Teaching and learning in grades 4-8

Teachers Reflect on the Pandemic School Year

After weeks of deciphering digital teaching and supporting students in new ways, educators are reflecting on their changed worlds. Principal Rita Platt reached out to collect some of their thoughts on the challenges, the silver linings, and their concerns about public education’s future.

Designing Classrooms for Flexible Learning

The limitations of funding, square footage, and time can make classroom design a daunting task, writes reviewer Eileen Hornbostel. To meet those challenges, Jessica Martin offers Strategic Classroom Design, a detailed guide to creating effective learning environments.

Supporting the Emotional Health of Our Students

The future may be uncertain but the mental health of our students shouldn’t be. Teacher, author and mentor Cathleen Beachboard describes how – through a focus on communication, consistency and control – educators can begin to help young people regain their sense of safety.

Students Making Sense of Multiple Sources

When your students read, view, and listen to multiple sources on a topic or issue, do they tackle each source in a silo? Martha Polley and Sunday Cummins share Martha’s dive into helping students think across history sources, synthesizing to deepen their understanding.

Reading Strategies in the Science Classroom

Using reading comprehension strategies in the content area helps students build background knowledge and academic skills. Tara Dale and Mandi White, authors of The Science Teacher’s Toolbox, share four techniques they use to help middle schoolers grasp informational text.

Using Supreme Court Cases to Teach Equity

Education law expert Robert Kim’s focused discussion of ten Supreme Court cases is written in practical and accessible language and can be a valuable resource to any educator who wants to help students understand justice and equity, writes pre-service teacher Morgan DeVico.