Reaching and Teaching Middle School Learners: Asking Students to Show Us What Works

Enhance classroom practice by promoting an open and shared process with your students!

Middle school students have much to say about the quality of their schooling experiences and can provide rich insight into what works for them and what doesn’t. Educators Penny A. Bishop and Susanna W. Pflaum demonstrate how to enhance classroom practice by inviting students to offer feedback on pedagogy, learning styles, and their individual preferences and needs. Written for new and veteran teachers of grades 4-8, the unique framework of this book takes its cue from the students themselves by using their own words and drawings, combined with the authors’ action research, insightful analysis, and shared experiences.

Highlights of this powerful resource include:

Instructional strategies and content-area learning

Social interactions within the classroom that promote or inhibit learning

Learner insights into their own engagement and disengagement in the classroom

Student drawings, reflective questions for teachers, mini-lessons, and frequently asked questions about consulting students and honoring their insights

Reaching and Teaching Middle School Learners focuses on the learning needs of adolescents as identified by the students themselves. By promoting an open and shared process with your students, you can meet the unique challenges of working with middle school learners and create a positive schooling experience for all.