Teaching and learning in grades 4-8
Text sets can help kids enrich their studies in any content area. MS teacher Kevin Hodgson tells how teachers are using Library of Congress primary resources to create engaging text sets that help students contextualize the present by exploring the past.
Each lesson in Rozlyn Linder’s “The Big Book of Details” can be quickly implemented by busy teachers as they grab a tool from this practical writing kit, says teacher Sandy Wisneski. Activities and real-world examples guide students as they enrich their prose.
What instructional decisions and teaching techniques work best to move students beyond mere compliance to active and engaged learning? Elizabeth Stein shares some favorites, including regular movement, an inviting environment, and plenty of voice and choice.
Spring’s promise of renewal is just ahead. But for many educators, spring is also the season of testing anxiety. Curtis Chandler shares research and wisdom from fellow educators that can help turn angst into achievement for students and for their teachers.
Make the most of your digital Contacts app. In Part 3 of a productivity series for school leaders, organization consultant and former principal Frank Buck explains how to maximize such useful resources as contact notes, special ringtones, syncing, and more.
How should the next generation of STEM teachers be prepared? Anne Jolly reports on the innovative UABTeach program at the University of Alabama Birmingham where undergrads can earn full teacher certification plus a math, science or engineering degree. What’s your superpower?
The Motivated Brain by Gayle Gregory and Martha Kaufeldt provides educators a better understanding of the brain and offers suggestions for implementing strategies to improve attention, engagement, and perseverance, says education consultant Anne Anderson.
Every time Elisa Waingort opens Leaders of Their Own Learning, she finds another simple but brilliant suggestion to improve her teaching and the learning of her students. She recommends repeated reading of this fully resourced guide to student-driven learning and assessment.
When creating a makerspace, keep Laura Fleming’s “Worlds of Making” at hand. Her brief book covers the spectrum, from practical considerations to the impact of school culture, says Sandy Wisneski, herself in the midst of makerspace development.
Research and Rhetoric, based on the CLEAR curriculum, is a must-read for teachers who have been wondering how to foster creativity and increase student engagement while teaching research and persuasive writing, says classroom teacher Linda Biondi.