Linking Leadership to Student Learning draws on a major US study to reveal how school leaders actually impact student achievement, says reviewer Holly Procida. Key finding: Collaborative leadership has more impact than individual leadership.
Kids on the Cusp / Teacher Evaluation
by Mary Tarashuk · Published 01/06/2014 · Last modified 12/10/2019
Middle grades teacher Mary Tarashuk has reached the final rubric in her state’s mandated teacher self-assessment: Professional Responsibilities. She says the words used to define “highly effective” performance seem out of synch with real teaching.
Strong Partnerships / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 12/15/2013 · Last modified 11/26/2019
Although professional development, administrative support & common planning time are all very important and necessary, writes Elizabeth Stein, what matters most in achieving effective inclusion is how the two teachers in the room are approaching the experience.
The Killgallons’ sentence-composing approach to grammar instruction, bolstered by “a mountaion” of model sentences and mentor texts, could be a valuable tool if teachers would like to see less hesitation and more acrobatics in their students’ writing, says reviewer Jenny Ovadia.
Are there components that must always be in place for something to earn the STEM program label? STEM curriculum expert Anne Jolly identifies two essentials.
Common Core / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 11/04/2013 · Last modified 11/28/2019
Special educator Elizabeth Stein has championed higher Common Core standards for her inclusion students but is beginning to question the relentless pace.
Book Reviews / Classroom Management / Engagement
by MiddleWeb · Published 10/28/2013 · Last modified 11/30/2019
“What does student engagement look like?” is just one of 14 questions Larry Ferlazzo & other experts answer in this new eBook reviewed by Julie Dermody.
Middle school advocates have long championed thematic curriculum design & project learning. Now is the time to actually do it, say Nancy Doda & Mark Springer.
Ariel Sacks says that by teaching novels “whole” she has been able to ignite interest in books, deepen discussions & improve reading comprehension. In this informative article, Sacks shares her rationale, her method, and reactions from her middle school students.
Teacher & consultant Dayna Laur shares stories from her book “Authentic Learning Experiences” and urges educators to create real-world PBL classrooms.
