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Middle School Teachers Chatboard

Research Opportunity for Teachers

by Dannie S. Harris

Sep 28, 2013

Attention Teachers!

Do you want an opportunity to take part in research that could positively impact your students and your classroom? By participating in our short survey, you will be helping us collect data for a study investigating obstacles and feasibility of psychological recommendations. Because these scenarios may be similar to wha...See More

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Multidisciplinary Writing Prompts for Sept. 29 – October 5

by Jim Wayne in Teachers.Net Gazette

Sep 29, 2013

Writing prompts that support your efforts to teach, not only writing, but Social studies, history, geography, science, language, arts, religion… even pop culture!

Use them to prompt writing, reflection, discussion, and even deeper research on the topics. They’re great for faculty and parent newsletters, too!

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disruptive students

by carla Trussell

Sep 30, 2013

My daughter is in her first yr. in a bad school. Also 6th grade. She has gotten 5 classes under control. But, nothing works with the one class. The kids won't stay in their seats, they're constantly talking and yelling, won't do any work. I don't know how to advise her. I never had a class this bad. Suggestions?

She is already hating teac...See More

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Carla Trussell Thanks for responses. Things are somewhat better. She does have a mentor teacher, and she has eagerly tried every strategy suggested to her. But, I think that this is just a really bad campus as last year they had grant money to have a policeman sit in some of the classes Any other suggestions are still welcome: > On 9/30/13, carla Trussell wrot...See More

Oct 5, 2013

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Sad On 10/05/13, Carla Trussell wrote:

You don't say what subject she teaches and some are even harder than others but I'd say any school that has to have police sitting in classes is beyond easy answers - certainly from a chat board. If police are sometimes necessary in this school your daughter's fortunate that the class is just disruptive ...See More

Oct 5, 2013

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The True Middle School

by Bill Toth in Teachers.Net Gazette

Oct 1, 2013

31 year teacher and long time T-Netter Bill Toth, now retired, reflects upon the nature and effectiveness of the TRUE middle school configuration, wishing for its return. The True Middle School gazette.teachers.net/gazette/wordpress/bill-toth/2028

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Pinterest for Teachers

by Kathleen

Oct 4, 2013

If you're not following, you're missing out on a lot of great material geared specifically to teachers!

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Do What Motivates Your Students

by Bill Powers in Teachers.Net Gazette

Oct 7, 2013

In his essay "Do What Motivates Your Students!" Bill Powers shares:

“People only do their best at things they truly enjoy,” Jack Nicklaus – Hall of Fame golfer. I’m sure we have all experienced this at some point in our lives. For me personally it didn’t happen until my senior year in high school... Click below to read the rest, ...See More

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I Want to Go Home by Gordon Korman

by Paul

Oct 11, 2013

Hi, I am looking for a final unit test for the novel I Want to Go Home. Can anyone help me out? Thanks,

Paul

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Writing Prompts for Oct. 13 - 19

by Jim Wayne in Teachers.Net Gazette

Oct 14, 2013

Writing prompts that will generate the interest of students and adults!

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Question for English/Language Arts Teachers

by Mrs. H

Oct 16, 2013

Hi,

I was wondering what strategies are used to grade several essays. I have 136 students, and I'm trying to figure out the most efficient way to grade their essays without depriving myself of a social life. Thanks for your help!

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Vet Teacher On 10/16/13, Mrs. H wrote: > Hi, > > I was wondering what strategies are used to grade several > essays. I have 136 students, and I'm trying to figure out > the most efficient way to grade their essays without > depriving myself of a social life. Thanks for your help!

I never give out a new assignment until I have the old...See MoreOn 10/16/13, Mrs. H wrote: > Hi, > > I was wondering what strategies are used to grade several > essays. I have 136 students, and I'm trying to figure out > the most efficient way to grade their essays without > depriving myself of a social life. Thanks for your help!

I never give out a new assignment until I have the old one graded and handed back and I tell them that. No parent ever complains about 'wanting more work' when I explain I want to give each essay a thoughtful and professional evaluation. I do NOT assign a weekly essay. One a month is more like it and I do allow students to rewrite it. Reading a rewritten essay goes much faster than reading and grading an entirely new one. I can teach writing very effectively and perhaps even more effectively allowing students to rewrite their essays.

I keep the essays short - long essays do not instruct writing better than short essays. I do not do peer editing - I don't think parents and taxpayers are paying for students to evaluate each other's essays - I think they're paying for me to do that.

There's no honest way that I know if to shorten essay grading time other than give fewer essays to write and keep them short and don't assign a new one until the old one is handed back. The ways that say ' only read the first and last paragraph' aren't honest to me. 'Skim over it' isn't honest to me.

I read them thoroughly, I don't use a red pen, I type up my comments because I type much faster than I handwrite, I circle mistakes in pencil on their copy. I allow them a rewrite but I want them to take in account the suggestions I typed up for them.

And I don't labor long over the grades and I grade with a pleasant generousity. If I didn't, then I'd have to be ready to go to battle with disappointed kids and parents over the grade and to go to battle, I would have needed to have a finely detailed rubric and then read the essays with a fine tooth comb based on the finely detailed rubric. That takes time that doesn't seem well invested to me. To me it's just not necessary that grading be a battleground. I don't need to have failure in my class to make the success of some students seem more real or more valid. Allowing rewrites goes a long way with building good relationships with parents and students alike.

Oct 17, 2013

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Writing Prompts for Oct. 27- Nov. 2

by Jim Wayne in Teachers.Net Gazette

Oct 27, 2013

You'll find this week's truly exceptional writing prompts at gazette.teachers.net/gazette/wordpress/james-wayne/writing-prompts-for-october-2/5/ - linked below. Please share the link!

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