We can’t support rigorous learning unless we make sure students are ready for the experience, says teaching consultant Barbara R. Blackburn. She suggests three quick ways to assess prior knowledge, including the LINK small/whole group strategy.
State assessments will soon require history students to read texts & make arguments supported by evidence. Aaron Brock believes non-traditional tests, like a recent poster project in his 8th grade inner-city classroom, can help build those skills.
Book Reviews / Common Core State Standards / ELA & Literacy / Personal Learning Networks
by MiddleWeb · Published 11/01/2013 · Last modified 11/15/2019
Even educators who don’t work in successful PLC environments will appreciate Fisher & Frey’s strategies to build students’ CCSS ELA proficiencies, says Joy Kirr.
Exploring Rubrics / MiddleWeb Classics
by MiddleWeb · Published 04/21/2013 · Last modified 11/13/2019
This compilation from our first MiddleWeb site features information about creating and using rubrics effectively and a variety of exemplars.
Articles / Teaching the Whole Adolescent
by MiddleWeb · Published 03/25/2013 · Last modified 11/12/2019
The developmental needs of tweens are unique, and flourishing as a middle grades teacher requires special skills. Teaching expert Rick Wormeli offers five customized strategies that are attuned to the particular requirements of the adolescent brain!
Book Reviews / Student Led Conferences
by MiddleWeb · Published 01/07/2013 · Last modified 11/22/2019
Student-led conferences should be more than feel-good experiences for students and parents. Fostering Student Accountability Through Student Led Conferences helped Laura Collander make SLCs matter in her classroom.
Living the Questions: A Guide for Teacher-Researchers by Ruth Shagoury and Brenda Miller Power can help educators analyze, reflect upon and improve their practice, says reviewer Amanda Wall.
Articles / New Teacher Advice / Teaching the Whole Adolescent
by MiddleWeb · Published 08/21/2012 · Last modified 11/26/2019
It’s an exciting time to be a new middle grades educator, says expert Rick Wormeli, if you keep four fundamentals in mind as you work with young adolescents.
Articles / New Teacher Advice / Teaching the Whole Adolescent
by MiddleWeb · Published 07/15/2012 · Last modified 11/26/2019
In the second of two articles, expert Rick Wormeli urges new middle grades teachers to make quality feedback a priority and not to become slaves of the pacing guide.
