How can we keep a positive school climate and culture during remote learning? Chris Edwards, the 7th grade assistant principal at Kreps Middle School, created a grade-wide Google Classroom for students and teachers and staged weekly competitions best described as crazy and fun. It worked!
To support math students’ different levels of progress learning methods, talents, and interests, Bobson Wong and Larisa Bukalov fit tiered lessons into the familiar framework of whole-group introductory discussion, guided practice, and whole-group summary. See how it works!
Looking ahead to the new school year, it’s critical that school leaders have comprehensive plans ready for implementation if more large-scale remote learning is required. Ron Williamson and Barbara Blackburn underscore the need to fully involve parents and teachers in the process.
Articles / Listening / Speaking Skills
by MiddleWeb · Published 05/31/2020 · Last modified 02/03/2024
The experience of students and teachers doing whole class and small group work online underscores the need to emphasize speaking and listening skills now and for the future, writes principal Matt Renwick. He shares his school’s low-key, standards-friendly teaching ideas.
Meaningful Math / Pandemic Teaching
by Michelle Russell · Published 05/26/2020 · Last modified 08/05/2020
When Michelle Russell dropped by her classroom last week, she was overcome with emotion. As her school year ends, she reflects on the depth of her gratitude for that room, her colleagues, her students and their families, her newfound clarity, and teaching itself.
Social Emotional Learning / The Unstoppable ML Teacher
by Tan Huynh · Published 05/25/2020 · Last modified 06/18/2020
Social-emotional learning is not a program we add on; it’s a mindset we teach with. Tan Huynh unpacks five strategies recommended by the Institute for Positive Education that can help teachers cultivate an SEL mindset, whether we’re teaching in physical or virtual spaces.
Thomas R. Hoerr’s guide for taking SEL schoolwide is particularly helpful to administrators, writes pre-service teacher Holly Reynolds. But she expects the book’s big picture view of quality SEL programs to be useful to her as she evaluates teaching opportunities this summer.
The future may be uncertain but the mental health of our students shouldn’t be. Teacher, author and mentor Cathleen Beachboard describes how – through a focus on communication, consistency and control – educators can begin to help young people regain their sense of safety.
As Mary Tarashuk leads her fourth graders into full-time virtual learning, insights gleaned from the writings of Diane Ravitch and Rosita Boland are helping her see how the pandemic’s sudden jarring changes could lead to a rebirth of public education in the years ahead.
Education law expert Robert Kim’s focused discussion of ten Supreme Court cases is written in practical and accessible language and can be a valuable resource to any educator who wants to help students understand justice and equity, writes pre-service teacher Morgan DeVico.
