In Enticing Hard-To-Reach Writers, Ruth Ayres offers wide ranging ideas and resources to help all students become writers because “when writers believe their words matter, nothing can stop them.” We begin, reviewer Mary Langer Thompson notes, by getting our hearts right.
Messaging Matters provides practical notions and step-by-step models to strengthen communication and build a positive culture with your students, parents, and community. And you can implement them almost immediately, writes school counselor Wendy Adams.
Testing time can ramp up the anxiety of already stressed-out middle schoolers. During week-long testing at her school, media specialist Paige Garrison designed fun, relaxing early morning activities to give their minds and bodies a break. She shares her Week of Zen.
Co-teaching Success / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 02/20/2018 · Last modified 11/29/2019
As schools go through the annual Least Restrictive Environment process, special needs coach Elizabeth Stein is wondering – what happens once the decision is made? Read her tips to ensure students assigned to co-taught classrooms have something more than a “banking model” education.
Diverse Reading / Heart of the School
by Rita Platt · Published 02/18/2018 · Last modified 11/29/2019
How can we help students build understanding and empathy for people and cultures outside their own experience? Librarian Rita Platt launched the Books Without Borders reading challenge at her school. See how she does it. Materials and tips on acquiring books included!
Close Reading the Media / Media Literacy & History
by Frank Baker · Published 02/13/2018 · Last modified 11/17/2019
The tumultuous and difficult year of 1968 is getting lots of media attention during 2018 because it marks the 50th anniversary of so many newsworthy events in America. Media literacy expert Frank Baker says the anniversary focus offers many teaching opportunities.
Educator and author Roxanna Elden shares some practical advice from her Disillusionment Power Pack that can help novice teachers discover ways to channel their personal strengths and experience into classroom success. She also points out pitfalls to avoid along the way.
It's Not Easy Being Tween / Student Stress
by Cheryl Mizerny · Published 01/28/2018 · Last modified 12/03/2019
When Cheryl Mizerny polled her students about their stress levels, she found both social and school related concerns: noise, homework, time management, grades and testing. She shares actions teachers and schools can take to mitigate stress and promote student growth.
Alexis Wiggins has taken a 1930s Socratic discussion strategy and enriched it to provide more detail about process, assessment and self-reflection. Teacher Joanne Bell finds Wiggins’ Spider Web technique a useful tool to develop learners ready for 21st century employment.
Middle grade students crave role models and great stories. Author visits provide both in a very tangible way. Learn how media specialist & NBCT Christina Dorr arranges a steady stream of tween and young adult novelists through her school and read 10 tips for doing it yourself!
