Teaching and learning in diverse ways. As middle school teachers, we are well aware of the many ways in which our student populations vary. From physical appearances and stages of development to prior experiences and ethnicities, students’ compositions highlight the importance of getting to know our students in order to create learning experiences that reflect
Read More… from Differentiation: Closing the Gap between Frustration and Success
Films can—and should—be more than time-killers in your classroom. We all know the stereotypical image of the teacher who, tired of direct instruction, dims the lights, turns on the DVD player, and sits quietly while students stare at the screen. The problem here is not that students are watching a film in class—it’s that the
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Practices to support teachers. “What’s the point, Mrs. Adams?” asked Brian. I will never forget the confused yet honest look on my 8th grade student’s face when he asked me this question after I had concluded my riveting lecture about the causes of the Civil War. “What do you mean?” I asked. Brian again repeated,
Read More… from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Instructional Leaders
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Politics, Racism, Religious, Classism, Sexual Orientation: Do Teachers Remain Neutral or Share their Beliefs with Students? I struggle to respect the opinions of those who believe the earth is only 6,000 years old and dismiss evolution as having no factual basis. I am sad for the irrational nature of their thinking and the missed opportunities
Read More… from Do Teachers Remain Neutral or Share their Beliefs with Students?
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We often focus on “getting-to-know-you” activities during the first weeks of school yet what are some ways I can develop community and encourage students to build positive relationships with one another throughout the school year? Developing and maintaining a positive, safe learning environment and community is essential during the middle school years. The young adolescents
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Invest in daily positive talk for lasting returns. As educators, articulating our thoughts to middle school students can be one of the toughest things to do. There is a delicate balance between saying what we mean and saying the right things to produce positive outcomes. A simple slip of the tongue can turn the intentions
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