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Welcome to Siena's blog, your source for helpful, cutting-edge resources tailored to teachers, parents, and other advocates in the learning differences community. We are dedicated to providing a wealth of curated knowledge spanning various topics, ranging from dyslexia advocacy and awareness to classroom teaching strategies, heritage month profiles, and social and emotional health.
Discover innovative classroom strategies that inspire creativity and foster a love of learning.
Our commitment to social-emotional wellness ensures that we provide valuable insights into healthy student development and self-advocacy.
Discover resources, reading and podcast recommendations, volunteering opportunities, and more for parents in the LD community.
Our important heritage month posts highlight key people, offer reading and podcast recommendations, and more.
Posts Tagged "middle~school"
Unlocking History Through Hands-On Learning: Siena 6th Graders Explore Ancient Egypt
December 02, 2025
Avg. Read Time 3-4 min.
At The Siena School, learning is not something students simply absorb — it’s something they experience. In the Fall 2025 semester, 6th graders from Siena’s Forest Glen campus dove into the world of Ancient Egypt through immersive, multisensory projects designed to build deep understanding, spark curiosity, and make history come alive.
Hands-On Learning at Siena
As part of their Social Studies unit on Ancient Egypt and pharaohs’ tombs with Siena middle school teacher Pinki Shah, students spent a week “mummifying” organs and crafting their own canopic jars. These creative activities highlighted the purpose and symbolism behind mummification, what was placed in a pharaoh’s tomb, and how Egyptians prepared for the afterlife.
Through the kind tactile learning that especially benefits students with language-based learning differences, the class explored:
- The religious beliefs that shaped burial practices
- The meaning behind preserving organs
- The artistry and ritual of canopic jars
- The human experience of preparing for an afterlife
This kind of experiential activity is exactly what Siena strives for — instruction that honors how bright, language-diverse learners thrive when given visual, hands-on pathways to understand complex material.
Mapping the Nile River
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Lining the classroom walls are the students’ Nile River recreations — a vibrant visual demonstration of how geography shaped civilization. Ms. Shah’s students learned how the Nile flows from south to north, how the ancient Egyptians depended on the river’s predictability, and why pharaohs were buried at specific points along its banks.
By designing their own river systems, students used spatial reasoning, visual creativity, and multisensory design to grasp how environment, religion, and community structure intersected in Ancient Egypt.
Experiential Learning While Visiting Queen Nefertari’s Tomb
One of the highlights of the unit was a field trip to visit a detailed recreation of Queen Nefertari’s tomb at a nearby community member’s studio. Forest Glen 6th graders visited local resident and artist Emily, who spent three years hand-painting the tomb inspired by what she described as one of the “most beautiful” ancient spaces she saw during her travels. For Ms. Shah and her class, walking into the space felt like stepping back in time. Students were able to see:
- The religious symbolism painted on the walls
- Artistic styles used in royal burials
- The scale, colors, and storytelling that surrounded a queen’s journey to the afterlife
Students were quite impressed by this immersive art experience:
- “The art was so beautiful. I learned about the [scarab] beetles and how they walked around using the stars and found their way. I think it is really cool how she painted the whole basement [...]. Her art is beautiful and I'm glad I got to see it.” —Jayne
- “Her paintings were beautiful and I can't believe that she did them by herself! We learned about how she made them and why. She also talked about how she went to see an Egyptian tomb [in person]. She told us how they made the tombs and how they carved it. One new thing I learned is that the Egyptians carved in black granite with copper.” —Isabel
Emily’s meticulous and passionate work enriched students’ understanding far beyond what a textbook could provide. Her dedication to historical accuracy and artful recreation offered students an unforgettable (and tangible) connection to the content — and Siena is deeply grateful for her generosity.
Through project-based tasks, visual supports, creative expression, and real-world experiences like these, students not only learned history through this unit — they built meaning, made connections, and developed a richer understanding of human civilization.
