School Culture/Climate

With the Election in View: 7 Tips for Maintaining Respectful Learning Environments and Turning Classroom Conflict into Growth

This is the third in our series on navigating the 2024 election in our schools from Jen Cort. Be sure to also check out part one, 5 decisions to make now, and part 2, starting from shared values and routines. Navigating political discussions in the classroom, especially during election seasons, presents unique challenges for educators.

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New Findings from AMLE Successful Middle School Research Project Presented at AERA

The research compares perceptions of how middle schools meet young adolescent needs across community groups For immediate release. April 23, 2024 In an exciting next step for AMLE’s Successful Middle School Research Project, Dr. Sarah Pennington presented new research findings during this month’s American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting. Held this year in Philadelphia,

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Leading from the Middle: Four Things Middle School Leaders Want Parents to Know

Research is clear that family engagement in middle school is essential for student success. Yet it sometimes feels like schools and families are more divided than ever. Middle school leaders must build stronger partnerships that help both constituencies achieve their shared goal: success for the whole student. In celebration of Middle Level Education Month #MLEM,

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Leading from the Middle: The Unique Skillset of the Middle School Leader

Strong leadership is essential to a successful middle school. This statement may seem obvious, but a leader who possesses the unique skillset to lead from the middle can be easy to take for granted. In fact, decades of research tell us that middle grades leadership is so essential that it’s included as the third pillar

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Middle School Gets a Bad Rap. It’s Time to Flip the Script.

“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

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