Teaching

What We Say Matters

Invest in daily positive talk for lasting returns. As educators, articulating our thoughts to middle school students can be one of the toughest things to do. There is a delicate balance between saying what we mean and saying the right things to produce positive outcomes. A simple slip of the tongue can turn the intentions

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Restorative Practices

The new 3 Rs—respect, responsibility, and relationships. What does discipline look like in your classroom? In your school? How do those who have been harmed have a voice in the discipline process? How do students with repeated behavioral issues get support? What Is Restorative Practices? Restorative Practices is a framework of addressing school discipline and

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Set High Standards for Your Students and for Your Lessons

How your teaching philosophy can guide inspiration and creativity in the classroom One of my first mini-lessons in my fifth-grade language arts and social studies class is to have my students write a six-word memoir. For this assignment, students have only six words to share the most important thing about themselves. I write my own

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Cultivating Connections with Diverse Families

Opportunities abound for teachers to make connections with diverse families. As we welcome students into our classrooms each year, we are reminded of the important role families play in our students’ education. We listen as administrators discuss the importance of community and parental involvement. We attend workshops that share strategies for engaging families and absorbing

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History Alive: Engaging Students in Cosplaying

Weaving the fun of cosplaying with social studies gives history a life of its own. Every summer, thousands of comic book fans make the trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, for HeroesCon. During this three-day convention, hundreds of fans dress up like Batman, Stormtroopers, Spiderman, Iron Man, taking on the persona of their favorite superheroes. The

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