When we use verbal, imaginative, and conceptual play as touchstones for our planning and teaching in middle school, we help students look forward to learning and school itself, say educators Chris and Katie Cunningham. Their idea-rich post offers many jumping-off points.
Family involvement boosts student success. Yet parents of middle schoolers sometimes face a steep learning curve as they seek to interact with an increased number of teachers. Dr. Curtis Chandler suggests ways to engage and support families, including useful technology.
Every child has assets and the potential to develop even more. By focusing on what’s right with our students through Strengths-Based Teaching, we help them gain authentic self-esteem and a genuine growth mindset. Teacher Cheryl Mizerny shares her own classroom strategies.
In presenting a guide to eliminating aggressive student behavior, Ben Springer finds the perfect balance – sharing practical and compassionate strategies, support for teachers, allowances for imperfection, and opportunities to smile, writes principal and NBCT Rita Platt.
Taking time to refresh your classroom space, renew positive relationships and reinforce routines you established in the fall is time well-spent the first week back in January. Consultant Stacey Shubitz also recommends getting a head start on the new year with some December prep.
When Rita Platt assesses students using CBMs (curriculum based measures) for literacy, she gives the one-minute Oral Reading Fluency tests a twist to make sure comprehension is also being measured. Investigate her technique and a special approach devised for English Learners.
Articles / Teaching the Whole Adolescent
by MiddleWeb · Published 12/08/2019 · Last modified 07/17/2024
It’s hard to strike a balance between nurturing a middle schooler and fostering independence, but they need both from adults in their lives as they toggle between childhood and adolescence. Author and middle school counselor Phyllis Fagell shares 10 ways we can help.
Grading never goes away. But what if we approach it as a form of personal PD? Teacher Lauren Brown traces how a history assignment evolved over four years as she paid close attention to what stymied her 8th graders and adapted her instruction to support their learning.
Educators in co-teacher relationships can strengthen their interactions by adopting a spirit of gratitude, says co-teaching coach Elizabeth Stein. Research supports the idea that “gratitude” can be a powerful energizer in challenging circumstances. Try her tips.
Why is NBCT Marilyn Pryle’s “never-fail” Character Sketch activity so effective? Because it asks students to use the people in their own lives as inspiration – a parent, grandparent, sibling, or friend. Pryle provides the teacher’s script, complete with student prompts.
