I chose this African proverb as the title for this article because I believe it represents the missing link in improving our schools. Much is said these days about what teachers need to do to improve test scores. Suggestions include a longer day, a longer school year, and elimination of all subjects that are not […]
Featured
Posted inFeatured, Opinion
To Teach or Not to Teach? The Early Career Educator's Question
Halfway through my second year of teaching, I found myself questioning whether or not this was a viable career for me. Despite the hours I put in at school and at home, my professional progress felt much slower than I wanted. I often wondered if I could do more for my kids if I left […]
Posted inFeatured, Opinion
"The Weakest Link"
At the beginning of the brand new school year, I had my students create a chain by taking a strip of paper and writing their goals for the school year on one side, and their strengths and talents on the other. I then had them connect the chain together and we hung it from the […]
Posted inFeatured, How to Fix Education, Uncategorized
Politicized Purpose: A Reassessment of Teacher Unions Today
In February 2011, about 1,000 Wisconsin teachers protested Gov. Scott Walker’s attempt to hinder union bargaining rights. Ripple effects were felt throughout the nation: political leaders sought to reform unions in each New Jersey, Nevada, Indiana, and Florida, to name a few. In her report on these stories, Jennifer Epstein of Politico writes, “Teachers unions, […]
Posted inFeatured, Opinion
The Laws of Teaching
By Guest Contributor: Mindy Thierolf One day I found myself thinking about the laws of the universe, and I had to wonder…are there any LAWS of TEACHING? Well according to John M. Gregory’s book, The Seven Laws of Teaching, there are seven. Newton had three. Murphy just needed one, you know… “Anything that can go wrong […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Social Studies
Issue Project: How I Empower Students to Change the System!
I teach high school government because I want my students to become empowered, active citizens who know how to effect the change they want to see. And the best way to get them there is to have them effect change while they are still students in my classroom. Enter the Issue Project. First, each student […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, From the Front Lines, High School
I Don't Believe in School Choice and Neither Should You
Across the country there was a tour going on named “The School Choice Tour” that’s been hitting cities in the United States touting how important it is for parents to have school choice for their children. I imagine their tour stops are full of parents and students who get up and speak about how their […]
Posted inFeatured
Necessary Freedoms: How the Little Rock Nine Still Teach Us
[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”] Last November, I had the privilege to attend a conference of educators like myself, who work primarily with dropout recovery and dropout prevention programs. These are the students society labels “at […]