Lawnmower parents have an irresistible urge to clear away all the stress and struggle for their children. The result, says principal and NBCT Rita Platt, can be kids who don’t learn to mow their own paths. Read her tips for parents, educators, and the kiddos themselves.
Donalyn Miller and Colby Sharp make the case for dedicated independent reading time and choice in books for all students in all schools – and they push back hard against narrow reading spectrums and the misuse of book leveling, writes 6th grade teacher Kevin Hodgson.
Create Compose Connect / Vocabulary
by Jeremy Hyler · Published 01/30/2019 · Last modified 02/04/2020
What’s the best way to teach vocabulary? It’s a constant topic among educators, writes Jeremy Hyler, and not just among his fellow ELA colleagues. Every classroom teacher needs to teach academic words. Hyler shares some vocabulary strategies he’s developed over 17 years.
2018 was a bonanza year for STEM, and 2019 holds even more promise. But we face some big challenges to get STEM education where it can fully deliver on its potential. Anne Jolly outlines four areas to radically improve STEM and instruction generally in today’s schools.
Many millions of people who tune in to the 2019 Super Bowl will be there to watch the pricey, high-engagement commercials. Media literacy consultant Frank Baker explains how to teach about these “super ads,” approaching them as informational text worthy of close scrutiny and analysis.
Book Reviews / Project Based Learning
by MiddleWeb · Published 01/24/2019 · Last modified 11/19/2019
Whether you are an experienced educator with several PBL projects under your belt, someone interested in starting small, or a school leader working to provide resources, Boss and Larmer offer insight, tools, and resources to guide you, writes educator Jeny Randall.
Facilitating science-based research around real world problems empowers students through the skills they acquire and the subject knowledge they gain, says teacher Angela Duke. And what better topic than climate change? “The environment of the future will be theirs to live in.”
Students can become thriving writers using the 27 frameworks included in this book. The lessons provide learning about language, learning through language, and using language to learn about self. Literacy coach Pam Hamilton highly recommends the “so, so practical” book.
During classroom discussion, paired Think Times provide a break in the action that helps teachers use student responses to shape effective feedback to learners, says expert Jackie Walsh – provided we “explicitly instruct our students in the what, why, and how of these time-outs.”
Co-teaching Reflections / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 01/08/2019 · Last modified 11/24/2019
As the new year (and 2nd semester) unfolds, coach Elizabeth Stein suggests forgoing resolutions in favor of a set of reflective questions than can strengthen your co-teaching effectiveness. Stein uses the story of teacher “Joan” to illustrate and suggest some solutions.
