"There is a little something for everyone." —David Callaway, Eighth-Grade Language Arts Teacher Rocky Heights Middle School, Highlands Ranch, CO "Although there are many books that provide lessons and units for various levels, the lessons in this book are very well written and provide more than just the unit instructions." —Diane Smith, School Counselor Smethport Area School District, PA Best practices BY middle school teachers, FOR middle school teachers! Best-selling author Randi Stone brings together a collection of best classroom practices by award-winning teachers from schools throughout the United States to inspire new and experienced middle school teachers with time-tested ideas. MORE Best Practices for Middle School Classrooms is packed with ready-to-go lessons and units written by teachers who have used these ideas 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: Managing 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!

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments About the Author About the Contributors Part I. Classroom Practices Across the Curriculum Classroom Management and Community Involvement 1. The Process of Effective Classroom Management - Chris Anderson, Grades 6-8 (New Jersey) - Chris Anderson, New Jersey 2. Developing Collaboration With Peers - Amy Stump, Grades 6-8 (Arizona) - Amy Stump, Arizona 3. Successful Classroom Management Strategies - Julie M. Pepperman, Grades 6-8 (Tennessee) 4. Taking Ownership - Truman M. Savery, Grades 6-8 (South Dakota) - Truman M. Savery, South Dakota 5. Parent Involvement: Heroes Among Us - Judy McEntegart, Grade 6 (Massachusetts) - Judy McEntegart, Massachusetts Using Technology in the Classroom 6. Internet Safety - Sherry Crofut, Grades 6-8 (South Dakota) - Sherry Crofut, South Dakota 7. Lights, Camera, Action! - Steven M. Jacobs, Grades 6-8 (Michigan) - Steven M. Jacobs, Michigan 8. Using Technology to Teach Language Arts and Social Studies - Donald Fought, Grades 6-8 (North Carolina) - Donald Fought, North Carolina 9. Bridging Nations With Problem-Based Learning - Rebekah Hammack, Grade 7 (Oklahoma) - Rebekah Hammack, Oklahoma 10. Students Create Podcasts - Brian C. Querry, Grade 8 (Pennsylvania) - Brian C. Querry, Pennsylvania Assessment 11. Short-Cycle Assessments - Darrell Yater, Grades 6-8 (Ohio) - Darrell Yater, Ohio Part II. Science and Math Teaching Science 12. Science Energy Lesson Including Differentiation and Inclusion - Michalle McCallister, Grades 6-8 (Texas) - Michalle McCallister, Texas 13. Creating Booklets Explaining Energy Transformation - Bonnie Garrett, Grades 6-8 (Alabama) - Bonnie Garrett, Alabama 14. Creating a Thriving Prairie - Tony Carmichael, Grades 6-8 (Illinois) - Tony Carmichael, Illinois 15. Scientific Building Relationships and Inquiry Skills Using Toys - Susan Leeds, Grade 6 (Florida) - Susan Leeds, Florida 16. It Is Rocket Science - Thomas J. Bennett, Grade 6 (Indiana) - Thomas J. Bennett, Indiana 17. Teaching Students About Cells - Tammie Schrader, Grade 7 (Washington) - Tammie Schrader, Washington 18. The Sustainable Green Vehicle - Steven M. Jacobs, Grades 8-9 (Michigan) - Steven M. Jacobs, Michigan Teaching Math 19. Coordinate Plane Aerobics - Genia Webb, Grades 6-8 (South Carolina) - Genia Webb, South Carolina 20. How Long Will It Take? - Lisa Wood, Grades 5-6 (Arkansas) - Lisa Wood, Arkansas 21. The Hallway Crush: How Full Is Full? - Sarah L. Crosse, Grades 7-8 (Nebraska) - Sarah L. Crose, Nebraska 22. Maze Madness - Amy Maxey, Grades 7-8 (North Carolina) - Amy Maxey, North Carolina 23. Scale and Drawing Relationships - Eric Melnyczenko, Grade 8 (Illinois) - Eric Melnyczenko, Illinois Part III. Language Arts and Social Studies Teaching Language Arts 24. Story Stew - Alicia Deel, Grades 5-6, Sepcial Needs (Virginia) - Alicia Deel, Virginia 25. Teaching Reading, Writing, and Differentiation - Judy McEntegart, Grade 6 (Massachusetts) - Judy McEntegart, Massachusetts 26. Tall Tales - Samantha Schwasinger, Grade 8 (Nebraska) - Samantha Schwasinger, Nebraska 27. Service-Learning Research Project - Rebecca Stallings, Garde 8 (Alabama) - Rebecca Stallings, Alabama 28. Comparing Formal and Informal Language - Sherry Crofut, Grade 8 (South Dakota) - Sherry Crofut, South Dakota 29. Teaching Descriptive Writing Using Song Lyrics - Samantha Schwasinger, Grade 8 (Nebraska) - Samantha Schwasinger, Nebraska Teaching Social Studies 30. Historical Character Party - Dale Baumwoll, Grade 6 (New Jersey) - Dale Baumwoll, New Jersey 31. America′s Dust Bowl - Elizabeth Rees Gilbert, Grade 6 (Maryland) - Elizabeth Rees Gilbert, Maryland 32. Medieval Italy - Judy Lindauer, Grade 6 (Indiana) - Judy Lindauer, Indiana 33. The Workforce - Dale Baumwoll, Grade 6 (New Jersey) - Dale Baumwoll, New Jersey 34. War! - Steven M. Jacobs, Grades 6-7 (Michigan) - Steven M. Jacobs, Michigan 35. The Mayflower Compact - Spencer Bolejack, Grade 8 (North Carolina) - Spencer Bolejack, North Carolina 36. Graveyard of the Atlantic - Spencer Bolejack, Grade 8 (North Carolina) - Spencer Bolejack, North Carolina Part IV. Music, Art, and Physical Education Celebrating Music and Art 37. Successful Music Through the Use of Standards and Assessment - Denese Odegaard, Grades 6-8 (North Carolina) - Denese Odegaard, North Dakota 38. Comics: Integrating Language Arts, Math, and Social Studies With Art - Amy K. Dean, Grade 8 (South Carolina) - Amy K. Dean, South Carolina 39. Edible Color Wheels: A New Way to Introduce Color Theory - Gayle Gruber Hegerich, Grade 6 (New Jersey) - Gayle Gruber Hegerich, New Jersey 40. Chinese Zodiac: What Animal Are You? - Gayle Gruber Hegerich, Grade 7 (New Jersey) - Gayle Gruber Hegerich, New Jersey Physical Education 41. Feel It Today: Warm-Up and Conditioning Routine - Kathleen F. Engle, Grades 6-8 (Wyoming) - Kathleen F. Engle, Wyoming 42. Spider Web and Human Knot - Erin Sweeney, Grade 8 (Virginia) - Erin Sweeney, Virginia