Articles / It's Not Easy Being Tween / Whole Novels / Whole Novels
by Cheryl Mizerny · Published 04/17/2016 · Last modified 07/07/2024
Whole-class novel study is one curricular tradition that’s taken a huge beating in the last several years, writes ELA teacher Cheryl Mizerny. But not in her classroom, where Cheryl works to balance indepth novel study with student book choice and read-alouds.
Excellent Teaching / It's Not Easy Being Tween
by Cheryl Mizerny · Published 03/21/2016 · Last modified 12/01/2019
During March Madness we have to ask: what can teachers learn from great coaches? Cheryl Mizerny reflects on the words of basketball coaching legends and considers how their insights carry over into classrooms and the work teachers do with their own learners.
It's Not Easy Being Tween / Winter Doldrums
by Cheryl Mizerny · Published 02/21/2016 · Last modified 01/21/2020
The winter doldrums that threaten many classrooms can be blown away with fresh teaching ideas, humor, movement and more. Middle level educator Cheryl Mizerny shares suggestions for enlivening the weeks that fill the calendar between the holidays and spring break.
It's Not Easy Being Tween / Social Skills
by Cheryl Mizerny · Published 01/24/2016 · Last modified 11/26/2019
Cheryl Mizerny considers the “soft” skills of social interaction to be as essential to success as the ELA skills she teaches. To help fill students’ wide social skill gaps, she’s identified problem behaviors and resources she’ll use to build a mini-curriculum.
Amp Up Your Year! / It's Not Easy Being Tween / New Year's Resolutions
by Cheryl Mizerny · Published 12/27/2015 · Last modified 11/29/2019
An NCTE workshop convinced Cheryl Mizerny that if she’s going to expect her students to set challenging goals, reflect, and try again, then she needs to practice what she preaches. Her resulting resolutions may ring true for many middle grades teachers.
It's Not Easy Being Tween / Teacher's Legacy
by Cheryl Mizerny · Published 11/01/2015 · Last modified 11/28/2019
When a graduate class requires Cheryl Mizerny to consider her personal teaching legacy, she finds herself reflecting on how her students will remember their experiences in her classroom. She hopes they will recall joy, challenge, caring, empowerment and inspiration.
Classroom Routines / It's Not Easy Being Tween / New Teacher Advice
by Cheryl Mizerny · Published 10/04/2015 · Last modified 08/12/2024
By staying true to your personality and developing routines that proactively eliminate your sources of stress, you and your students will have a happier, more productive year. Cheryl Mizerny shares some favorite procedures that work in her tween classroom.
It's Not Easy Being Tween / Middle School Life
by Cheryl Mizerny · Published 09/06/2015 · Last modified 11/13/2019
After 20+ years of teaching, Cheryl Mizerny knows middle school is where she’s meant to be. In her first post at “It’s Not Easy Being Tween” Mizerny shares six aspects of young adolescents that make middle-level teaching the toughest job she’s ever loved.
