National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association NMSA and Pearson recognize the 2009 Team That Make A Difference award winners.

Past Winners - Teams That Make A Difference - National Middle School Association
Source: www.nmsa.org
Past winners of Teams That Make A Difference. Co-sponsored by National Middle School Association and Pearson Prentice Hall.
June 24 at 7:18am
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association http://twitter.com/NMSAnews

NMSA (NMSAnews) on Twitter
Source: twitter.com
Helping You Achieve Successful Schools for Young Adolescents
June 16 at 7:15am
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association http://nmsa09.ning.com/

NMSA09 Conference Connections - Connect, Extend, Learn, Share
Source: nmsa09.ning.com
NMSA09 Conference Connections provides attendees with the opportunity to connect with others and extend their conference experience.
June 16 at 7:09am
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association wants to share middle schools in the news. This middle school gets students excited about science using inquiry-based learning: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_624551.html

Derry Area Middle School science classes experiment with fun - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Source: www.pittsburghlive.com
A new concept, called inquiry-based learning, involves hands-on experiments and projects, with the goal of getting kids engaged and excited about math and science.
May 12 at 1:46pm
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association wonders if fans are planning on being courageous and collaborative leaders by helping students plan activities for Teacher Appreciation Week - May 3-9, 2009. What are your ideas? http://www.teacher-appreciation.info/Your_ideas/

April 22 at 3:06pm
National Middle School Association
National Middle School Association at 3:11pm April 22
Perhaps your advisory students would like to organize a Thank a Teacher project which would allow all the other students to express gratitude and have these notes delivered to the teachers at the end of the week.
Shawn
Shawn at 7:27pm April 22
Great time for a montage of teachers teaching put to "I Hope You Dance" and aired on closed circuit.
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association wonders what fans think about students sitting on exercise balls in the classroom. What do you think in response to this article? http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-03-07-class-chairs_N.htm

April 6 at 6:10pm
Jessica
Jessica at 7:10am April 18
I've been trying to get a grant to help me buy exercise balls and new desks for my students. I teach in an alternative program. I also recently saw an article about some kind of tall desk with a moveable stool and footrest. I'd LOVE to have some of those!

The more we allow kids to move, the better! It's not reasonable to make them sit still all day (or what seems like all day to them).
Sue-Ellen
Sue-Ellen at 6:17pm April 23
I have a few in my room. It has helped some of students focus better. I heard there are also cushions that serve the same purpose, but are easier to use when the desks are not conducive to using the balls. I am not certain where to purchase these.
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association wonders who fans think is a great young adolescent author. Why do you think that?

April 5 at 10:26am
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association wonders what fans think about assigning homework. What do you think in response to this article? http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-homework22-2009mar22,0,1964937.story

March 31 at 1:25pm
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Casey
Casey at 6:49pm March 31
Homework for the sake of homework is a waste of the teachers time (grading!) and the students time. Independent work, however, is an essential part of the learning process. Sometimes due to time limitations of a class period and/or time management difficulties on the part of the student in that class, that independent work must be completed at home... Read More. That is just the reality of the system. Practicing spelling words, math problems, social studies/science vocab is really a study skill that must be learned, but homework isn't always the best solution. Ultimately it teaches, I have to get the "work" done to have fun and not a self motivated attitude toward learning. An all out ban won't work, but homework for homework's sake is not beneficial for either teacher or student.
Schretta
Schretta at 6:14pm June 7
homework is fine when it is used properly.. It should not be used as busy work or teach what should have been taught. However, projects do just that. They allow the student to challenge themselves. I find that teachers that despise homework don't understand the purpose. I have homework and so do my students.
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association wonders how many fans have advisory periods versus homeroom periods at their middle schools?

