Teaching middle school is not for the faint of heart. But if you're called to do it, you know there's nothing else quite like it. Join us in discussing what works - and what doesn't.
Welcome, Brave Middle School teachers! Introduce yourself...
Hey, all you brave tween teachers out there!
Welcome to the Edutopia discussion forum. Please introduce yourself a little before exploring our other discussions.
I am your moderator, Heather Wolpert-Gawron, middle school teacher by day and author/blogger at night. I was a California Regional Teacher of the Year in 2004, a Writing Project Fellow at the University of California at Irvine, and am a member of the Teacher Leaders Network. I'm a frequent contributor to Teacher Magazine and a staff blogger here at Edutopia. I also blog at www.tweenteacher.com. I currently teach 7th and 8th Grade Language Arts as well as 7th/8th Speech & Debate/Podcasting. Multiple-intelligences, differentiated instruction, Writer’s Workshop, student collaboration, student choice, and fluid grouping define much of my classroom instruction.
I look forward to talking about all of these topics and more here in the middle school forum. So please comment a little about who you are, what you're about as a teacher, and what brought you to Edutopia and our middle school forum.
For me, it's all about learning from each of you.
So challenge yourself to participate in the forum: comment, advise, criticize. Allow the Middle School forum here at Edutopia to be your brain spa of sorts. I look forward to meeting you all.
-Heather Wolpert-Gawron
Comments (156)
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Hello. I am joining the
Hello.
I am joining the public school workforce this September for the first time. I received MS degree in Art and Design Education from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn in 2011. Since then, I've been teaching a kindergarten class in a private daycare. But a former classmate is leaving her teaching position as a middle school art teacher and I will, most likely be taking over that job.
Congratulations and welcome
Congratulations and welcome Dmitry.
Hi! I am just starting my
Hi! I am just starting my very first year teaching after graduating this past June. I'll be in 7th grade LA / SS and am so excited! Any advice anyone out there has for me will be greatly appreciated :-)
Welcome to the Profession
I invite you to take a look at my book TEACHING MIDDLE SCHOOL LANGUAGE ARTS: Incorporating Twenty-first Century Literacies where you'll find lots of ideas for first year educators, gathered and recorded when I chaired an English department with lots of new-to-middle school teachers. This website and blogs like TEACHING ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS will get you up and going this first year on your career path.
I urge you to stay in touch with veteran teachers you respect, plan to join and attend conferences of professional organizations such as the National Council of Teachers of English. You'll find regular attendance will keep you informed and inspired year after year.
Introduction
Hi,
I teach in a small rural school in South Dakota. I teach Language Arts, History, Computers and some years even Math. We are a 1:1 middle school. I love to discover new ideas and learn from other teachers. I am very student centered in my approach to teaching. I have had excellent results with Project Based Learning. I joined this group to learn from other Middle School teachers as I feel we are a unique group of teachers.
I am always looking for ways
I am always looking for ways to integrate other subjects into my lessons. Whether it is using s journal to write daily about the sight reading study, to compose a rap or poem using the subject presented or how music helped people overcome adversity throughout history, I try and use cross-curricular teaching styles and subjects so the kiddos learn at their maximum achievement level! Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Everyone
I'm not technically a Middle School teacher any more, but I'd like to be a part of this group anyway, with your permission. I taught middle school science for 16 years, and loved those amazing, unpredictable kids! I still show up in the classrooms to work with them as they implement STEM curriculum. I look forward to being back with a group of middle school colleagues.
Greetings from South Carolina
I used to teach 7th grade Social Studies, but this year I am a curriculum coach for 6-8th grade Social Studies. I am looking for innovative ideas to bring back to teachers and their students so they can increase the level of student engagement in their classrooms. I am really excited to have discovered this discussion forum! I would love to collaborate on strategies and ideas that work in the classroom!
Hi Everyone
I am a social studies teacher for grades 6th- 8th and a first year debate coach. I am interested in ideas concerning multiple learning and differentiated strategies. I would like to also connect to other social studies teachers to exchange ideas on how to incorporate creative ways to teach social studies. I look forward to reading and exchanging ideas with everyone.
31 years...I bow to you!
31 years...I bow to you!