Helping Kids Stick with Learning
Call it grit or resilience, it’s a behavior that can serve students well. We’ve gathered advocates’ views, pushback from critics and ideas to build it.
Call it grit or resilience, it’s a behavior that can serve students well. We’ve gathered advocates’ views, pushback from critics and ideas to build it.
In a season filled with celebrations, MiddleWeb celebrates teachers by sharing some insights into the teaching life, offered by our bloggers and guest writers. We begin with the wonderful 2014 book, Teaching with Heart.
The curriculum tug of war between proponents of STEM programs and those who advocate for STEAM is in full force. Whichever side you may be pulling for, Anne Jolly has some facts, insights and questions that can help determine which way we should go.
Amp Up Your Year! / The Co-Teaching Relationship / Two Teachers in the Room
by MiddleWeb · Published 12/20/2014 · Last modified 12/05/2023
If you share teaching responsibilities in an inclusion classroom, teaching coach Elizabeth Stein suggests you take time over the holidays to reflect on the three traditions of successful co-teaching partnerships: communication, respect and persistence.
With listening now included among the CCSS anchor skills, how can educators help students become more adept at tuning in? Veteran public radio reporter Monica Brady-Myerov heads Listen Current, a service offering teachers free content and lessons plans.
Professional community / Working Draft
by Kevin Hodgson · Published 12/17/2014 · Last modified 11/16/2019
When Kevin Hodgson shared a heartfelt reflection with the Slice of Life teacher writing community, the supportive and encouraging comments he received from online colleagues “were like lifelines to me.” He highly recommends the Tuesday writing activity.
Book Reviews / Vocabulary Instruction
by MiddleWeb · Published 12/17/2014 · Last modified 11/24/2019
When teachers across the content areas put the ideas in Janet Allen’s Tools for Teaching Academic Vocabulary to work, their students will feel as if they truly own their vocabulary and want to share and celebrate it, says teacher-reviewer Linda Biondi.
Student disengagement is a major challenge for middle school teachers, says NSF-funded researcher Jennifer A. Fredricks, who offers strategies to build community and craft learning opportunities that encourage students to actively participate and succeed.
Future of History / Student Driven Learning
by Jody & Shara · Published 12/14/2014 · Last modified 11/17/2019
When students created a current issues exploratory, Jody Passanisi found they not only showed great compassion and understanding–as well as anger–about world events, but they stepped up to lead the class and drive an open, research-supported inquiry.
Reviewer Joy Kirr stopped often during her reading of 8 Myths of Disengagement so she could include ideas in lessons or share them with coworkers. Kirr highly recommends the book to teachers who want to take a fresh look at engagement based on research.