Meet Me in the Middle: Becoming an Accomplished Middle Level Teacher

Product Description Rick Wormeli is the teacher you would like to have on your team or in the room next door.from the Foreword by Ed Brazee Drawing on the wisdom of educators, researchers, and twenty years of personal experience in the middle school classroom, Rick Wormeli lays out a clear vision of what responsive middle-level teaching can be in Meet Me in the Middle: Becoming an Accomplished Middle-Level Teacher. Both a "how-to" book and a thoughtful narrative on important topics, Meet Me in the Middle gives you successful strategies for addressing key middle-level teaching challenges, including:differentiating instruction;motivating early adolescents;teaming;teaching in block-length classes;using authentic and alternative assessment effectively;writing in all subjects;holding students and teachers accountable;involving parents;mentoring teachers;using games in the classroom;applying the latest in brain research;the National Board Certification process;understanding the young adolescent. Rick ignites the imagination and commitment of pre-service and beginning teachers and rekindles the motivation of veteran teachers who want to create a high-performance classroom. He effectively demonstrates theory with rich examples from his own teaching. Teacher educators and staff developers will find Meet Me in the Middle to be a wonderful handbook of best practices and insights to share with new teachers, including second-career individuals coming from other professions. Review "A powerful and pragmatic effort. It balances the author's passion for teaching with his studied effort to substantiate his positions with research." - Middle Ground "A handbook for harnessing the ebullient energy of the middle schooler and using it to create an environment for learning." - Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy "Every time I had a question, a concern, or needed to turn somewhere to validate whatever I was feeling, I was able to substantiate my sanity by engaging in dialogue with the pages of this book." - Teacher Leaders Network "Will appeal to all middle level teachers serving both as an introduction to middle school education for novice teachers and as a tool to reinvigorate mid-career and veteran teachers." - Education Review About the Author Rick Wormeli is a National Board Certified Teacher and a columnist for Middle Ground magazine. The winner of Disney's American Teacher Award for English in 1996, Rick is an internationally known speaker on middle-level education, innovation, and teacher professionalism. Rick offers a wealth of experience having worked as a middle grades teacher, human growth and development teacher, and staff development educator. He is also an educational consultant to National Public Radio, USA Today, and the Smithsonian Institute. Rick has presented at the White House, has appeared on Good Morning America, and has worked with school districts all across the country.