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.
Evidenced-Based Science Activities is an easy read and might be useful in changing classroom science instruction. Science leader Kathy Renfrew finds some excellent points in the book, including valuable and meaningful research, but notes there is newer research available.
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.
A recent study found drawing can improve our memory more than re-writing or visualizing because it activates more areas of the brain. With this in mind, Megan Kelly set out to incorporate sketchnotes into her English class without it becoming “Language Arts and Crafts.”
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.
Learn the intricacies of mindfulness practice for both students and teachers in Dr. Thomas Armstrong’s Mindfulness in the Classroom. After explaining how stress affects the brain, he shows how mindfulness promotes concentration and calm in class, writes Kathleen Palmieri.
Adolescent Development / Book Reviews
by MiddleWeb · Published 11/21/2019 · Last modified 12/07/2019
Both parents and teachers will find a refreshing look at how to help middle schoolers thrive in Phyllis Fagell’s Middle School Matters. She provides practical, straightforward advice informed by experience and research, writes middle grades teacher Cheryl Mizerny.
