MiddleWeb
banner
middleweb.bsky.social
MiddleWeb
@middleweb.bsky.social
MiddleWeb.com – Resource for educators serving kids in grades 4-8. All 3600+ articles & reviews written by educators. Co-publisher of Middle Grades SmartBrief: https://edushare.ing/bR. We follow #edusky. Check out our Substack: middleweb.substack.com/about
Teachers need good health insurance, arguably more than most. So how do we get or preserve it in these times where premiums for teachers are tripling in some places & are responsible for driving us out of the profession in others? #edusky #teachersky @dinaeliz.bsky.social

tinyurl.com/23bjpmys
The Four Steps that Could Save Your Life as a Teacher
While it’s tempting to just focus on lesson planning and grading, Dina Strasser says health insurance is one of most important things for teachers to attend to.
tinyurl.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:36 PM
"Like all of their playbooks, The Artificial Intelligence Playbook is structured in an accessible, modular format. Fisher and Frey always begin with the WHY – grounding their content in current research and educational context – and then walk readers through the HOW." – MiddleWeb reviewer. #edusky
Review: MAKE LEARNING MORE ENGAGING WITH AI TOOLS

Hargrave, Fisher & Frey’s new edition of The Artificial Intelligence Playbook is grounded, practical & deeply respectful of the teacher’s role, says veteran teacher Andi Jackson. Highly recommended. #edusky #AIsky

www.middleweb.com/52851/make-l...
Artificial Intelligence Tools Make Learning More Engaging
The Artificial Intelligence Playbook shows educators why and how we need to teach students to write purposeful AI prompts, writes veteran teacher Andi Jackson.
www.middleweb.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Review: MAKE LEARNING MORE ENGAGING WITH AI TOOLS

Hargrave, Fisher & Frey’s new edition of The Artificial Intelligence Playbook is grounded, practical & deeply respectful of the teacher’s role, says veteran teacher Andi Jackson. Highly recommended. #edusky #AIsky

www.middleweb.com/52851/make-l...
Artificial Intelligence Tools Make Learning More Engaging
The Artificial Intelligence Playbook shows educators why and how we need to teach students to write purposeful AI prompts, writes veteran teacher Andi Jackson.
www.middleweb.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:03 PM
"Over the past five years, I’ve worked hard to add different consolidation strategies into my teaching practice. I teach my students every other day, so I want them to be able to recall what they learned in the previous lesson & be ready to put it to use." – MS teacher Megan Kelly. #edusky
CLASSROOM STRATEGIES TO HELP CONSOLIDATE LEARNING.

By completing quick daily activities that help consolidate what they're learning, Megan Kelly's students are building long-term memory and background knowledge. She shares 4 favorites. #edusky #teachersky #T2Tchat

www.middleweb.com/52836/classr...
4 Consolidation Activities That Connect & Reinforce Learning
By completing quick daily activities that help consolidate what they're learning, Megan Kelly's students are building long-term memory and background knowledge.
www.middleweb.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:50 PM
@laurenbrownoned.bsky.social has been sharing this piece from last year. A good read! #iteachhistory #edusky
----------
It's Geography Awareness Week! Good #historyteachers know that #Geography matters! More here: middleweb.com/51788/my-7th...

Here's Why My 7th Graders Are Memorizing the 50 States
Here's Why My 7th Graders Are Memorizing the 50 States
When U.S. history teacher Lauren Brown realized how little her 7th graders knew about the 50 states, she resorted to memorization to build background knowledge.
middleweb.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Reposted by MiddleWeb
Principals: Trying to visit classrooms, only to get pulled back to the office as soon as you leave?

Join me for a free webinar on December 4, where I share the processes I used to be present with teachers and students.

RSVP --> luma.com/m6om1q8n @middleweb.bsky.social @corwinpress.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Reposted by MiddleWeb
Join #ElemMathChat 12/4/25 at 8pm CST/9pm EST with @monamath.bsky.social and @middleweb.bsky.social to explore word problems. How do we move past steps so students make sense, reason, and see themselves as mathematicians? Bring ideas and questions. #ElemMathChat
November 21, 2025 at 3:04 AM
CLASSROOM STRATEGIES TO HELP CONSOLIDATE LEARNING.

By completing quick daily activities that help consolidate what they're learning, Megan Kelly's students are building long-term memory and background knowledge. She shares 4 favorites. #edusky #teachersky #T2Tchat

www.middleweb.com/52836/classr...
4 Consolidation Activities That Connect & Reinforce Learning
By completing quick daily activities that help consolidate what they're learning, Megan Kelly's students are building long-term memory and background knowledge.
www.middleweb.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:08 PM
MW Substack 034: NONFICTION. DIFFICULT TEXT.

Many students are struggling with in-school assignments that require them to read “hard” nonfiction text. Here are some things we can do. (A free 5-minute read highlighting a selection of our articles on the topic)

middleweb.substack.com/p/mw-substac...
MW Substack 034: Nonfiction and difficult text.
Many of today's students struggle with in-school assignments that require them to read “hard” nonfiction text. Here are some things we can do.
middleweb.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:37 PM
HOW SHOULD SCHOOL LEADERS RESPOND TO TOXIC STAFF MEMBERS?

One of the biggest challenges facing school leaders is pushback from teachers & staff that goes beyond the disagreements we can resolve through civil discourse & compromise. #edusky #edleaders #principals

www.middleweb.com/52810/how-do...
How Should School Leaders Respond to Toxic Staff Members?
One of the big challenges facing school leaders is pushback that goes beyond the kinds of disagreements we can resolve through civil discourse and compromise.
www.middleweb.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Review: LEADING ALL TEACHERS TO BECOME LIKE THE BEST.

