Articles / Teaching the Whole Adolescent
by MiddleWeb · Published 12/28/2014 · Last modified 07/14/2024
Middle school students are a unique breed, says educator and consultant Jennifer Gonzalez, and they need teachers who are tuned in to the intense dichotomies of adolescent life and learning. She offers teachers new to the middle level eight helpful tips.
In a season filled with celebrations, MiddleWeb celebrates teachers by sharing some insights into the teaching life, offered by our bloggers and guest writers. We begin with the wonderful 2014 book, Teaching with Heart.
Book Reviews / Vocabulary Instruction
by MiddleWeb · Published 12/17/2014 · Last modified 11/24/2019
When teachers across the content areas put the ideas in Janet Allen’s Tools for Teaching Academic Vocabulary to work, their students will feel as if they truly own their vocabulary and want to share and celebrate it, says teacher-reviewer Linda Biondi.
Examining the Evidence explains seven strategies to engage with primary sources, all easily understood by students. Aligned to specific Common Core standards, the strategies are useful in K-8 classrooms beyond social studies, says reviewer Nicole Miller.
Exploring History / Kids on the Cusp
by Mary Tarashuk · Published 12/04/2014 · Last modified 12/03/2019
Teaching students to “think like historians” begins with making connections between past and present, says teacher Mary Tarashuk. As her 4th graders begin the Age of Exploration, she calls on a Tai Chi parent-expert to help bridge ancient and modern times.
Sarah Tantillo offers more sage advice on how to write lesson objectives that get students’ brains racing. In this post, the literacy consultant explains why objectives must always have a compelling purpose – offering two stories from her own classroom observations.
Even with all the usual basics in place, the small things novice teachers do could be wreaking havoc on your whole classroom management system. Middle school veteran Jennifer Gonzalez identifies unproductive habits, along with more effective alternatives.
Expert Frank W. Baker wants to convince teachers that toy advertisements are a great media literacy teaching tool. Video clips and colorful ‘print’ ads abound on the Internet and are sure to engage students. Baker provides some good discussion questions & lesson ideas to get started.
Future of History / Lesson Planning
by Jody & Shara · Published 11/17/2014 · Last modified 12/02/2019
Last year Jody Passanisi concluded that her go-to lesson on types of government no longer gripped students’ attention. Here she evaluates the successes and challenges of a redesign: lots more student ownership, but is there enough understanding at the end?
This large collection by educators covers important ground, says classroom tech leader Kevin Hodgson. Discussions of how technology impacts our writing and reading, media literacy principles, and social justice are “important and well worth the time.”
