Engaging middle schoolers in local issues helps them apply knowledge and become informed citizens Environmental science knowledge intertwined with cultural practices have ripple effects that impact many aspects of society. For example, the increase in the use of fertilizer and practices of overfishing have resulted in red tides and dead zones within waterways, where nothing
Four pillars of flipped classrooms to help teachers with distance learning during COVID-19 Recent mass school closings due to the COVID-19 pandemic have educators everywhere seeking ways to provide meaningful distance learning. In response, some educators are developing instruction around a hybrid model of the flipped classroom. Similar to the traditional model, students in a
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Enriching the curriculum and boosting middle school student engagement with the arts We don’t need statistics to know that a curriculum lacking in arts is boring, but too often when budgets are cut, the fun parts of being in school for children are the first to be eliminated. The notion that schools with limited budgets
Supporting students’ need for social interaction while physically distancing When asked about social distancing, Peter Slavin, president of Massachusetts General Hospital, put into words a thought I keep having: “I prefer the term ‘physical distancing,’ it seems we need social connections now more than ever before.” For middle schoolers, with the developmental desire to fit
Accepting the challenge of teaching virtually during the global pandemic Middle school teachers must be leaders who demonstrate courage and collaboration (National Middle School Association, 2010). Such leaders are needed today more than ever. But leadership is especially difficult when educators have no compass for the worldwide crisis we are now facing with COVID-19. The changes occurring
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