November 2009 • Volume 41 • Number 2 • Pages 56-57
What's Happening
Middle Level Essentials Conference
Las Vegas, Nevada —April 22-23, 2010
A conference providing an in-depth look into topics essential to the success of middle level schools, including:
- STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering & Math
- Differentiated Instruction
- Using Assessment to Guide Instruction
- Literacy
2010 Institute for Middle Level Leadership
July 18-21, 2010
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg Lodge
July 25-28, 2010
Whistler, BC, Canada
Hilton Whistler
Enjoy interactive classroom sessions, discussions, peer-facilitated learning, and opportunities to address topics that matter to you!
Visit www.nmsa.org/leadership for more information.
NMSA 37th Annual Conference & Exhibit
November 4-6, 2010
Baltimore, Maryland
NMSA2010—Innovate.Create.Inspire
450+ sessions in topic areas critical to middle grades education including
- STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering & Math
- Information Literacy and Technology
- Fine Arts
- Using assessment to guide instruction
- Narrowing the Achievement Gap
- AYP
- Differentiated Instruction
- Literacy
- Parental Involvement
Visit www.nmsa.org/annualfor more information.
No More Number Sharing
Institutional Members, take advantage of a new feature on our website that allows your entire staff to find and link themselves to your school's membership. No longer do you need to share one member number; just have your staff visit www.nmsa.org and click "Create an Account" to start the process. Everyone in your building can now have their own login to access all NMSA has to offer, including past and current issues of Middle School Journal and Middle Ground magazine, bookstore and conference registration discounts, and much more. Need assistance setting up an account? E-mail NMSA customer service at
questions@nmsa.org.
$aving Our Futures Curriculum
National Middle School Association recently teamed with America's Promise Alliance to promote the new curriculum $aving Our Futures: A Financial Responsibility Program for Young People.
Developed with funding from the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, this free, downloadable curriculum for middle and high school youth empowers young people to call for more responsible fiscal policy decisions.
As part of the promotion, NMSA identified 100 members to implement and evaluate the curriculum and develop related service-learning projects for use in their classes. All participants are being awarded $500 gift certificates for NMSA products and services, and ten of the project outlines will be selected to receive $1,000 grants to put their plans into action. One grand prize winner will be selected to engage in a semester-long, financial responsibility service-learning project including a completely customized class trip to Washington, D.C.
While the incentive program is now closed, the curriculum is still available to download for free at www.americaspromise.org/financialresponsibility.
Success in the Middle Reintroduced
On June 26, 2009, Representative Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) reintroduced Success in the Middle (H.R. 3006/S. 1362) a bill that would authorize grants to states and school districts to help improve middle grades education and turn around low-performing middle schools.
NMSA offers strong support for Success in the Middle, which will help ensure that all students exit the middle grades prepared for success and on the path for college and career readiness. The bill will help states and districts provide leadership, intensive intervention, and technical assistance to improve low-performing schools that contain middle grades. The bill was first introduced in fall 2008 and garnered a good deal of support with 31 cosponsors.
Rep. Grijalva and Sen. Reed are urging other members of Congress to join in cosponsoring the legislation. We encourage you to take the time to explain to your elected leaders why middle grades students deserve their help. Visit www.nmsa.org to read more about the bills and to find out how to contact your congressional representatives.
Middle School Portal
STEM Educators!
Middle School Portal 2: Math and Science Pathways (MSP2) is the place for middle school STEM educators to
Participate: Discussions and book groups
Learn: Free, online learning events
Connect: Over 500 STEM educators
www.msteacher2.org
Call for Student Artwork
Deadline: March 12, 2010
Your students have a chance to have their creative work displayed for the world to see. NMSA features original student artwork in the online publication Expressions from the Middle and in Middle Ground magazine, a publication sent to more than 25,000 people worldwide. Students whose artwork is selected will receive a cash prize plus international recognition!
For more information visit www.nmsa.org/moya and select Student Engagement.
Copyright © 2009 by National Middle School Association