Posted inCommon Core, Featured, From the Front Lines, The State of Education

State of Education: The Perfect Storm of Connecticut Involves a New Evaluation System, Standardized Testing and Teacher Pension Fund

This article is part of our new feature “State of Education” where we hear what is going on in each state around the country, from an educator in that state.  If you would like to write about your state, contact us at info@theeducatorsroom.com!   A “perfect storm” is the name given to an event that […]

Posted inCommon Core, Current Events in Education, From the Front Lines, Uncategorized

Product Marketing a Test that Markets to Students

The New York State Department of Education’s new standardized tests were administered last week. The tests for grades 3-8 were developed by the educational testing company Pearson and contained new “authentic” passages aligned to the new Common Core State Standards. State tests might have been routine news had not several teachers also noticed that the English Language […]

Posted inAsk a Teacher, Featured, From the Front Lines, Opinion

Why Do I Stay? I Stay to Share Stories

Why do I stay? This question is circulating on blogs and in videos by teachers from across the country. My friend Catherine, a teacher and literacy specialist, brought this question to my attention in her post this week. She was participating in a challenge organized by Two Writing Teachers called  The Slice of Life. The instructions for participating are […]

Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Middle School

Testing Time is Here in Physical Education Too!

Many Physical Educators are now in the midst of their physical fitness tests across the nation.  Just like classroom teachers, we need to do a “pre” and “post” assessment in order to not only evaluate our students, but also our planning and classroom strategies used throughout the year.  Part of the testing process has to […]

Posted inElementary School, Featured, From the Front Lines, Kindergarten, Principals' Corner

To The Depths of Darkness and Back: A Personal Lesson

Have you ever doubted you’re doing the right thing? If all your time spent teaching was actually worth it? If you were really having an impact on students? Does this profession provide you a way to light others’ candles? Or do you find you’re burning so much that you’re doing nothing but burning your candle […]