A newcomer is a student who has immigrated from another country. Their experiences are quite different than those who are citizens of immigrant parents. Tan Huynh shares key ideas from author Louise El Yaafouri to both welcome newcomers and create a system that empowers them.
In social studies we want students to visualize the relationships between historical events and be able to think chronologically. Megan Kelly has 6th graders begin with personal timelines. Other teaching tools include videos, a history card game, memes and manipulatives.
Writing workshop can be an exciting part of the day for students in the middle, writes author and workshop expert Lynne Dorfman. Even when middle level schedules aren’t a great fit for extended workshop writing, teachers can nurture “writerly” attitudes with daily quickwrites.
Recognizing that we are all new to the process of teaching and learning this year, teaching coach and NBCT Elizabeth Stein considers three keys for success as we move forward on our co-teaching journeys: flexibility, communication, and blending academics with SEL.
Gilmore and Deos’s Integrating Technology targets teachers in its early chapters and IT leaders later on in its broad messaging. The authors present a useful theoretical model, says reviewer Jeny Randall, short on “how to” examples but long on vision for the future.
With all of her math students learning online at least some of the time, Michelle Russell has struggled to “get it right.” Her six lessons learned so far include: Don’t assume they know technology basics. Mix firmness with compassion. Grow their self-sufficiency. Yours?
After a spring of Zooming with established classes, Sarah Cooper finds new challenges using virtual breakout rooms this fall. Having to sort groups of unfamiliar students really makes a difference. She shares which breakout strategies still work and what needs extra care.
In a school year when frustration, fatigue and uncertainty make teaching and learning an unprecedented challenge, principal Rita Platt is leading her staff to focus on two top priorities: (1) limit instruction to essential standards, and (2) build personal connections with EVERY student.
Leading online STEM lessons the same way you lead an onsite STEM project presents some real-world teaching problems. Science teacher and STEM curriculum author Anne Jolly looks at the challenges and suggests strategies and resources to keep kids learning in uncommon times.
At the beginning of a new school year, establishing a strong class culture is a top priority, whether we are face-to-face or virtual. We can’t assume this culture exists, even if students have been classmates before. Lynne Dorfman shares some community building ideas.
