Category: Articles

Should You Become a Middle School Teacher?

While lists for essential teacher qualities abound, these are the three questions author Debbie Silver particularly wants to ask middle school teacher candidates. Discover what Silver, who has taught across the grades, finds essential for effective middle level educators.

How We Can Make Research Matter to Kids

Teachers don’t set out to bore students to death with fact-filled research projects. They want assignments where students *do something* with their facts. In her story about ‘Drew,’ former New Hampshire TOY Angie Miller provides the insight we need to spark their critical thinking and creativity.

Our Students’ Questions Should Be a Top Priority

Kids are always posing questions as they grow, but research shows that when they enter school, it’s mostly teachers doing the asking. Teacher educator Molly Ness offers six ideas for promoting questioning in our classrooms and letting student curiosity drive learning.

Rethinking Revision: The Real Work of Writing

Teaching students to eagerly revise their first drafts is “the Mt. Everest of writing instruction,” says renowned author Ruth Culham. The originator of the 6+1 Writing Traits program argues convincingly that revision must be the primary focus of the writing curriculum.

7 Ways to Help Students Self Assess Effectively

Although our assessment of students is critical to learning, we also want students to learn to assess themselves, writes teaching consultant Barbara Blackburn. Encouraging students to take measures of their own progress is both more rigorous and more empowering.

How Ordinary Kids Can Be Extraordinary Citizens

How can you support your middle schoolers in peaceful and productive advocacy for equity and social justice? EL Education’s Anne Vilen shares the courageous story of immigrant Atak Natali to show how supportive teachers can help students come together to work for justice.

A Summer Gathering of Teachers and Authors

This summer, the week-long Shenandoah University Children’s Literature Conference will bring together writers, teachers, and students to model and practice great literate behaviors. Award-winning YA and tween authors will discuss their craft and their own literacy journeys.