On this episode of On The Middle, Thomas and Carl use stories to discuss metacognition and how teachers can share responsibility for helping students learn about their learning.

On this episode of On The Middle, Thomas and Carl recap their latest conference experience and discuss the message of relationships and engagement delivered by the keynote speaker, Jonathan Alsheimer.

In this episode of On The Middle, Thomas and Carl continue their discussion on school safety, this time focusing less on social-emotional safety and more on how schools are confronted with harsh realities regarding safety.

In this episode of On the Middle, Thomas and Carl discuss school safety from an emotional perspective as a means of being proactive, just, and thoughtful.

In this episode of On The Middle, Thomas and Carl continue their discussion of advisory programs, focusing on the philosophical aspects of the topic.

On this episode of On The Middle, Thomas and Carl discuss the importance of advisory programs and how they meet the criteria for one of AMLE’s characteristics of successful middle schools: that every student has an adult advocate that supports ...

On this episode of On The Middle, Thomas and Carl talk about how educators can successfully prepare for a return to school after Winter Break by evaluating their mindset, reflecting on things that went well/not well, and determining what they h...

In this episode of On the Middle, Carl and Thomas discuss what it means to understand and value young adolescents. Part of the AMLE Series, themes include development responsiveness and viewing students as capable and creative members of the cl...

In this episode of On the Middle, Carl and Thomas share about their experience with the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE). The organization's position paper, This We Believe, serves as a philosophical guide for educators of young ad...

In this episode of On the Middle, Thomas and Carl discuss one of the more fear-inducing aspects of Spooky Season, the teacher observation. What should an observation in a middle grades classroom look like, and what should teachers, coaches, adm...

On this episode of On The Middle, Thomas and Carl continue to discuss the dangers of antiquated grading practices like the use of zeros and grading students based on behavior.

Hosts Thomas Kelly and Dr. Carl Zoolkoski continue their discussion on outdated, unsound, and unscrupulous grading practices.

Hosts Thomas Kelly and Dr. Carl Zoolkoski discuss the pitfalls of traditional grading and how antiquated practices sneak in to haunt us when we don't even realize it.

Thomas and Carl review their first month back in the classroom and discuss the changes they've noticed in students now that they've adapted to their new routines and schedules. 

Hosts Thomas Kelly and Dr. Carl Zoolkoski discuss the importance of classroom management and how management is the core of the educational experience a student has in a classroom.

Hosts Thomas Kelly and Dr. Carl Zoolkoski introduce their beliefs about middle grades learners and their vision for this podcast project. This episode begins the Back to School series that runs through October 2024.