Today's Middle Level Educator

Today's Middle Level Educator, a podcast produced by National Middle School Association, is the place to hear conversations, interviews, and commentaries from middle level practitioners, leaders, and experts. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast and listen on your computer or MP3 player. Available on iTunes.

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Reflections of a First-Year Teacher (7:18) 5/2/2008 Features Nancy Feigenbaum, intereviewed by April Tibbles, NMSA director of publications. Nancy, a successful reporter for 14 years and a first-year teacher at age 41, shares her experiences in her first year of teaching. This show discusses her book, More Than I Ever Imagined: A First-Year Teacher's Discoveries. Give us your feedback about this episode Listen Online Resources: More Than I Ever Imagined: A First-Year Teacher's Discoveries

Organizing for Success (24:53) 4/21/2008 Features Debbie Silver, middle level educator and consultant, talking with Jack Berckemeyer, NMSA assistant executive director. Debbie and Jack offer ideas and concrete suggestions to help the new teacher organize for success. Listen Online Resources: Drumming to the Beat of Different Marchers: Finding the Rhythm for Teaching a Differentiated Classroom Apple Seeds: Reflections on the Significance of Sowing

Supporting the New Teacher (21:44) 4/4/2008 Features Dave Shepard, a former middle level principal, talking with Jack Berckemeyer, NMSA assistant executive director. Dave and Jack talk about identifying a good teaching candidate, and offer advice to the new teacher about first steps in classroom management and student motivation. Listen Online Resources: Hiring the Best Middle School Teachers with Behavior-Based Interviews Day One & Beyond by Rick Wormeli

The War Against Bullying (16:57) 3/14/2008 Features Charlene Giannetti and Margaret Sagarese, interviewed by April Tibbles, NMSA director of publications. Charlene and Margaret are recognized experts on young adolescent behavior. This episode discusses the publication Keep Cliques and Bullies from Invading Your School, and provides useful information on dealing with this issue. Listen Online Resources: Keep Cliques and Bullies from Invading Your School Bullying in Middle Schools: Prevention and Intervention NMSA Research Summary - Bullying

The School and Family Connection (21:07) 2/22/2008 Features Judith Baenen, middle level professor and educator, talking with Jack Berckemeyer, NMSA assistant executive director. Judith and Jack talk about building relationships with parents and families, pre-service course work, supporting new teachers, and maintaining a sense of humor. Listen Online Resources: NMSA Research Summary - Parent Involvement On Target - Family Involvement H.E.L.P. for Teachers

On Being a New Teacher (20:25) 2/8/2008 Features Nick Toombs, a second year teacher in Denver, CO, talking with Jack Berckemeyer, NMSA assistant executive director. Nick shares some of his experiences as a new teacher and talks about the preparation necessary for the first interview and the difference between his first and second years of teaching. Listen Online Resources: Philosophy, Preparation, Practice: Preparing for Your First Teaching Interview Ten Things All First Year Teachers Should Know … From an Administrator's Perspective

Book Study for Staff Development (10:57) 1/25/2008 Features Gail Heinemeyer, former middle school principal, talking with NMSA directors Jack Berckemeyer and Mary Henton. The conversation focuses on the advantages of staff participation in a book study on This We Believe: Successful Schools for Young Adolescents. Gail also offers advice to leverage data for student achievement. Listen Online Resources: This We Believe: Successful Schools for Young Adolescents Professional Development Kit: Understanding and Implementing This We Believe - First Steps

Expressions from the Middle (12:29) 12/21/2007 Features winning student podcasts from the 2007-2008 edition of Expressions from the Middle. Expressions from the Middle is an online feature of Month of the Young Adolescent that celebrates young adolescents by showcasing student creative projects from around the world. Listen Online Resources: Month of the Young Adolescent Expressions from the Middle Plan your Month of the Young Adolescent celebration

The Bright Middle Schooler (13:13) 9/28/2007 Features Carol Ann Tomlinson, interviewed by April Tibbles, NMSA director of publications. Carol is a recognized expert on gifted and talented students, meeting the needs of all students, and differentiated learning. This show discusses Carol's recent book Smart in the Middle Grades: Classrooms That Work for Bright Middle Schoolers. Carol offers some insights about working with high ability and high potential students. Listen Online Resources: Smart in the Middle Grades: Classrooms That Work for Bright Middle Schoolers NMSA Research Summary - Heterogeneous Grouping

