Book Reviews / English Language Learners
by MiddleWeb · Published 04/13/2014 · Last modified 12/05/2019
Classroom Instruction that Works with English Language Learners by Jane E. Hill and Kirsten B. Miller is valuable for ensuring that English learners are challenged at Bloom’s higher levels of thinking and understanding, with the appropriate scaffolding, says reviewer Jennifer Underwood.
1st Day Resources / MiddleWeb Classics
by MiddleWeb · Published 04/07/2014 · Last modified 11/11/2019
We featured a popular “1st Day Resources” section on our old website. We have captured some of the best content and added more, including links for new teachers preparing for their first year.
Green STEM Projects / STEM By Design
by Anne Jolly · Published 04/06/2014 · Last modified 11/24/2019
Earth Day: Science educator Anne Jolly remembers her first and best STEM project, when disengaged 8th graders learned how cool math, science and engineering could be by constructing a wetlands to reduce the environmental impact of a new school.
Book Reviews / Concept Based Instruction
by MiddleWeb · Published 03/21/2014 · Last modified 11/12/2019
In Transitioning to Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction, H. Lynn Erickson and Lois A. Lanning provide a guide for moving beyond objectives-based teaching to the deeper meanings and connections of our curriculum, says reviewer Jamey Sutton.
When educators ask βwhat could I have done differently today to meet the needs of individual students?β they look for answers in data and assignments. The new book “RTI Is a Verb” breaks down the process into concrete pieces to implement in every classroom, says reviewer Sandy Wisneski.
Students shouldn’t come away from a role play “having done something memorable and learned nothing valuable,” says history teacher Aaron Brock. “There should always be a core skill or concept guiding the activity.” He offers 2 examples to illustrate.
Working with a group of teachers openly wary of technology, Kevin Hodgson offered this writing prompt: “Recall your first aha moment about tech and teaching.” And then, like the good writing teacher he is, he shared his own story as a model.
In Causes & Cures in the Classroom, author Margaret Searle provides detailed exemplars for getting to the root of studentsβ academic and behavioral problems. To reduce feelings of inadequacy, read the last chapter first, says reviewer Sarah Grieb.
Reviewer Fran Loose, PhD, finds Assessment and Student Success in a Differentiated Classroom is a valuable resource for beginning and veteran teachers, in general and special ed, in K-12 and university settings. Itβs a book best read once then revisited periodically.
Future of History / History Perspectives
by Jody & Shara · Published 02/02/2014 · Last modified 11/17/2019
Historical accounts are seldom objective, write history teachers Jody Passanisi and Shara Peters. They recommend several strategies from their own classrooms that educators can use to help students detect bias and compare varying perspectives.
