Middle Level Minute

The AMLE25 Conference website is live, and we could not be more excited! It includes the proposal to present, registration information, and more! AMLE has contracted with several downtown Indianapolis hotels, and will be using the Convention Center. Check it out here!

AWARDED IN INDIANAPOLIS

Educator of the Year, Nomination due by July 15; Wouldn't it be nice for an Indiana teacher to win?

Conrad Toepfer Award for the CIvic Engagement of Middle Schools Students (Due April 30)

Student Soundoff (Submissions Accepted March 3-April 4)

Schools of Distinction

AMLE has many suggestions for ways to celebrate that you are middle level educators! What is your typical response when people learn that you are a middle school teacher? Do you tell them how important your job is? You deserve to be celebrated! Find the suggestions here, so you can hit the ground running when the calendar turns to March!

As a followup to last summer's successful MidCon, CIESC's professional learning branch, Keep Indiana Learning, is holding another summer conference, KINLCon. This year's will include middle school topics, but also others in the K-12 realm. It will be held at Noblesville West Middle School. You can submit a proposal to present by February 27, and/or register now.

Have you seen this fun trend!? Maybe you've seen, "Anything but a Backpack Day," where students devise unique ways to transport their belongings. In this case, staff members have secret theme days, with no notice to students. All staff participate, and sit back and wait to see if/what students notice. Many have posted that their favorite is, "Anything but a Cup Day" to contain their beverage of choice. Students look forward to coming to school and trying to figure out what the day's theme is. Here's an article with many examples! Some favorites include: (Image AI generated)

-Anything but a Cup Day

-Ninja Day

-Favorite Sports Team

What if you met with your entire student body, every day to start the day? In this blog from Keep Indiana Learning, Carrie Wisehart of DeKalb Middle School describes exactly how she does it. She has another great blog post where she talks about the transition from teacher to administrator, and how she is able to still maintain relationships with students... some great ideas!

Have you heard about Champions Together but are not exactly sure what it is? You are in luck! There is a brand new video entitled "Champions Together in the Middle 101." Join Tori Batson, Director of Unified Champion Schools, and Craig Tornquist as they discuss the wonderful partnership between Special Olympics Indiana and the Indiana Middle Level Education Association. Discover how this program promotes inclusion of students of all abilities. You will also learn how earning a Unified Champion School Banner will positively impact the culture of your middle school.

There is also a map where you can filter to find Indiana middle schools who are already participating. Spring is a great time to try an event like a track meet. Contact Tori Batson for any questions!

It is almost time for the Spread the Word campaign. Every March, Special Olympics encourages schools around the world to spread the word about inclusion. One of the easiest ways to do this is by having your entire student body sign a banner like the one below, pledging to spread respect and inclusion. Celebrate with us on, or around, inclusion day on March 5. (You can still order free banners, but probably will not receive them by March 5.)

Is there a simple definition of the "Science of Reading?" With many resources devoted to K-3, what about the middle level? A few resources that have emerged:

Fact Checking the Science of Reading: includes a link to read this eBook for free

Redefining the Science of Reading by Natalie Wexler (She has been on many webinars, and has one March 12.) Here is an excerpt from her new book.

Fun Tips to Develop Reading Fluency with Middle Schoolers (I recently attended a webinar with Kyair Butts, an outstanding Baltimore teacher.)

In the recent sessions from Keep Indiana Learning's Adolescent Literacy Group, several resources have been shared, including:

Increasing Fluency for Middle and High School Students

Five Oral Reading Fluency Strategies for Supporting Struggling Adolescent Readers

Who Wants to Be a (Reading) Millionaire?

Following up on last month's focus on scheduling: if your school uses a block or flexible block schedule, could you please contact Susie Highley? We have schools that are interested in learning more!

TIMES ARE EST UNTIL MARCH 9; FREE UNLESS NOTED

Many are available via recording, especially if you pre-register.

February 27- Proposals Due to Present at KINLCon

March 3- Kwame Alexander Reads Aloud Crossover, Chapter/Day for Read Across American Week, 8 am (on youtube for a period of time, many resources included!)

