Meaningful Math / Student-Teacher Connections
by Michelle Russell · Published 01/02/2017 · Last modified 12/11/2019
As Michelle Russell revisits her start-of-school teaching goals, she decides to focus the New Year on building deeper connections with her students. Her strategies: use personal surveys and follow-up chats; glean more from parents, and confer to set challenge goals.
Social Justice / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 12/27/2016 · Last modified 11/13/2019
It’s time, writes teaching coach Elizabeth Stein, for co-teachers to take a strong, visible and audible stance on behalf of those students “who have been on your mind every day since school began.” Co-teachers need to become social justice leaders in the classroom.
Before middle school students can become lovers of stories and savvy assessors of fake news and false claims, they must be creative readers who comprehend texts at high levels and empathize with characters and people, says literacy expert and advocate Laura Robb.
Team-wide Literacy / Working Draft
by Kevin Hodgson · Published 12/26/2016 · Last modified 11/15/2019
More and more, state and national standards call on all educators to become “teachers of literacy.” ELA teacher Kevin Hodgson shares how he and his 6th grade colleagues in science, social studies and math are figuring out what this will mean in their classrooms.
Class Apps / Cultural Awareness
by Curtis Chandler · Published 12/19/2016 · Last modified 12/10/2019
Teaching expert Curtis Chandler sees an urgent need for educators to help students become more aware, understanding, and appreciative of other nations and cultures. Here he offers a rich collection of web resources that can bring global diversity into the classroom.
Some teaching practices help strengthen students’ self-efficacy, motivation and confidence, while others create learned helplessness. Author-consultant Sarah Tantillo identifies 17 common teaching actions that lead to student inertia and offers better alternatives.
It's Not Easy Being Tween / Personalized Learning
by Cheryl Mizerny · Published 12/18/2016 · Last modified 11/24/2019
In Cheryl Mizerny’s view, authentic “personalized education” would have skilled teachers navigating as students powered their own learning. It would be a practice and not the product being sold by digital LMS companies as an acceptable substitute for teacher talent.
Barbara Boroson’s second edition is a valuable source of information and advice, written in everyday language. Although the book is intended for educators, teacher Linda Biondi also recommends it to parents who want to learn more about ASD and to advocate for their children.
As news organizations are increasingly folded into fewer and fewer media conglomerates, writes media literacy expert Frank Baker, their independence is left in doubt. He urges teachers to involve students in studies of “Big Media” as part of their civic education.
Christopher Danielson used to hate teaching geometry. Now he sees it as a playground of mathematical ideas for middle schoolers, with opportunities for exploration, wonder, and smart conversations. Here Danielson shares ideas and images teachers can use to begin the fun.
