In middle school, students are at a critical stage in their linguistic development, and syntactic awareness should be a primary focus in language arts instruction. In this blog post, we'll explore what syntactic awareness is, why it's important, and how to teach it in middle school.
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Student engagement. It's a term that's been thrown around a lot in the last decade, but let’s really breakdown what student engagement actually is. And more importantly, how can we move beyond the illusion of engagement to foster deeper thinking and learning?
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As technology continues to advance, teachers have been able to incorporate new tools and resources into their classrooms to enhance student learning. One such tool is Chat GPT, a large language model developed by OpenAI. Chat GPT can be used in a variety of ways to help teachers and students engage in meaningful and interactive conversations.
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Today, we're going to talk about a concept that might make you feel like you're in Hollywood - storyboard your curriculum! According to Heidi Hayes Jacobs and Allison Zmuda, two leading experts in the field of education, storyboarding your curriculum can be a great way to engage your students and ensure that they're actually learning something.
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Ah, the attention signal. It is a teacher’s go to classroom management tool to garner the classroom’s attention or the bane of said teacher’s existence. Here at The Teaching Distillery we are big fans of attention signals, also known as the Call and Response technique. While our attention signals vary, the method and strategies we employ are the same.
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Calling all Taylor Swift fans and educators with a flair for fun! Are you ready to turn your classroom into a powerhouse of positivity? Well, get ready to channel your inner Swiftie because we've got a brilliant idea that combines education and Taylor Swift lyrics. Brace yourselves because we have created posters that proves why using her catchy tunes as classroom decor is the ultimate secret to keeping spirits high and minds soaring!
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As teachers, we know that change is inevitable and often brings both excitement and challenges. One of the most significant transitions teachers can face is changing grade levels or subjects. Whether you're a seasoned educator or a fresh face in the profession, navigating this transition can be both daunting and rewarding. In this blog post, we will explore valuable tips to help you successfully adapt to a new grade level or subject and make the most of this transformative experience.
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Toxic positivity is the belief that one should maintain a positive attitude at all times, even in the face of adversity. While positivity can be helpful in some situations, toxic positivity can be harmful and have negative effects, particularly on teachers.
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Teaching comes with it own set of occupational hazards a mile long. One of these hazards is compassion fatigue. We see and witness too much pain in the world. In order for teachers to be the support that students, parents, and colleagues need, we need to practice self care regularly and often. It is of vital importance that we have the emotional capacity and strength to work with people who are suffering. Taking care of ourselves is not selfish.
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As teachers, we've all had to adapt to the new normal that is teaching post pandemic and teaching middle schoolers during this time. (I mean can we really say we are post pandemic when COVID is still very much alive and well in our communities? But, I digress ) So, let's dive into the best and worst things about teaching middle school post-pandemic, shall we?
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Are you tired of seeing the same students always answering questions and leading discussions in the classroom, while others struggle to keep up? Do you want to create a learning environment where every student has a chance to shine and grow?
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