Writing workshop can be an exciting part of the day for students in the middle, writes author and workshop expert Lynne Dorfman. Even when middle level schedules aren’t a great fit for extended workshop writing, teachers can nurture “writerly” attitudes with daily quickwrites.
After learning virtually for some weeks, many of Michelle Russell’s math students got in the habit of writing down little or no evidence of how they reached their conclusions. Which got her thinking. “What does it really mean when you tell students to show their work?”
If you are looking for a book that provides a realistic yet hopeful view of what it means to be an educator and a researcher by way of viewing yourself as a Scholar-Practitioner, then this book fits the bill, writes teacher educator/researcher Megan Reister.
You don’t have to be an ELA teacher to teach academic content to English learners. The goal is to guide students in using language “like an expert in a particular field would use it,” writes Tan Huynh, who shares a 4-step process used by international consultant Beth Skelton.
For any educator interested in offering student choice but unsure of how to begin, Laurie Westphal’s Differentiating Instruction With Menus approach offers a strategy that will ease fears about loss of control and assure quality work, writes teacher Erin Corrigan-Smith.
When we find time in our busy school day to introduce a current event text, like a magazine cover, we’re actually helping students understand how images are used to communicate and even manipulate. Frank Baker shares a resource-rich pandemic media literacy lesson.
Focusing on the elements of the epic hero, this activity from author and 2019 PA TOY Marilyn Pryle helps students learn about literary elements while reflecting on their own lives, goals, and obstacles as they consider the hero’s backstory, good qualities, flaw, and quest.
STEM kids need to ratchet up their know-how about the real-world problem of plastics pollution and work together on sensible solutions. As they tackle this impending global crisis, they’ll grow problem-solving competencies for a lifetime, writes STEM educator Anne Jolly.
Dina Strasser shares ‘a small bit’ about why she changed her blog title to I Will Screw This Up, has some news about a big celebration in the world of awards, and offers some reflection on a book by a Canadian SF/fantasy author you might not yet have in your YA collection.
Positive phone calls and texts to students’ families are powerful, writes principal and NBCT Rita Platt. Parents and caregivers enjoy hearing good things and will be more responsive when you get in touch with less happy news. Rita includes several starter scripts and scheduling ideas.
