Stuck In the Middle
@stuckinthemiddle.bsky.social
Teaching online longer than most of my students have been alive. Algebra, w/a side of geography and astronomy.
Books: How to Homeschool the Kids You Have, Teaching Online Handbook.
Past: Kitchen Table Homeschool Podcast
All opinions are my own.
Books: How to Homeschool the Kids You Have, Teaching Online Handbook.
Past: Kitchen Table Homeschool Podcast
All opinions are my own.
Pinned
Introduction thread!
Hi, I’m Courtney and I started teaching live, online classes at the turn of the millennium, when I stood in front of a camera and did a terrible job teaching computer skills to the public.
Hi, I’m Courtney and I started teaching live, online classes at the turn of the millennium, when I stood in front of a camera and did a terrible job teaching computer skills to the public.
I have so much fun with my classes. This morning, my astro lab students calculated the mass of the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy. So cool!
November 3, 2025 at 4:55 PM
I have so much fun with my classes. This morning, my astro lab students calculated the mass of the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy. So cool!
I have the best students:
www.wtmacademy.com/student-show...
www.wtmacademy.com/student-show...
Exemplary Map Work in World Geography
Ray S. did an amazing job on the Week 8 assignment for World Geography for the Logic Stage. That week, the class studied Western Europe, and they had to mark up their maps to show
www.wtmacademy.com
October 15, 2025 at 5:56 PM
I have the best students:
www.wtmacademy.com/student-show...
www.wtmacademy.com/student-show...
Did the Unit 2 test (integers, exponents (pos, neg, etc)) and got 80% of students passing with an 80% or better, and that is DEEPLY satisfying.
September 14, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Did the Unit 2 test (integers, exponents (pos, neg, etc)) and got 80% of students passing with an 80% or better, and that is DEEPLY satisfying.
I get to talk about the theory of special relativity this week and class and honestly it's my favorite topic all week!
September 9, 2025 at 6:06 PM
I get to talk about the theory of special relativity this week and class and honestly it's my favorite topic all week!
One of the parts of teaching I most enjoy is a weekly selection of an example of the excellent work that my students are doing and asking parental permission to share it. Reminds me that my work matters, and that I can share that joy with my students and their parents.
September 6, 2025 at 7:54 PM
One of the parts of teaching I most enjoy is a weekly selection of an example of the excellent work that my students are doing and asking parental permission to share it. Reminds me that my work matters, and that I can share that joy with my students and their parents.
Pleased with this series I'm working on:
September 6, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Pleased with this series I'm working on:
Enjoyed this from Michele Caracappa during my morning coffee:
michelecaracappa.substack.com/p/a-new-scho...
michelecaracappa.substack.com/p/a-new-scho...
August 29, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Enjoyed this from Michele Caracappa during my morning coffee:
michelecaracappa.substack.com/p/a-new-scho...
michelecaracappa.substack.com/p/a-new-scho...
First day of class! No matter how many times I’ve done this, I always get a few jitters!
August 11, 2025 at 2:48 PM
First day of class! No matter how many times I’ve done this, I always get a few jitters!
Four More Weeks
July 11, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Four More Weeks
I've got some space left. Take care of next school year's math now and enjoy your summer break without having to think about it. I say this every year, but it's true—I have the kindest, hardest working students. Have your student join them and get ready for Algebra!
May 28, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I've got some space left. Take care of next school year's math now and enjoy your summer break without having to think about it. I say this every year, but it's true—I have the kindest, hardest working students. Have your student join them and get ready for Algebra!
Reposted by Stuck In the Middle
If we leave the acquisition of morphological knowledge to children's reading, what information is there in books to be acquired? @kathyrastle.bsky.social has answers (open). www.nature.com/articles/s41...
May 28, 2025 at 12:46 PM
If we leave the acquisition of morphological knowledge to children's reading, what information is there in books to be acquired? @kathyrastle.bsky.social has answers (open). www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Stuck In the Middle
Wrote about my problems with that World Bank "ai tutoring" study. pershmail.substack.com/p/ai-is-mayb...
AI is Maybe Sometimes Better than Nothing
Reporting on that World Bank Nigeria paper
pershmail.substack.com
May 21, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Wrote about my problems with that World Bank "ai tutoring" study. pershmail.substack.com/p/ai-is-mayb...
Running my end of year stats for my largest math class, and I'm feeling pretty good:
- 80%+ made an 80% or above
- 89% completion ratio
- for the first time ever, every single student who stuck with it passed the class
- 80%+ made an 80% or above
- 89% completion ratio
- for the first time ever, every single student who stuck with it passed the class
May 17, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Running my end of year stats for my largest math class, and I'm feeling pretty good:
- 80%+ made an 80% or above
- 89% completion ratio
- for the first time ever, every single student who stuck with it passed the class
- 80%+ made an 80% or above
- 89% completion ratio
- for the first time ever, every single student who stuck with it passed the class
WTMA is a WV HOPE Scholarship vendor! Have your student come learn with me: we go from decimals, fractions, and percents all the way to the Pythagorean theorem. Only five seats left for the August start.
