In a recent episode of the Middle School Walk & Talk Podcast, Kevin Armstrong, middle school principal and incoming President of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), recounted a story from his career as a middle grades leader. After serving as a middle school assistant principal for four years, he received a call
Read More… from Leading from the Middle: Finding Your Place and Your People in the Middle Grades
“Bless your heart.” “I’m so sorry!” “Why?” If you’re a middle grades educator, it’s likely you’ve heard one of these reactions when you tell someone your profession. It’s not uncommon for people to recount negative memories from their own time as a middle schooler or bemoan, “kids these days.” Even though 10–15-year-olds are experiencing the
Read More… from Middle School Gets a Bad Rap. It’s Time to Flip the Script.
0
Being an effective middle level school leader, or leader in any arena for that matter, requires the skill and temperament to adapt to changing conditions—the seasons, storms, and squalls of school life in the middle grades. Some changes are seasonal, such as the predictable ebbs and flows of the school year that include the opening
0
The middle school library is an evolving space. What was once consistently a quiet space for reading has changed into a versatile space with a variety of functions, depending on the school. The Library Learning Commons at Scotts Ridge Middle School demonstrates how this evolution can create a library that serves as a hub of
0
These are challenging times in education, and middle school educators are looking for encouragement and inspiration about how to best engage this unique age group. Enter the amazing, uplifting, and sometimes provocative documentary Changing by the Minute which captures one school’s remarkable and memorable efforts to help young adolescents thrive. The Center School (the public
0
Growing up in the Midwest, I had rare glimpses at sneaker culture. Most of my friends, including myself, just had one pair of sneakers that we wore until they fell apart. Maybe, if you were lucky, you had a second pair for gym class. My first introduction to sneaker culture came later when I moved
Read More… from Sneaker Sense: A Footwear Fascination Helps Principal Connects with Students
0
0