Middle Level Minute: March 2024

You can get a sneak peak of some of Katie's expertise with this podcast episode from The Teaching Channel and register for the webinars here.

Principals: you can send a list of staff members to Elizabeth Johnson at CIESC/Keep Indiana Learning, and she will register them for the webinars for you

It's time to highlight all of the amazing things that happen each and every day in middle level education! Check out AMLE's #MLEM landing page for:

- Talking points you can share with colleagues and your school community

- Ready-made graphics you can use on many different platforms

- The 2024 Middle School Student Sound Off Contest

- Special #MLEM offers, including books

- And, opportunities to get involved and spread the word!

If you're looking for funds (up to 5K) to help you implement effective practices in your school, consider submitting an application. The AMLE Foundation supports this mission by providing funding for educators engaged in promising, research-based practices that fulfill one or more of the 18 Characteristics of Successful Middle Schools. Applications are due by May 1 and awardees will be announced by the end of the school year.

The AMLE 2024 Middle School Student Sound Off contest open to any student aged 10-15.

Students are encouraged to tap into their creativity and help the adults in their lives understand what it’s like being a middle schooler today and what they want out of their educational experiences. This can be done through various media, including artwork, photography, essay, poem, video, song, podcast. To see prizes, last year's winners and complete rules, go to this AMLE website. Entries are due April 5.

Dr. Conrad Toepfer, an advocate for developmentally appropriate and equitable educational practices, was a founder of the middle school movement. This award recognizes initiatives that advance his vision and motivates others to adopt similarly engaging opportunities. It will be granted to projects or programs that engage middle level students in meaningful experiences that address the social-emotional, psychological, and/or moral/ethical developmental needs of young adolescents.

Awards may be given for on-going projects, those that have been successfully completed, or those that are in the planning process. Awards may be given for both school and community programs that meet the criteria. Any person, group of educators, or community members who work with 10-to-15-year-old students may apply or be nominated. Find more details, including the prizes here.

With more schools starting to offer the required Preparing for College and Careers Course at the 8th grade level, these Career Exploration playbooks from AMLE and American Student Assistance can provide many resources of great use to middle schools.

Since 2013, March Mammal Madness asks the question “Who Would Win?” when two animals encounter each other in an absurdly complex and wonderfully nerdy way… a simulated tournament within a structured game universe!!! Everything you need is here. The first round is March 11 (so maybe have the students make their selections before you give them all of the links.)

LOTS OF PI DAY ACTIVITIES ON THESE SITES:

From TCEA (Texas Computer Education Association)
Quia Page with activities and links
10 Ways to Celebrate Pi with NASA

Activities from Texas Instruments

Resources from TeachersFirst

Ten National Women's History Month Activities (from HMH)

Government Site for Teachers Including National Archives, National Endowment for the Humanities, & more

Topics and Activities from MiddleWeb

Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

Story Corps: Stories to Honor Women's History Month

• Four Solar Eclipse-Themed Activities from TCEA (includes a digital breakout)
• Why you should wear red and green for a more exhilarating eclipse experience (glad I didn't buy that black tshirt!)
• The legend of Tecumseh and the Eclipse of 1806
• Resources from the Indiana Learning Lab
• One of my favorite maps with times, details, and events
• Upcoming and archived webinars from StarNet (including bilingual resources)
• Participate as a Citizen Scientist for the Indiana Geological & Water Survey

The Indiana Association of School Principals Department of Student Programs is searching for question writers for the Indiana Academic Super Bowl Competition for the 2024-25 school year. Due to retirements by current writers, they now need to fill the following positions:
Senior Social Studies
Senior Math (2 writers typically have shared this duty)
Junior Social Studies
An additional Junior Science (physics, geology, computer science)
They need to find writers as soon as possible to start the research & reading necessary to create a finalized outline and practice questions for the coach practice materials and the contest questions themselves. They will pay writers $4.00 per question. If all questions are submitted by August 1 the price is $5.00 per question. (Senior division up to 175 questions, junior 100)
Themes change every year and provide an exciting challenge to students and question writers alike. The theme for the first contest year is Ireland. If you are interested in becoming one of the writers, you will be asked to submit a few sample questions. Please contact Jill Slinker at IASP for the next steps. This is an excellent opportunity for retired teachers as well: spread the word!

The Indianapolis Colts have teamed up with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to recognize school teachers, administrators, nurses, and staff members who go above and beyond for their students, schools, and communities.

Ten finalists will be selected by a panel of educational professionals, the Indianapolis Colts, and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. One finalist will be named the Classroom Quarterback of the year and receive a $2,500 donation for their school. Find all of the details here.

Finalists will be selected based on one or more of the following criteria:

• Amount of involvement in school and/or community
• Degree of positive impact on the school and/or community
• Demonstrated commitment to education, health and wellness initiatives, and other programming

TIMES IN EST AND FREE UNLESS NOTED

Most are available via recording.

March 11- The Road to MidCon with Katie Powell, 4 pm

March 12- Amplify/Desmos Online Math Conference, Noon-5

March 12- Viewing Eclipses through a Cultural Lens, 1 pm

March 13- IDOE The Importance of Read Alouds for Middle Schoolers, 4 pm

*March 14- Pi Day!

March 15-Deadline to Apply for TeachersFirst Book Clubs

March 17- St. Patrick's Day

March 20- IDOE The Imperative for AI Literacy for K-12, 4 pm

March 27- IDOE Strategies to Support Secondary Students wi Disabilities, 4 pm

April 2- Deadline to Nominate an Educator for the Colts Classroom Quarterback Award, 11:59 pm

*April 5- Deadline for AMLE Student Sound Off Contest, 11:59 pm

*April 8- Solar Eclipse

April 9-11- DOE's TitleCon in Plainfield

April 30- Deadline for AMLE's Conrad Toepfer Award

*May 3- NPR Student Podcast Entries Due

May 13-Road to MidCon Webinar with Phyllis Fagell, 4 pm

June 22-24- Schools to Watch Conference, Arlington, VA

June 26-27-MidCon, Westfield Middle School

*includes students

ONGOING EVENTS

IN LearningPartnership (Includes Wednesday PD with IDOE)

Indiana Learning Lab Workshops (Requires Sign in for Registration)

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)

PATINS Trainings for Accessibility for All

AMLE Podcast Series

AMLE Events (some free, some paid)

Corwin 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

Shirley Wright, Schools to Watch Consultant

FIND US:

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

FACEBOOK X (Twitter) EMAIL

(These webinars are March 14, 18, 20, & 26)