These kids range from ages 10-13 and are being told by school teachers that they are not to speak at all during lunch. If they do then they will face the punishment of saturday school. I feel this is wrong and do not like it all. Where do we draw the line between freedom of speech and what they are doing? I understand the order and discipline factor but this is going too far in my opinion. This is in the Dallas ISD.

That is RIDICULOUS, I’ve never heard of another school district having silent lunches. Lunch and recess are supposed to times for kids to socialize and have fun, and they shouldn’t have to sit there in silence.

I teach 7th grade Language Arts and I’m trying to figure out what kind of reward I should give the students who read the most. I also want to reward the student who read the most out of all four classes. Any ideas?

A book or a Borders or Barnes and Noble gift card.

My daughter wants to enroll in a home school program but she is in gifted at her school. If we take her out of school and we place her in a home school program, well she loose her space in the gifted program. If not what program can I place her in and if so how will they know where to place her. What programs are there available for her that have gifted and are virtual or that I don’t have to actually teach her. Just like Abeka Academy or Florida Virtual School.

It will be my first year teaching middle school students (8th grade math). Teachers/inspired teachers: What are great incentives you use in your classroom?
(computer time, board games…)

I am not a teacher, I am actually a high school student. But I had a excellent English teacher back in the 8th & 9th grade. What she did was all of the students sat at a table, and she sat at the front of the table, and she basically just connected with the class on a level of our understanding. She made lectures fun and learning fun. All that she did was put herself in our shoes, and help us all learn at our own pace. We also did occasional games and writing essays on fun subjects. We did board games on fun days, reading on Wednesdays ( where you could bring in a pillow and relax while read on the floor or lean against the wall), and writing, literature, grammar on other days. It is a shame the class was only 50 minutes, I wish it was the whole day. But those are some things she did, that you might be able to apply to your Math Class. ( Not the reading part, but maybe for homework) just make sure nobody sleeps. As for lectures you can try that. Also try computer games. Math computer games. What makes Math boring is always doing stuff out of books too. Try using the computer, chalkboard, or lectures. Mix it up. Have fun with it. Maybe have a fun day too. For example, have a math competition. Whoever can solve so many problems in so much time correctly wins this, but the prizes have too be well worth it. Have a nerd dress down day. Review the basics of math for those students struggling to. Use flashcards to review basics. Most important do not push any student unless you feel that they are lazy. They might get overwhelmed if you press too much homework or are learning impaired/slow learners. Make sure everyone is understanding the concepts and working at his/her pace. Make up creative ideas and use them. Make class fun. Good luck. Also having a pizza day once every nine weeks is a great way to reward a group of hard working students.

QUESTION FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS OR PEOPLE WHO JUST GOT OUT OF MIDDLE SCHOOL.

Do you think having a free period could have improve grades b/c in the free time a student could get help from a teacher?

How many middle school students would say they don’t have time 2 do homework b/c of sports practice or having to spend time with family.

that sounds like it would be really fun and good to have a free period-it would make school less BORING and lame. lol it is though. ☺

Just wondering if every public middle school in the US makes available foreign language classes?

no… I work for the NYC schools and there are no foreign language classes in my school as a requirement, as an elective or even as an extra curricular activity.

I will say that most schools that have the money offer it.

Are middle school students allowed to go on strike and why?

Well I guess all you would have to do is not go to school… but why would you not want to? You’re getting free (unless you’re an idiot going to a private school) education for god’s sake.

Where can you find free or cheap scripts for middle school students?

I am a new middle school teacher who loved performing in plays throughout school. I would like to have my students perform a play, yet with a district wide budget cut, I will have to fund this project myself. I am not against writing my own script, but was only curious if there were any good sources for a small school play. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

Archive.org has a bunch of public domain movies. Use the scripts from those, because it’s legal and free. Or Shakespeare.

I have to talk to a group of middle school kids this morning and tell them why their education is so important. Any hints on what I should say, or how I should tell them?

Tell them what they do now will determine if they get into a good college and make sure to tell the ones that don’t have all the money in the world that they can still get in by keeping their grades up.Make sure they have a major figured out before they get to college and that junior college will prepare them for that journey.that a good education will guarantee that their children will be well off in not to mention a good role model plus their parents would be so proud.Tell them in the grand scheme of things being the most popular person isn’t going to pay the mortgage.

I need good plays that middle and high school students can read, lower and upper level. To study and analyze

Here’s a few that I’ve studied in theatre history classes (just for reading and writing papers on, that sort of thing):

Glass Menagerie
A Doll’s House
Importance of Being Earnest
Tartuffe
A Raisin in the Sun
Oedipus the King
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Six Characters in Search of an Author
Trifles

Of, course, Shakespeare is a given. Here’s some of my favorites:
Hamlet
Romeo and Juliet
Midsummer Night’s Dream
Twelfth Night
Much Ado About Nothing
Macbeth