Teaching and learning in grades 4-8

Use Inquiry to Engage Hearts and Minds

Upstanders supports the complex challenge of cross-content literacy with excellent lesson plans, and authors Smokey Daniels and Sara Ahmed also describe a path to develop the most difficult skill for young middle schoolers, learning to be truly empathic.

STEM Face Off: Which Lesson Makes the Grade?

What makes a lesson or unit STEM-worthy? Expert Anne Jolly evaluates two actual lessons that have been given the STEM label. Each incorporates science, math, group work and technology, but one fails the ultimate STEM test. She details the reasons why in this insightful article.

Daily Comic Strip Chronicles Teaching Life

Florida teacher David Finkle chronicles middle school life in a daily comic strip for the Daytona Beach News. Here he shares the 15-year story of “Mr. Fitz,” including four sample strips guaranteed to draw chuckles and knowing nods from teachers everywhere.

A No-Angst Approach to Teaching Poetry

Teachers who want to combine deep reading of poetry with the joy of discovery will find engaging lessons and activities in Georgia Heard’s Poetry Lessons to Meet the Common Core. Reviewer Linda Biondi praises the book’s strategies to “live with a poem for a week.”

Math Dictionary for Kids Goes Beyond Definitions

Reviewer Dylan Schulte finds the reader friendly Math Dictionary does an awesome job defining the majority of concepts that are aligned with Common Core Standards for middle grades mathematics. The book helps teachers and students understand math, using examples.