Student discussions fueled by doubts and personal questions can push learning very deep, says teaching consultant Jackie Walsh. To set the stage, educators will need to address Teacher Mindset, Classroom Culture, Teaching Modeling, and Student Skills and Dispositions.
Heart of the School / Summer Family Contacts
by Rita Platt · Published 06/17/2018 · Last modified 11/13/2019
We work all year to build and nurture relationships with our students and families. Why stop over the summer? Rita Platt offers quick, low-stress ideas for teachers and principals to stay connected to during the summer months. Public library meetups are super simple!
Mary Tarashuk’s fourth graders dedicate a large part of their end-of-year together looking back at where they began and how far they have come, not only as individuals, but as a classroom community. The Workshop journaling model helps everyone share their conclusions.
Articles / New Teacher Advice / Teacher Self-care
by MiddleWeb · Published 06/12/2018 · Last modified 11/25/2019
Successful, career-minded teachers must learn how to juggle the demands of being in a classroom all day long and also maintaining a satisfactory personal life. Julia Thompson, author of a bestselling survival guide for first-year teachers, tells how to achieve that balance.
Co-Teaching Summer PD / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 06/11/2018 · Last modified 11/15/2019
Make the most of summer’s three ‘R’s’: relaxation, rejuvenation, and reflection! Coach Elizabeth Stein shares what she’s learned from great co-teachers to help focus summer learning and plan ways to bring out the best in students and colleagues next year.
Principals Jason Kotch and Edward Cosentino show how carefully developed use of social media can help students as it improves communication among the school, families, and community. Retired principal Mary Langer Thompson finds all the needed tools, easily accessible.
Close Reading the Media / Media Literacy Videos
by Frank Baker · Published 06/06/2018 · Last modified 11/28/2019
Recent Stanford research found that today’s students have difficulty distinguishing media content created to inform from content designed to persuade and even deceive. Consultant Frank Baker shares some of his favorite short videos to help teachers address the problem.
It's Not Easy Being Tween / Summer Learning / Summer PD
by Cheryl Mizerny · Published 06/03/2018 · Last modified 05/22/2024
Each year Cheryl Mizerny looks forward to exploring her options for summertime learning. As you relax, reflect and look ahead to a new school year, try out some of her ideas for do-it-yourself professional development. They run the gamut from PJ’s to PD with Friends.
Class Apps / Classroom Management
by Curtis Chandler · Published 05/29/2018 · Last modified 12/10/2019
Once you settle into summer break and find yourself thinking back over the past year’s successes and struggles, why not explore some fresh tools for classroom management next fall? Teacher educator Curtis Chandler offers some good places to start.
Math Dislike / Meaningful Math
by Michelle Russell · Published 05/28/2018 · Last modified 11/28/2019
Michelle Russell has worked to combat students’ negative attitudes toward math, but she had never considered how their attitudes might be affecting her effectiveness as a teacher. It’s been a tough year, but Russell has begun to find some ways to restore her enthusiasm.
