Poverty is more than just an excuse Policymakers and mainstream education reformers have been chronically unwilling to acknowledge education research and evidence indicating the impact of poverty on school children and the need for social and economic reforms. Yet at the same time they demand attention to and respect for the test data they believe […]
Opinion
Posted inOpinion
Tracking is a Dirty Word
To track or not to track? Is that a question? Have I already lost you? Tracking has been a dirty word for decades. Mostly for good reason. But. Leveled classes might have a place. We all know that “tracking” happens when we offer advanced courses and co-taught sections. The limitations of scheduling mean groups of […]
Posted inConfessions of a Teacher
A Dear John Letter to My Career in Education
Dear Education Career, It’s been a great 15 years, and I thank you but it’s time for me to go now. I remember when we first met back in college. You were so enticing; working with kids, the other professionals dedicated to making a difference, empowering change and knowledge in a strong field. When I […]
Posted inOpinion
The Emotional Roller Coaster of the Snow Day: Memes that Capture it All
With all the talk snow this past week in North Carolina, teachers and students alike seemed anxious in anticipation of a snow day. Me? I just kept thinking about make-up days and how much I hate having them. Needless to say, while my kids were disappointed in the lack of snow, I was not. We still […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
Seven Reforms Needed in Education
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! I love what I do. I love where I work. I love with whom I work. I feel like I am given the space I need to do my job, and I believe my admins are sincere whenever they offer to help […]
Posted inOpinion
Text Evidence in the Common Core: There Are Such Things as Facts
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) were released in 2009. They are now seven years old. I will admit that I was not initially enthusiastic about the English Language Arts literacy standards. I felt they were heavy in non-fiction…(no, wait.. heavy in “informational texts”). The CCSS suggested a typical student should have a reading diet filled with informational texts […]
Posted inBack to School
Real Teaching Resolutions
So many people make New Years Resolutions, and many of them are broad and unrealistic. Every year I go into the new semester with my eyes wide open and I think about what I can do to improve. What can I do to make my life easier as a teacher in the New Year? Some […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
The U.S. Secretaries of Education, A History: Part 2
In the previous article, we focused on the first five Secretaries of Education. So far my advanced evalumetrics have rated them the following: 0 Unsatisfactory, 1 Needs Improvement, 3 Proficient, 0 Distinguished, and 1 Incomplete. How will the next 5 Secretaries of Education pan out? Let’s have a look: The 1990s Richard Riley, the sixth […]