Adverse Childhood Experiences: Nadine Burke Harris begins her must-see TedTalk by referencing an “exposure that dramatically increased the risk for seven out of 10 of the leading causes of death in the United States.” That included 3x the risk for heart disease and lung cancer and a 20-year slash in life expectancy. The issue she is talking […]
Current Events in Education
Cultural Exchange Teachers in the United States: Supporting The Need for Effective Mentorship Programs
The Cultural Exchange Teacher program of the United States State Department has been in existence since 1967, where teachers from diverse countries like the Philippines, Ghana, Mexico, and China have the privilege and opportunities to experience professional and personal growth and development in various areas of teaching specialization – including mathematics, science, English, and special […]
Teaching Writing to Secondary Students is Hard, But It’s Necessary
During my first year of teaching, I had a brilliant student named Joshua*. Joshua was a Junior who was wise beyond his years. He loved to talk about books. He loved to debate different topics in class. However, it wasn’t until we read the cult favorite, The Color Purple, during the first nine weeks when […]
Fighting Fake News: A Book Review for Educators
From political conspiracy theories to the drama of who’s dating who in the celebrity sphere, fake news is all around us. It bombards us from the magazine racks in the grocery store checkout lanes. It pops up on our social media feeds, enticing us to click to see more. Sometimes it even makes it to […]
Poverty by America, An Educator’s Review
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Evicted, Matthew Desmond, is out with a new book, Poverty by America that speaks to the problem of poverty, the heartbreaking reasons why it persists, and what can be done to solve it. Desmond explains that “Poverty isn’t a line. It’s a tight knot of social maladies. It is connected […]
From Tennessee to Your Classroom, Amplify Student Voices
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Like many, I was captivated by the story of the expulsion of two Democratic lawmakers in Tennessee. I was drawn in by the righteous and justifiable indignation, the engaging call to action, and I listened intently to the powerful voices […]
Check Your Bias and Do the Work: What Teachers Can Learn from Angel Reese
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! As a former high school basketball player, and perhaps more importantly, as a Black woman, I found myself triggered by the “outrage” over Angel Reese’s end-of-the-game gesture that was deemed by some as a “classless taunt.” It brought me back […]
How Educators Can Honor Judith Heumann’s Legacy
Judith Heumann’s passing is a reminder to teach about inclusivity and disability rights Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! I have taught for nearly two decades, and I have had the privilege of working with diverse students, each with unique backgrounds, experiences, and struggles. These […]