[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] Joel Klein, who spent ten years heading education in New York, offered advice back in December about how to “fix education.” One of his suggestions centered on teacher preparation and retention. […]
Daisy Filler
Mrs. Filler, or Savage Fill to her students, has been teaching high school English for a decade. In addition to the standard core English class, she has taught inclusion, honors, accelerated honors, and AP Language and Composition. Sometimes, she teaches creative writing and reading intervention. Her love of teaching comes second to her love of family.
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Writing Hacks for Grades 9-12
Teaching writing can be difficult, even for English teachers. Many of us set our focus on whatever test our state mandates, which causes us to neglect writing instruction for fear of “wasting” time. If our state includes a writing assessment, we will ignore cultivating a love for writing in favor of a more clinical approach. […]
Posted inFeatured
Teacher Tips: Teacher Collaboration
When I was new to teaching, I once looked forward to collaborative meetings in hopes that I would learn new techniques and gather useful advice. I also yearned to be useful. At my first department meeting, a more experienced teacher began complaining right off the bat (we had been tasked with improving our writing instruction […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Literacy
My Philosophy for Secondary Writing Instruction
A while ago, I shared tips for grading writing. Now, I am sharing my philosophy about writing instruction in the secondary English classroom. What follows are four of my strongest-held beliefs. Give students an opportunity to improve Many students believe writing ends as soon as they turn in their final copy. (For many students, it […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, High School, Opinion
Qualities of the Ideal High School Teacher
One day, while waiting for the lunch bell to dismiss them, a few students gathered around my desk to converse with each other; they had just finished taking their notes. Their conversation turned toward their experiences with different teachers. As they were airing grievances or defending their favorite teachers (I was merely a bystander at […]
Posted inFeatured, Opinion
College is Not for Everyone
You are not guaranteed a job when you graduate college. That is the reality of today’s world. According to Peter Capelli, a professor at Wharton School quoted in a recent Washington Post article, a discrepancy exists between the amount of college graduates and the amount of jobs available for said graduates; many current employers are […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Literacy
Bringing Writing Back: The SRSD Technique
A common grumble among my colleagues is teaching writing. We are well aware that American students score dismally on writing assessments, mostly because most teachers are scrambling to teach everything else on the menu. Consequently, writing has been neglected. Now that assessments are beginning to move from multiple choice to short answer and essay writing […]
Posted inElementary School, Instruction & Curriculum, Languages, Literacy, Mathematics, Opinion, Social Studies
6 Ways To Teach Critical Thinking Skills
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] Critical thinking skills. What are they, anyway? How do teachers apply them in the classroom? There are just as many answers as there are questions. This article will attempt to simplify […]