Building an Academic Community: The Middle Teacher's Guide to the First Four Weeks of the School Year

by Amber Searles, Amber Searles, Ellie Cornecelli

Bring order and organization to the start of the school year while maintaining the enthusiasm and curiosity students bring with them as they come back from summer vacation! The first days of school are buzzing with excitement and questions as students meet new peers, start new routines, and look ahead to a years worth of learning. Covering the crucial first day, and each of the first four weeks of school, this guide gives you the tools you need to foster key social-emotional and academic skills in your students. With practical information Nurturing a healthy and productive Middle School learning community, making the most of Advisory, helping students set goals and invest in the classroom rules, responding to misbehavior in constructive way, and much more.

Genres: Education, Teaching

144 pages, Paperback

Published November 9, 2018

Reviews

[Andrea]

There were lots of useful tips for starting off the school year in middle school. I like their First 6 Weeks of School for elementary school, and this had a similar feel. There were goals for each of the first four weeks and how to work on academics, community, and social emotional learning. This will be a good tool for me as the school year starts.

[Jessica Lynn]

I recently began learning about responsive classroom practices and this book was included in a book bundle for getting started with implementing the practice. It had some good pointers, but I was hoping for more of a spelled-out plan to follow. It offers more general guidelines. Still, it's a good place to start.

[Rebecca Caufman]

Quick read that will review responsive classroom techniques. For more detailed information you will need another book.

[Kay]

This read like a really decent guide to a middle school advisory class, but otherwise it's a recycling of every other book about how to start the year at any grade level.

[Joe McCluney]

Nothing much new here for experienced teachers, just a rehash of standard start-of-year advice through a Responsive Classroom lens.