Book Reviews / Universal Design for Learning
by MiddleWeb · Published 06/28/2018 · Last modified 11/14/2019
Offering 365 ways to teach and challenge all learners, Paula Kluth’s Universal Design Daily provides many fresh and tried and true ideas for incorporating UDL into the classroom, says special education teacher Stacy Thorpe. A great resource to share with coworkers.
About Working Draft / Working Draft
by Kevin Hodgson · Published 06/27/2018 · Last modified 04/19/2020
After five years, 6th grade teacher and NWP activist Kevin Hodgson is retiring his popular Working Draft column for MiddleWeb. In entry 72 he shares links to favorite posts and highlights three central principles about writing that have guided his blogging and teaching.
With summer’s slower pace, some educators’ thoughts may be turning to classroom grant-seeking. Amber Chandler is always on the lookout for funding that helps her kids. She’s batting 20 percent (double the average) and is happy to share tips to boost your own success rate.
Is it time for science fairs to make way for STEM fairs? Anne Jolly takes a close look at traditional fairs – the drain on time, equity issues, questionable competition, and curriculum disconnect – arguing that STEM team activities offer a more purposeful fair framework.
To level, or not to level? Like many educational dilemmas there is no simple right or wrong answer. Literacy coach and author Regie Routman explores the limited role book leveling might play in supporting students to become engaged, deeply comprehending, joyful readers.
In Write This Way from the Start: The First 15 Days of Writer’s Workshop Kelly Boswell gives educators the tools in the easiest workshop format to understand and emulate. Lisa Signorelli thinks the book is just what new and veteran teachers need.
To improve the effectiveness of PLCs, the four authors of Amplify Your Impact have created a framework for coaches to use to guide teachers in practicing effective teamwork. Educator Laura Cockman is already implementing elements of it with her PLC and recommends it.
Whether it’s performing as a person from history or working on a community problem with others, an assessment that gets students to dig deep into content will result in more rigorous learning, writes consultant Barbara Blackburn. She shares examples to get kids started.
Student discussions fueled by doubts and personal questions can push learning very deep, says teaching consultant Jackie Walsh. To set the stage, educators will need to address Teacher Mindset, Classroom Culture, Teaching Modeling, and Student Skills and Dispositions.
After considering his early years as an English teacher, looking at research and talking with teachers and administrators, teacher educator Sean Ruday shares four recommendations to help new ELA teachers’ first years in the classroom be as successful as possible.
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