Teaching and learning in grades 4-8

Media Literacy: How to Watch the Debates

The presidential debates offer a unique portal to explore topics that are critically important in developing students’ media literacy skills and preparing them for responsible citizenship. Experts Frank W. Baker and Karen Zill provide an in-depth teaching guide.

Don’t Break the Ice, Build Your Community

After years of using the same “icebreaker” activities to get tweens and teens talking to each other and the teacher, ESL educator Walton Burns had an epiphany – icebreakers needed to give way to community building events, tailored specifically for adolescents.

How to Create a PBL, Performance-Driven School

“Transforming Schools” presents a proven school model built on project based learning and performance assessment, with advice from three leaders of Envision Schools on how to reinvent systems, reshape school culture, and navigate the inevitable challenges.

Warm Ways to Deepen Historical Thinking

On each page of History Class Revisited, teacher Jody Passanisi reveals a deep knowledge of middle school minds and hearts and offers many engaging strategies to help students on the way from literal to critical thinking about history, says reviewer Sarah Cooper.

3 Ways to Encourage Ownership of Learning

Ultimately, teachers have the final say in the classroom. But when they share some ownership with students, they create a true community of learners and reap benefits for themselves. Expert Barbara Blackburn shares three ideas about building student ownership.

Instructional Planning for Effective Teaching

“Instructional Planning for Effective Teaching” could be helpful to new teachers who might benefit from its research about the planning methods of “effective” teachers, writes reviewer Robbi Ndebi. But more examples of strong vs. weak instructional design would be helpful.