Middle School Teachers Chatboard

Nov 5, 2014

Stats, observations and strategies that will be helpful in supporting the ELL (English Language Learners) students in your classroom, starting with broad guidelines for working with ELL students, then offering targeted instructional strategies to improve reading, writing. and comprehension skills.

ELA...during seat work..how much Quiet?

by Do you expect?

Sep 12, 2014

I know middle school (grade 8) kids are very social. But where do you draw the line? How much talking is ok, and when? How do you keep control of the class and teach...whdn they're talking/ goofing off/bring silly? To illustrate: when I am going over figurative language in a story, have notes to that find on the smartboard, should they be having li...See More

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mrsd No real help, just lots of sympathy. I try to allow for pair/share or group work a few minutes each day. Sometimes it's to discuss notes and then share with the class. Sometimes it's to generate a graphic organizer using info they've gotten from note taking. But, they know that if they talk during instruction time, chances are that there won't be t...See More

Sep 14, 2014

Mshope There is no way I would put up with that. Do you have a plan? If a student talks out of turn or is disruptive, I will write down their name on my chart. If they have three marks, they get sent out of the room to fill out a sheet. Three sheets and that is parent contact. Three more sheets and that is an office referral. I have had no one get more th...See More

Nov 4, 2014

Writing Prompts for this week, by Jim Wayne

Nov 2, 2014

Great to use as discussion starters, too!

Writing is Learned, Not Taught. Here's how

Nov 2, 2014

Students learn to write by writing. E Gads! What a concept! Next thing you know someone will try to convince us that kids learn to walk by walking and learn to read by reading. It is presumptuous to think one can teach writing.

So in answer to the question, “How Do teachers teach kids to write?” the answer is...

looking for English speaking penpals

by margherita

Oct 26, 2014

I'm an Italian teacher of English as foreign language. I teach in a middle school and I have 6 classes of students aged from 11 to 13. 6th grade (age 11)= 29 students 7th grade (age 112) =40 students 8th grade (age 13)= 39 students Their native language is Italian but they are studying English at school. We would like to correspond by traditional m...See More

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Sheila Croft On 10/26/14, margherita wrote: > I'm an Italian teacher of English as foreign language. > I teach in a middle school and I have 6 classes of students > aged from 11 to 13. > 6th grade (age 11)= 29 students > 7th grade (age 112) =40 students > 8th grade (age 13)= 39 students > Their native language is Italian but they are studyi...See More

Oct 28, 2014

How to use "essential questions" to improve instruction

Oct 22, 2014

Are you ready to implement "essential questions" to improve achievement? What you need to know...

The parent-teacher conference tips you've been missing

Oct 19, 2014

Who knows better than teachers what measures and practices offer the best chances for a comfortable and effective parent conference?

Pay particular attention to #5.

Unmotivated student

by Babs

Oct 7, 2014

I really need suggestions on how I can motivate a 7th grade boy to care more about his schoolwork. He's above average in intelligence and a nice kid. His other teachers report that his grades are just fair, and he has, on occasion, not turned work in on time. His family is supportive of him. Bribery hasn't worked! Help!

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