Additional Siena Resources
See The Siena School blog for more posts of interest about Siena’s hands-on education, including The Benefits of Reading to Dogs, Making Career Possibilities Real for Students, and the benefits of Dyslexia-Friendly Book Editions.
The Siena School, a national leader in dyslexia education, serves bright, college-bound students with language-based learning differences on DC Metro area campuses in Silver Spring, MD (grades 3-4 and 5-12) and Oakton, VA (grades 3-12).
Posted in
Teacher Resources
No Cap: Tech Detox Works
September 27, 2024
Avg. read time: 4 min.
It's lunch time. All around the school, groups of high schoolers sit, lunch bags scattered about, chatting and making jokes. A gaggle of seniors sit at a picnic table by the carpool line, half on the benches, half on the table itself, their raucous laughter loud enough to hear inside. A group of juniors sit on the steps outside the building, food laid out and music playing from a laptop. In the gym, students from all grades shout and shoot baskets, sneaking sips of water and bites of lunches in between plays.
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Meanwhile, in the school’s common area, a hodgepodge collection of high schoolers from various grades crowd around a table with a couple of teachers, a hilariously intense game of Taboo under way.
"Potato!" a high schooler shouts.
Ordinarily, this might seem a bit unusual, but this school year is different.
What brought about this wholesome series of images? Yondrs.
New High School Cell Phone Policy
This year, The Siena School launched a new cell phone usage policy that extended our existing policy for middle school up to the high school.
Students in grades 9 through 11 are now required to Yondr their cell phones and other smart devices (Apple Watch, Google Pixel Watch, etc.) from 8:30am to 3:10pm. Seniors are exempt from this policy as they work to self-monitor their tech usage in preparation for college and beyond.
As Head of School Katie Douglas shared in a communication to families at the start of the school year, "As there is not yet enough research to inform the impact of cell phone and social media access for young people at a crucial stage in their development, we are going to take a more proactive approach in our school policy."
The new cell phone policy has already made a noticeable difference this year.
Students and the New Cell Phone Policy
Unsurprisingly, this change was initially met with many complaints. Students objected to this separation from media they were accustomed to consuming during breaks. They insisted that leaving the phone in their pocket was sufficient. On the more serious side, they worried over their ability to contact family and friends in the event of an emergency.
Advisors, faculty, staff, and administrators provided reassurance and alternatives. Students can socialize face-to-face during breaks. They can still participate in TikTok dances; they simply can't record or scroll through TikTok itself during the school day. Regular daily contact with family can be handled through the Front Office, so students can reach their families when needed.
We're about a month into the school year now, and the vast majority of concerns have subsided. That said, not everyone is convinced.
"There are some days where I really need my phone during 8th period," one student shares. "I pick up my siblings and I have to coordinate times."
Another student nods: "I've always used my phone for reminders," he says. "Setting reminders on my computer is not the same."
Some students are noticing the culture shift, though, especially during study halls and lunch. Several students have gone outside to the playground during lunch for some fresh air and activity.
"Before, I would be on social media [during study hall]," “Not having my phone [...] has allowed me to finish my homework before I go home.”
And, for this 11th grader, waiting in the hallway for class to start: "I don't even bring my phone to school. It feels better."
Moreover, several Siena teachers and staff members have noticed students being more present when interacting. “They’re actually talking to each other and engaging in conversations,” said a high school teacher. “It’s refreshing to see.”
Research on Cell Phone and Social Media Use in Teens
Although the lasting effects of social media and frequent cell phone use on teens is ongoing, some recent research suggests benefits of such limits, for example:
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (May 2023), Surgeon General Issues New Advisory About Effects Social Media Use Has on Youth Mental Health
- Washington Post (August 2024), Cellphone Bans Spread in Schools Amid Growing Mental Health Worries
- New York Times (August 2024), Why Schools Are Racing to Ban Student Phones
- MoCo 360 (August 2024), Cell-Phone Restriction Pilot Program, Mandatory IDs Among New MCPS Safety Measures
Siena Blog and Resources
Want to know more about lunch games? Here's a list of the ones offered during High School lunch:
For additional relevant information from The Siena School blog, see our Parents and Community category, as well as previous posts about Mental Health Awareness for teens and the benefits of early intervention for LD students.
