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MORE Best Practices for Middle School Classrooms
What Award-Winning Teachers Do



March 2010 | 200 pages | Corwin

"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!


 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
About the Contributors
 
Part I. Classroom Practices Across the Curriculum
 
Classroom Management and Community Involvement
Chris Anderson, New Jersey
1. The Process of Effective Classroom Management - Chris Anderson, Grades 6-8 (New Jersey)
Amy Stump, Arizona
2. Developing Collaboration With Peers - Amy Stump, Grades 6-8 (Arizona)
 
3. Successful Classroom Management Strategies - Julie M. Pepperman, Grades 6-8 (Tennessee)
Truman M. Savery, South Dakota
4. Taking Ownership - Truman M. Savery, Grades 6-8 (South Dakota)
Judy McEntegart, Massachusetts
5. Parent Involvement: Heroes Among Us - Judy McEntegart, Grade 6 (Massachusetts)
 
Using Technology in the Classroom
Sherry Crofut, South Dakota
6. Internet Safety - Sherry Crofut, Grades 6-8 (South Dakota)
Steven M. Jacobs, Michigan
7. Lights, Camera, Action! - Steven M. Jacobs, Grades 6-8 (Michigan)
Donald Fought, North Carolina
8. Using Technology to Teach Language Arts and Social Studies - Donald Fought, Grades 6-8 (North Carolina)
Rebekah Hammack, Oklahoma
9. Bridging Nations With Problem-Based Learning - Rebekah Hammack, Grade 7 (Oklahoma)
Brian C. Querry, Pennsylvania
10. Students Create Podcasts - Brian C. Querry, Grade 8 (Pennsylvania)
 
Assessment
Darrell Yater, Ohio
11. Short-Cycle Assessments - Darrell Yater, Grades 6-8 (Ohio)
 
Part II. Science and Math
 
Teaching Science
Michalle McCallister, Texas
12. Science Energy Lesson Including Differentiation and Inclusion - Michalle McCallister, Grades 6-8 (Texas)
Bonnie Garrett, Alabama
13. Creating Booklets Explaining Energy Transformation - Bonnie Garrett, Grades 6-8 (Alabama)
Tony Carmichael, Illinois
14. Creating a Thriving Prairie - Tony Carmichael, Grades 6-8 (Illinois)
Susan Leeds, Florida
15. Scientific Building Relationships and Inquiry Skills Using Toys - Susan Leeds, Grade 6 (Florida)
Thomas J. Bennett, Indiana
16. It Is Rocket Science - Thomas J. Bennett, Grade 6 (Indiana)
Tammie Schrader, Washington
17. Teaching Students About Cells - Tammie Schrader, Grade 7 (Washington)
Steven M. Jacobs, Michigan
18. The Sustainable Green Vehicle - Steven M. Jacobs, Grades 8-9 (Michigan)
 
Teaching Math
Genia Webb, South Carolina
19. Coordinate Plane Aerobics - Genia Webb, Grades 6-8 (South Carolina)
Lisa Wood, Arkansas
20. How Long Will It Take? - Lisa Wood, Grades 5-6 (Arkansas)
Sarah L. Crose, Nebraska
21. The Hallway Crush: How Full Is Full? - Sarah L. Crosse, Grades 7-8 (Nebraska)
Amy Maxey, North Carolina
22. Maze Madness - Amy Maxey, Grades 7-8 (North Carolina)
Eric Melnyczenko, Illinois
23. Scale and Drawing Relationships - Eric Melnyczenko, Grade 8 (Illinois)
 
Part III. Language Arts and Social Studies
 
Teaching Language Arts
Alicia Deel, Virginia
24. Story Stew - Alicia Deel, Grades 5-6, Sepcial Needs (Virginia)
Judy McEntegart, Massachusetts
25. Teaching Reading, Writing, and Differentiation - Judy McEntegart, Grade 6 (Massachusetts)
Samantha Schwasinger, Nebraska
26. Tall Tales - Samantha Schwasinger, Grade 8 (Nebraska)
Rebecca Stallings, Alabama
27. Service-Learning Research Project - Rebecca Stallings, Garde 8 (Alabama)
Sherry Crofut, South Dakota
28. Comparing Formal and Informal Language - Sherry Crofut, Grade 8 (South Dakota)
Samantha Schwasinger, Nebraska
29. Teaching Descriptive Writing Using Song Lyrics - Samantha Schwasinger, Grade 8 (Nebraska)
 
Teaching Social Studies
Dale Baumwoll, New Jersey
30. Historical Character Party - Dale Baumwoll, Grade 6 (New Jersey)
Elizabeth Rees Gilbert, Maryland
31. America's Dust Bowl - Elizabeth Rees Gilbert, Grade 6 (Maryland)
Judy Lindauer, Indiana
32. Medieval Italy - Judy Lindauer, Grade 6 (Indiana)
Dale Baumwoll, New Jersey
33. The Workforce - Dale Baumwoll, Grade 6 (New Jersey)
Steven M. Jacobs, Michigan
34. War! - Steven M. Jacobs, Grades 6-7 (Michigan)
Spencer Bolejack, North Carolina
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)
 
Part IV. Music, Art, and Physical Education
 
Celebrating Music and Art
Denese Odegaard, North Dakota
37. Successful Music Through the Use of Standards and Assessment - Denese Odegaard, Grades 6-8 (North Carolina)
Amy K. Dean, South Carolina
38. Comics: Integrating Language Arts, Math, and Social Studies With Art - Amy K. Dean, Grade 8 (South Carolina)
Gayle Gruber Hegerich, New Jersey
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)
 
Physical Education
Kathleen F. Engle, Wyoming
41. Feel It Today: Warm-Up and Conditioning Routine - Kathleen F. Engle, Grades 6-8 (Wyoming)
Erin Sweeney, Virginia
42. Spider Web and Human Knot - Erin Sweeney, Grade 8 (Virginia)

"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. Providing standards is unique, and I am thankful for that."

Diane Smith, School Counselor
Smethport Area School District, PA
Key features

This book offers:

  • A unique window into the teaching practices of the nation's outstanding middle school teachers
  • Detailed, first-hand accounts of winning instructional strategies, divided by subject area and including a section on classroom practices across the curriculum.
  • Innovative projects, lesson plans, and units of study across the content areas, accompanied by rubrics, worksheets, and handouts
  • A smorgasbord of ideas for aspiring or practicing middle school teachers 

For instructors

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