Robust learning happens when students have choice and voice in curriculum. “Students in the middle grades … have the ability to perceive deep truths and are making decisions that will affect the way they live the rest of their lives. This transitional time between childhood and adulthood is the prime time to introduce students to
Read More… from Moving into Action: Middle Level Learners as Change Agents
In September, my seventh grade students gave me a quick social snapshot of their class. As their new school counselor, I had asked them to submit their thoughts anonymously in a box, and they didn’t hold back. Their comments and questions ranged from the philosophical to the practical: “Why do people spread lies? If someone’s
Read More… from Beyond Power Tools: How Maker Learning Can Improve Social Dynamics
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Implementing Disney principles in middle schools. From theme parks to movies, the Walt Disney Company is world-renowned for the high caliber of its customer experience. And, while many perceive how well they do what they do to be Disney “magic,” it’s not magic at all! Rather it is the result of two things: (1) Intentional,
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A transformative experience that will inform your approach to teaching As educators, we take a mental snapshot of our students. We figure the funny seventh grader who goofs off with boys in the hallway has plenty of friends to sit with at lunch. We assume the cynical loner who tries to sleep through our class
Read More… from When Every Educator in a Middle School Shadows a Student for a Day
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Administrators’ advice for districtwide leadership. When we think of the work that goes into helping schools thrive and be the centers of achievement and support for our students, we often think of the exceptional work of the people with direct, daily contact with students. We can’t say enough about the hard work that teachers, teacher
Read More… from Providing Leadership and a Structure of Support
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Teacher collaboration and shared decision-making. In the midst of monumental changes and innovative learning strategies, raising the degree of teacher voice in our schools is needed now more than ever. While many improvement processes and strategies have come on the scene to support schools in leadership growth and student achievement, a vital component is to
Read More… from Using the Teacher-Based Team Process to Raise Teacher Voice
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