The Siena School, a national leader in dyslexia education, serves bright, college-bound students with language-based learning differences on DC Metro area campuses in Silver Spring, MD (grades 3-4 and 5-12) and Oakton, VA (grades 3-12).
Posted in
Parents and Community
Winter Break Podcast Recommendations
December 14, 2022
Avg. read time: 2 min.
Keep your high school and middle school students excited about learning and knowledge over winter break with these podcast recommendations from Siena students and faculty.
Podcast Recommendations for Teens
Check out these history, culture, and society podcasts for your teen:
- The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
- Footnoting History
- Forever Ago
- Let's Be Real with Sammy Jaye
- Outside Magazine Podcast
- Pop Culture Happy Hour
- Spilled Milk Podcast
- Stuff You Should Know
- Uncivil
Is your teen interested in science and related topics? Give these podcasts a listen:
- 60-Second Science
- Are We There Yet?
- Brains On!
- Hidden Brain
- How I Built This
- Invisibilia
- Radiolab
- Science Friday
- Science Rules!
- Wow in the World
Teens interested in books, music, and storytelling can try out these podcasts:
Give these family-friendly podcasts a listen:
More Podcast Resources
Common Sense Media lists these Great Podcasts for Tweens and Teens, and Parents magazine recommends 9 Great Podcasts for Teens. See Siena’s blog for winter break book recommendations and summer break book recommendations. See also this earlier blog post about podcasts from Siena Reading Teacher Leslie Holst.
Siena’s mission-focused innovative dyslexia education is designed for students in grades 3-12 with language-based learning differences on campuses in Silver Spring, Maryland, and Oakton, Virginia.
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Parents and Community
Winter Break Reading at Siena
December 14, 2022
Avg. read time: 3 min.
Looking for book recommendations to support dyslexic readers heading into winter break? Let Siena’s elementary and middle school teams help.
With winter break approaching, it’s important for students—especially ones with language-based learning differences—to read for at least 20 minutes a day to keep their literacy, decoding, and related skills honed. Regular daily reading will help keep students engaged through winter break with a variety of enjoyable, teacher-recommended books, series, graphic novels, short story collections and more.
Elementary School Book Recommendations
Here are some of our elementary classes’ top book recommendations this year so far, as suggested by elementary teachers:
- City Spies by James Ponti
- Nick and Tesla’s High-Voltage Danger Lab by Bob Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith
- The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane by Julia Nobel
- The Greystone Secrets #1: The Strangers by Margaret Peterson Haddix
- Flunked: Fairy Tale Reform School #1 by Jen Calonita
Elementary student Ania recommends Flunked: “I thought it was really interesting, and I liked that I never knew what was going to happen next.” Ania’s classmate Grayer really enjoyed Nick and Tesla’s High-Voltage Danger Lab: “It was a good book. It was fun to read about the brother and sister making things with their uncle in his lab.”
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Middle School Book Recommendations
Teachers from Siena’s middle school English and Reading teams recommend these books for readers in 6th to 8th grades:
- Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds
- City of Ember: The Graphic Novel by Jeanne DuPrau (Adapted by Dallas Middaugh)
- Warcross by Marie Lu
- The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
- You Should See Me In a Crown by Leah Johnson
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- Ungifted by Gordon Korman
- Scythe by Neil Shusterman
- Pumpkin Heads by Faith Erin Hicks
Resources for Book Recommendations
Young readers who prefer audiobooks can look for these and other books in the offerings from Learning Ally, Audible, and the Young Adult Library Services Association, among other resources.
Education consultant Ann Dolin wrote about engaging reluctant readers over summer break, including a handful of recommendations for different ages and suggestions for reading as a family. Although winter break is shorter than summer, parents could adapt some of Dolin’s ideas for their students—such as starting a book series to pique their interest in the next few weeks.
