Naming all the tragedies in the world is, sadly, an impossible task. When and how do teachers talk about tragic events in the classroom? This is a question every teacher has grappled with. Classrooms are beautiful, peaceful havens for students. And yet, students do not exist solely within these classrooms. Schools exist in the context of a world…

Mathematics is a critical part of academic preparation of the middle school child, or, as Dr. Maria Montessori would refer to them, children in the third plane of development. Montessori educators are sincere in their endeavors not only to prepare young students for further studies of math and the application of math in their world and careers,…

As a teacher of 11-to 13-year-olds, the author sees that her role definitely requires a sense of humor. A charismatic personality and the ability to lighten things up go a long way toward an enjoyable relationship with this age group. For Michelle Willard, a certain amount of levity in dealing with typical developmental issues is the key to…