Successful Advisory Programs (9:23) 8/16/2007 Features Sue Thompson and John Niska, interviewed by April Tibbles, NMSA director of publications. Together they discuss NMSA's newest professional development kit, Launching a Successful Advisory Program. The show highlights the importance of authentic advocacy and advisory programs, while John and Sue share their experiences. Listen Online Resources: Professional Development Kit: Launching a Successful Advisory Program NMSA Research Summary - Advisory Programs (July 2006) On Target - Advisory - Resources for Middle Level Educators

High Ability, High Potential Students (12:19) 7/13/2007 Features Susan Rakow, Ph.D., interviewed by April Tibbles, NMSA director of publications. Dr. Rakow is assistant professor in Curriculum and Gifted Education at Cleveland State University and has 30 years experience teaching middle school and gifted students. Susan talks about meeting the needs of all students, including those with high ability and high potential. Listen Online Resources: Teaching to the Top - Understanding and Meeting the Needs of Gifted Middle Schoolers Educating Gifted Students in Middle School All Means All: Classrooms that Work for Advanced Learners

Pointers for Principals, How to Hire the Best Teachers (15:18) 6/15/2007 Features Ed Vittardi, interviewed by Mary Henton, NMSA director of integrated media initiatives. Ed is currently working with NMSA as a facilitator for the Summer Leadership Institute. He is also a very successful principal in Ohio and serves on the Ohio Middle School Board. He shares his insights about finding and interviewing candidates for teaching positions. Listen Online Resources: Hiring the Best Middle School Teachers With Behavior-Based Interviewing Developing Teacher Leaders: The Principal's Role Sample Interview Questions and Approaches—Teacher and Administrator Positions at the Middle Level

Interview Tips for Teachers (12:24) 6/1/2007 Features Gail Heinemeyer, interviewed by Mary Henton, NMSA director of integrated media initiatives. Gail is currently a principal in Pennsylvania and is a facilitator for NMSA's Summer Leadership Institute. Gail provides practical interviewing tips and helpful information for aspiring teachers. Listen Online Resources: Sample Interview Questions and Approaches—Teacher and Administrator Positions at the Middle Level Philosophy, Preparation, Practice: Preparing for Your First Teaching Interview Middle E-Connections: Preparing for Teaching Interviews

Interview Tips for Principals (7:38) 5/18/2007 Features Santo Pino, interviewed by April Tibbles, NMSA director of publications. Santo has more than 40 years experience in education at all levels and is a facilitator for the NMSA Leadership Institute. His vast knowledge of middle level issues makes him an excellent resource for invaluable advice for aspiring and experienced principals preparing for an interview. Listen Online Resources: Sample Interview Questions and Approaches—Teacher and Administrator Positions at the Middle Level The Developmentally Responsive Middle Level Principal Developing Teacher Leaders: The Principal's Role

Bloom's Taxonomy in the Classroom (11:47) 5/3/2007 Features Sandra Schurr, interviewed by April Tibbles, NMSA director of publications. Sandra is the director of the National Resource Center for Middle Grades/High School Education at the University of South Florida. Sandra discusses the publication Ignite Student Intellect and Imagination in Mathematics, and provides practical strategies for bringing rich activities based on Bloom's Taxonomy to the classroom. Listen Online Resources: Ignite Student Intellect and Imagination in Language Arts Ignite Student Intellect and Imagination in Mathematics Dynamite in the Classroom: A How-To Handbook for Teachers

Democratic Classroom (11:49) 4/12/2007 Features Mark Springer and two of his students, interviewed by April Tibbles, NMSA director of publications. Mark is a teacher at Radnor Middle School (Radnor, PA) and the author of Soundings: A Democratic, Student-Centered Education. Mark facilitates the development of student-generated, interdisciplinary curriculum. Listen Online Resources: Soundings: A Democratic, Student-Centered Education Watershed: A Successful Voyage into Integrative Learning The Watershed Whole-Learning Activities Book