NCMLE 2025 Middle School Matters Conference

“Local History, Universal Truths” will emphasize the importance of exposing middle school learners to local history. We will dive into the role of teaching local stories to expose greater patterns throughout the state, country and world. Inspired by the speaker’s own experience learning about her hometown of Wilmington and its controversial history as an undergraduate in college, this session will allow History educators to brainstorm the resources and stories within their own hometowns and apply it in practical ways for their students. Teachers will look at a variety of primary and secondary sources to make materials that are age appropriate and thought provoking. This session will show that History can become wildly more real when students can see, touch, and feel the place and space where lives were changed for better or for worse, and more importantly, they feel like they can do something about it.

The NCMLE Journal is a valuable platform for practitioners to share their knowledge, experiences, and insights. This presentation offers a tailored guide to the submission process, providing practical tips and insights specific to the NCMLE Journal's requirements and audience.

Experience the thrill of game-based learning with Sci-Ops: Global Defense! Transform your classroom with our NSF award-winning video game that teaches 6th-12th grade chemistry and physical science standards and exposes your students to STEM career paths and real world technologies. You will engage and excite your students by incorporating our video game and curricular resources into your classroom.

In this dynamic workshop, attendees will explore the essential practices for developing effective leadership within their schools. We will delve into the critical role of principals as leaders, managers, and developers of future school leaders, focusing on thinking three or four moves ahead to anticipate and address challenges. Participants will engage with essential questions that highlight expectations, and model transactional and transformational behaviors to foster a culture of excellence. Attendees will gain practical tools and strategies, including: Leadership Frameworks: Understanding the principles of effective leadership; Scenario Analysis: Developing foresight and strategic planning skills; Behavioral Modeling: Demonstrating key leadership behaviors daily; Mentorship Techniques: Coaching and developing a talent bench. This session promises to be interactive, with discussions, role-plays, and real-world applications, providing a comprehensive blueprint for nurturing the next generation of school leaders.

Group chats are a popular way for students to socialize, but they can also bring drama, misunderstandings, and distractions. In this presentation, educators will learn how to address the drama and empower students to navigate group chats confidently, fostering stronger friendships and self-confidence. Attendees will learn: Ways to equip students with strategies to handle group chat drama respectfully; How to address common issues like cyberbullying, setting boundaries, and fostering self-confidence; Ways to facilitate ongoing conversations with students and promote healthy online interactions.

Often, we can tell whether a school is a dynamic one in the first five minutes of a visit. The school "invites" visitors and all members of its "family" to share the warmth being generated throughout the learning process rather than keeping one's distance as a clinical observer. The result is a dynamic learning environment generated by genuine caring and inspired "family" members. Together let's explore some of the key traits of effective teaching across all curricula? Let's consider the roles of the arts, reading aloud, motivation, voice and choice, climate and culture, and more. Participants will explore a variety of questions, concerns, and challenges that address the type of culture and climate being used in classrooms, buildings, and districts. The importance of reading and writing across the curricula will be explored. The role of the arts across the curricula will be demonstrated through student work samples will be discussed.

This session will equip educators with strategies to transform English Language Arts classrooms into hubs of global learning, focusing on integrating the North Carolina ELA Standards with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using Scholastic's Candy Bar Crisis article as the centerpiece, participants will explore the journey of cocoa from West African farms to consumer shelves, examining its implications on global economics, climate change, and social justice. Educators will: Discover Global Learning: Learn what global education entails and its importance in preparing students for interconnected challenges. Understand SDGs: Dive into the Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on Goal 1 (No Poverty), Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).