During military crises, we look for reliable news sources to stay informed. A high percentage of young people today rely solely on social media for their war news. With the advent of AI-generated images and video, says expert Frank Baker, media literacy skills become paramount.
When Sarah Cooper updated her civics lesson that asks students to write to their political representatives, she found that adding AI to the research process resulted in letters that were not just different but markedly better. Best of all, they were in her students’ own voices.
Teacher leader Kasey Short lays out a convincing argument that educators can use middle grades and YA fiction to build background knowledge and make curricular connections across the content areas. She includes teaching strategies, guiding questions and book suggestions.
Teacher Lauren Brown smiles when her history students eagerly make connections with content they’re studying in another class. Recalling a time when interdisciplinary teaching was common, she suggests ways teachers might revive a practice that emphasizes knowledge-based learning.
Just back from a week-long workshop on the U.S. Constitution, Sarah Cooper shares five things she learned about being the student, not the teacher, in the classroom. The event underscored that human connection is paramount for creating the conditions necessary to learn content.
With summer here and most schools done for the year, MiddleWeb has pulled together a diverse set of deep-dive PD articles you might have missed. They’re insightful, informative and actionable!
What can you and your students accomplish the last few weeks of school? In this MiddleWeb resource educators share activities that align learning with fun, offer ideas for responding to stress, and suggest strategies to help sustain your classroom community.
Asian and Pacific Islander Month / Resources
by Susan Curtis · Published 04/04/2025 · Last modified 05/06/2025
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.
Eighth grade teacher Sarah Cooper shares a class snapshot to show how much our students can understand. She believes it’s the obligation of social studies teachers (and others) to explore imperative issues of the past and present, “even when it would be infinitely easier not to.”
This fall with some tweaks and fresh online tools and resources, Halloween can be fun and packed with learning. Check out MiddleWeb’s updated resource collection for ideas across the content areas.
