If you’re teaching middle schoolers like I am, you know how much growth and change they go through during these years. They’re navigating new challenges, learning to balance responsibilities, and figuring out who they are—all while adjusting to the increasing academic demands. During this time, one of the most important skills they need to develop

6 Reasons why Middle School Reading is Important Read More »

standards based assessments

This is the second blog post in a series about standards-based assessment. On the previous blog, we discussed that standards-based assessments (SBA) are a way to evaluate students’ learning based on one single standard or indicator. We also talked about five reasons why you should use SBA in your classroom. Before you read this blog

How To Use Standard-Based Assessment Data Read More »

standards based assessments

A few years ago, I was grading a test that my students had taken the previous week. I was really excited when I looked at the scores! Nineties and eighties littered my gradebook. It seemed like my students really grasped the skills within the assessment. Because the scores were so high, I continued on with

What Are Standards Based Assessments? Read More »

Tracking data sounds like the farthest thing from a good time, but I firmly stand by it. A few years ago, I was feeling lost in my content. We were moving ahead on schedule with the curriculum, but I felt like my students were falling farther and farther behind. Could standards based assessments be the

Why You Should Track Data in Middle School ELA Read More »

doodle notes

Truth, I LOVE DOODLE NOTES! As a 6th grade teacher, I saw a serious disconnect regarding note-taking. I had a few engaged students and eagerly taking notes (you know the ones I’m talking about.) But the others were gone, lost.  I realized I needed something to keep student’s attention and engage them in the material.

Doodle Notes in ELA : How To Guide Read More »

standards based assessments

What are two words likely to make a teacher’s head spin? Assessments and data. We hear these words frequently in education, and it’s often assumed that we must be experts at them. However, while teachers are experts in their content areas, we haven’t all been adequately taught about the different types of assessments and what

5 Ways To Assess Student’s Learning Read More »

Standards based data tracker

Standards-based grading has become quite popular over the years. Unlocking the full potential of your students requires not only a deep understanding of their strengths and areas of growth but also an effective system to track and communicate their progress. There is nothing worse than scrambling the week before conferences or the day before a

Standards Based Data Tool Read More »