You can get young minds cogitating about philosophy and other deep subjects with Angela Bunyi's Top Teaching blog entry:"Higher Order Comprehension: The Power of Socratic Seminar." With her minute-by-minute guidelines and suggestions for successful student-led discussion, Bunyi provides all you need to get started, including a great source for "discussable" videos complete with transcripts. All in 55 minutes or less.
Here's an offer you absolutely won't refuse if you want to learn more about assessment and grading practices that support differentiated instruction. Middle grades teacher-author Rick Wormeli has created a "microsite" at the Stenhouse website, populated with articles, videos, Q&As and study guides spinning off his popular book Fair Isn't Always Equal. It doesn't cost a nickel. And, as Wormeli says, "That doesn't mean it's weak, without much 'meat'." To partake of the bounty, just follow the link above to create a user name and password.
If you missed middle school teacher Patrick Ledesma's serious but funny blog post about how to determine whether you need an interactive whiteboard (you know, the smart kind), we're here to make sure you see it. Ledesma is now the technology specialist at his MS in Virginia, where he still chairs the sp-ed department. In his spare time, he's one of this year's classroom ambassadors at the U.S. Department of Ed. Here's a snippet from his post:
We focus on the technology to get the desired behavior, rather than focusing first on the teacher skills. We do that afterwards, when we now have two challenging tasks: helping the teachers learn the technology skills while also learning how to integrate the technology in an instructionally appropriate way that may or may not match their teaching style.
If you have an IWB but it's mostly gathering dust, read Patrick's second post with three small steps you can take to redeem yourself.
This annual all-volunteer PD event emphasizes digitally enhanced teaching and takes place entirely online (at no cost). Presentations are by teachers and other educators, and while there are some exciting live events, most of the activity is asynchronous, meaning you can dip into the offerings at times that best suit your schedule. This year's theme is “Cultivating the Future” -- with 40 presentations rolling out over a two-week period. (They'll all be permanently archived.) Strands include: Leading the Change, Week in the Classroom, Student Voices, and Kicking It Up a Notch. And there's a NING group for conference participants. [If you missed the conference, it's all archived online!]
Colorado middle school teacher Alison Saylor "went viral" last month after a local TV station highlighted her use of Google Apps for Education to create a virtual workplace for her students. "They can use word processors, spreadsheets and graphic tools to create projects which are done entirely online," reported 9NEWS. Eighth-grader Alex Brown created an imaginary company, including conceptual graphic designs, a business plan, an architectural layout and a payroll spreadsheet using the free software. Because the Google Apps are web-based, it's easy for students to share with teachers and each other. "It's good to get feedback from people our own age cause they think like we do," says Alex. ALSO SEE this NING teacher group exploring Google Apps.
"PERHAPS THE MOST POWERFUL AND TEACHER-FRIENDLY BOOK EVER PUBLISHED."
--Richard Allington
The things that teachers say (and don't say) have important consequences for the literate lives of their students. CHOICE WORDS uses dozens of examples of words and phrases to show how "instructional talk" shapes intellectual development. $12. Order here.
Thanks to Stenhouse Publishers for their support of MiddleWeb and middle grades educators.
During most days at North Oldham Middle, students study the typical mix of subjects in a typical format where the teacher leads and students follow. But every third day, says this story in the Louisville (KY) Courier Journal, students head for a "studio class," where they pursue interests they've chosen, tying together skills and knowledge from related arts classes to design and carry out their own projects. Students who are used to being told what to do must think for themselves. "It's not easy for them," says a teacher, "but it's the best kind of learning."
It's exciting to design a charter school that emphasizes teaching with digital games. But who's going to teach there? "When we were creating the program, we knew that it was going to be something that we were going to have to take the responsibility in educating our teachers about," says Arana Shapiro, the learning director at Quest to Learn, a 6-12 charter in New York City. Professional development is a continuing challenge at Q2L, according to this story from Education Week's Digital Directions (link above). But there's plenty of interest in this futuristic approach to learning, including a recent video profile produced by the New York Times. ALSO visit the school website here
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Got a problem? If it's classroom based and relevant to other public school educators, you can submit it to Challenge to Innovate (C2i). That's the online initiative by the Department of Education and the NEA to collect classroom problems and solicit innovative solutions. Five teachers will receive $1,000 based on teacher ratings of the problems, through Oct. 19. In a second round, teachers can offer their ideas about solving the top-rated problems. Up to 10 solutions rated "best" with win $2,500 and may be selected by the NEA Foundation for further development. Also see this explanation page at the NEAF site.
Here's a step-by-step guide that can help you use student blogs as learning tools in your classroom. It's from TweenTeacher Heather Wolpert-Gawron, who has polished her ideas over a number of years, and it's been a top-rated read for the Accomplished Teacher SmartBrief newsletter. Although "Blogging with Middle Schoolers: Front-Loading and First Steps" comes at the practice from an English teacher's point of view, imaginative teachers in other curriculum areas will quickly see how they might adapt similar strategies. Part of the learning secret: Commenting on each other's posts.
"A must-read" (Middle Ground). "Open the pages and fall into a wonderful opportunity" (JAAL). Empower and challenge your students in Socratic dialogue and build critical and creative thinking skills with Socratic Circles—a complete guide to Socratic seminars, from startup through assessment. Click here for details!
Thanks to Stenhouse Publishers for their support of MiddleWeb and middle grades educators.
