School is a naturally stress inducing place for many students, so working to alleviate those feelings will only make our classrooms happier and more productive. Educator Stephanie Choate writes that Martha Kaufeldt’s De-Stress the Test helps with test anxiety and much more.
Poetry “pauses” can become the heart and soul of English class AND address almost any reading and writing standard. Teacher-author Brett Vogelsinger shares three examples – poems that can help students extend their understanding of structure, character and personal narrative.
Asian and Pacific Islander Month / Resources
by Susan Curtis · Published 04/21/2023 · Last modified 05/02/2023
For over 40 years the US Congress has recognized the heritage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders during May. Federal agencies and nonprofits provide resources to bring the culture and history of AAPIs to the classroom. For an overview visit this MiddleWeb roundup.
Resources / Summer Reading & Learning
by Susan Curtis · Published 04/11/2023 · Last modified 05/08/2023
How can teachers help students enjoy reading and learning during summer following another challenging year? Visit MiddleWeb’s expanded resource for Summer 2023, where you’ll find teacher ideas and heaps of book and online suggestions.
Brittany Collins, the founder of Grief-Responsive Teaching, has taken her own personal experience as a grieving student and skillfully woven it together with knowledge of pedagogical practices and extensive research on navigating loss. For all educators, writes Sara Coppola.
The inquiry-fueled methods that pique student interest, invite critical thinking, and support deep learning can also bring joy and discovery to instructional coaching. Pam Koutrakos shows how collaborative inquiry-based coaching cycles can yield powerful results for everyone.
Students can explore content, tap into their strengths, and learn about themselves when they dive into projects. Teachers Maggie and Piers Blyth offer a framework for planning, implementing, and following up projects to help kids use creative thinking and problem solving.
The first step to taking control of your time is making the effort, and educator Frank Buck’s “Get Organized Digitally!” provides the rungs of the ladder to get you there. Department chair Stephanie Choate says Buck inserts educator success stories in just the right places. Highly recommended.
Community-centered instructional coaching reflects the idea that we all deserve to feel competent, confident, and fulfilled in our daily work, writes Pam Koutrakos. Ongoing, job-embedded professional learning that capitalizes on the spirit of community yields more buy-in.
Teacher-author Jacob Chastain has found a process and procedure that’s essential in his workshop approach to teaching literacy. He helps middle schoolers develop the habits of “reading like a reader” and “reading like a writer” – shifting into either mode with powerful results.
