WELCOME TO THE MIDDLEWEB LISTSERV!
The MiddleWeb listserv is a free service available to middle school educators
and anyone else who's interested in boosting middle grades teaching and
learning and grappling with knotty school and classroom issues. The list
is supported by a grant from the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation's Program
for Student Achievement.
You can read some of our conversations here.
If you'd like to subscribe, please
visit this page.
Need more convincing? Read this recent comment from a list member:
It is fascinating to me, that as a 25 year veteran of the classroom,
I feel...this listserve has filled a very empty space in my professional
and personal life.
Everyone has chosen education as a profession for a variety of reasons.
There are those who are truly passionate about what they do. They are willing
to share, are willing to put their opinions "out there" for all
to see. They are people who are willing to take what they do and turn it
upside down to make it better for kids and parents and their fellow teachers.
Those are the people who join this list.
And thanks to this list, I look at myself and my profession in a different
way.
Finally, if you're a principal and you're not sure this list is for you,
read these comments
by Susan Fedor, former principal of Crossroad Middle School in Columbia,
SC.
MORE ABOUT OUR LISTSERV
We began this list convinced that there are many teachers and principals
who are eager to participate in a forum that centers discussions around
professional excellence. That's our goal, and we think current participants
are finding the conversation lively, challenging, and a wise investment
of their time.
This comment from a California principal is typical of the feedback we have
received. "I am already using (the listserv) as a quick-response research
tool for finding out about things that will help my teachers and students.
Thank you for creating such a valuable resource for middle schools...."
Others agree:
"Its has been interesting to observe the community of support that
has developed between those of us on MiddleWeb List Serv. We are very new
at this and yet in a short time, this community of educators has evolved
into a group full of synergy and at times it has even become a virtual
support group. We have shared knowledge, vision, encouragement, questions
and even grief."
"I am reading a lot, using a lot, and sharing a lot of what is being
posted -- even if you don't see me here much, I am here! And I wouldn't
want to miss anything!"
Read more comments from listserv members
here.
TRUST your fellow educators. This listserv will be one of the most valuable
"professional development" activities you're likely to experience.
Join us!
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE AND SEND MAIL
We are currently asking folks who want to join our Listserv to send us a
note to norton@middleweb.com with
"Discussion List" in the subject line. PLEASE include some background
information about yourself and why you'd like to join our group.
BE SURE TO READ this
list of User-Friendly Do's and Don'ts
AND SEE these helpful notes about
maximizing your listserv enjoyment, including "How to send a personal
reply," "Snippets: A User-Friendly Idea to Promote Conversation,"
"How to Unsubscribe," and more.
OUR FOCUS
This list is devoted to friendly, civil conversation about matters of importance
to teachers and other educators -- and most especially, to kids. When we
first proposed this list, we heard from many members of other listservs
who were eager to join an on-line community where folks conducted themselves
in much the same way they would in professional gatherings, face to face.
Here's what one correspondent wrote:
"I have always felt that I would like to contribute regularly to discussions,
but I usually decide not to. One reason is that I don't wish to be involved
in the personal and demeaning insult-trading that some of the hotter issues
tend to provoke."
None of us want to "muzzle" our fellow listserv members. For that
reason, we ask each individual who joins this list to agree to a few basic
principles about giving and receiving feedback. We ask you to make a personal
commitment to focus on the ideas and not the individual who happens to post
them. As we observe and discuss the work and the questions of other educators,
we ask you to steer clear of personal criticism and resist the urge to 'fix'
other peoples' work.
Finally, we ask you to keep the listserv conversation focused, as much as
possible, on the professional work of middle grades educators. Share your
stories, your successes and disappointments, your good and bad news. But
always ask yourself, "how can I relate this in a way that promotes
thoughtful discussion about teaching, learning, and middle school kids?"
THAT'S IT! If you'd like to give the MiddleWeb Listserv a tryout, simply
follow the sign-up directions above.
Home