Facing the ‘December Dilemma’ of how to include winter holidays in the instructional day? This MiddleWeb resource offers a multi-faceted look at religious and non-religious aspects of the season, legal issues, and some ideas for seasonal lesson planning.
Ron Williamson and Barbara Blackburn advocate for a three-step teacher evaluation process that emphasizes pre- and post-observation conferences designed to promote full teacher ownership and collaboration, with an emphasis on recognizing strengths and planning for growth.
Whether you’re curious to bring artificial intelligence into your lesson planning – or the rapid evolution of AI has you feeling anxious – Monica Burns’ “EdTech Essentials: 12 Strategies for Every Classroom in the Age of AI” can help guide you in the effective use of new technologies.
In the conclusion of their two-part series on supporting student research, our classroom teacher-authors share an Inquiry Chart tool educators can use to coach middle graders as they discuss how their findings are coming together, annotate their work, and plan next steps.
We can spark student interest in STEM studies and careers with stories of middle school-aged inventors who gained the world’s attention by solving a real problem. STEM author and curriculum expert Anne Jolly tells the story of eight such kids. Editable student handout included!
In her 3rd article offering questions to help grow critical readers, Marilyn Pryle says we must help students examine what a text is HIDING. “To navigate the information that bombards them outside of school, students must have the skills to detect the bias, lie, or hidden intention.”
This fall with some tweaks and fresh online tools and resources, Halloween can be fun and packed with learning. Check out MiddleWeb’s updated resource collection for ideas across the content areas.
Media literacy educator Frank Baker never imagined that his graphic novel – a true family saga of the Holocaust – “would be criticized and restricted in the middle schools of a district near where I reside.” He tells what happened in this contribution to Banned Books Week.
Comprehension is a concern in every content area. If a student cannot comprehend the material, whether it’s words or images, they cannot meet learning goals. Teaching coach Barbara R. Blackburn offers some simple strategies that can help you scaffold comprehension for your students.
For educators, wellness extends beyond physical self-care; it also involves self-awareness, respect and kindness. NBCT Kathleen Palmieri shares guidelines that remind us to put boundaries in place and incorporate physical and emotional wellness into the new school year.
