Beyond sharing titles, librarians Christina Dorr and Liz Deskins discuss justifications for circulating LGBTQAI+ literature to children and teens and share a brief history and approaches to “dealing with objections.” Sarah Cooper found ideas for her own classroom library.
As much as we love teaching, summer break presents valuable time and opportunity to reflect and rejuvenate – and also retool and sharpen our skills through self-directed professional learning. To help, Curtis Chandler presents an awesome collection of free PD options.
Meaningful Math / Teacher Reflection
by Michelle Russell · Published 06/10/2019 · Last modified 11/22/2019
Usually Michelle Russell uses Got It, Almost Got It, and Not Yet for quick formative assessments of her math students. With the school year behind her, she applies the process to her own teaching, finding some hits, some misses, and a starting place for future growth.
Christopher Danielson takes kids, tweens and teens on a journey of exploration as they think about and interact with math in new ways. Based in his research and teaching, How Many? helps students see far beyond simple responses and think creatively, writes Linda Biondi.
I Will Screw This Up / Teaching Current Events
by Dina Strasser · Published 06/04/2019 · Last modified 04/18/2024
Finding the rationale to bring news discussions into class can be tricky. Veteran teacher and current events advocate Dina Strasser shares her strategy – double dipping. Here’s how to have “productively messy” conversations in 5-10 minutes without losing curriculum focus.
Leveraging Strengths / The Unstoppable ML Teacher
by Valentina Gonzalez · Published 05/19/2019 · Last modified 12/02/2019
It’s important to recognize how the skills we use to learn different subjects are related, says Valentina Gonzalez. Show your students who are good in math how to leverage their success and apply it to reading. And vice versa. It’s all about carrying over our strengths!
Anna J. Small Roseboro offers educators a trio of books filled with an assortment of reading and writing strategies for teaching middle school students. Both veteran and beginning teachers will find any of these titles useful, writes education consultant Anne Anderson.
Many books focus on effective literacy coaching, and others are specific to technology integration in education. Stephanie Affinito’s Literacy Coaching: Transforming Teaching and Learning with Digital Tools and Technology fills a gap by merging the two, writes Shannon Russell.
Low expectations and inequitable classrooms persist in many of America’s public schools, writes Regie Routman, author of Literacy Essentials: Engagement, Excellence and Equity for All Learners. Here’s what Routman believes educators must do to address this moral dilemma.
Book Reviews / Social & Emotional Learning
by MiddleWeb · Published 04/25/2019 · Last modified 11/19/2019
Teaching Tenacity offers a series of thoughtful, research-based lessons that will provide students with the tools to make the pursuit of excellence a life-long endeavor. Jeny Randall looks forward to bringing the lessons to her morning advisory time but says advisory isn’t a must.
