In his ELA classroom, David Sebek focuses on four aspects of what it means to be a “good citizen” – truthfulness, justice, equality and responsibility – and uses whistleblower stories and dystopian fiction to explore the elusive definition of citizenship.
Book Reviews / English Language Learners
by MiddleWeb · Published 08/13/2015 · Last modified 11/17/2019
Ivannia Soto guides educators teaching oral language skills and writing in the content areas to integrate CCSS writing goals with strategies that deepen learning among English language learners. Literacy coach Glenda Moyer recommends the book highly.
Teacher-consultant Terry Thompson, author of The Construction Zone, defines four elements of good instructional scaffolding and uses the example of teaching a kid to ride a bicycle to demonstrate why a clear focus on learning targets is a critical first step.
When reading strategies include a series of actionable steps, students can follow them as they learn to master skills. Using the teaching of tying shoes as an analogy, literacy expert Jennifer Serravallo offers examples of the kinds of supports teachers can offer learners as they travel the path to automaticity.
For co-authors Todd Whitaker, Jeff Zoul and Jimmy Casas, a “connected educator” is a teacher or school leader who not only brings what they know to the conversation but encourages and values the sharing of everyone’s expertise through online learning networks.
New principals can fall prey to “task overload.” What’s more, the transition from working with teachers as peers to working as a supervisor can be disorienting. Experts Ron Williamson & Barbara Blackburn share advice in six critical areas of the new job.
Articles / Reading / Reading Responses
by MiddleWeb · Published 07/12/2015 · Last modified 05/30/2023
You’ve taught students to read closely, to annotate, to discuss – now what? Teacher/writer Marilyn Pryle shares five reader-response activities she uses to help students interact with texts in creative ways, inviting higher levels of thinking & understanding.
After years of trying to cope with the flow of struggling readers coming into their school, teachers at Ericsson Middle banded together to create a academic coaching program that provides reading and writing support for students across the literacy spectrum.
Articles / Teaching the Whole Adolescent
by MiddleWeb · Published 07/07/2015 · Last modified 07/14/2024
Young adolescents need classrooms designed to meet their unique physical, intellectual and social-emotional needs, says middle school veteran Cheryl Mizerny. Her spot-on advice can help educators develop a teaching style that maximizes tween achievement.
Jennifer Serravallo’s new book on reading strategies was worth the wait, says Linda Biondi. It offers “adaptable, research based lessons targeting student’s skills, adaptable to different levels of students and texts, as well as different reading programs.”