In his 2025 book Todd Whitaker is clear: great teachers aren’t born. They’re grown, supported, and inspired by leaders knowing what to look for and how to help. @routledgebooks.bsky.social #edusky #edleaders

www.middleweb.com/52824/gettin...
How to Get All Teachers to Become Like the Best Teachers
In his 2025 book Todd Whitaker is clear: great teachers aren’t born. They’re grown, supported, and inspired by leaders knowing what to look for and how to help.
www.middleweb.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Reposted by MiddleWeb
I believe in acculturation versus assimilation because I’m not afraid of your differences and ideas. I love your uniqueness and value the perspective you bring. I want you to know that you belong.

#teachingenglish #teachingkids #languages #languagelearning #multilingualism #bilingual_kids
July 16, 2025 at 9:15 PM
New: OBSERVING INSTRUCTION WITH A CURIOSITY MINDSET.

The question isn't whether principals should observe classroom instruction, says coach Matt Renwick. "It's whether we can observe it with curiosity rather than judgment." #edusky @readbyexample.bsky.social

www.middleweb.com/52832/observ...
Principals Observing Instruction with a Curiosity Mindset
The question isn't whether principals should observe classroom instruction, says Renwick. "It's whether we can observe it with curiosity rather than judgment."
www.middleweb.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:49 PM
"Fictional texts humanize facts by helping students better understand what it would be like to be a mathematical genius, live through an historical moment, experience the impact of science in space, create a great work of art, or immerse oneself in a different culture." #edusky #iteachscience
November 11, 2025 at 6:05 PM
New: USING FICTION TO BUILD CROSS-CONTENT KNOWLEDGE.

Fiction is a powerful tool to build foundational knowledge across subject areas –deepening understanding and sparking curiosity, says teacher leader Kasey Short. #edusky @shortissweet.bsky.social #iteachEnglish

www.middleweb.com/52811/using-...
Fiction Builds Background Knowledge Across the Curriculum
Fiction is a powerful tool to build foundational knowledge across subject areas–deepening understanding and sparking curiosity–says teacher leader Kasey Short.
www.middleweb.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Reposted by MiddleWeb
My STOP & THINK article is filled with links to additional classroom strategies. Check it out!
NEW: Let’s STOP and THINK about Those Exit Tickets

Learning scientist @drkarinhess.bsky.social shows how STOP and THINK activities build a deeper, more meaningful understanding of skills and concepts than traditional end-of-class exit cards. #edusky #teachersky

www.middleweb.com/52791/lets-s...
Let's STOP and THINK about New Ways to Use Exit Tickets
Karin Hess shows how STOP and THINK activities build a deeper, more meaningful understanding of skills and concepts than traditional end-of-class exit cards.
www.middleweb.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Really interesting stuff...and you can both listen in and read an accompanying article!
Concept maps: simple but powerful learning tools. On the podcast this week, Dr. Kripa Sundar shares practices for making the most of them. Also joining us is Dr. Pooja Agarwal (@retrievelearn.bsky.social), editor of the book Smart Teaching Stronger Learning. www.cultofpedagogy.com/concept-maps/
November 7, 2025 at 5:26 PM
REVIEW: Tools to Fill Your Classroom with Joyful Learning.

Stephanie Farley’s book shows ways to achieve joyful learning through relationships, curriculum, assignments, assessment and grading, says reviewer Nicole Miller. #edusky @routledgebooks.bsky.social

www.middleweb.com/52805/tools-...
Tools to Fill Your Classroom with Joyful Learning
Stephanie Farley’s Joyful Learning offers methods to achieve joyful learning through relationships, curriculum, assessment, grading, assignments, and direction.
www.middleweb.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Reposted by MiddleWeb
When a school struggles, do staff blame poverty? Attendance? "Those kids"?

The story a school tells about itself shapes everything—and leaders are the chief storytellers.

How to change the narrative: open.substack.com/pub/readbyex...
November 1, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Reposted by MiddleWeb
Literature and history books are full of retrograde messages. Ignoring them doesn’t help. Educators share advice for teachers. @larryferlazzo.bsky.social
How Should Teachers Deal With Problematic Language in Literature? (Opinion)
Offensive prose does show up in books. Ignoring it doesn't help students.
www.edweek.org
November 4, 2025 at 6:20 PM
NEW: Let’s STOP and THINK about Those Exit Tickets

Learning scientist @drkarinhess.bsky.social shows how STOP and THINK activities build a deeper, more meaningful understanding of skills and concepts than traditional end-of-class exit cards. #edusky #teachersky

www.middleweb.com/52791/lets-s...
Let's STOP and THINK about New Ways to Use Exit Tickets
Karin Hess shows how STOP and THINK activities build a deeper, more meaningful understanding of skills and concepts than traditional end-of-class exit cards.
www.middleweb.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:18 PM
ASSIGNING HOMEWORK THAT ACTUALLY WORKS

Homework doesn’t have to be a nightly battle or meaningless routine. When designed with purpose, it can reinforce learning, strengthen memory & build habits of independence. The key is intention. #edusky #homework #teachersky

www.middleweb.com/52799/assign...
The Evidence Is In: Assigning Homework That Actually Works
Curtis Chandler imagines homework as brain food. When it's rich in quality and purpose, it nourishes understanding. Otherwise, it’s just educational junk food.
www.middleweb.com
November 2, 2025 at 7:09 PM