| All About the Middle Grades |  |
| Teaching in the Middle
|  |  |
|
- How to use content-based code words to organize student groups
 Middle-school teacher Heather Wolpert-Gawron in this blog post offers tips for organizing and managing student groups with designated keywords based on the subject students are learning. In Wolpert-Gawron's classroom, each table is marked with code words based on characters of novels, and she uses these code words to regroup students based on the needs of the day's lesson. TweenTeacher.com
(9/1)
- Ideas for election-themed classroom projects
Teachers can use this year's presidential election to engage students through project-based learning, journalist Suzie Boss writes. She suggests projects that allow students to have a voice in civic issues. At the New Tech Network, students are creating campaign messages and aligning with political parties. Boss also lists resources to assist teachers with media literacy lessons and other ideas for using the election in the classroom. Edutopia.org/Suzie Boss's blog
(9/4)
| Tweens & Young Teens
| | |
|
- Why performance character is important
 There is a difference between moral character and performance character, and schools should boost performance character in their students, journalist Paul Tough says in an interview with social studies and English teacher Larry Ferlazzo. "In terms of performance character, I think schools should try to teach those traits for a simple and practical reason: because they help students do better in college and beyond. And that's really the core mission of our K-12 education system," Tough said. Education Week Teacher/Classroom Q&A blog
(9/3)
- Survey finds decrease in school bullying based on sexual orientation
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students report less harassment at school because of their sexual orientation, according to the latest biannual survey of students aged 13 to 20 conducted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. Researchers suggest support from trained adults, strict anti-bullying measures and gay-straight alliance groups have contributed to the decline in bullying -- the first drop since the study began in 1999 -- but they said more work remains to help LGBT students feel safe at school. ABC News
(9/5)
| Classroom Innovation
| | |
|
- Ore. students learn the value of communication in math class
Walker Middle School math teacher Karen Rumrill started the school year off with lessons about the value of communication and perseverance, as well as a little geometry. The Oregon teacher provided her students with envelopes containing pieces that formed a square, only the students quickly learned they would have to exchange pieces to finish the exercise. The trick was that the students couldn't talk to each other during the activity. Statesman-Journal (Salem, Ore.)(free registration)
(9/5)
- Middle-school project leads to ban on plastic foam trays in L.A. schools
Students at Thomas Starr King Middle School recently persuaded the Los Angeles County Unified School District to ban polystyrene -- or Styrofoam -- lunch trays from all schools. The students' grass-roots activism was prompted by an art project in the school's Environmental Studies Magnet program that had them carrying around all of their trash for one week. After building a large sculpture made out of the discarded trays, the students began a letter-writing campaign that eventually led to the ban. Care2.com
(8/31)
| Technology & Connected Learning
| | |
|
- New school for sixth-graders is focused on teaching through games
A new school for sixth-graders opening today in Los Angeles is focused on game-based learning with an emphasis on making and discovering. Organizers of the PlayMaker School -- housed at an independent middle school -- say the model is meant to help students choose how and when they learn as well as understand the relevance of lessons. The school is being funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation through GameDesk, an organization that also is developing a variety of learning games aligned with the Common Core State Standards, and other game-based learning initiatives. KQED.org/Mind/Shift blog
(9/4)
| Middle Grades Leadership
| | |
|
- National Teacher of the Year offers advice to educators
 Teachers need to establish classroom procedures, lead activities that give students freedom and collaborate with other teachers, National Teacher of the Year Rebecca Mieliwocki writes in this opinion article. "You're going to do phenomenally, but it's going to be challenging, frustrating and thrilling, often all three at once," writes Mieliwocki, a seventh-grade English teacher in California. CNN/Schools of Thought blog
(9/5)
| MiddleWeb Recommends
| | |
|
-
Help students evaluate political messages
As part of their civic education, students must learn how political messages are crafted so they can "see through the spin," says media literacy expert Frank Baker. In this MiddleWeb guest article, Baker first outlines concepts students need to grasp so they can evaluate the messages and then suggests questions to apply to each advertisement. Read more.
-
Common Core State Standards implementation spreads
Rather than catch CCSS news on the fly, readers can turn to MiddleWeb's new Resource Roundup for an overview that brings together essential links, points out easily accessible PD opportunities, and provides a range of opinions on the CCSS implementation process and content. Also included: resources to help parents respond as the standards roll out. Plus a quick look at standards development beyond math and language arts. Learn more.
| SmartQuote
| | |
|
 | The uncreative mind can spot wrong answers, but it takes a very creative mind to spot wrong questions."
--Antony Jay,
British writer, broadcaster, director and actor
|
| |
|
Advertise
|
| Publisher, Education Group:
Joe Riddle
202-407-7857 |
| |
|
Read more at
SmartBrief.com |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| | Recent
MiddleWeb SmartBrief Issues:
- Tuesday, September 04, 2012
- Friday, August 31, 2012
- Tuesday, August 28, 2012
- Friday, August 24, 2012
- Tuesday, August 21, 2012
| | | Lead Editor:
Katharine Haber
Contributing Editor:
Linda Starr
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004 | |
| |
|
| © 1999-2012 SmartBrief, Inc.®
Legal Information |
|