Whether it’s over winter or summer break, giving students some control over the process of selecting books when they’re not in school can motivate them to read for at least 20 minutes a day.
Here are some additional resources to help students with summer reading:
- Fairfax County Public Library Teen Events and Resources and Montgomery County Public Library For Teens offer recommendations, events, programs, and more. Check public libraries in your area for similar summer reading services for young people.
- The National Education Association offers ample resources, activity ideas, and links for families to find diverse books.
- The New York Public Library’s Staff Picks for Teen Readers goes back to Spring 2019 and lists English- and Spanish-language books. The NYPL blog also has expert-curated lists of books and other materials for school-aged readers.
See Siena’s blog for winter break podcast recommendations, summer reading recommendations, and posts about authentic assessments at Siena and about a handful of Siena alumni who’ve returned as staff members.
The Siena School, a national leader in dyslexia education, serves bright, college-bound students with language-based learning differences on campuses in Silver Spring, MD (grades 3-12) and Oakton, VA (grades 3-11).
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Parents and Community
Summer Reading at Siena
July 26, 2022
Benefits of Summer Reading
Summer reading is important for students’ academic and social-emotional development, but how can they find age-appropriate books that are also interesting and relatable to their experiences?
As this 2021 post from Scholastic points out, “Summer reading is critical, not only for helping kids maintain learning while school is out, but also for fostering social–emotional development, discovering the joy of stories, and elevating the importance of lifelong learning.”
Summer reading—even 15-20 minutes a day—helps students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences: it will keep their reading, retention, and decoding skills sharp in preparation for the coming school year. Regular reading also helps students’ social–emotional skills by sharpening their awareness of the world, as well as increasing their empathy and ability to understand various points of view.
Getting students to read over the summer can be a challenge. But knowing what their peers have read and enjoyed can help, especially when students have diverse stories, characters, identities, and genres to choose from.
Summer Reading Recommendations for Teens and Tweens
At the end of the school year, Siena teachers shared summer reading packets, which included recommendations and class readings for students across all grade levels. Teachers typically assemble their own reading lists to share with students, and they always choose a variety of books that reflect Siena’s diverse community and curriculum. Here are some of the books Siena’s students have been reading this summer:
To further help students and parents, Siena Humanities chair and middle school English teacher Beth Fabijanic shared that the Young Adult Library Services Association (a division of ALA) offers ample recommendations for teen/tween readers, including:
- Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
- Best Fiction for Young Adults
- Great Graphic Novels for Teens
Students who prefer to listen to books—or who perhaps want to read along while listening—should also explore the audiobook selections on Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults, Learning Ally, Audible, and Audiobook Sync (which updates free audiobooks for teens every week).
Resources for Summer Reading
“Children often react very differently when a parent or teacher tells them to do something compared to when they make a decision on their own,” this Dyslexia Resource post from 2020 observes. “When age-appropriate, encourage growing readers to develop their independence by allowing them to create their own summer reading schedule. While beginner readers should read around 20 minutes each day, leave the rest up to your student.”
Choosing their own daily reading time can give students a sense of control over the process, while the routine of summer reading can prepare them for the more structured days of the school year.
Here are some additional resources to help students with summer reading:
- Education consultant Ann Dolin recently wrote about engaging reluctant readers over the summer, including a handful of recommendations for different ages and suggestions for reading as a family.
- Fairfax County Public Library Teen Events and Resources and Montgomery County Public Library For Teens offer recommendations, events, programs, and more. Check public libraries in your area for similar summer reading services for young people.
- The National Education Association offers ample resources, activity ideas, and links for students to Get Serious About Summer Reading.
- The New York Public Library’s Staff Picks for Teen Readers goes back to Spring 2019 and lists English- and Spanish-language books.
Siena’s blog has more helpful resources for summer, including how students can improve their technology skills over the summer and how summer academics and camps can be beneficial.
Posted in
Parents and Community