Teaching and learning in grades 4-8

With Flexible Grouping We Can Reach Every Kid

When students are busy learning, staying in a single group is stifling. The solution for teacher-author Amber Chandler is a “flexible classroom” where students rotate through strategic groupings to meet differentiated needs at various stages of the learning process.

A Rich Literacy Plan for Well-Resourced Parents

Margaret Mary Policastro provides solid background on best practices for home literacy, says reading specialist Judy Harris. But Harris finds the book short on good advice for families that lack the resources and services more typical of upscale neighborhoods.

How to Mentor Students More Effectively

Russ Olwell’s book Mentoring is a Verb is a useful resource for educators involved in mentor/mentee roles, says Nicolette Lesniak, who mentors at-risk students. She finds the WOOP framework and other strategies recommended by Olwell easy to implement and adapt.

Help Kids Thrive in a Screen-Filled World

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.

Writing Personal Memoir with Tweens & Teens

In his guide to writing memoir with adolescents, Jake Wizner shares what he has learned as a writer teaching writers: how to balance honesty and discretion in student writing and how to reach writers of all levels. Fellow 8th grade teacher Brian Kelley loves it.