Voices off and eyes on me, in three, in two, and one. The class expectation is 100% engagement while the teacher gives the ‘stand and deliver’ routine for an hour. G is taking notes in her binder. And she is one of three students who’s raising her hand and adding insight to the conversation. She […]
Instructional Strategies
They’re Not Lazy: A Closer Look at Students Who Refuse to Try
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! As teachers, we’ve all seen it before. You’ve taught a lesson, modeled the practice together, and then all the students get started. Or, at least most of them do. Sitting there quietly, hoping not to get noticed, is a […]
Everything I Know About Standards-Based Teaching I Learned in Karate Class
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! It’s equally compelling as it is hilarious – this inside look at a kindergarten karate class. There’s joy in this room. Parents laughing, smiling, and taking video. Proud little ones with big dreams willing their limbs to strike out […]
It’s Time to End Elitist Music Education
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! For many students, music is part of their everyday lives. They constantly have AirPods in, nod their heads and tap their feet when they hear a beat, and use music to make themselves feel better if they’re feeling down. […]
Spark STEM Learning with The James Webb Space Telescope
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Like millions around the world I was thrilled to see the first images of the James Webb Space Telescope. Images called the cosmic cliffs showed the birth of a star. I was amazed at the capabilities of this new […]
How I Used Pokémon to Battle Student Boredom
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Anime has been a powerhouse in pop culture for decades, especially in youth culture. I recall enjoying it as far back as middle school, circa the mid-2000s, on channels like Toonami. Still, I never expected it to grow to […]
Yes, You Can Use Movies as a Teaching Tool
How to Use Visual Texts in the ELA Classroom Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! I’m sure they’re out there, but I have yet to meet the student who insists on reading the book rather than watching the movie version of a story. That said, […]
Adding Pop Culture to Your Lessons isn’t Hard- Here’s Why
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Pop culture: Imagine entering a high school. The hallways are alive with discussions and debates, creative and well-thought-out student projects, and teachers as facilitators. I witnessed this with my own eyes several years ago. At a local high school, […]