We want our students to read, comprehend, and analyze text. During the past school year, history educators Aaron Block and Jody Passanisi tried annotation as a learning strategy. Here they recount how it went in the two diverse schools where they teach.
The Common Core standards expect students to read increasingly challenging texts across the curriculum. Barbara Blackburn, author of Rigor in Your Classroom, highlights key factors associated with text complexity that teachers need to consider.
The 3rd edition of The Morning Meeting Book (K-8) is a well-researched, easy-to-read and ready-to-apply guide to one of the Responsive Classroom’s core strategies, says teacher Linda Biondi, who recommends it for both new & ongoing Morning Meeting practitioners.
Teachers who let students choose their own research paper topics are often overwhelmed by all the activity and material – and end up with poor results. Consultant Sarah Tantillo suggests adapting the Document-Based Question (DBQ) Approach instead.
Flipped Lesson / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 05/04/2014 · Last modified 12/11/2019
When special ed teacher Elizabeth Stein worked with her science co-teacher on their first flipped lesson, one student’s response clinched the concept for them: “I just wish we had more time to be the teachers in class—I like taking charge of my own learning.”
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.
Thomas Newkirk urges us to consider how, in a test-crazed culture, we can stay focused on what matters for our students. Holding On To Good Ideas in a Time of Bad Ones is not a literacy ‘how-to’ book, says Jenni Miller, but important nonetheless.
Growth mindset / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 03/23/2014 · Last modified 11/20/2019
Special educator Elizabeth L. Stein believes that the growth mindset research of Carol Dweck can lead to greater collaboration among special and general co-teachers and enable all students in inclusion classrooms to achieve Common Core standards.
It’s Not Complicated: What I Know for Sure About Helping Our Students of Color Become Successful Readers will motivate teachers to redouble literacy efforts, says Maribeth Wicoff, but she wishes the author had included more about effective strategies.
Former principal Sue Stephenson describes how she and a team of teachers recently helped seventh graders prepare and perform standup comedy routines, all the while learning serious writing, speaking and personal living skills. Video link included!
