Adolescent Development / Book Reviews
by MiddleWeb · Published 05/22/2025 · Last modified 05/23/2025
What do middle graders need from adults, especially their parents? Looking into brain science and social, academic, tech and ethical issues, educator and parent Jody Passanisi asks parents to think back to their own childhoods and then consider how to best support their kids.
Alex Shevrin Venet guides educators on how they can become effective, equity-centered, trauma-informed changemakers to provide healing and justice at school. Her book includes many insights, moments of reflection and useful exercises, writes education consultant Randy Ross.
In “Scaffolding for Success” Blackburn and Miles explore the intricacies of educational scaffolding, offering educators a comprehensive framework to design supportive learning environments that enhance student engagement, learning and achievement, writes Melinda Stewart.
Project-based learning’s mischievous sibling, problem-based learning, is once again gaining traction in the educational sphere. Kim Rensch, a district gifted services leader, likes that Todd Stanley’s book goes deep into assessment after a thorough look at inquiry learning.
A Sentence a Day is a powerful, engaging resource for writing instruction that goes beyond typical grammar and sentence-writing exercises. The 20-minute mini-lessons help students develop stronger writing skills with clarity, precision, and creativity, says Kathie Palmieri.
“Improving Teacher Morale and Motivation” by Ronald Williamson and Barbara Blackburn provides school leaders with key strategies for directly addressing teacher morale and effectiveness. Systems coach Matt Renwick reflects on three of the book’s valuable principles.
Educators can benefit from Teach Like a Queen, a book featuring seven famous women whom the authors believe model (collectively) selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. A light read with helpful insights, writes Katie Durkin.
Instead of focusing only on teachers who need to improve, the authors of Invest in Your Best recommend that school leaders recognize the achievements of the school’s best teachers and tap into their expertise. A perspective-shifting read, says department chair Stephanie Choate.
In his collection of six real-world math projects, Mark Hess provides supporting materials and decreases prep time for otherwise complex undertakings, making the book a win for Gr. 4-5 students and teachers. Included: detailed images, student examples, handouts and teacher guides.
In “Sentence Strategies for Multilingual Learners” Panero and Yip offer a robust toolkit that empowers educators with effective strategies to support MLs as they navigate the intricacies of language and literacy acquisition through content, says ML educator Melinda Stewart.
