Full Description
"There is a little something for everyone."
—David Callaway, Eighth-Grade Language Arts Teacher
Rocky Heights Middle School, Highlands Ranch, CO
"Although there are many books that provide lessons and units for various levels, the lessons in this book are very well written and provide more than just the unit instructions."
—Diane Smith, School Counselor
Smethport Area School District, PA
Best practices BY middle school teachers, FOR middle school teachers!
Best-selling author Randi Stone brings together a collection of best classroom practices by award-winning teachers from schools throughout the United States to inspire new and experienced middle school teachers with time-tested ideas.
MORE Best Practices for Middle School Classrooms is packed with ready-to-go lessons and units written by teachers who have used these ideas successfully in their own classrooms. Each lesson or strategy includes recommended grade levels, clear objectives, a listing of relevant national or state standards, materials lists, and easy-to-follow directions and tips. Readers will find ideas for:
Managing effective classrooms, using technology, and assessing students
Teaching in science, mathematics, language arts, and social studies
Engaging students in music, art, and physical education
Learn how some of the best teachers in the nation reach their middle school students—with best practices from the teachers themselves!
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
About the Contributors
Part I. Classroom Practices Across the Curriculum
Classroom Management and Community Involvement
1. The Process of Effective Classroom Management - Chris Anderson, Grades 6-8 (New Jersey) - Chris Anderson, New Jersey
2. Developing Collaboration With Peers - Amy Stump, Grades 6-8 (Arizona) - Amy Stump, Arizona
3. Successful Classroom Management Strategies - Julie M. Pepperman, Grades 6-8 (Tennessee)
4. Taking Ownership - Truman M. Savery, Grades 6-8 (South Dakota) - Truman M. Savery, South Dakota
5. Parent Involvement: Heroes Among Us - Judy McEntegart, Grade 6 (Massachusetts) - Judy McEntegart, Massachusetts
Using Technology in the Classroom
6. Internet Safety - Sherry Crofut, Grades 6-8 (South Dakota) - Sherry Crofut, South Dakota
7. Lights, Camera, Action! - Steven M. Jacobs, Grades 6-8 (Michigan) - Steven M. Jacobs, Michigan
8. Using Technology to Teach Language Arts and Social Studies - Donald Fought, Grades 6-8 (North Carolina) - Donald Fought, North Carolina
9. Bridging Nations With Problem-Based Learning - Rebekah Hammack, Grade 7 (Oklahoma) - Rebekah Hammack, Oklahoma
10. Students Create Podcasts - Brian C. Querry, Grade 8 (Pennsylvania) - Brian C. Querry, Pennsylvania
Assessment
11. Short-Cycle Assessments - Darrell Yater, Grades 6-8 (Ohio) - Darrell Yater, Ohio
Part II. Science and Math
Teaching Science
12. Science Energy Lesson Including Differentiation and Inclusion - Michalle McCallister, Grades 6-8 (Texas) - Michalle McCallister, Texas
13. Creating Booklets Explaining Energy Transformation - Bonnie Garrett, Grades 6-8 (Alabama) - Bonnie Garrett, Alabama
14. Creating a Thriving Prairie - Tony Carmichael, Grades 6-8 (Illinois) - Tony Carmichael, Illinois
15. Scientific Building Relationships and Inquiry Skills Using Toys - Susan Leeds, Grade 6 (Florida) - Susan Leeds, Florida
16. It Is Rocket Science - Thomas J. Bennett, Grade 6 (Indiana) - Thomas J. Bennett, Indiana
17. Teaching Students About Cells - Tammie Schrader, Grade 7 (Washington) - Tammie Schrader, Washington
18. The Sustainable Green Vehicle - Steven M. Jacobs, Grades 8-9 (Michigan) - Steven M. Jacobs, Michigan
Teaching Math
19. Coordinate Plane Aerobics - Genia Webb, Grades 6-8 (South Carolina) - Genia Webb, South Carolina
20. How Long Will It Take? - Lisa Wood, Grades 5-6 (Arkansas) - Lisa Wood, Arkansas
21. The Hallway Crush: How Full Is Full? - Sarah L. Crosse, Grades 7-8 (Nebraska) - Sarah L. Crose, Nebraska
22. Maze Madness - Amy Maxey, Grades 7-8 (North Carolina) - Amy Maxey, North Carolina
23. Scale and Drawing Relationships - Eric Melnyczenko, Grade 8 (Illinois) - Eric Melnyczenko, Illinois
Part III. Language Arts and Social Studies
Teaching Language Arts
24. Story Stew - Alicia Deel, Grades 5-6, Sepcial Needs (Virginia) - Alicia Deel, Virginia
25. Teaching Reading, Writing, and Differentiation - Judy McEntegart, Grade 6 (Massachusetts) - Judy McEntegart, Massachusetts
26. Tall Tales - Samantha Schwasinger, Grade 8 (Nebraska) - Samantha Schwasinger, Nebraska
27. Service-Learning Research Project - Rebecca Stallings, Garde 8 (Alabama) - Rebecca Stallings, Alabama
28. Comparing Formal and Informal Language - Sherry Crofut, Grade 8 (South Dakota) - Sherry Crofut, South Dakota
29. Teaching Descriptive Writing Using Song Lyrics - Samantha Schwasinger, Grade 8 (Nebraska) - Samantha Schwasinger, Nebraska
Teaching Social Studies
30. Historical Character Party - Dale Baumwoll, Grade 6 (New Jersey) - Dale Baumwoll, New Jersey
31. America's Dust Bowl - Elizabeth Rees Gilbert, Grade 6 (Maryland) - Elizabeth Rees Gilbert, Maryland
32. Medieval Italy - Judy Lindauer, Grade 6 (Indiana) - Judy Lindauer, Indiana
33. The Workforce - Dale Baumwoll, Grade 6 (New Jersey) - Dale Baumwoll, New Jersey
34. War! - Steven M. Jacobs, Grades 6-7 (Michigan) - Steven M. Jacobs, Michigan
35. The Mayflower Compact - Spencer Bolejack, Grade 8 (North Carolina) - Spencer Bolejack, North Carolina
36. Graveyard of the Atlantic - Spencer Bolejack, Grade 8 (North Carolina) - Spencer Bolejack, North Carolina
Part IV. Music, Art, and Physical Education
Celebrating Music and Art
37. Successful Music Through the Use of Standards and Assessment - Denese Odegaard, Grades 6-8 (North Carolina) - Denese Odegaard, North Dakota
38. Comics: Integrating Language Arts, Math, and Social Studies With Art - Amy K. Dean, Grade 8 (South Carolina) - Amy K. Dean, South Carolina
39. Edible Color Wheels: A New Way to Introduce Color Theory - Gayle Gruber Hegerich, Grade 6 (New Jersey) - Gayle Gruber Hegerich, New Jersey
40. Chinese Zodiac: What Animal Are You? - Gayle Gruber Hegerich, Grade 7 (New Jersey) - Gayle Gruber Hegerich, New Jersey
Physical Education
41. Feel It Today: Warm-Up and Conditioning Routine - Kathleen F. Engle, Grades 6-8 (Wyoming) - Kathleen F. Engle, Wyoming
42. Spider Web and Human Knot - Erin Sweeney, Grade 8 (Virginia) - Erin Sweeney, Virginia
