caleb Pahl recommends Audrey Watters’ book about student ownership of domains and online content to district policy makers who make decisions in this arena – and teachers with a specific interest in how “big data” is used by education corporations.
