Heart of the School / Summer Family Contacts
by Rita Platt · Published 06/17/2018 · Last modified 11/13/2019
We work all year to build and nurture relationships with our students and families. Why stop over the summer? Rita Platt offers quick, low-stress ideas for teachers and principals to stay connected to during the summer months. Public library meetups are super simple!
Tina H. Boogren takes beginning teachers in their first years through the phases they can expect: anticipation, survival, disillusionment, rejuvenation, and reflection. Teacher educator Linda Biondi finds Boogren’s recollections of her novice teaching particularly helpful.
Future of History / New Teacher Advice / Novice History Teachers
by Lauren S. Brown · Published 06/10/2018 · Last modified 07/19/2024
When Lauren Brown left her history classroom and became a teacher educator, she always shared a page of advice when pre-service teachers finished her course. Three years after returning to middle school, Brown updates her tips with fresh insights from the front lines.
To reach the student who hasn’t made that essential positive connection with reading, you can do no better than apply the ideas detailed by Stephanie Harvey and Annie Ward in From Striving to Thriving. Reviewer Linda Biondi recommends having a box of tissues handy.
Future of History / Project Based Learning
by Sarah Cooper · Published 05/21/2018 · Last modified 11/18/2019
This year, as 8th graders at Sarah Cooper’s school developed their community impact projects, she added a twist to the required (but seldom read) 300-word research display. Intriguing quotes, many with engaging graphics, increased student investment and audience attention.
Heart of the School / Stress Avoidance
by Rita Platt · Published 05/20/2018 · Last modified 12/12/2019
As the school year winds down and heightened emotions proliferate, it’s easy for teachers to lose their cool. Student (and parent) behavior that would have been met with patience earlier suddenly ratchets up teacher frustrations. Rita Platt shares her coping strategies – laughter included!
Assets-Based IEPs / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 05/15/2018 · Last modified 11/25/2019
Most educators take one of two perspectives on students with disabilities, says Elizabeth Stein. They see them with deficits or with strengths and assets. In this resource-rich post, Stein makes the case for an assets-based approach to designing accommodations and the IEP.
With leadership from the Western Massachusetts Writing Project, teachers regularly share classroom stories in their local media. Offering tips and lessons learned, Kevin Hodgson shows how adding educator voices to community discussions increases understanding and support.
ELL Writers / The Unstoppable ML Teacher
by Valentina Gonzalez · Published 05/13/2018 · Last modified 11/27/2019
English learners are relying on teachers to help them quickly advance in language proficiency, says specialist Valentina Gonzalez, and writing is a life skill that can deepen learning in every curriculum. She shares 7 ways to build the writing competencies of ELLs now.
How can you support your middle schoolers in peaceful and productive advocacy for equity and social justice? EL Education’s Anne Vilen shares the courageous story of immigrant Atak Natali to show how supportive teachers can help students come together to work for justice.
