A safe and stable school is essential to a successful instructional program, write Ron Williamson and Barbara Blackburn. That’s why it’s so critical for school leaders to anticipate what may be needed in a crisis and develop plans with contingencies for anything that may occur.
Drs. Tamra Stambaugh and Emily Mofield go beyond the usual guidance on differentiation for gifted and advanced learners, providing teachers with useful graphic organizers, project ideas, and sample complex questions in multiple K-12 content areas, writes NBCT Kim Rensch.
To move beyond traditional classroom discussion focused on answering a few teacher questions, Dr. Barbara Blackburn advocates student-driven discourse that emphasizes “on-task” talk and academic vocabulary. The result: purposeful dialogue leading to deeper understanding.
Choice in reading is about student autonomy and motivation. It’s especially effective with kids who don’t like to read. Stephanie Farley’s well-honed system lets 8th graders read any text they choose AND meets standards – even though they never all read the same book.
Many of today’s middle schoolers lack a full understanding of the Holocaust. Media literacy consultant Frank Baker seeks to deepen their knowledge and awareness by sharing the survival story of one American family in a nonfiction graphic novel format students will be drawn to.
In Ready-to-Use Resources for Grit in the Classroom, Sanguras calls on her extensive experience to create a book that will assist teachers in their goals to help students to develop passion, perseverance, and commitment – the three components of grit – writes Anne Anderson.
Articles / Civics and Current Events / Media Literacy
by MiddleWeb · Published 09/25/2022 · Last modified 07/31/2023
As disinformation proliferates, schools need a better solution than perfunctory media literacy education, say these digital citizenship advocates. When students achieve full “media fluency,” they will not only understand disinformation exists but have the tools to outflank it, write McCusker, Irvan and Driscoll.
When Stephanie Farley coaxes her students into a good frame of mind – happy, relaxed, confident – they learn more, just as positivity research predicts. Join her as she shares 10 joy-inducing methods – including dogs – and suggests ways to reach across content.
Consultants Ron Williamson and Barbara Blackburn counsel that dealing with change promptly, engaging actively in social media, and achieving work-life balance are central tasks that will help school leaders not only survive but also thrive as they run this year’s marathon.
It’s the start of a new school year, and you’re 100% excited about making a difference for kids! But issues in and out of the classroom can dull your enthusiasm in no time. How do you stay sharp? Barbara Blackburn shares insights to sustain your can-do energy all year long.
