On the ethics of properly grading students
I wanted to take a break from my usual cynical storytelling — don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of that — and address a very serious concern: an ethical, and yes,…
Keep reading
The Transformational Vision of the Library
How many times did you visit your school library as a child? How often do you visit it now, as a teacher? For what purpose? If you ran a quick…
Keep readingSomething went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Current events
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Personalized Book Recommendations Changed My Classroom Library. Here’s Why.
Walk into almost any school library and you’ll see the same thing… A small group of students browsing confidently. A much larger group hovering, unsure where to start. And a…
Keep reading
Truth, Courage, and the Power of Student Voice: The Transformative Work of Jessyca Mathews
For Jessyca Mathews, education has never been just about teaching literature or preparing students for exams. It has always been about something deeper: helping young people find their voice and…
Keep reading
You Won the Race”: A health class euphemism, reimagined
I generally dislike teacher stories marketed as “based on a true story.” They’re always cleaned up, sanded down, and weaponized for sentimentality. So here’s something that actually happened on Friday:…
Keep reading
Education Department to vacate D.C. headquarters as downsizing effort continues
The U.S. Department of Education announced plans to vacate its longtime headquarters in the Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) building, marking one of the most visible steps yet in the Trump…
Keep reading
Our school system is broken
I have worked for the New York City Department of Education since 2005. I began as a teaching assistant while in high school, became a teaching scholar in college, substitute…
Keep readingNational news
We must reinvent the way we teach to win back students
During my final years in the classroom, I struggled with something many teachers now face: We’ve lost our students. Disengagement is everywhere, and if we keep teaching the same way, we risk losing them for good. We must find a way to bring them back. “There are many students who are lacking motivation,” a Pennsylvania…
Keep reading
Gratitude Tour: Simon Curry
During the 2023/2024 school year at Blue Ridge School (my final year of fulltime teaching), I lived in a trailer. ‘A trailer’ wasn’t completely accurate. It was actually a cluster of trailers large enough to house four human beings along with three restrooms, a kitchen, common area and a large front porch. However, our individual…
Keep reading
Nature in the Classroom: Enhancing Tranquility in a Classroom
Imagine a student working through a challenging task. Teacher support has been provided and problem solving strategies have been tried, but frustration is increasing. The student looks up to see trees above, a sun peeking out, and takes a deep breath. A mindful moment relaxes the student and allows a reframing opportunity. The student has…
Keep readingTeaching with Ring-Things: Planning Beyond the Lesson Plan
I was doing potty patrol outside in the hallway in deference to my smoke allergy, when a kid came up to me and shoved into my hand a pair of those metal rings that magicians take apart and put back together. They sort of look like twisted polished nails. He bet me I couldn’t get…
Keep reading
Cultivating Safety, Belonging, and Well-Being: The Trailblazing Work of María Barragán Ortiz
María Barragán Ortiz is an internationally recognized multilingual educator, researcher, Top 50 Educator, and consultant whose work centers on creating safe, inclusive, and sustainable learning environments. From her early experiences growing up in a rural town in southern Spain to teaching and researching across Spain, Poland, England, and the United States, María has seen firsthand…
Keep readingThe Inner Student: Math Changes Lives
All educators know there’s far more to teaching than accomplishing the stark outline of a syllabus. In fact, the most important accomplishment is illuminated by an email I received from Logan’s mom after tutoring him in math: “…Logan ended up with a 91 in math!!!! …You changed the course of Logan’s self confidence, drive and…
Keep readingSomething went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
instruction
Donate to quality journalism.
With the support of readers like you, we provide thoughtfully researched articles written by teachers for teachers. This is your chance to support credible, community-based journalism focused on education. Donate today.
Learning to Slow Down and Let Students Lead the Learning
In a world driven by rigid pacing guides and shifting benchmarks, classrooms often feel like a race toward a moving finish line. Many educators believe constant…
What Is Speech Language Pathology?
What Is Speech Language Pathology? Communication is the cornerstone of daily interactions, shaping your personal, social, and professional life. Central to the field of communication disorders lies Speech…
Teaching Across Borders and Possibilities: The Global Vision of Dr. Angello Villarreal
In classrooms across America, educators often speak about the power of representation, belonging, and resilience. Few embody those values as fully as Angello Villarreal, a scholar, teacher, and…
The Power of Connection: Lessons from the Teachers We Never Forget
It surely takes little effort for most of us visiting The Educator’s Room to conjure up memories of favorite teachers and in our imaginations picture them in their…
Teaching the Whole Human: The Relational Leadership of Dr. Leigh Alley
In an era when education policy often focuses on test scores, pacing guides, and performance metrics, educators like Dr. Leigh Alley are reminding the profession of a foundational…
Proof That Self-Pacing Works: A Former Social Studies Teacher’s Perspective
I’ll be honest—when I first heard about self-pacing, I was skeptical. Sure, in a perfect world where every student is motivated, organized, and on grade level, maybe. But…