Teaching and learning in grades 4-8
The teaching landscape has changed since Marsha Ratzel put students in charge of learning. They are stronger, more confident and willing to do the hard stuff. “Once you’ve tasted this kind of teaching — seen students learn so much more in your classes than they ever have learned before — then the fun of it, the reward of it, is so great that you strive to get back into this kind of flow every time you walk into the classroom.”
Keeping up with YA books just got easier, thanks to YALSA’s free app, Teen Book Finder. Lots, too, on what’s ahead, audiobooks & book trailers, kids’ favorites.
Paradigm-shifting PD leader Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach tells a story about her grandson to illustrate the power of passion-based learning.
Special educators share many of the same challenges all teachers face, says teacher and instructional coach Elizabeth Stein. They also share the same guiding question, “What can I do for children?” Included: Managing the co-teaching relationship.
What can our students possibly learn if we only give them easy tasks? How can we motivate them to accept a challenge if they doubt their own ability?
Bits of information cordoned off into 140 character chunks can promote professional growth, if you know how to find and use them. Our Resource Roundup can help.
In this excerpt from a soon-to-be finished book, educator, blogger and activist Jose Vilson recounts his memorable first year teaching in New York City.
With support from NSF, science educator Anne Jolly is helping develop hands-on science activities for the middle grades that will fully integrate with national standards.
Teacher-librarian Jenny Luca explains her school’s commitment to helping students develop ePortfolios and good digital footprints.
Storyboarding can help kids organize their written and visual work, says reviewer Laura Reasoner Jones. Get Graphic! Using Storyboards to Write and Draw Picture Books, Graphic Novels, or Comic Strips by Mark Thurman and Emily Hearn offers step-by-step help.