MiddleTalk Listserve

Our Community Principles

Members of the MiddleTalk community agree to the following principles:

• Out of respect for my online colleagues, I will focus on the ideas and not the individuals who post them. As I observe and discuss the work and the questions of other educators, I will refrain from offering personal or professional feedback. I will resist the urge to offer suggestions unless specifically requested to do so.
• I will engage in civil conversation. I understand that part of the moderator's job is to assure that we maintain this tradition.
• I will focus my postings on the professional work of middle grades educators by sharing stories, successes, and challenges that promote thoughtful discussion about teaching, learning, and middle level students.
• I will avoid topics that move the listserve away from its main purpose.
• I understand there are differences in beliefs of individuals, schools, and communities; and will respect those differences as I focus on the listserve’s main purpose, which is to facilitate the growth of a community of practice around middle grades education. While questions about how to teach politics, religion, and other potentially sensitive topics may come up, discussions involving personal views about those topics should be avoided.