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Mean Stinks

Love this site for great, quick, sayings and posters . . .

Power of Our Words Book Teacher Language That Helps Children Learn P. Denton,

This is a GREAT Resource Language may be a teacher's most powerful tool, for words do more than deliver content. They also play a huge part in whether children develop self-control, build a sense of belonging, and gain academic and social skills and knowledge. K–8. This warm and thought-provoking book shows how you can use words, tone, and pacing to build a classroom where students feel safe, respected, appreciated, and excited about learning. Denton, an educator with over twenty years of experience teaching children and adults, offers practical tips (including language to avoid and language to adopt), real-life anecdotes, and concrete examples. Topics include: using language to help children envision success open-ended questions that stretch children's thinking listening and using silence skillfully the 3 Rs of teacher language: reinforcing, reminding, and redirecting saying what you mean and meaning what you say giving brief, concrete instructions offering meaningful, specific encouragement The sensible approach this book advocates is backed by research and proven through decades of successful practice in elementary classrooms nationwide. It offers ideas beginners can try immediately and a wealth of guidance and support for those farther along in the process of changing their language.

Generous in its practical examples, The Power of Our Words also clarifies the principles behind using constructive language in the classroom. The book calls on us to remember that teaching is not a monologue, but a dialogue. —Carol Ann Tomlinson, EdD, professor of Leadership, Foundations & Policy, The University of Virginia

How to Teach Test-Taking Strategies to Middle School Students

1 Guide students to read and think actively. Middle school students are active and energetic. Have students take turns to read out loud the instructions, question and answer choices of selected assignments. Pause after students finish reading the question, and ask them what they anticipate the answer will be. After some practice of reading out loud, have them practice reading quietly on their own. Ask students to paraphrase or summarize their reading. 2Teach them to make educated guesses and eliminate obvious incorrect answer choices. Instead of asking students what the right answers are, practice crossing out the obvious wrong answers. Students will get the right answer by the process of elimination. When students need to choose between two or more possible answers, encourage them to make an educated guess by deciding which answer makes more sense. 3 Teach your students time management. The clock is ticking. When students get stuck on one or two problems, encourage them to move on to the rest of the test. Teach them how to make a note to themselves and go back to those problems afterward. They also must learn to keep a positive attitude during a test. 4 Practice test-taking strategies by doing mock exams. Simulate testing environments, and have students take mock exams before the actual exams. Start by having them take a section or two of a mock exam. As time goes by, simulate a full-length exam. Time each mock exam. Encourage students to use testing strategies. After students complete each mock exam, go over each problem and answer their questions. http://www.ehow.com/how_12034423_teach-testtaking-strategies-middle-school-students

Make the story come alive, add read aloud to advisory

Make reading aloud part of your advisories using the Activity Plus format. Improve public speaking and active listening skills Expand the ways students respond to literature Draw out more reluctant speakers Check out this great resource - Advisory Book, The REVISED EDITION Building a Community of Learners Grades 5-9 by Linda Crawford

Team-building Activities

We have done this from time-to-time. Works great if you have a big ugly plastic insect to put in the middle of the web when you are done!

Pass a ball of string from student-to-student to help middle schoolers understand team-building. Advisory time also is appropriate for team-building activities. Advisory time allows teachers to develop a personal relationship with each student in the group, and team-building activities provide students with a change to learn more about each other as well. Effective team-building activities for middle school students include the shoe game and tie a string. In the shoe game, each student takes off one shoe and places it in a pile. The teacher divides the class into two teams, and the first team to find all its members' shoes and sit down on the floor wins the game. In the string game, the teacher starts by passing a ball of string to a student, who then passes the ball on, leaving a trail of string behind it. The only person who can talk is the person holding the ball of string. Once that person is done sharing her feelings, she passes the ball on until everyone has had a chance to speak. The web formed by the string represents how we are all interconnected and how a group works.

Motivational Messages from Lehigh University

Recently the Lehigh University Men's and Women's Basketball Teams visited our school to speak to our 7th and 8th graders. The messages focused on goal setting, determination and not being afraid to fail at something as opposed to regretting not even trying. Our kids asked great questions and had opportunities to visit with the players. http://www.lehighsports.com/videos/lehigh_basketball_teams_visit_local_middle_schools_.aspx

The 5th and 6th graders had the opportunity to actually travel to the Lehigh University Campus to see a game. What inspirational young men and women! Thanks Lehigh!