More Best Practices for Middle School Classrooms: What Award-Winning Teachers Do »

Randi Stoneis the author ofnine Corwin Press books: Best Practices for Teaching Reading: What Award-Winning Classroom Teachers Do, Best Practices for Teaching Social Studies: What Award-Winning Classroom Teachers Do, Best Practices for Teaching Writing: What Award-Winning Classroom Teachers Do, Best Practices for Teaching Mathematics: What Award-Winning Classroom Teachers Do, and Best Practices for Teaching Science: What Award-Winning Classroom Teachers Do. She is a graduate of Clark University, Boston University, and Salem State College. She completed her doctorate in education at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.

More Best Practices for Middle School Classrooms is packed with ready—to—go lessons and units written by teachers who have used these idesa successfully in their own classrooms. Each lesson or Strategy includes recommended grade levels, clear objectives, a listing of relevant national or state standards, materials lists, and easy—to—follow directions and tips. Readers will find ideas for

• MAnanging effective classrooms, using technology, and assessing students
• Teaching in science mathematics, language arts, and social studies
• Engaging students in music, art , and physical education

Learn how some of the best teachers in the nation reach their middle school students with best practices from the teachers themselves!

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xi

About the Author xii

About the Contributors xiii

Part I Classroom Practices across the Curriculum 1

Classroom Management and Community Involvement 2

1 The Process of Effective Classroom Management Chris Anderson 3

2 Developing Collaboration With Peers Amy Stump 7

3 Successful Classroom-Management Strategies Julie M. Pepperman 11

4 Taking Ownership Truman M. Savery 15

5 Parent Involvement: Heroes Among Us Judy McEntegart 17

Using Technology in the Classroom 20

6 Internet Safety Sherry Crofut 21

7 Lights, Camera, Action! Steven M. Jacobs 24

8 Using Technology to Teach Language Arts and Social Studies Donald Fought 27

9 Bridging Nations With Problem-Based Learning Rebekah Hammack 29

10 Students Create Podcasts Brian C. Querry 34

Assessment 39

11 Short-Cycle Assessments Darrell Yater 39

Part II Science and Math 45

Teaching Science 46

12 Science Energy Lesson Including Differentiation and Inclusion Michalle McCallister 47

13 Creating Booklets Explaining Energy Transformation Bonnie Garrett 52

14 Creating a Thriving Prairie Tony Carmichael 55

15 Building Scientific Relationships and Inquiry Skills Using Toys Susan Leeds 60

16 It IS Rocket Science Thomas J. Bennett 65

17 Teaching Students About Cells Tammie Schrader 66

18 The Sustainable Green Vehicle Steven M. Jacobs 69

Teaching Math 74

19 Coordinate Plane Aerobics Genia Webb 74

20 How Long Will It Take? Lisa Wood 78

21 The Hallway Crush: How Full Is Full? Sarah L. Crose 82

22 Maze Madness Amy Maxey 91

23 Scale and Drawing Relationships Eric Melnyczenko 95

Part III Language Arts and Social Studies 97

Teaching Language Arts 98

24 Story Stew Alicia Deel 99

25 Teaching Reading, Writing, and Differentiation Judy McEntegart 101

26 Tall Tales Samantha Schwasinger 104

27 Service-Learning Research Project Rebecca Stallings 107

28 Comparing Formal and Informal Language Sherry Crofut 111

29 Teaching Descriptive Writing Using Song Lyrics Samantha Schwasinger 113

Teaching Social Studies 117

30 Historical Character Party Dale Baumwoll 118

31 America's Dust Bowl Elizabeth Rees Gilbert 123

32 Medieval Italy Judy Lindauer 127

33 The Workforce Dale Baumwoll 130

34 War! Steven M. Jacobs 136

35 The Mayflower Compact Spencer Bolejack 143

36 Graveyard of the Atlantic Spencer Bolejack 146

Part IV Music, Art, and Physical Education 149

Celebrating Music and Art 150

37 Successful Music Through the Use of Standards and Assessment Denese Odegaard 151

38 Comics: Integrating Language Arts, Math, and Social Studies With Art Amy K. Dean 157

39 Edible Color Wheels: A New Way to Introduce Color Theory Gayle Gruber Hegerich 165

40 Chinese Zodiac: What Animal are You? Gayle Gruber Hegerich 167

Physical Education 170

41 Feel It Today: Warm-Up and Conditioning Routine Kathleen F. Engle 170

42 Spider Web and Human Knot Erin Sweeney 175