Michelle Russell starts the year with math activities that refresh skills and show students that her class will be welcoming to those with math anxiety. Multiplication refreshers, coloring books, Polaroids and shooting hoops help develop a supportive community.
Reviewer Kathleen Palmieri says her 5th graders are already having race conversations socially. The guidance in We’re Gonna Keep On Talking can help elementary teachers build community and help students discuss race as it has affected life and culture in the past and today.
In her first year as a team leader, teacher Katie Durkin understands she has a lot to learn. But she’s already come to understand that effective leadership means building relationships, trust, and community among colleagues – with student success as the guiding principle.
The life skills students learn in our classes prepare them to thrive in the real world. Middle grades teacher Laleh Ghotbi shares some lessons from her effort to use weekly community-building circles in her classroom to help students learn to respect their differences and focus on common values.
Teacher Rebecca Crockett writes author Jessica Shumway has given her all the tools she needs to really commit to using number sense routines with her fifth graders, including explaining routine types, building community, and engaging all students in the discussion.
First Days of Math Class / Meaningful Math
by Michelle Russell · Published 09/04/2018 · Last modified 12/05/2019
When students entered Michelle Russell’s classes for the first time during an extra-busy start of school, she saw it was time to focus on priorities: engagement, community building, classroom management, and sparking some excitement about math. Here’s what she did.
Picture Rita Platt standing still in the school lunchroom, full tray in hands, skirt around her ankles. For real. After 20 years as an educator, she takes humiliation in stride, mostly. Find out her tips for damping down ego and building community at the same time.
Building Relationships / The Unstoppable ML Teacher
by Valentina Gonzalez · Published 02/04/2018 · Last modified 12/04/2019
Middle grades English language learners and especially new immigrants can feel vulnerable in the classroom. How can teachers build relationships with our ELLs to help them feel safe and more open to learning? ELL specialist Valentina Gonzalez shares five proven techniques.
Teachers should be Jedi Masters, called to be believers in our students and promoters of their ability to take charge of their own learning. ELA teacher and author Vicki Kahlenberg shares four writing strategies that foster autonomy through emulation and publication.
Student disengagement is a major challenge for middle school teachers, says NSF-funded researcher Jennifer A. Fredricks, who offers strategies to build community and craft learning opportunities that encourage students to actively participate and succeed.
