Writing is often overlooked as a positive way to help students and educators relieve stress, explore inner feelings, process their thinking and stretch their imaginations. Everyone at school is busy, writes Jeremy Hyler, but reflective writing is too powerful to put aside.
Classroom discourse is an opportunity for students to develop voice, advocate positions, and build collective understanding. Paul Bambrick-Santoyo and Stephen Chiger show how teacher Vy Graham structures and prepares for discourse so all her students experience it equitably.
Co-editors John Norton and Susan Curtis highlight 15 of MiddleWeb’s most popular posts for middle level educators during the past 12 months. You’ll find articles that were new in 2021 or rediscovered and shared widely in this second “weirdest year ever.”
Frank Buck revisits the Wild West movie days in his quest to help educators defy the daily deluge of unsolicited or redundant email that steals their time. Get the details on how to circle the wagons, energize the pony express, and deny those emails entry to your inbox.
Middle grades teacher Kathleen Palmieri shows how Google’s Applied Digital Skills videos and lesson plans can help students in grades 5-12 tap the power of Google Docs and the Google Drive to learn portable skills like digital collaboration, file sharing, and organization.
Instructional Coaching / My AP Life
by DeAnna Miller · Published 12/20/2021 · Last modified 01/09/2022
When administrators use their instructional coaches effectively, writes AP DeAnna Miller, they can watch the culture in their buildings shift to one of positivity and engagement. Without clear guidelines and indepth PD for coaches AND leaders, expect mistrust and dissent.
Language specialist Tan Huynh explains how to use short teacher-made video tutorials to ‘duplicate’ yourself so you can be ‘in 20 places at once’ – responding to students’ questions during class and providing support at home and in study hall. A real help to multilinguals.
I Will Screw This Up / Real Self Care
by Dina Strasser · Published 12/15/2021 · Last modified 01/03/2022
As we encourage self-care it might not occur to educators that the concept is culturally driven and diverse. ELL teacher Dina Strasser shares resources that can help “decolonize” self-care by recognizing our students’ many differing cultural perspectives on healing and health.
Meaningful Math / Prior Knowledge
by Michelle Russell · Published 12/13/2021 · Last modified 04/24/2024
Michelle Russell’s algebra students repeatedly encounter foundational skills they haven’t mastered, trapping them in ‘no man’s land’ – unable to use prior knowledge to grasp the new. Shifting from discouragement to action, she sets goals and makes a plan to help them catch up.
John Hattie, Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey and Shirley Clarke show how we can help kids develop as independent and inter-dependent learners through Collective Student Efficacy. Consultant Helene Alalouf praises the authors’ detailed guidance supported by many classroom examples.