March 4-Appsmashing for Authors with MagicSchoolAI, Noon

March 4-Read, Rave, & Rekindle Joy, Teaching Reading with Maryanne Wolf, 3:30

March 5-Spread the Word Day

March 5- Introduction to Civic Online Reasoning: Teach Students to Sort Fact from Fiction Online, 7 pm

March 5- Middle Level Education Month: Shining a Light on the Promise of Adolescence, 7 pm

March 5- NEH Summer Seminar Applications Due

March 6-Literacy in Social Studies: Layered Learning with Primary and Secondary Sources, 4:30 pm

March 12- The Science of Reading Meets Learning Science, with Natalie Wexler 1 pm

March 12- eduMatch Webinar, "Creative Funding Solutions for Schools," 3 pm

March 14- Pi Day!

March 15- Holocaust Educator Workshop in Terre Haute (sponsored by Candles Museum) $25

April 10- AMLE Presentation Proposals Due

April 15-17-IDOE's TitleCon, Plainfield (IMLEA Presents on April 16)

April 30-Nominations Due for AMLE's Conrad Toepfer Award (Recognized in Indianapolis!)

June 16-20- CSPD Week, Bloomington (Applications open now!)

June 24-25- KINLCon at Noblesville West MS (Presentation Proposals & Registration both open now!)$

July 15- Deadline to Nominate for AMLE Middle Grade Educator of the Year

November 5-8- AMLE in Indianapolis!$

ONGOING EVENTS

Indiana Learning Lab Workshops (Requires Sign in for Registration, Also Access to Archived Events)

Teachers First OK2Ask Online Workshops; (Past on-demand sessions)

Keep Indiana Learning (KINL); Live Events (some $) Past Recordings/Digital Content

edWeb.net Webinars (Can watch at later date; if sponsored, "commercials" are at the end)

AMLE Podcasts: Walk and Talk & Research to Practice

AMLE Events (some free, some paid)

Corwin Webinars, Additional Free Corwin Resources, Including Past Webinars

Please note: Webinars and events mentioned in this space are not an endorsement of commercial products; on the contrary, we try to avoid listing events that appear to be commercial in nature. Every effort is made to strip social media/tracking data from provided URLs. In many cases, you can register and receive a recording later.

The only organization in Indiana devoted to promoting, improving, and supporting middle level education. We are the Indiana affiliate of the national organization AMLE, and administer the Schools to Watch program for the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform.

Join us! Membership Benefits and Application

Susie Highley, Executive Director

FIND US:

11025 E. 25th Street, Indianapolis, IN. 46229 (Inside IASP)

FACEBOOK X (Twitter) EMAIL LinkedIN

This February long-time corporate supporter, Horace Mann, is spreading the love for educators like you! As a valued public-school employee and association member, Horace Mann offers exclusive discounts and benefits on auto insurance — tailored just for you.

Auto insurance benefits you’ll love:

· Educator household discount

· Association member discount

· Multiline discount

· Payroll deduction discount (if available in your school)

· Good student discount

With their Educator Advantage® program, enjoy added peace of mind with benefits designed for your unique needs:

· Coverage for transporting students

· No deductible for vandalism on or near school property

It’s their way of saying “thank you” for all you do to make a difference. This Valentine’s Day,

show your ride some love — and protect your heart — with insurance coverage that cares as much as you do.

Click here to get your quote today or call us at 855-393-7508.

Horace Mann Insurance Company and its affiliates underwrite Horace Mann auto insurance. The benefits and discounts listed are only general descriptions of coverage and do not constitute a statement of contract. Additional terms and conditions, as described in the policy, must be met for the coverage to be provided. Not all discounts and benefits available in all states.

Horace Mann Service Corporation and certain of its affiliates (Horace Mann) enter into agreements with educational associations where Horace Mann pays the association to provide services aimed at familiarizing association members with the Horace Mann brand, products or services. For more information, email you inquiry to association.relations@horacemann.com.

EMA-00389 (Jan. 25)