In this episode (that is late), I interview my friend and colleague Dr. Troy Hicks about expectations we should have this year as teachers.

1. In your opinion, as an educator, what should we be expecting as teachers from our students? In other words, should we be raising the bar higher for them academically?

2. Do you think it is possible for students to get caught back up academically to where they should be after the amount of learning loss that has taken place over the course of the pandemic?

3. What are some strategies you suggest to teachers who are trying to not only get students where they need to be academically, but also being mindful of their mental health?

4. What are some of the biggest changes that have to be made in the classroom that have been exposed because of the pandemic?

The new school year is upon us, and with this new school year comes new students. Some of these students haven't been in our classroom for almost a year and a half. What can we do to help these students feel safe and comfortable? This episode explores some ways we can help meet the needs of our students without overwhelming them

What is student engagement? How has student engagement changed for you over the last 2 years? 

This episode tackles both the definition of student engagement and how it has changed. Also, there are some strategies shared on how we can engage our middle school students both face-to-face and online. 

It's been a long school year for middle school educators, and all educators. How do we recharge our batteries, so we can thrive in the 2021-2022 school year?  This episode focuses on some suggestions on how middle school educators can get themselves back to where we need to be before starting school next fall. Join me as I offer suggestions given to me by my Writing Project Colleagues. 

Have you reflected much about school this past year? What are the positives you take away? It is easy to be negative, but what about all the good things you are doing? On the very first episode of Middle School Hallways, we will reflect on this year's school year.