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Association for Middle Level Education

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Teaching Like a Game Show Host

A game show template encourages and engages reluctant learners.

When you think about it, most middle school teachers would make great game show hosts. We get to know our contestants, we tell them the rules of the game, we play the game, and everyone is a winner for having the...

Author: Christopher Elliott
Number of views (7117)/Comments (0)/

Topics: Teaching

Tags: Student Engagement

Becoming a Teacher

Finding your niche and keeping the passion.

Do you remember your first day of college? I do. It was fall 2011 and I had arrived at Bowling Green State University to major in adolescent to young adult education, which covered grades 7–12. I showed up...

Author: Delaney F. Buechner
Number of views (9757)/Comments (2)/

Topics: Inspiration Professional Preparation Teaching

Tags: Teacher Motivation Preservice Teachers New Teachers

Engineering Brighter Futures

An after-school program that heightens students' curiosity about STEM and makes learning fun

Every day after school, in the 9 Dots Community Learning Center (named for the 3x3 puzzle that challenges one to think outside the box) in Los Angeles, underserved middle school and elementary students are defining...

Author: Laura Staich
Number of views (10517)/Comments (0)/

Topics: Diversity and Social Equity STEM Technology

Tags: Student Engagement Science Math Critical Thinking

Can Fantasy Football Boost Teacher Morale?

At a middle school in Texas, a fantasy football league was a win for the entire school.

Finding simple ways to boost teacher morale on a limited budget isn't easy. Surprisingly, fantasy football or another similar competitive multi-person activity might be the answer. The Fantasy Sports Trade...

Author: Scott Ryan, Kaye Shelton
Number of views (5730)/Comments (0)/

Topics: Leadership School Culture/Climate

Tags: Teacher Motivation

College and Career Readiness for Special Needs Students

Middle school teachers can change widespread "no-way" attitudes to "never-the-less" attitudes.

Thinking about career and college readiness for a sixth grader is a little too soon for some teachers and parents. As a parent, I felt hard-pressed to decide the future for my son when he entered the middle grades. He...

Author: Linda K. Schlosser
Number of views (11252)/Comments (0)/

Topics: Special Education/Inclusion

Tags: College Readiness Career Exploration Inclusion Social Emotional Learning

Teaching Students Responsibility

For as long as humans have lived on Earth, generations of adults have bemoaned the lack of due diligence in the upcoming generation: "They're indifferent and don't work hard," they declare. "We have to teach them...

Author: Rick Wormeli
Number of views (18535)/Comments (0)/

Topics: Teaching Young Adolescent Development

Tags: Student Engagement Rick Wormeli Student Achievement Social Emotional Learning

Going Online to Improve Student Achievement

Leveraging technology helped get students back into class and on track.

In a perfect world, school districts would be able to purchase and implement as many resources and as much technology as necessary to help students achieve. However, factors such as budgets and staffing often get in...

Author: Mary Slaughter, Connie Shubert, Brenda Dix
Number of views (7998)/Comments (1)/

Topics: Teaching Technology

Tags: School Improvement

EdCamp: Do It Yourself Professional Development

The unconference is targeted, personalized professional development at its best.

It's three o'clock in the afternoon on a contractually required professional development meeting day and teachers are beginning to shuffle into a session offered by their school district. The presenter is passionate...

Author: Brian Cook
Number of views (8951)/Comments (0)/

Topics: Professional Development

Tags: Peer Coaching

Prep-Once Activities

Bust worksheets and lectures with these activities you can reuse many times over.

We've all experienced it—you look up from your lesson to notice a virus spreading among your students. First one, then three, and before long, the whole class is overtaken. It's a zombie virus ... the virus of...

Author: Katie Powell
Number of views (9405)/Comments (0)/

Topics: Teaching

Tags: Student Engagement Student Motivation

"Think bigger about science": Using Twitter for learning in the middle grades

Introduction Middle level educators have a deep awareness of their students' tremendously social nature. Young adolescents yearn to be connected with their peers, whether sharing excitedly during lunch, on...

Author: Ryan Becker, Penny Bishop
Number of views (11509)/Comments (0)/