6-8 Middle School
Explore and share tips, strategies, and resources for helping students develop in grades 6-8.
A Strategy for Exploring Student Creativity Collaboratively
A teacher who makes her own instructional videos and a podcast uses that work as a springboard to explore creative expression with her social media–savvy students.104
Teaching Students How—and When—to Change Their Minds
Learning involves accepting uncertainty and evolving your thinking. Here’s how teachers can help students cultivate those skills.
A Better Breakout Room Experience for Students
Five strategies that help middle and high school students form a community of learners in the virtual classroom.1.1k
Even Older Kids Should Have Time to Read in Class
If the goal is to develop lifelong readers, students need time in class to practice—and learn to enjoy—reading.3.7k
8 Strategies to Improve Participation in Your Virtual Classroom
Educators share their best synchronous and asynchronous strategies to boost student participation during online learning.38.8k
Strategies to Encourage Students to Turn Their Cameras On
Incorporating SEL approaches, playing games, and giving students options can inspire them to show their faces.21k
A Daily Ritual That Builds Trust and Community Among Students
An activity that encourages students to open up about a person close to them can bring a whole class together in profound ways.9.6k
Is it Time to Drop ‘Finding the Main Idea’ and Teach Reading in a New Way?
Some schools are changing the way they teach reading—based on research that shows background knowledge is more critical to comprehension than general skills like ‘finding the main idea.’37.5k
A Focus on Relationships When Students Aren’t Together
Building a strong classroom community is possible even during students’ asynchronous work time.2.7k
7 Tips for Breakout Room Success
Having students meet briefly in small groups can help build community and foster deeper learning.2.8k
How to Help Students Focus on What They’re Learning, Not the Grade
Work that emphasizes students’ developing skills instead of a graded product reminds them to see learning as their goal.10.4k
How to Spark Engagement in Math With Pictures
A popular strategy, using pictures in math class gives students another way to access math concepts and can spark great conversations.3.8k
A Sense of Security Is Key for Students
A warm smile can go a long way toward helping a middle or high school student who is struggling academically.676
Teaching Students to Self-Advocate During Distance Learning
Teachers are finding ways to gauge students’ understanding of lessons this year, and guiding them to ask for help is a crucial piece of the puzzle.2.1k
6 Exercises to Get to Know Your Students Better—and Increase Their Engagement
Celebrating your middle and high school students' unique identities can bolster connections and improve performance in school.10.1k