Close Reading the Media / Covering the Presidency
by Frank Baker Β· Published 03/13/2017 Β· Last modified 11/26/2019
How the news media functions and how it covers the White House are important for todayβs students to understand, says media literacy expert Frank Baker. He reviews current controversies growing out of President Trumpβs βwar on the mediaβ and offers teaching ideas.
Articles / College and Career Ready
by MiddleWeb Β· Published 03/12/2017 Β· Last modified 11/23/2019
Explaining that middle school is βthe unspoken linchpin in establishing a positive trajectory for career and college success,β Principal Robert Messia shares eight tested strategies for helping students understand and begin to prepare for the possibilities ahead.
Veteran principal Matt Renwick discovers itβs not too late to become a more organized and effective school leader as he gives the step-by-step advice in Maia Heyck-Merlinβs βThe Together Leader: Get Organized for Your Success and Sanity!β a real road test.
Building a STEM Program / STEM By Design
by Anne Jolly Β· Published 03/07/2017 Β· Last modified 11/25/2019
When Anne Jolly is asked for advice about creating STEM programs, sheβs quick to say thereβs no one-size-fits-all blueprint for STEM learning. Even so, she believes there are eight components any district, school or classroom initiative must have to be effective.
Content area teachers can access easy-to-use lessons and mentor texts to strengthen studentsβ writing in Nancy Steineke and Harvey βSmokeyβ Danielsβ resource book. Teacher Linda Biondi describes the detailed, teacher-friendly format for lessons lasting 10 to 40 minutes.
Close Reading the Media / Emotional Appeals
by Frank Baker Β· Published 02/19/2017 Β· Last modified 11/26/2019
That nostalgic Hallmark ad that touches your heart. A frightened woman stranded on a lonely road. What role does emotion play in media messages and how can educators help students recognize this powerful force? Media literacy expert Frank Baker has some answers.
Rather than βcoveringβ a curriculum with instruction thatβs driven by the chapters in a textbook, Diana Fenton and Nancy Van Erp advocate student centered standards-based lesson planning, relying on frameworks like Understanding by Design and concept-based teaching.
Book Reviews / Project Based Learning
by MiddleWeb Β· Published 01/26/2017 Β· Last modified 11/14/2019
PBL is an excellent vehicle for civic engagement, Zemelmanβs From Inquiry to Action will help teachers prepare students to become global, responsible, and respectful, says teacher Linda Biondi. Its stories from the classroom and research show what is achievable.
Current Events Humor / Future of History
by Sarah Cooper Β· Published 01/24/2017 Β· Last modified 11/12/2019
Discussing political news in class continues to feel like βwalking on glass barefoot,β says Sarah Cooper. Sheβs drawn toward humorous interpretations of current events to reduce tensions. After some trial and error, Cooper uses four criteria for video selection.
After much discussion, Kevin Hodgson and his colleagues decided to have students watch the Inaugural Address and then respond to it. The 6th graders used sketchnoting to listen, then discussed their observations in the context of earlier studies about civic issues.
