Collaboration in the Middle: Middle Grades to Higher Education Promoting, Advocating, Igniting Support for Middle Schools

The authors provide an overview of the Southeast Professors of Middle Level Education Symposium, which was held in Greenville, SC, May 17-18, 2018. This is the introduction to the proceedings from the Symposium

Collaboration in the Middle: Teachers in Interdisciplinary Planning

The authors promote collaboration through interdisciplinary planning

The value of domiciliary medication reviews – a thematic analysis of pharmacist's views

Background: Domiciliary medication reviews are thought to enable comprehensive medication reviews centred around the needs of individuals. However, there is no clear consensus on where the value of these services lie. / Aim: To determine the value of domiciliary medication reviews to service providers through semi-structured focus groups, interviews and thematic analysis. / Method: Study participants were recruited from domiciliary medication review services provided in the United Kingdom. Semi-structured focus groups and interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. / Results: Six themes were identified: the scope of domiciliary medication review services, the professional role, advantages over traditional settings, disadvantages of domiciliary medication reviews for the professional, levels of engagement and outcomes. / Conclusion: Pharmacy professionals believe that the domiciliary setting provides advantages over traditional healthcare settings when conducting medication reviews. They believe it enables a more in-depth review of an individual’s medications and needs. The traditional clinical outcomes recorded by services may not be capturing the holistic impact of domiciliary medication reviews

Celebrating 25 Years of the National Association of Professors of Middle Level Education

The National Association of Professors for Middle Level Education has been focused on middle grades education since 1997. This is an introduction for the CIMLE Journal in celebration of NAPOMLE\u27s 25 anniversary in 2022

Using Music to Teach Math in Middle School

Music is an effective tool to use in the middle school classroom. Music is engaging, makes learning memorable, and can help relieve anxiety. Music can be connected to math in many different ways. Lyrics, melodies, and movement can be used to enhance learning. Students can learn the quadratic formula song to help with procedural memory; they can identify fractions in musical composition and notation; and they can write class songs to help retain information

Connecting Weirdness and Wonder to Mathematics

Middle school students are weird and wonderful. Why not bring some of that weirdness and wonder into the mathematics classroom? Effective teachers of mathematics can create a culture of engagement, curiosity, and collaboration in mathematics instruction by presenting “weird” problems (as opposed to word problems) and giving students opportunities to explore their wonderings. Inspired by “the bizarreness effect,” the problems presented here are infused with humor and designed to intrigue young adolescents

Pilot in-field food safety training assessment of donation gardens managed by Master Gardeners in Iowa

Lack of access to safe, healthy food is a significant concern. Many non-profit organizations, such as local food pantries, are exploring ways to increase access to fresh produce in both rural and urban areas. Due to the vulnerability of the target audience that frequents the pantries, gardeners must distribute fresh produce that is safe to eat and free of pathogens. The vulnerable population includes young children, immunocompromised people, older adults, and pregnant women. The objective of this study was to assess Master Gardeners’ (n=39) awareness, knowledge, and attitude following a pilot in-field food safety training on managing donation gardens. Each hands-on activity in the training was designed to teach gardeners the importance of reducing risk in the garden. To evaluate the training, the team adopted a three-stage process: 1) Qualitative research to learn more about Master Gardeners’ perceptions of food safety and their motivations for engaging in the volunteer activity, used to inform workshop development, 2) Pre/post measurement of changes in awareness, knowledge, and attitude at the time of the workshop, and 3) Measurement of any changes in the practice of key food safety protocols two to three months post-workshop. The evaluation results showed that knowledge increased significantly after the gardeners participated and completed hands-on activities. For example, we observed that the gardeners gained significant knowledge regarding what items were crucial in a food safety tool kit. The post-training follow-up evaluation indicated that participants made significant changes too many but not all of their practices. However, gardeners purchased items to help them implement food safety practices in donation gardens throughout Iowa

Introduction to the Issue: Preparing the Next Generation of Middle School Leaders

The articles in this issue of Current Issues in Middle Level Education are based on a Symposium that did not take place as planned. In May 2020, middle level educators and researchers from across the Southeast and beyond would have gathered in Asheville, NC, for a Symposium sponsored by the Southeast Professors of Middle Level Education (SEPOMLE). Due to COVID-19, however, the in-person Symposium was canceled, and accepted authors were invited to submit manuscripts based on their work for this issue. These articles represent ideas on the Symposium theme of “Preparing the Next Generation of Middle School Leaders.” Across the articles, a theme of connection emerges. This idea of connection is linked to middle level concepts about curriculum and teaching, and it is also linked to a professional goal of meetings like the Symposium to connect with one another, share ideas, and build a community of learners. The idea of connection also relates to our national context and the importance of building bridges and looking forward together: to include diverse voices and perspectives, to connect across distances, to strengthen education. In the words of the late John Lewis, “You must be a headlight, not a taillight.” We thank the authors of these articles for shining light on ways for middle level educators and researchers to connect and to prepare new leaders. SEPOMLE is planning a Symposium in 2021. Please check the website for the National Association of Professors of Middle Level Education (www.napomle.com) for information in the months ahead

Uniting Students with Literacy Connections in Mathematics

Literature provides opportunities for students to connect to mathematics, as well as each other. Reflecting on personal identities, storytelling, and place-based connections are avenues to enhancing the relevancy of content across the curriculum. Literature can bridge the divide for students reluctant to see the beauty in mathematics. It can also be the impetus in helping unite students as they gain a better understanding of cultures and places beyond their own. Stories, along with interactive tasks, give context for collaborative experiences. This article shares resources and strategies for building understanding and collaboration among students using cross-curricular connections between mathematics and literacy