Middle grades English and social studies teacher Bill Ferriter is getting some great comments on his ideas (taken from his new book Teaching the iGeneration) about using a Google tool to help students break down broad topics into related subtopics as they develop research projects. Check out Ferriter's blog post in which he explains how to find the Google Wonder Wheel and offers a link to a lesson plan that teaches students how to put the tool to work.
This article from Educational Leadership's "Meaningful Work" issue (Sept 2010) sums up 20 years of research by Carol Dweck and her colleagues, identifying two distinct ways in which individuals view intelligence and learning. The fixed mindset believes intelligence is simply an inborn trait, while those with a growth mindset believe that they can develop their intelligence over time. Dweck argues that not only does meaningful schoolwork promote students' learning of academic content, it can also teach students to love challenges, to enjoy effort, to be resilient, and to value their own improvement. She shares ideas about how to help students come to see that long-term growth and success depends on taking risks.
Given the pressures to "cover" the curriculum, say the instructional experts at the Middle School Portal, math and science teachers may be skeptical about using trade books as teaching tools, but general literature written for children and young adults "can lead to rich results" in your classroom. One immediate benefit not always present in textbooks: student engagement. "Many contain colorful, interesting illustrations, photographs, and diagrams, all of which draw students into the text and improve comprehension." In this helpful resource the MSP shares 10 tips with links to related ideas and examples.
Your MiddleWeb editor also serves as editor for the Teaching Secrets series at Teacher Magazine. These articles from that collection, all written by members of the Teacher Leaders Network, emphasize classroom management strategies of particular interest to new and novice teachers.
Teaching Secrets: CREATE EXTRA LEARNING TIME
In her latest classroom management article for Teacher Magazine, middle grades teacher Marsha Ratzel offers a tour of Room 66, describing “some of the routines and procedures that make your classes run more like a well-oiled machine than a smoking jalopy.” Her system, she says, can create nearly a month of extra classroom time for teaching and learning. She even includes pictures.
Teaching Secrets: CREATING POSITIVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Veteran teacher-coach Marti Schwartz explains how helping students take pride in positive behaviors—and reflect on negative ones—can help change the classroom environment.
Teaching Secrets: FIRST DAYS IN THE ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM
Instructional coach Elena Aguilar's first-days routines have been honed over many years of practice. She divides them into three categories:building community, establishing routines, and launching the learning.
Teaching Secrets: TAMING CLASSROOM CHAOS
"My classroom is not neat and tidy and shiny like some," writes middle school math and social studies teacher Cossondra George. "It has that homey, lived-in, loved look. " So how does the semi-organized teacher hold the Mighty Dragon of Chaos at bay? In this article, Cossondra shares 10 "stolen" strategies that help her and her kids stay focused on learning.
Teaching Secrets: TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR CLASSROOM
Gail Tillery inducts up to 25 new teachers a year at her large suburban Georgia high school. Most have just graduated from college and suddenly find themselves standing in front of a room full of students only a few years younger than they are. “In many cases, the disaster is coming on fast,” she says. Dodge the disaster with this National Board Certified Teacher’s advice. (May require free registration at the Teacher Magazine site.)
Teaching Secrets: HOW TO SMILE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
When Kathie Marshall entered her first classroom nearly 30 years ago, “I found myself running to veteran teachers at the first sign of trouble, asking ‘What do you do?’ Without fail, she remembers, someone would say, “Don’t smile until Christmas!” Their advice to assume a “grim and commanding presence” didn’t square with Kathie’s vision of an inviting teacher. Her alternative? Early in the year, she and her students work together to develop class rules and routines. It’s worked for three decades, says the Los Angeles teacher-coach. (May require free registration at the Teacher Magazine site.)
Teaching Secrets: ORGANIZING MIDDLE SCHOOLERS
Special education teacher Laurie Wasserman shares time-tested methods that can help even the most “organizationally challenged” sixth grader find his or her way. “It’s hard sometimes to realize that students don’t deliberately misplace papers, forget pencils, or lose track of assignments… It’s our job to teach them the tools and strategies for getting organized and feeling successful.” (May require free registration at the Teacher Magazine site.)
Teaching Secrets: STUDENTS BEHAVE WHEN TEACHERS ENGAGE
Anthony Cody began his teaching career in inner-city Oakland CA almost 20 years ago. It was a rough first year, with many lesson preps. “My credential program had not really dealt much with behavior issues. The idea was to deliver a rich curriculum, and the management would take care of itself. If you are already teaching, you know this does not always work.” After floundering the first year or two, he got some good advice from down the hall. Follow his tips and you won’t have to way a year or two to establish a harmonious classroom environment. (May require free registration at the Teacher Magazine site.)
Teaching Secrets: THE MIRACLE OF CHOICES
Stubborn two-year olds respond to choices, why not adolescents? That was the thesis Mary Tedrow began with, some years ago, when she devised an engagement strategy that allows her high school English students latitude in selecting assignments. Which are, of course, carefully designed to produce the same learning effects – whatever they choose! As you’ll see in the Comments section of this Teacher Magazine essay, middle schoolers like to be choosy, too. (May require free registration at the Teacher Magazine site.)
HOW TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR CLASSROOM
This final article isn't technically a part of the Teaching Secrets series, but it could be. At her blog TweenTeacher, eighth grade teacher (and TLN member) Heather Wolpert-Gawron offers her "Top 10" ideas about "How to Take Control of Your Teaching." Good advice for newbies and veterans alike.
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