Fostering Grit: How do I prepare my students for the real world?
Thomas Hoerr’s brief book offers enough resources to start a conversation about student “grit” but not to add a focus on resilience into daily teaching, says reviewer Katie Gordon.
Author: MiddleWeb
Let Them Read Whole Novels!
Ariel Sacks says that by teaching novels “whole” she has been able to ignite interest in books, deepen discussions & improve reading comprehension. In this informative article, Sacks shares her rationale, her method, and reactions from her middle school students.
10 Signs That You Have a Together School
After visits across the US, Maia Heyck-Merlin, author of The Together Teacher, highlights 10 characteristics of together schools that support teachers well.
Assessment in Perspective: Focusing on the Reader Behind the Numbers
Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan analyze assessment and the data it produces to show how it can benefit instruction, not displace it or waste teacher time, says reviewer Sandy Wisneski.
Everything You Need to Become a Maker School
Look no further than Invent to Learn, by Sylvia Martinez and Gary Stager, for information on promoting the Maker Movement in your school, says reviewer Kevin Hodgson. Among many other useful ideas: How to involve students in staging a Maker Fair.
Helping English Language Learners Meet the Common Core
Teachers will find helpful discussions of CCSS listening & speaking standards & the CALL tool. Reading & writing are missing.
Learning by Immersion
Veteran music educator Nancy Flanagan shares the story of how a “solid bar band” taught her to be a better teacher by immersing her in the rhythm and flow.
Authentic Learning Experiences
Teacher & consultant Dayna Laur shares stories from her book “Authentic Learning Experiences” and urges educators to create real-world PBL classrooms.
Making Thinking Visible: Promoting Engagement, Understanding & Independence
Writing in the voice of teachers, says reading coach Katie Gordon, the authors describe how to create classes “where thinking is valued, visible, and actively promoted.”
How to Integrate Common Core Math Practices into Content
Common Core math experts Leslie Texas & Tammy Jones offer strategies (and free tools) to help students become mathematical thinkers. “The key, they say, is to “seamlessly interweave” the CCSS mathematical practices with content instruction.