March 26 at 11:39am
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Kim
Kim at 5:54pm March 26
We have gender resource. Male teachers/male students, female teachers/female students for 40 min. every day. We Mon./Wed. are silent reading, Tues./Thurs. homework, study, great conversation days, Fridays are activity days. I teach 8th grade. We do a lot of high school prep., etc. during this time. We discussed sexual harrassment this year and... Read More had our liaison officer in - this was really nice to have the gender split. My "girls" and I read some of the same books and have book chats. We held a cupstacking competition...
Kimberly
Kimberly at 7:20pm March 26
We have never had advisory... although as a counselor I'd love to have it.... and our homerooms became "unofficial" this year... basically a few minutes extra in the first block of the day. Neosho, MO
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association

Interviewing? How to secure a middle level teaching job.
March and April is the beginning of job hunting season for educators. If you are looking to secure your first middle level teaching position or looking to make a change, you should listen to the Interview Tips for Teachers suggested by Gail Heinemeyer in a podcast on Today's Middle Level Educator...
March 17 at 6:12pm
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association wonders if any members have ever worked with colleagues to create an interdisciplinary unit? What was your unit about? What were the students' reactions?

March 17 at 5:27pm
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association just sent an e-mail with a special registration rate for the Middle Level Essentials Conference, April 23-24, 2009, in Las Vegas, Nevada

March 11 at 1:27pm
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association just published the March issue of Middle School Journal. It's in the mail to members now and was emailed to all eMembers.

March 5 at 8:56am
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association

Power Teaching
Have you heard of power teaching in the classroom? Power teaching is an interactive type of instruction that engages students and caters to various learning types through using gestures, call and response, peer teaching, and micro-lectures...
March 3 at 8:27pm
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association

How Does the Economy Affect Young Adolescents?
Following the Presidential Address to the Congress that was on primetime television, your young adolescents might have questions about the economy. Do you wonder how the economy may affect your young adolescents...
February 24 at 8:05pm
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association

Education in the Economic Stimulus
How does the economic stimulus impact middle level education? Check out the link below for more information: http://www.nmsa.org/Advocacy/MessagesfromNMSA/EducationintheEconomicStimulus/tabid/1860/Default.aspx
February 24 at 8:04pm
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association

Math: What's the Problem?
"Math: What's the Problem" is a National Science Foundation special report that uses video interviews and other Web-based media to tell the story of America's decades-long struggle with improving student proficiency in math...
February 10 at 1:33pm
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association

Wiki What?
Are you wondering what in the world a wiki is? A wiki is a simple web page for groups where anyone in the group can contribute information. A wiki can be developed as a way to stay connected with family, friends, or even used with students in the classroom. Wikis are typically free to develop...
February 1 at 5:09pm
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association

Who Inspired You to Become a Teacher?
How did you decide to get into teaching? Is there a story, a person, a student? Share with us who inspired you to become a middle school teacher.
February 1 at 4:57pm
RECENT ACTIVITY
National Middle School Association discussed Power Teaching - Pros & Cons on the National Middle School Association discussion board.
National Middle School Association discussed How do you Wiki? on the National Middle School Association discussion board.
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National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association

Post your Favorite Quote on the Wall!
It seems that most teachers have a favorite quote to use on their newsletters or even as an e-mail tagline. Please share your favorite quotes with the NMSA Fans by posting your quote on our Fan Page wall!
January 16 at 7:47am
Patricia
Patricia at 5:11am March 29
I have a banner hanging in my room with this:
Be the change you want to see in the world. ~Ghandi
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association

Toshiba Grant for Math & Science Teachers (7-12)
Toshiba America Foundation (TAF) is currently accepting applications for grants to support innovative projects designed by math and science teachers to make their own classrooms more exciting and successful for students...
January 16 at 7:45am
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association

Win $1000 for your School - The Real Food is... Contest
Real Food Is YouTube Video Contest… Win $1,000 to tell it like it is. What is real food? And do they serve it in your school cafeteria? Tell us your story. Sing it, write it, mime it, or shout it...
January 16 at 7:42am
National Middle School Association

National Middle School Association

Attend the 2009 National Service-Learning Conference in March
Attend the Providers' Network Gathering at the 2009 National Service-Learning Conference Wednesday, March 18, 2009, Nashville, Tennessee, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. The Providers' Network will host an affinity group retreat in conjunction with the 2009 National Service-Learning Conference...
January 16 at 7:40am
RECENT ACTIVITY
National Middle School Association discussed on the National Middle School Association discussion board.