In Part 2 of her article on conferencing with student writers, teacher-author Marilyn Pryle tells how she manages multiple conferences with each student during a class period. The key: give students small manageable tasks they can do on their own.
Mark Gerl, a school-based technology coordinator in Atlanta GA, reflects on the key role of language arts & storytelling in successful video games — something he & his students have learned in chats with a team of Canadian adventure game designers.
State assessments will soon require history students to read texts & make arguments supported by evidence. Aaron Brock believes non-traditional tests, like a recent poster project in his 8th grade inner-city classroom, can help build those skills.
Working Draft / Writing and Coding
by Kevin Hodgson · Published 01/05/2014 · Last modified 11/24/2019
If our English Language Arts students don’t learn the basics of reading and writing computer code, asks middle grades teacher Kevin Hodgson, how can we be sure they will grow up to be creators of ideas and not just users of information created and managed by others?
Strong Partnerships / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 12/15/2013 · Last modified 11/26/2019
Although professional development, administrative support & common planning time are all very important and necessary, writes Elizabeth Stein, what matters most in achieving effective inclusion is how the two teachers in the room are approaching the experience.
Future of History / Student writing about history
by Aaron Brock · Published 12/08/2013 · Last modified 11/22/2019
Inner city middle school teacher Aaron Brock describes how he scaffolds the writing of a thesis-driven history essay with good results for students.
Beninghof’s book of best practices is rich with examples of how to increase student participation, focus attention & strengthen memory, says Linda Biondi.
Working Draft / Writing with Students
by Kevin Hodgson · Published 11/03/2013 · Last modified 11/17/2019
ELA teacher Kevin Hodgson often joins his students during freewriting time and sometimes shares his own messy work, as a way to model what writers do.
Ariel Sacks says that by teaching novels “whole” she has been able to ignite interest in books, deepen discussions & improve reading comprehension. In this informative article, Sacks shares her rationale, her method, and reactions from her middle school students.
Future of History / Historical thinking
by Jody & Shara · Published 10/13/2013 · Last modified 12/05/2019
Evaluative questions that encourage the development of evidence based opinions help students learn to view history “as a complex narrative.”
