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Transforming Middle School Practice Through Instructional Technology

Transforming Middle School Practice Through Instructional Technology

Understanding the middle school learner as the basis for implementing a district-wide digital transformation

In December 2015, the Tuscaloosa City Schools Board of Education approved the superintendent's strategic plan, a broadly ambitious plan that prioritized capital improvements, human resources, and curriculum and...
Author: Andrew Maxey, Elizabeth Hancock
Number of views (1206)/Comments (0)/
Topics: LeadershipMiddle School ConceptTechnology
Tags: PLCs

Professional Learning Communities: A Kaleidoscope of Opportunities

A kaleidoscope contains mirrors and colored glass, pebbles, or beads whose reflections create complex patterns of frequently changing colors and shapes when rotated. The vibrant and intricate images, generated by...
Author: Kathleen McCaffrey
Number of views (6334)/Comments (0)/
Topics: Professional Development
Tags: PLCs

"Sometimes we are so focused on our teams and PLCs that we don't establish relationships with other teachers around the school. Any ideas for promoting schoolwide relationships and collaboration?"

Cultivating, building, and sustaining relationships is not guaranteed in all learning environments; however, just as we help students develop cooperative and communication skills, we can adopt and hone collaborative...
Author: Sandy Cameli
Number of views (11266)/Comments (1)/
Topics: Professional Development
Tags: PLCsTeacher LeadersTeacher Mentors

Join the Crowd: Building a PLN

The phrase "Teachers work in isolation," has long been used to describe the working conditions of educational professionals, including most middle level teachers. Educators have found ways to solve this problem by...
Author: Christopher S. Weiler
Number of views (12789)/Comments (0)/
Topics: Professional DevelopmentTechnology
Tags: PLCsSocial MediaTwitterPeer Coaching
A Middle Years Love Story

A Middle Years Love Story

Why is it that on the news every day, they start by saying "good evening" and then proceed to tell us exactly why it isn't? Some of the most powerful statements and questions I've ever heard—like the one...
Author: Summer Howarth
Number of views (16109)/Comments (0)/
Topics: InspirationProfessional Development
Tags: PLCsTeacher Motivation
Is Your PLC Ready to Succeed?

Is Your PLC Ready to Succeed?

Assess your PLC's effectiveness against these five key areas.

The focus on state and national standards, high-stakes testing, and student growth has prompted schools to apply the old adage that two heads are better than one. School administrators and a few teacher leaders...
Author: Bobb Darnell
Number of views (15421)/Comments (0)/
Topics: Professional DevelopmentTeaching
Tags: PLCs
Building Teacher Collaboration School-wide

Building Teacher Collaboration School-wide

Models for teacher collaboration are ineffective without true participation.

Teacher collaboration has been a common element of middle grades initiatives for years, typically one or more of these three organizational models: common planning time, professional learning communities, and critical...
Author: Micki M. Caskey, Jan Carpenter
Number of views (59390)/Comments (1)/
Topics: Professional DevelopmentOrganizational StructuresTeaching
Tags: Common Planning TimePLCs

The Intellectual Life of Teachers

If we’re not careful, we may lose our intellectual selves. We can grow numb with repeated exposure to ideology and structures built to maintain the school’s status quo. With each passing year, our...
Author: Rick Wormeli
Number of views (29182)/Comments (0)/
Topics: Teaching
Tags: PLCsTeacher LeadersTeacher MentorsRick WormeliTeacher Motivation
Why Connect? A Connected Educator's Story

Why Connect? A Connected Educator's Story

When I talk to colleagues about being a “connected” educator, the first response is often “I don’t have time!” followed by “Why? What’s in it for me?” I can relate....
Author: Todd Bloch
Number of views (62151)/Comments (2)/
Topics: InspirationProfessional DevelopmentTeaching
Tags: PLCsSocial MediaTwitter
Ruthie Smith Stevenson

Ruthie Smith Stevenson

Ruthie Smith Stevenson, Ph.D., is a professor and coordinator of the doctoral program in educational leadership K–12, at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi. She is a member of the Mississippi Board of...
Author: AMLE
Number of views (147549)/Comments (0)/
Topics: Achievement GapAction ResearchActive LearningAt-risk/RTIBullying/School SafetyClassroom ManagementData-driven DecisionsDifferentiated InstructionDiversity and Social EquityFamily and CommunityLeadershipMiddle School ConceptPLCsPovertySchool Culture/ClimateStudent-led ConferencesTeachingTeamingTransitions to/from Middle School
Tags: Achievement GapActive LearningData-driven DecisionsPLCsPovertyStudent-led ConferencesAction Research
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