In a 7th grade classroom where students are used to sharing ownership and know how to think on their feet, what does the teacher do when he asks a question and there’s absolute silence? Bill Ivey’s solution: Smile at all the parents in the room and trust the kids.
Teachers who fail to actively involve students in learning experiences are mired in mediocrity, says educator Barbara Blackburn. The author of Rigor Is Not a 4-Letter Word shares five rules for student engagement she’s discovered, with examples from her own teaching and consulting.
Inference Rubric / MiddleWeb Classics
by MiddleWeb · Published 04/19/2013 · Last modified 01/19/2024
In this MiddleWeb Classic post, literacy coach Juli Kendall shares a rubric used in her middle school across content areas to evaluate a student’s level of inference with academic texts.
Four years after becoming an instructional coach, Elena Aguilar once again found herself in front of a class of 8th graders, looking for trusting relationships. “Within just five minutes, I was humbled. Who did I think I was that I could incur their trust that fast? I wanted to bow down to the teacher—Oh, yes, this is so hard.”
STEM By Design / Teacher Preparation
by Anne Jolly · Published 12/16/2012 · Last modified 05/25/2024
Providing STEM students with real-world problems fuels their curiosity & investigative interests. But where do teachers find problems worthy of investigation?
MiddleWeb Classics / Parent Connections
by MiddleWeb · Published 08/31/2012 · Last modified 07/18/2024
The Million Words activity can be a wonderful way to connect with parents – if it’s done right. This MiddleWeb Classic conversation includes all you need to know to strengthen your connections with parents and guardians with care as well as enthusiasm.
In this excerpt from a soon-to-be finished book, educator, blogger and activist Jose Vilson recounts his memorable first year teaching in New York City.
