Research and experience continually affirm this important truth: the more students read, the more they succeed. Reading regularly, for pleasure, is positively correlated with most of the metrics for success we know: mature and varied vocabulary; writing skill; content...

One of the hardest jobs a PNA middle school teacher has is pushing students out the door at the end of the day.  School pressures and deadlines drop away and students can just “hang” with their friends. Unfortunately, since PNA students come from all over Anchorage,...

Once upon a time, a little middle school had a snow day. This created a BIG problem. There was so much to do! ​ ​Middle Schoolers had Valentines to sell and deliver, ​persuasive essays to write, Newton Scooters to build and present, ​mechanical advantage field trips...

There is something magical about being flung somewhere unfamiliar. Questions arise; awareness heightens; bonds form.  Complacency falls away. Last week, the 8th graders attended the North Shore Young Writers Conference which was held outside of Boston in the little...

It’s Super Bowl weekend, and this yearly battle of teams prompted me to reflect on teamwork in our daily life at PNA. We’ve all seen the inspirational messages: "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” -Michael Jordan "None of us is as...

Goofy + Giggly + Growing + Gregarious + Gangling + Gabby + Groggy + Gross = GREAT! (The Truth Behind Middle School) Middle Schoolers are not called “‘tweens” for nothin’.  They are in between the innocence of childhood and on the brink of understanding real world...

Writing is hard.  Writing about writing is harder.  This seems to be all that comes to mind as I try to write about the students’ writing.  I know how a student feels when I see her staring out the window during Writer’s Workshop - not writing.  In these times, I...

Happy new year! Our first week back from a lovely holiday break was short but busy! Our language arts and social studies times throughout the week were dedicated to preparations for the Martin Luther King Jr. assembly that will take place this Monday morning. We...

“Youthquake” is defined as a significant cultural, political, or social change arising from the actions or influence of young people, and has been selected by Oxford Dictionaries as the 2017 word of the year. Working with the PNA middle schoolers every day, we can...

“I did it! Yay!! This is fun!”  —2nd grader “Why didn’t that work? It should have worked… This isn’t very clear!”  — 7th grader and her mom Exceptional learners and independent thinkers exhibit many qualities: self-confidence; creativity; a problem-solving mindset;...