Teaching and learning in grades 4-8
The restorative practices advocated by authors Dominique Smith, Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey invite teachers “to switch their energies from rules to relationships, and provide meaningful instruction,” writes reviewer and instructional coach Glenda Moyer.
Pia Hansen’s Mathematics Coaching Handbook carefully explores the roles played by coaches, then goes on to describe how to approach and work with teachers. Middle grades specialist Scott Sharp also finds the appendix’s many templates helpful.
Teaching coach Elizabeth Stein wants every co-teacher to develop the moral courage “to speak up, reach out, and do what is right in the face of forces that might lead a person to act in some other way.” She shares three powerful ways to work toward this goal.
With summer on the horizon, your STEM preparation for next fall may already be ramping up. Whether you taught STEM this year or will be teaching it for the first time in 2016-17, Anne Jolly outlines some useful online STEM resources to launch your summer prep.
Figuring out what’s going on with a child emotionally and behaviorally is the practice of counselors and therapists. But the classroom teacher often sees problems first. Psychotherapist Noah Kempler suggests things to consider when a student’s behavior shifts.
Thematic text sets that tap into the social worlds and narrative driven lives of adolescents can spark “unstoppable learning,” say literacy educators Katie and Chris Cunningham, who share several text-set examples and a 10-step process for building your own.
“Renewable Energy: Discover the Fuel of the Future,” packs in activities & learning for teachers and students. STEM coordinator Emily Anders says it’s “a must-have resource” for teachers who want to add project learning to their lessons on energy sources.
Adam Sáenz and Jeremy Dew link relationship building to its impact on fulfilling our calling as educators. The authors invite readers to reflect on how they connect and set boundaries to best use energy. Well worth the read, says Laura Von Staden.
Learning needs to become active and stay that way. Ron Nash’s 2nd edition of “From Seatwork to Feetwork” explains how teachers can let go of traditional teaching methods and shift to student-directed classrooms, says educator and writer Mary Langer Thompson.
Today’s history students need to include evaluation, analysis, and synthesis in writing assignments, going well beyond the traditional reporting of facts. Shara Peters and Jody Passanisi share their methods for helping students improve their writing skills.