The bell sounded, signaling the start of another class period. I hear the girls behind me talking, purchasing an Air Heads candy from a classmate who secretly sold them. My favorite was the white Air Heads, and I was a loyal customer; savoring its sweet flavor was my only saving grace during math class. The
Students’ sense of belonging matters. Research shows that students who feel they have a voice in class are seven times more likely to feel motivated than those who do not (Quaglia Institute, 2016). Giving students voice and increasing their feelings of belonging at school is pivotal for equity and encouragement of all learners. When students
Read More… from The Connection Between Belonging and Representation
1
When you think of “work-based learning” — that is, hands-on career education experiences like internships, apprenticeships, and job shadowing — what age group comes to mind? Odds are, you’re thinking about college or perhaps even high school. But as research conducted by American Student Assistance shows, middle school is the prime time to begin engaging
1
Save the bees. That was the aim of Team Passion Project, the winners of the second annual Solve Together Challenge, a national competition designed to encourage career exploration and skill-building for middle school students. The team, comprised of seventh grader from Franklin Avenue Middle School, could either select from a list of real-world problems or
2
Veteran teachers share their favorite hacks and tips for starting the year off right It’s that time of year again – the halls of our classrooms are filling with that signature “middle schooler” energy. The beginning of the school year is such an important time – for all schools, but particularly for middle grades schools
Read More… from Back-to-Middle-School: It’s All About the Relationships
3
As I drove my 10-year-old daughter Halden to school one recent morning, we caught the end of a news report on the radio about the war in Ukraine. “Some Russian people are against the war,” Halden stated confidently. “It’s just that they don’t get to hear about what’s really happening in Ukraine.” As we talked,
Read More… from Research to Practice: Cultivating International-Mindedness in the Middle Grades
1
1