Teaching and learning in grades 4-8

Month by Month Activities to Teach Media Literacy

Close Reading the Media is an incredible resource for middle or high school humanities teachers teaching students how to think critically about the media, writes teacher Stephanie Leary, noting it is packed with informative, fun, and thought-provoking topics and ideas.

56 Essential Truths for Effective Teaching

Danny Steele and Todd Whitaker have done an impressive job recognizing and explaining 56 Essential Truths to help teachers be the best they can be for students, writes school leader Doug Dunn. The 99-page book works as a quick read or a source for daily inspiration.

Why We All Need to Help New Teachers Succeed

New educators – particularly those in the middle grades – find themselves at the edge of the high dive, filled with enthusiasm and uncertainty. As they leap into the profession, Curtis Chandler shows how we can seek opportunities to provide support and collaboration.

Setting Expectations for Positive Behavior

The newly revised and resource-rich PBIS Team Handbook does an excellent job of breaking down what PBIS is, what it means to schools, and how effective it can be when implemented properly. The authors make a convincing case for Tier 1 implementation, says Christina Williams.

Breathing New Life into Classroom Book Clubs

In Breathing New Life into Book Clubs teachers can follow a step-by-step format in planning for a book club unit of study, grouping students into book clubs, guiding students in setting up readings, and providing possible teaching points, writes Jacqueline Barreras.

Building Bridges to Students at Risk

Building Bridges provides strategies and techniques that can help engage students at risk through the power of relationships and create classrooms and schools where teachers can teach effectively. A worthwhile refresher and book study for educators, writes Anne Anderson.

How a Spoonful of Sugar Helped Our Book Study

6th grade teacher Amanda Xavier was skeptical when colleague Rose Reissman suggested a Mary Poppins book study, but their multimedia approach was a hit. “If a very old fashioned nanny can bring smiles and make modern kids sit up in class and take note, I say, ‘Cheerio’!”