6-8 Middle School
Explore and share tips, strategies, and resources for helping students develop in grades 6-8.
4 Ways to Get Students Moving in Class
Build students’ sense of engagement by incorporating activities that get them out of their seats to work with course content.Reading Aloud to Middle School Students
Hearing books read aloud benefits older students, enhancing language arts instruction and building a community of readers.5 Tips for Decorating Your Classroom
A quick primer on how to think about the decorations in your classroom, with five research-backed tips for getting it right.There’s a Cell Phone in Your Student’s Head
A 2017 study found that cell phones that were turned off and stashed away silently reasserted themselves—distracting working students anyway.Allowing Test Retakes—Without Getting Gamed
Hundreds of teachers discussed the best ways to guide students toward mastery—without being taken advantage of.Inviting Participation With Thumbs-Up Responses
A quick assessment strategy replaces raised hands, encouraging more students to contribute by accommodating their different processing needs.Developing Executive Function With Priority Lists
Explicitly modeling the process of prioritizing tasks builds students’ ability to organize and manage their time.22 Diverse Book Choices for All Grade Levels
Suggestions from teachers who are working to offer students at every grade level book choices that represent their lives.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.60-Second Strategy: TUMS at the Door
A simple greeting at the door forges a strong teacher-student bond.Developing Confidence Through Delayed Grading
Giving students time to explore ideas with no immediate grade pressure helps motivate them to be creative and take intellectual risks.Gaming as a Tool for Narrative Writing
Teachers are leveraging the power of gaming to turn even reluctant student writers into enthusiastic storytellers.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.60 Second-Strategy: Cooperative Learning Roles
Giving students randomly assigned roles in their group work helps ensure that they all participate.Motivating Students With Book Choice
Letting students choose books to read helps them develop a sense of autonomy and ownership over their learning.