...sharing thoughtful, mentor text-inspired lessons your students will love!

In the Middle (School)

Information

A group for middle school teachers...

Members: 168
Latest Activity: on Saturday

Discussion Forum

Beginning of the Year Activities 1 Reply

I would like to know what you have planned for your back to school activities. I will be using my "names" unit (already discussed in the picture book thread), because I am getting brand new students…Continue

Started by Jennifer Fowler. Last reply by Kathleen Ann Lloyd Apr 1.

Analyzing a Visual Text 1 Reply

Thanks to the common core standards and my participation in national board certification, I have worked a great deal with visual texts this year. I would love to hear how other middle school…Continue

Started by Jennifer Fowler. Last reply by Carol Fischer LaBella Nov 5, 2012.

Classroom photos 1 Reply

I don't know about you, but I am always looking for ways to arrange and decorate my classroom. I have added photos of last year's classroom (this is a summer pic, hence the lack of student work)...I…Continue

Started by Jennifer Fowler. Last reply by Cassandra Williams Aug 12, 2012.

Supply Lists 4 Replies

Hi!Our guidance counselor wants to hand out supply lists when parents and students come in for registration counseling starting next week. My plan is to take my 7/8th grade students through the 6…Continue

Started by Terrie Shortsleeve. Last reply by Kathleen Fawley Jul 14, 2012.

View All

Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of In the Middle (School) to add comments!

Comment by Karen McQueen on June 28, 2012 at 2:04pm: Jennifer,

Thank you for taking time to provide some great suggestions and websites to continue my exploration into what I am calling, "Mathematics through the lens of reading, thinking critically, and writing". You may have read my response to Justin about children's literature. I am a big believer in the value of using children's literature (or picture books as some call them) in the classroom. I personally own many and I'm glad I made the investment because our media center does not have these available. I also use Scholastic Math in my classroom, but it has always been from a content perspective to engage and motivate my students. Your feedback has allowed me to glean more insight for using it. Now I will explore the two links you provided. Thank you again!

Comment by Karen McQueen on June 28, 2012 at 1:46pm: Justin, thank you very much for the GREAT advice! I use children's books frequently as hooks; but, your suggestion about writing from a "point of view" is wonderful! I will definitely be using it.

Comment by Jennifer Fowler on June 27, 2012 at 5:54pm: Karen, when I think of literacy in the content areas it seems so easy to come up with ideas for science, social studies, humanities, etc. Math is a whole other story. I would HIGHLY recommend the Scholastic MATH magazine. Each issue includes articles with real-world practice problems and prompts. In addition to the magazine, you get access to AWESOME on-line resources that accompany each issue.

Here is their website: http://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/products/scholastic-math#o...

Let us not forget that reflective writing is an excellent way to incorporate writing into your daily/weekly classroom routine. Simply allow students to write about what they have learned. Expand their writing with asking them to describe how they can use this information and/or what processes they followed to learn the information. You can begin this routine by reading The Important Book with your students...then they write about the most important thing they learned that day/week.

That book leads me to my favorite suggestion - using picture books in the middle school classroom. PLEASE visit the following website: http://writingfix.com/WAC/numberfix.htm
I highly recommend The Grapes of Math and the Sir Cumference series. This site, in my opinion, can fully support a proficient literacy program in any math classroom.

I hope you get wonderful ideas!

Comment by Justin Greene on June 22, 2012 at 10:35am: Karen,

I am not a math teacher but LA. One suggestion is to find picture books dealing with your math concepts. Then have kids write & respond in their math journals to the picture books. I have seen a lot of great math picture books out there. You can also have students write to explain how they came up with their responses - which I think is the math extended response writing. Also, have them write from math concepts point of view. For example, I am an isosceles triangle or am a right angle. I don't know but write fun, creative pieces from different pov's. Acrostic poems or Haiku's about math could work as well.

Comment by Karen McQueen on June 22, 2012 at 10:18am: I am a 6th grade math teacher. I have valued writing about mathematics for quite some time and with the Common Core Standards looming about us I will place more emphasis on writing about math as I create my units/lessons this year. Any help or advice is GREATLY appreciated!! Thank you!