Middle School

We found 33 articles

How to participate in class without saying a word
Does your grading rubric include a category like “classroom participation”? In my experience, when students learn they are being graded on their participation, their first reaction is to participate more: more frequently, more vigorously, more visibly. They raise their hand as often as possible, even before they’ve had time to really think through ...
Don’t think you’re a scientist? Think again!
What do you think of when you think of science? Who does science and what does “doing science” entail? Before I truly thought about what science was, I used to think of an old man in a lab coat mixing different liquids in flasks. Something like this:
Coding for kids: turning zeros and ones into something colorful
When we think of a programmer, a very black and white image often comes to mind: a 20-something year old sitting alone in a dark basement continuously staring at a black screen with white letters that to most wouldn't make any sense. Recently, a much more colorful picture has been coming to my mind: a 10 year old excitedly showing her friends the ...
5 simple tips to ensure your child succeeds in online learning
Let’s face it, virtual school is difficult for even the most gifted students. Constant distractions, low motivation, and unstructured days provide a unique challenge for at-home learning. Here are 5 simple tips to ensure your child not only stays on-track, but thrives in their online learning.
Middle School Writers’ Workshop: Understanding Characterization
Have you ever read a book where you feel like you really know the characters? You understand their dreams and relate to their failures, you can see yourself making similar decisions, and maybe they even remind you of someone you know. Rich, fully-developed characters are what separate good books from great books. It is the characters who feel like ...
Solving algebraic equations with variables on both sides
If you are reading this, I can tell you’ve mastered solving simple linear equations. You’ve mastered the art of balance. You know that whatever you do to one side of the equal sign, you must do to the other. You can perform inverse operations until the cows come home, and you are a pro at isolating the variable. I bet you even check your work by ...
How to solve linear algebraic equations
Today, we are going to learn how to solve linear algebraic equations like 3y + 3 = 18 or 5x - 4 = 16. If these equations make you feel a bit queasy, have no fear! I am going to break the process down into five simple steps.
The middle school writers’ workshop: 3 steps to a great literary essay outline
Writing literary essays can be scary. Learning how to analyze texts through writing is one of the most challenging but fundamental skills that you’ll need in your academic career. Particularly for younger students, this task can be daunting. However, if you follow a few simple steps, it doesn’t have to be!
Remote vs. online learning
With students unable to currently attend school in person, students, teachers, and staff are working to improve education at all levels. Some universities now find the need to articulate the difference between Remote classes and Online classes. This distinction allows us to think through some important issues in distance learning that can help us ...
5 books to keep your reluctant middle schoolers reading all summer long
It can be hard to keep your child reading after the school year end. These are five of my favorite books to recommend for any reluctant middle school reader. These stories will keep them engaged and excited to read all summer long!
What is Going on in NY Specialized High Schools? The SHSAT Explained
You may have read in recent news that the stakes for the New York City specialized high school admissions are very high. At the center of this heated discussion is a little known test named the SHSAT -- a standardized test that is designed to assess middle school curriculum content mastery for students entering these high schools. Being local to ...
How to choose for your child: SSAT or ISEE
Applying to a private high school is similar in many ways to applying to a college, especially with college preparatory schools. One thing is for sure: the process can be extremely daunting. The high school admissions process includes the application form, recommendation letters, a transcript, a tour of the school, an interview, a day of classes, ...
5 Middle School Books for Reluctant Readers
Do you have an 8 to 12-year-old who says that hate reading? These are fun, quirky and quick stories that will make them fall in love with reading! Don't miss out on these middle school book recommendations:
6 Young Adult Books Everyone Should Read
It doesn’t matter how old you are, I firmly believe that everyone can enjoy a young adult book. While they are typically targeted at teenagers since the main characters range from 14-19 years old, these stories can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of their age. The following books are impactful and important stories that I firmly believe ...
How to keep your middle schooler's backpack organized In 8 easy steps
Have you ever opened a middle schooler’s backpack to find a mess of papers, crushed pencils, and uneaten snacks? The emoji-themed folder that your child was so excited to pick out in the beginning of the year torn to shreds? The "math" section mysteriously also becoming the catch-all for notices about PTA potlucks, field trip reminders, and ...
Back to the basics: past, present, and future tenses in English
As an English teacher and literature major in college, I am passionate about the English language. I am a self-identified stickler for grammar, and I will correct a text to a friend if I notice it lacks an apostrophe or contains an erroneous punctuation mark.
Possessive plurals and plurals' possessives
Within the realm of punctuation, apostrophes on plurals and possessives can also lead to questions. There are patterns for forming plurals, though, and so that you do not have to wonder about when and where to put an apostrophe.
The Middle School Tutor: How to Survive Geography Tests
You could also buy yourself a Hug-a-World, like the one Rory Gilmore had. You’re in middle school. You seem to have more homework every week (especially now that it’s “second semester” after winter break). Your teachers seem to delight in quizzes and tests. Maybe you’re used to math quizzes, but what is with all of these tests in Social Studies? ...
Study Skills: Time Management Guide for Middle Schoolers
Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in.” Although many of us feel we lack the time we need to get everything done – that there simply aren’t enough hours in the day – Thoreau reminds us of the importance of living at our own pace and learning to use time to our advantage.
Study Skills: How to Get the Most from Middle School
Irony being that anyone who actually watched Boy Meets World hasn't been in middle school for a long time
Academic Tutor: Back to School
There’s no more denying it – summer is just about up. And within the next few weeks, everyone will be headed back to school, from middle school students to all of us doctoral candidates. But no matter what grade or class you’re prepping for, whether it’s AP US History or Algebra II, this is the time to get a jump on the year ahead and make sure ...
Middle school summer activities
One of the thorniest problems middle schoolers face every summer is learning loss: while away from the school environment, children risk losing academic skills and rolling back growth achieved during the year. By introducing fun educational activities into your child’s summer schedule, you can help them maintain or even improve their academic ...
Middle School Academics: Summer Reading 2013
The Middle School Maze is back with a 2013 summer reading list! With July and August just ahead of us, the summer is rife with opportunity to read. While you’re not in school, reading can take on a life of it’s own. Books become openings to new worlds, not the sign of dreaded after-school tasks.
Middle School Maze V: Homework Help & Note Taking Strategies
In the Middle School Maze, we offer homework help tips and adacemic support strategies. When confronted with a large homework assignment, knowing where and how to begin can be a challenge, especially for middle school students. Today, we turn to note taking, the foundation of any strong essay or academic project. Find a quiet spot - say the ...
The Middle School Maze V: Learn to Write Early
The middle school years are an exciting turning point during which students start to develop tangible academic skills. Middle school patterns set the stage for long-term academic interests and intellectual passion. Between 11-15, the imagination is ripe, unfiltered, curious…It's prime time to start writing with gusto and abandon.
Middle School Maze IV: The Summer Online Classroom & Academics
The most effective way to keep a middle-school student engaged in learning through the summer is to make academics fun and relevant.
The Middle School Maze III: Summer Reading & Study Skills
Yes, summer fun is important. But reading through the hot months is too, maybe even more so.
The Middle School Maze II: Learning Styles & Study Habits
Middle School is the first time in a student’s academic career that a preferred learning style becomes salient and begins to impact study habits, comprehension and retention. As we progress through our academic careers, learning styles become second nature. Students will often adapt their study habits without even realizing what learning style ...
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