What if students could find a way to overcome their fear of speaking, learn storytelling, and become more confident public speakers? Teaching these skills to middle graders using stand up comedy can lay the groundwork for greater success, writes actor-educator Kevin Flynn.
Donalyn Miller and Colby Sharp’s “Game Changer! Book Access for All Kids” is a must-read, writes principal, NBCT and veteran school librarian Rita Platt. Its 10 short chapters are power-packed with research, stories and strategies for building a strong reading culture.
Book Reviews / Social & Emotional Learning
by MiddleWeb · Published 04/25/2019 · Last modified 11/19/2019
Teaching Tenacity offers a series of thoughtful, research-based lessons that will provide students with the tools to make the pursuit of excellence a life-long endeavor. Jeny Randall looks forward to bringing the lessons to her morning advisory time but says advisory isn’t a must.
Novels about school are rare and often feature a lone heroic teacher defying the odds. Instead, NBCT Roxanna Elden’s fictional account of life at a struggling urban Texas school – “Adequate Yearly Progress” – is funny, often moving, and always authentic. Read Chapter 2.
Create Compose Connect / Media Literacy
by Jeremy Hyler · Published 04/21/2019 · Last modified 12/03/2019
Our students are native digital readers, but they aren’t necessarily logged into their Kindle accounts. Helping middle schoolers become lifelong readers of credible news and information requires proactive strategies. Teacher Jeremy Hyler describes three of his favorites.
Book Reviews / Multiple Intelligences
by MiddleWeb · Published 04/18/2019 · Last modified 01/17/2020
Teachers will find everything they need to implement the theory of multiple intelligences in Thomas Armstrong’s book, writes teacher Michelle Voelker. Armstrong addresses MI criticism and provides easy changes that can be made by teachers who want to decide for themselves.
How many minutes? In which grades? What really works? How can family be engaged? These and lots more questions are answered in Cathy Vatterott’s book Rethinking Homework. Educator Brian Taylor says it’s a must for educators who want to bring sanity to homework policies.
Math Strategies / Meaningful Math
by Michelle Russell · Published 04/16/2019 · Last modified 03/04/2024
Geoff Krall’s valuable new book gets down to math “nuts and bolts,” writes teacher Michelle Russell. It’s not just about theory. It offers detailed strategies and ideas to create the three necessary conditions for students to begin to see themselves as mathematicians.
Marilee Sprenger shares the “break-up letter” she read to her middle school students to help them become aware of their emotions and find strategies that will work for them and their individual experiences. She includes follow-up activities to build SEL skills for all.
We ask our students to “step up” and own their work. Now it’s time for us to “step up to the challenge.” Whether you are a novice or a veteran, Alex Kajitani’s book will be your guide to continuing your passion for teaching by helping you “own it,” writes Linda Biondi.
