Teaching and learning in grades 4-8

Literacy Strategies in the Middle Level Science Lab

When Enrique Santana Carballo started teaching science in a bilingual setting, he quickly realized that many of students weren’t struggling with science but with reading. To support ELLs and students with disabilities, he introduced literacy strategies which he shares here.

STEM Essentials for Student Problem Solving

Anne Jolly’s STEM By Design 2nd Edition is a well-organized and practical resource to help students respond to a wide range of real-world problems in the classroom. The book is complemented by a resource-filled companion website, writes middle school teacher Heidi Braden.

My Summer of Relaxed and Productive Planning

By time-blocking her summer calendar and intentionally carving out space for professional growth, this year NBCT Kathleen Palmieri was able to stay focused, reduce procrastination, and produce some of her best lesson plans ever. She shares some strategies that worked for her.

The Powerful Union of Differentiation and UDL

Two frameworks – Universal Design for Learning and Differentiated Instruction – have emerged as essential “power tools” in creating inclusive classrooms, writes Isaac Nathanson. Understanding how they complement each other can transform teaching and open doors for every learner.

Math Reasoning that Avoids Algorithm Traps

For an eye-opening read that will reinvigorate your approach to teaching math, NBCT Kathleen Palmieri recommends Developing Mathematical Reasoning: Avoiding the Trap of Algorithms, a valuable resource offering fresh insights to engage students with diverse math experiences.

Strong Sentence Frames to Support Your ELLs

By clearly defining language objectives and developing related sentence frames we can boost language development and impact English language learners’ reading and writing growth significantly. Alma Ortiz-Agib and Sunday Cummins share strategies developed in real classrooms.

I’m Just One Teacher. How Do I Make Change?

Pushback against equity-centered trauma-informed practices is present at all levels today. It’s overwhelming, and teachers feel disempowered. How can we become changemakers with so much stacked against us? Educator and trauma specialist Alex Shevrin Venet shares three insights.

An Illustrated Welcome to Beginning Teachers

Welcome to Teaching! does not just tell you how to teach. It shows you with lively illustrations and QR codes showcasing strategies in real classrooms and solutions to pitfalls often seen in classrooms of new teachers, writes PD leader Alison Prochaska. A “must-read” resource.

A Tool to Help Students Navigate Difficult Text

Students who struggle with academic reading can benefit from “a compass of sorts” to help them navigate texts. To accomplish this, educator Ron Klemp developed a four-step quickwrite protocol that’s been “extremely effective” in boosting their engagement and understanding.