1. Power Point by Melissa Osborne Power Point by Melissa Osborne

2. Introduction Meet Me in the Middle is a fascinating book of best practices that incorporates ideas, lessons, and thoughts from accomplished and experienced teachers. Meet Me in the Middle is a fascinating book of best practices that incorporates ideas, lessons, and thoughts from accomplished and experienced teachers. Wormeli warmly writes what works, what doesn’t work, and backs up why with experience and facts. Wormeli warmly writes what works, what doesn’t work, and backs up why with experience and facts. This book is interesting and keeps not only the pre- service teacher thinking, but also captivates the experienced teacher with innovating lessons, ideas, and thoughts. This book is interesting and keeps not only the pre- service teacher thinking, but also captivates the experienced teacher with innovating lessons, ideas, and thoughts.

3. Interesting Content “The teacher is the attitude.” ( p3, last paragraph) Clarifying misconceptions of middle schoolers (ch.17) Clarifying misconceptions of middle schoolers (ch.17) Becoming a team teacher (ch.11) Becoming a team teacher (ch.11) Applying differentiated instruction (ch.7) Applying differentiated instruction (ch.7) Effectively engaging students in learning (ch.14) Effectively engaging students in learning (ch.14) Incorporating traditional/non-traditional assessments (ch.8) Incorporating traditional/non-traditional assessments (ch.8) Using writing in all content areas (ch.10) Using writing in all content areas (ch.10) Suggestions for teachers and mentors (ch.14) Suggestions for teachers and mentors (ch.14)

4. Personal Favorites “Change is necessary for growth.” (p138, fourth paragraph) Charts, graphs, and sample activities Charts, graphs, and sample activities Thoughts from various students Thoughts from various students Parents as partners (ch.15) Parents as partners (ch.15) Motivating students (ch.2) -students use their bodies in the learning process (p.18) Motivating students (ch.2) -students use their bodies in the learning process (p.18) Enhancing memory (ch.2) -triad response (p.21) Enhancing memory (ch.2) -triad response (p.21) Games (ch.5) -human bingo (p.55) Games (ch.5) -human bingo (p.55)

5. Personal Favorites cont’d. “If getting students to the point of mastering, not just covering the content, we owe it to them to provide highly effective practice.” (p80, paragraph five) Assessment (ch.8) –student created tests/rubrics (p.92) Assessment (ch.8) –student created tests/rubrics (p.92) Diffusion of writing anxiety (p.124-125) Diffusion of writing anxiety (p.124-125) Outdoor adventures (ch.13) Outdoor adventures (ch.13) Wormeli boldly admits where he has failed and needs to improve, making the reader see an experienced teacher is still a work in progress. Wormeli boldly admits where he has failed and needs to improve, making the reader see an experienced teacher is still a work in progress.

6. Innovating Ideas “Demonstrate how content or skills have direct connections to students’ lives.” (p8, paragraph six) Graffiti wall (p.188-192) Graffiti wall (p.188-192) Word splash (p.198) Word splash (p.198) Schoolnotes.com (p.172) Schoolnotes.com (p.172) Teacher report card (p.175&203) Teacher report card (p.175&203) New teacher shower (p.169) New teacher shower (p.169) Simulations (p.159) Simulations (p.159) Choice (p.118-119) Choice (p.118-119) Tic-tac [topic] (p.51) Tic-tac [topic] (p.51)

7. Innovating Ideas cont’d. Beach ball (p.43) Beach ball (p.43) Boom box (p.18) Boom box (p.18) Current event tall tale (p.133) Current event tall tale (p.133) Alternates of traditional testing (p.97) Alternates of traditional testing (p.97) Instructional and professional risks (p.73) Instructional and professional risks (p.73)

8. Questions to ask yourself? “Boldly teach what’s best for today’s adolescents-how to question, investigate, interpret, create, dream, analyze, synthesize, evaluate, reflect, take initiative, and act ethically.” (p39, first paragraph) How do I get to know my students? How do I get to know my students? Do I clearly communicate instructions and expectations? Do I clearly communicate instructions and expectations? How can I better meet the needs of my students? How can I better meet the needs of my students? What types of lessons are both effective and engaging to middle school students? What types of lessons are both effective and engaging to middle school students? What role do parents play in the classroom? What role do parents play in the classroom? Wormeli answers these questions and many more in Meet Me in the Middle. Wormeli answers these questions and many more in Meet Me in the Middle.

9. Final Thoughts “The emotional connection children make during the middle years will directly influence how they handle trust, power, conflict, fairness, and relationships in adulthood.” (p189, paragraph five) Book: Meet Me in the Middle:Becoming an Accomplished Middle-Level Teacher Book: Meet Me in the Middle:Becoming an Accomplished Middle-Level Teacher Author: Rick Wormeli Author: Rick Wormeli ISBN: 1-57110-328-7 ISBN: 1-57110-328-7 Read it today! Read it today! Wormeli, R. (2001) Meet Me in the Middle: Becoming an Accomplished Middle-Level Teacher. Maine:Stenhouse Wormeli, R. (2001) Meet Me in the Middle: Becoming an Accomplished Middle-Level Teacher. Maine:Stenhouse