Compare & Contrast: Teaching Comparative Thinking to Strengthen Student Learning, one of a series of books intended for study by professional learning “clubs,” explores a basic strategy of good teaching effectively, says reviewer & NBCT Joni Allison.
Reviewer Diane Horban says Judy Willis succeeds in intertwining brain research with practical lesson ideas to ignite the thinking power of 10 to 14-year olds in her book, Inspiring Middle School Minds: Gifted, Creative & Challenging.
Strong Partnerships / Two Teachers in the Room
by Laurie Wasserman · Published 11/04/2012 · Last modified 12/02/2019
In co-teaching terms, says Laurie Wasserman, ‘partnership’ means finding balance, sharing responsibilities, planning together, and gaining mutual respect.
Building a STEM Program / STEM By Design
by Anne Jolly · Published 10/26/2012 · Last modified 12/14/2019
Effective STEM programs require educators to experiment, analyze, and change things that don’t produce the best results. Here are 7 secrets of systemwide success.
STEM By Design / STEM for All Students
by Anne Jolly · Published 10/20/2012 · Last modified 11/16/2019
The school success that students from low-income families gain from hands-on STEM experiences can build confidence, self-esteem & more academic success.
Co-Teaching / Two Teachers in the Room
by Laurie Wasserman · Published 10/19/2012 · Last modified 11/22/2019
Co-teaching, says Laurie Wasserman, is not about ‘your’ kids or ‘my’ kids, but about our kids. It’s about compromise. Our second Teacher in the Room signs in!
Reviewer and math teacher Michelle Schwartze says the eight essential elements for school-wide math success identified by Chris Confer and Marco Ramirez in Small Steps, Big Changes: Eight Essential Practices for Transforming Schools Through Mathematics ring true.
Book Reviews / Visual & Media Literacy
by MiddleWeb · Published 09/29/2012 · Last modified 11/13/2019
Visual literacy is vital skill for iGeneration students, says reviewer Patricia Thomas-Jeanig. She recommends Steve Moline’s See What You Mean: Visual Literacy K-8 (2nd Edition) which explores many kinds of visual texts and includes great teaching ideas.
Book Reviews / English Language Learners
by MiddleWeb · Published 09/28/2012 · Last modified 12/02/2019
Minding the Achievement Gap One Classroom at a Time by Jane E. Pollock, Sharon M. Ford and Margaret M. Black is a great resource for implementing Classroom Instruction That Works strategies for ESL/ELL students, says ESL teacher Julie Dermody.
Award winning teacher Nancy Flanagan reflects on how difficult it is to predict student potential and shares a story about some Title I kids who flew above the tracks.
