In her new book Teaching in High Gear, middle school teacher Marsha Ratzel describes a transformational journey, marked by a gradual shift toward student-driven learning and energized by a global network of collaborators. In this excerpt, Marsha describes how her development of a “coaching mode” helped students become more self-reliant learners.
Too many manic, even eruptive meetings? Reviewer Lyn Hilt recommends the preventatives and interventions crafted by these authors to promote productivity.
This is a must-read book for teacher leaders, says our reviewer, offering the stories of 8 educators who seek a new kind of teacher role in America’s schools.
Teachers should be friendly with students but avoid adult-style friendships, say Larry Ferlazzo & Rick Wormeli in this excerpt from Classroom Management Q&A.
Kids on the Cusp / Teacher Evaluation
by Mary Tarashuk · Published 10/14/2013 · Last modified 11/15/2019
Mary Tarashuk is working on the Classroom Management domain of NJ’s teaching self-assessment rubrics. Some words are a bit hard to digest.
Anne Jolly offers her take on the debate over STEM education and the motives behind the movement to promote a STEM learning approach.
Julia G. Thompson, author of the 1st Year Teacher’s Survival Guide, considers what it means to have a culturally responsive classroom. Tips & resources.
About Kids on the Cusp / Kids on the Cusp
by Mary Tarashuk · Published 07/07/2013 · Last modified 05/19/2020
MiddleWeb’s newest blogger, Mary Tarashuk, will write about “teaching it all” to tweens in fourth and fifth grades. She begins with some personal backstory!
Cemeteries: Alive with Learning, Barbara Kissling’s short book describing a PBL experience focused on old cemeteries, is a unique idea sure to engage middle schoolers, says reviewer Carolyn Baker.
Randy Bomer’s passion for literacy for all students is evident throughout Building Adolescent Literacy in Today‘s English Classroom. Reviewer Linda Biondi suggests close reading of this research & experience based book.
