Teaching and learning in grades 4-8

What If Every Teacher Taught Media Literacy?

More state legislatures are developing media literacy policies in response to debates over student phone use, social media restrictions, and artificial intelligence. But are they committed to supporting programs that engage all teachers in opportunities to teach media literacy?

Accelerate or Remediate? Teachers at the Controls.

Acceleration means providing grade-level instruction with strategic scaffolds and just-in-time support. It means believing all kids can access rigorous content with the supports you can build. And it’s a decision entirely within your Circle of Control, says Dr. Sonya Murray.

Assessing with Rigor to Reach Every Student

Building on her previous writings redefining rigor in education, teaching coach Barbara R. Blackburn shares fresh tools, strategies, and insights to add rigor to your teaching in ways that are meaningful, engaging and appropriately challenging for all students.

Expand Your Electives & Transform Engagement

Many educators believe we can increase engagement and improve attendance by expanding choice electives for their middle schoolers. But school and system wide? What about scheduling? What about staffing? Jen Schwanke walks us through her district’s transformation step by step.

Five Models for Asking Higher Level Questions

When you climb to the top of a mountain, the steps become increasingly difficult as you go, but the view is worth it. Consultant and author Barbara R. Blackburn shares five models for organizing higher levels of questions to help students reach the learning summit.

Strategies to Reach and Teach Every Learner

“The Classroom of Choice” is perfect for teachers seeking ways to strengthen their classrooms and curriculum using Choice Theory so students thrive as learners and humans, says MS teacher and NBCT Angela Lee. Each chapter has specific, ready to use, research based strategies.

Use Goal Setting to Grow Great Student Writers

Writing goals help students identify ways to improve in their writing and set specific targets they want to work on, says author-educator Valerie Bolling. Best of all, during the process students will see the growth they’ve made as writers and as goal setters.