“I read professional books like movie critics watch films: with a critical lens and respect for my time,” writes veteran principal Matt Renwick. “If I am going to dedicate hours to a text that is supposed to help me improve as an educational leader, it needs to deliver.”
There’s no right answer to how to help kids come through a shooter drill feeling happy, safe and confident because it’s impossible, writes teacher Dina Strasser. But she believes some of the answer is to guide them in using their own ways of making sense out of the incomprehensible.
The Heart-Centered Teacher lives up to its promise of renewal, writes educator Sarah Cooper. Routman’s newest book “strives to be a mosaic of sorts: a combination of sometimes searing, sometimes poignant personal stories with on-the-ground insights from decades of experience.”
This year Katie Durkin’s 7th grade ELA students are involved in a weekly routine of G.R.O.W. work (Grammar, Reading, Open Write, and Word Work). Each 15-minute lesson aims to ‘grow’ stamina and literacy skills they can apply in her class and across the academic disciplines.
Walking meetings are not only a good wellness strategy, they’re great for brain-storming, problem-solving and increasing productivity, writes teacher and school leader Kasey Short. The change in scenery, relaxed atmosphere and movement can be like a “reboot” for body and mind.
With examples from all levels of education, The New Classroom Instruction That Works is a useful tool for beginning teachers and lifelong educators alike. Goodwin and Rouleau capture proven researched-based strategies for every classroom, writes teacher leader Hannah Mickey.
Once teachers see, value, and capitalize on a learner’s unique talents and strengths, it changes the student and it changes us, writes Regie Routman. “Possibilities override limitations. Pride of accomplishment replaces failure. Effort leads to excellence. Joy is present, the best gift of all.”
India is different from the U.S. in many ways, writes Fulbright teacher Marilyn Pryle, but many of the issues they are trying to address are global issues that all countries face. Here are three things India’s public schools often do better than their American counterparts.
At times we can be overwhelmed by all the fresh ideas we want to try out in a new school year. By narrowing her goals down to three top priorities, Megan Kelly aims to make lessons more meaningful for students, improve family engagement, and do better at tracking individual progress.
Book Reviews / Social & Emotional Learning
by MiddleWeb · Published 09/14/2023 · Last modified 11/02/2023
The new edition of Amber Chandler’s “The Flexible SEL Classroom” keeps its promise to provide practical ways to build social emotional learning, writes Anne Anderson. Chandler supports teachers with fresh ideas as they personalize learning for today’s post-pandemic students.
