Communications / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 09/05/2018 · Last modified 11/21/2019
Elizabeth Stein launches into the new school year with strategies to help co-teachers evaluate their current relationships and begin strengthening the one-on-one communication that is essential to provide learning opportunities for everyone in the classroom.
The power of Genius Hour comes from sparking wonder, encouraging deep learning, and facilitating sharing so students can make public their new knowledge, creation, or innovation, locally and world wide. GH champions Denise Krebs and Gallit Zvi describe good ways to share.
Collaborative Writing / Create Compose Connect
by Jeremy Hyler · Published 08/15/2018 · Last modified 11/24/2019
There are good reasons to have students do collaborative writing, writes teacher Jeremy Hyler, who uses the strategy in his classes to encourage team brainstorming and to let each students “write to their strengths.” Included: Using mystery puzzles for argument writing.
Every summer educators ask these questions: (1) How can we lessen summer learning loss? and (2) How can we help build students’ SEL skills? Sarah Tantillo and Meredith Murray share the story of a Summer Bridge program and some useful resources to address both questions.
New school year? Time for a fresh classroom environment! Consultant and author Barbara Blackburn shares ideas and resources we can use to create a learning space that will be positive for all students, build strong relationships, and offer a pleasing place to gather.
Writing interesting nonfiction is a valuable student skill. So why is most of it so boring? A focus on content and conventions isn’t sufficient, says teacher Angie Miller. See her strategies to help kids read like writers and engage audiences with writing that fascinates.
Versatile Apps / Wide Open Learning
by Megan Kelly · Published 08/05/2018 · Last modified 12/04/2019
Including a few new tools for students in your first few weeks of school will pay dividends throughout the year. In her new MiddleWeb blog “Wide Open Learning” Megan Kelly describes two apps your kids can integrate into projects across subjects in the months ahead.
Current Events / Future of History
by Sarah Cooper · Published 07/29/2018 · Last modified 12/14/2019
When Sarah Cooper launches an op-ed writing project, students respond best if they have wide latitude to choose a topic, picking an issue that sparks a personal connection. Beyond research and writing, the highlight for kids is sharing their op-eds with an audience.
Close Reading the Media / The Emmy Awards
by Frank Baker · Published 07/25/2018 · Last modified 11/17/2019
Studying TV in the middle grades might seem frivolous, writes media literacy expert Frank Baker, but when teachers engage kids through popular culture, they meet them where they are. The Emmys is a perfect example. Baker has background and teaching ideas to get started.
Class Apps / Reciprocal Teaching
by Curtis Chandler · Published 07/15/2018 · Last modified 12/05/2019
Reciprocal teaching (RT) helps students deepen their learning by teaching other students. Curtis Chandler shows how kiddos can tackle new texts and concepts by developing their ability to apply cognitive and metacognitive strategies. He includes helpful videos and online tools.
