She was running late for the departing Friday bus. I saw her as she laid there on the floor, sobbing, as other staff members patiently held 100 buses to send the nearly 800 students home for the weekend. “I want my mommmmmmy!” She wailed, with the tears waterfalling down her face. Here lay the sister of […]
Middle School
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Putting Books in Student’s Hands: How to Make the Right Match
Last week school started and a whole new group of 8th graders filled the desks in my classroom. Besides talking about the syllabus, creating a social contract, and handing out all of the many things parents have to sign, my biggest goal was to get a book in the hands of each student. [bctt […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Back To School Hacks: Digitize Your Syllabus and Lesson Plans!
This year I’m going back to school with a twist – I’m going to digitize my syllabus and lesson plans! A few years back, I experimented with different ways to engage students on the first day – and first weeks – of school. Building relationships, engaging my classroom, and creating a sense of excitement helps […]
Posted inBack to School
Want to Be Ready for Middle School? Start With These 4 Skills
Other than the first day of kindergarten, the first day of middle school may be one of the most anxiety-producing days for students and parents alike. The good news is that you and your child CAN and WILL survive this transition – especially if you help develop these 4 skills your child needs before starting […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
LGBT Perspectives in the Middle School Classroom
There has recently been a lot of buzz around a new short animated film entitled “In a Heartbeat.” I first saw it being shared on Facebook, and since it was posted on July 31st, it has been viewed over 20 million times. If you have not had the chance to view it yet, here is […]
Posted inElectives & Special Areas
Teaching the “I Can’t” Student
People are raised hearing all kinds of information about themselves from those around them. From a young age, we overhear the conversations our parents have about how great we are at sports, how academically gifted we are, or the kinds of things we struggle with. This constant narration of our strengths and downfalls begins to […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
The Argument for Multi-Grade Classrooms in Today’s Schools
The idea behind having a variety of ages, or grades, in one classroom, should not be a foreign concept. On any given day, most adults interact with individuals from an assortment of populations: family members, co-workers, neighbors, service personnel, teammates, etc… Rarely outside of schools do you see individuals grouped based on a specific age. […]
Posted inHow to Fix Education
The STEM Revolution in Higher Education
I just got back from a fascinating conference about the state of STEM in U.S. schools, sponsored by U.S. News and World Report! I was compelled by the idea of a STEM revolution in higher education; as a middle school teacher, it really didn’t occur to me that colleges would be reacting in a similar […]