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Through the years, I’ve developed some successful strategies I’d like to share with my colleagues outside my school. Suggestions? What can I do?

Peer-to-peer sharing is one of our most meaningful and effective kinds of professional development—and it’s so easy to do. Whether it’s presenting at a meeting or conference, writing an article, or participating in an online chat, you can share your expertise with your colleagues, and enrich their professional development as well as your own. Present

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The Basics of Developing Effective Teams

The life of a middle level teacher is one of continuous challenges. Teachers are charged with curriculum development, lesson planning, data analysis, problem solving, response-to-intervention, and other student concerns. A well-functioning interdisciplinary team provides needed support for teachers struggling to meet the demands of the middle level classroom. In his book As I See It, John

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Making a New Language Stick with Students

Best online resources to use at home and school There’s a reason people say, “It’s like learning a new language!” when learning something that’s difficult—it takes practice, diligence and off-hours studying to become fluent in a new language. What’s more, middle school students may struggle to become fluent in a new language with classroom instruction

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Information Overload: Giving Students the Tools They Need to Navigate the Digital World

A few years ago, I wrote an article for students about the surprising amount of sugar that Americans eat. Toward the end of the article, after explaining how sugar is added to some foods you wouldn’t expect (crackers! tomato sauce!) and describing how consuming too much sugar can impact your health, I mentioned that some

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Engineering Brighter Futures

An after-school program that heightens students’ curiosity about STEM and makes learning fun Every day after school, in the 9 Dots Community Learning Center (named for the 3×3 puzzle that challenges one to think outside the box) in Los Angeles, underserved middle school and elementary students are defining their own futures. 9 Dots’ free program

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“Think bigger about science”: Using Twitter for learning in the middle grades

Introduction Middle level educators have a deep awareness of their students’ tremendously social nature. Young adolescents yearn to be connected with their peers, whether sharing excitedly during lunch, on the school bus, or in the hall- ways, and regardless of whether they are face-to-face, across a room, or immersed in a screen. Digital tools, including

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AMLE Celebrates Inaugural Schools of Distinction

AMLE recognized its inaugural class of Schools of Distinction earlier this month, in conjunction with the organization’s 49th Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. The twelve schools were selected for their fervent commitment to implementing the essential attributes and characteristics of successful middle grades schools. In addition to being celebrated during a special awards ceremony, each

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Reimagining School – What should it look like and who is it for?

Cornelius Minor and Kass Minor help #AMLE22 attendees find their bottom lines as educators Cornelius and Kass Minor believe that kids don’t just learn in school. They become. It’s an attitude reflective of what we know about middle grades best practice, making them the perfect keynoters for #AMLE22 and our return to in-person conference. We

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Kindness is harder than it looks.

Houston Kraft reminds #AMLE22 attendees that connection doesn’t happen by accident. Houston Kraft, author and co-founder of CharacterStrong, took the main stage at #AMLE22 yesterday for his keynote address on Deep Kindness. From the outset, he made clear that he had a mission for those in attendance. “If we want more kindness on our campus,

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