Jenny Rankin writes that sharing teachers’ individual wisdom and expertise with the world is necessary, and, more importantly, possible. Read Rankin’s book to feel encouraged and inspired in your quest to expand your impact on the world, says teacher-reviewer Kathleen Palmieri.
What is a culture objective? EL expert Tan Huynh reports on his conversation with Dr. José Medina where they discuss bolstering English learners’ socio-cultural competence by connecting classroom content and lesson planning to student backgrounds and personal experiences.
How might you bring the 2020 presidential election into your fall classes? Learn how Emily DeRiso transformed her 4th grade social studies curriculum into a successful election immersion experience in 2016, setting clear boundaries in support of participatory democracy.
Future of History / History & Current Events
by MiddleWeb · Published 06/29/2020 · Last modified 08/12/2020
The antiracist protests occurring across the country since the killing of George Floyd have led Lauren Brown and Sarah Cooper – two white female middle school social studies teachers – to consider even more deeply “how best to teach U.S. history.” Join the conversation.
What are your non-negotiables for teaching English Learners? When EL specialist Valentina Gonzalez asked her Twitter PLN, the response was overwhelming. Read what educators had to say and consider Valentina’s process for teams to confer and agree on a list of your own.
In Part 2 of a series on using picture books in middle school, Jennifer Sniadecki and Jason DeHart focus on “the simple power” of stories with minimal text to set the stage for lessons, provide background knowledge, and make efficient use of daily class time. Example: Eva Bunting’s Terrible Things.
Students at ages 9-13 still want to hear their teachers read aloud, want to sit on the rug, want to engage in stories. Jennifer Sniadecki and Jason DeHart share evidence that picture books are also an effective way to teach figurative language and other ELA standards.
Video documentation is a powerful tool in news reporting, whether it’s done by professional journalists or by ordinary people with instant access to video cameras. Frank Baker looks at the history of news video as a “primary source” for historians and middle grades teachers.
Discover how to create actionable feedback for your students and teach them true self-assessment as you transform your role from evaluator to coach. Teacher leader Laura Von Staden “definitely” recommends this step-by-step guide to shifting from a focus on scores and grades to a focus on learning and mastery.
How can we keep a positive school climate and culture during remote learning? Chris Edwards, the 7th grade assistant principal at Kreps Middle School, created a grade-wide Google Classroom for students and teachers and staged weekly competitions best described as crazy and fun. It worked!