May 1, 2025 at 8:20 PM
WTMA is a WV HOPE Scholarship vendor! Have your student come learn with me: we go from decimals, fractions, and percents all the way to the Pythagorean theorem. Only five seats left for the August start.
Took my youngest to the Ramp and Rails festival (the indigenous allium and a tourist train ride in Elkins, WV), and snagged the last couple of seats on the train.
April 26, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Took my youngest to the Ramp and Rails festival (the indigenous allium and a tourist train ride in Elkins, WV), and snagged the last couple of seats on the train.
Courtesy of @pepsmccrea.bsky.social
I saw this paper this morning: “ comparing the impact of in-person versus remote tutoring”
“we find no statistically significant differences in students’ literacy outcomes by instructional modality”
edworkingpapers.com/ai25-1176?ut...
I saw this paper this morning: “ comparing the impact of in-person versus remote tutoring”
“we find no statistically significant differences in students’ literacy outcomes by instructional modality”
edworkingpapers.com/ai25-1176?ut...
Experimental Evidence on the Impact of Tutoring Format and Tutors: Findings from an Early Literacy Tutoring Program
This study presents the first within-program, within-tutor experimental evidence comparing the impact of in-person versus remote tutoring. Based on results from an early literacy tutoring initiative d...
edworkingpapers.com
April 24, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Courtesy of @pepsmccrea.bsky.social
I saw this paper this morning: “ comparing the impact of in-person versus remote tutoring”
“we find no statistically significant differences in students’ literacy outcomes by instructional modality”
edworkingpapers.com/ai25-1176?ut...
I saw this paper this morning: “ comparing the impact of in-person versus remote tutoring”
“we find no statistically significant differences in students’ literacy outcomes by instructional modality”
edworkingpapers.com/ai25-1176?ut...
Just a few spots left in one of my all-time favorite courses! With a college-level textbook and other supplemental resources, we'll study astronomy ranging from the shape of the universe to magnetic fields! Add Monday to your schedule and make it a full-year lab course, as well!
April 19, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Just a few spots left in one of my all-time favorite courses! With a college-level textbook and other supplemental resources, we'll study astronomy ranging from the shape of the universe to magnetic fields! Add Monday to your schedule and make it a full-year lab course, as well!
Kicking it old school today: teaching students to find square roots by hand. Does great things for conceptual understanding of roots.
March 31, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Kicking it old school today: teaching students to find square roots by hand. Does great things for conceptual understanding of roots.
@palan57.bsky.social ‘s latest includes a point I agree with wholeheartedly:
“Content knowledge matters. This is so basic to education, and tech shortcuts do not change it. All aspects of learning rest on Knowing Stuff.”
open.substack.com/pub/curmudgu...
“Content knowledge matters. This is so basic to education, and tech shortcuts do not change it. All aspects of learning rest on Knowing Stuff.”
open.substack.com/pub/curmudgu...
Content Knowledge Is Still Necessary
A couple of decades ago, we started hearing people say "You don't have to teach students that stuff.
open.substack.com
March 21, 2025 at 6:47 PM
@palan57.bsky.social ‘s latest includes a point I agree with wholeheartedly:
“Content knowledge matters. This is so basic to education, and tech shortcuts do not change it. All aspects of learning rest on Knowing Stuff.”
open.substack.com/pub/curmudgu...
“Content knowledge matters. This is so basic to education, and tech shortcuts do not change it. All aspects of learning rest on Knowing Stuff.”
open.substack.com/pub/curmudgu...
My teen just got her SAT scores back—she earned a tuition and fee scholarship for undergraduate at our local university. A celebration day at our house!
March 21, 2025 at 5:47 PM
My teen just got her SAT scores back—she earned a tuition and fee scholarship for undergraduate at our local university. A celebration day at our house!
I'm teaching math fundamentals next school year, and I have seats available! Come join me as we go from long division to the Pythagorean Theorem!
March 18, 2025 at 1:49 AM
I'm teaching math fundamentals next school year, and I have seats available! Come join me as we go from long division to the Pythagorean Theorem!
Reposted by Stuck In the Middle
We're hiring a Head of Professional Development. We've got BIG plans to help teachers to improve their practice - this is your chance to lead that work while working with a lovely and supportive team. Join us!
uk.indeed.com/job/head-pro...
uk.indeed.com/job/head-pro...
Head of Professional Development - Remote - Indeed.com
Carousel Learning Ltd
uk.indeed.com
February 25, 2025 at 11:56 AM
We're hiring a Head of Professional Development. We've got BIG plans to help teachers to improve their practice - this is your chance to lead that work while working with a lovely and supportive team. Join us!
uk.indeed.com/job/head-pro...
uk.indeed.com/job/head-pro...
I'm always trying to level up in my skills, and one of the things I'm most proud of recently is teaching students with no prior experience how to knit, online. It's really quite difficult! Our current Math in Fiber Arts unit is on knitting codes, and the projects they've chosen are so interesting!
February 24, 2025 at 7:45 PM
I'm always trying to level up in my skills, and one of the things I'm most proud of recently is teaching students with no prior experience how to knit, online. It's really quite difficult! Our current Math in Fiber Arts unit is on knitting codes, and the projects they've chosen are so interesting!