Contents
What Students Want
Us to Know
by Dave Brown
Some of My Best
Friends Are Books
by Laurie Halse Anderson
What Does Awesome
Look Like?
by Tom Daccord
Perspectives on
Learners
by Mark Overmeyer
Education for a
Sustainable Future
by Mike Johnston
How Does Our Culture
Affect How We Learn?
by Peter Welch
Memoir: Writing About
What Matters
by Lesley Roessing
........... pg 1
........... pg 4
........... pg 7
........... pg 10
........... pg 12
........... pg 17
........... pg 19
ELMLE we use the lens of PERSPECTIVES to inquire and analyze the needs of our students. Dave Brown shares insights into who our learners are and how to use what we know about them to meet their needs. The power of storytelling and the narrative our students are living is explored in Laurie Halse Anderson’s missive about the books that spoke to her during these forrmative years, while Mark Overmeyer and Lesley Roessing explore ways for students to create, compose and share their own story.
As teachers, we know our students will inherit a world that requires both challenging and changing perspective in order to tackle problems we simply cannot begin to fathom. Many of the tools they will need to make sense of their world in the future must be introduced in education today. Mike Johnston and Peter Welch share ideas on how culture and sustainability are integral components within today's classroom, while Tom Daccord details the role mobile technology plays in developing and implementing the tools students rely on to provide a truly immersive and enriching learning experience. Educators within our ELMLE community are fully aware that the most critical time to reach students and capture their idealism, creativity and courage is during the middle school years. Enjoy Bridge in the Middle and we look forward to discussing your perspective in Vienna.
Derek Harwell
ELMLE President
Editor:
Mark Gaspersich
American School
of Warsaw
Dear ELMLE members,
Welcome to ELMLE’s annual research journal, Bridge in the Middle. Each year, Bridge provides an in-depth look into the upcoming conference as well as sharing the latest research and best practices with you. This year at