6-8 Middle School

Explore and share tips, strategies, and resources for helping students develop in grades 6-8.

Creativity
4 Ways to Develop Creativity in Students
Creativity is a valuable skill, and there are common strategies teachers can use to help students develop it.
Teacher Collaboration
Knowing Every Child Through Index Card Rosters
By regularly reviewing students’ behavior and learning as a team, teachers can ensure that every student is seen, supported, and celebrated.
Formative Assessment
Boosting Engagement With Notices and Wonders
When students make “I notice” and “I wonder” comments on course content, teachers can see what they know—and what they need to learn.
Teaching Strategies
Inviting Participation With Thumbs-Up Responses
A quick assessment strategy replaces raised hands, encouraging more students to contribute by accommodating their different processing needs.
Literacy
Motivating Students With Book Choice
Letting students choose books to read helps them develop a sense of autonomy and ownership over their learning.
Student Voice
Developing Agency With Student-Led Conferences
When students lead meetings with their parents and teachers, they gain a voice in their education and develop skills like goal-setting and metacognition.
Classroom Management
Fostering Belonging With Classroom Norms
When students help create their classrooms' rules and culture, they’re more engaged and invested in learning.
Brain-Based Learning
Developing Executive Function With Priority Lists
Explicitly modeling the process of prioritizing tasks builds students’ ability to organize and manage their time.
Environmental Education
Teaching Climate Change Across Subjects
Teachers in diverse disciplines—such as environmental science, language arts, and social studies—are covering climate change.
Collaborative Learning
Group Work That Works
Educators weigh in on solutions to the common pitfalls of group work.