Research is clear that family engagement in middle school is essential for student success. Yet it sometimes feels like schools and families are more divided than ever. Middle school leaders must build stronger partnerships that help both constituencies achieve their shared goal: success for the whole student. In celebration of Middle Level Education Month #MLEM,
Read More… from Leading from the Middle: Four Things Middle School Leaders Want Parents to Know
Strong leadership is essential to a successful middle school. This statement may seem obvious, but a leader who possesses the unique skillset to lead from the middle can be easy to take for granted. In fact, decades of research tell us that middle grades leadership is so essential that it’s included as the third pillar
Read More… from Leading from the Middle: The Unique Skillset of the Middle School Leader
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In a recent episode of the Middle School Walk & Talk Podcast, Kevin Armstrong, middle school principal and incoming President of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), recounted a story from his career as a middle grades leader. After serving as a middle school assistant principal for four years, he received a call
Read More… from Leading from the Middle: Finding Your Place and Your People in the Middle Grades
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“Bless your heart.” “I’m so sorry!” “Why?” If you’re a middle grades educator, it’s likely you’ve heard one of these reactions when you tell someone your profession. It’s not uncommon for people to recount negative memories from their own time as a middle schooler or bemoan, “kids these days.” Even though 10–15-year-olds are experiencing the
Read More… from Middle School Gets a Bad Rap. It’s Time to Flip the Script.
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Being an effective middle level school leader, or leader in any arena for that matter, requires the skill and temperament to adapt to changing conditions—the seasons, storms, and squalls of school life in the middle grades. Some changes are seasonal, such as the predictable ebbs and flows of the school year that include the opening
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The middle school library is an evolving space. What was once consistently a quiet space for reading has changed into a versatile space with a variety of functions, depending on the school. The Library Learning Commons at Scotts Ridge Middle School demonstrates how this evolution can create a library that serves as a hub of
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