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

by Rick Wormeli

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 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, 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.

Genres: Teaching, Education, Nonfiction

264 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Karen]

Some good ideas, especially for those who might be new to teaching middle school. The book is 17 years old now and could certainly use an update, though.

[Graham Bates]

I'll admit the reason it took more than a month to get through this book is because my time teaching middle school was traumatizing. But I wish I had this book to help me get through those days. Wormeli goes far beyond the "just get a good rapport with the kids" and provides a multitude of tips and activities to use in your classes. It's dated, published in 2001, but the ideas hold up well.

[Martha]

Excellent for anyone working at the middle school level. Wormelli provides a good overview of the energy level of the students and practical ideas to implement. Middle school teaching is not for the weak of heart!

[Veronica Perdomo]

Wormeli is hilarious and I would love to see him in action. I think the trick with this work is adapting his suggestions in a way that works for you as an instructor. I think his basic arguments are well-founded and critical ones for teachers to consider in honing their craft.

[Cynthia Murray]

This book helped me as a new middle school teacher some time ago. Very informative and eye opening. It gave me new perspectives on how to manage my middle school class and relate better to the students. I was also able to get organized and know what to expect.

[Kristen]

Rick Wormeli's Meet Me in the Middle: Becoming an Accomplished Middle School Level Teacher was read for EDU 262 Middle Level Education.

I read the following chapters for my class: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 13, and 15.

[Patricia]

A broad approach to middle school teaching. It being my vacation, the fiction books were calling and I set this aside. It would be good to read before an interview though.

[T.]

A lot of practical, usable ideas.

[L.J.]

Once again, seemed to me that what is practiced on paper is not what is realistic in the classroom…Very funny personal experience stories, however, also somewhat delusional!

[Jeremy Heeringa]

Good read. A little dated compared to Wormeli's more recent writings, but good content and questions/ideas for middle level educators.

[Erin]

Finished the book. Finished the class. Earned my 4.0.

[Maria]

A good overview of middle school teaching and gave lots of food for thought.

Good for someone entering their first few years of teaching or a refresher.