Teacher Appreciation Deals for the week of May 4-8
This upcoming week of May 4-8 is Teacher Appreciation Week, with Teacher Appreciation Day being May 5th. According to the nonprofit TCEA, Teacher Appreciation Week originated in the early 1940s, when…
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Gratitude Tour: Chuck Roser
I visited Chuck Roser, his husband Tom, and their sweet rescue dog Patsy in their Pittsboro, NC, home on Friday, September 12, 2025. As a gesture of my gratitude, I…
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Current events
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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 readingFederal book ban bill advances, Drawing widespread opposition from the public
A controversial federal bill that would restrict access to certain materials in schools and libraries has advanced in the U.S. House, intensifying a national debate over censorship, student access, and…
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History, Curiosity, and a Classroom That Thinks: The Inspiring Work of Ryan Donovan
Some teachers assign history. Others bring it to life. For Ryan Donovan, an AP U.S. History teacher at Boulder Creek High School, the goal isn’t simply to help students memorize…
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Trump administration proposes 2027 budget with Pell Grant increase and sweeping education cuts
The Trump administration on Friday released its proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, outlining a plan that increases funding for the Pell Grant program while introducing sweeping cuts to student aid,…
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An emotional sponge in the classroom
The teaching world felt like it was under my fingertips. At 22 years old, walking into my first classroom as a third-grade teacher, I was certain I had everything I…
Keep readingNational news
Washington County Board of Education member censured for calling a student “hot”
Update: The father of the underage high school student, whom a Washington County, TN school board member allegedly called “hot” and then touched on the shoulder has now publicly spoken out: “We have remained largely silent while focusing on supporting our daughter and carefully considering the appropriate path forward after the disturbing and inappropriate actions…
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Lawsuit Targets i-Ready Maker Over Student Data Privacy Concerns
A group of K–12 students has filed a federal class action lawsuit against Curriculum Associates, Inc., the maker of the widely used i-Ready educational platform, alleging that the company unlawfully collects and shares student data without proper consent. The case, M.C. v. Curriculum Associates, is emerging as a significant legal battle over student privacy in…
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Gratitude Tour: Bob O’Connor
Bob O’Connor and I met during our 7th grade year at South High (a small neighborhood school that included 7th through 12th grades) and became best friends fairly quickly. I immediately liked Bob because of his positive outlook on life, his sly sense of humor, and mostly his family values. Only later did I discover…
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When Students Think in L1 First: What Teachers Often Misunderstand About Language Learning
William’s mother sent me a message on WeChat after our first lesson together. “I can roughly understand why his English now sounds like Chinglish,” she wrote. “It’s because he’s been away from the teaching approach of that international school for about two years, and he’s read very few English novels in the past two years.…
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Everything Educators Need to Know About the Seal of Biliteracy Requirements: 5 Common FAQs
In an increasingly globalized world, multilingualism has become a highly valuable skill. The Seal of Biliteracy has become a prestigious benchmark in the American education system, serving as recognition of multilingual excellence among youth across the country. Given its widespread recognition and distinguished nature, it is imperative that educators understand the specific requirements and pathways…
Keep readingBeyond the Bell: A New Jersey Teacher’s Adventure of Learning, Healing, and Storytelling
Education does not end when the dismissal bell rings. For many educators, teaching is not simply a profession; it is a calling that extends into homes, communities, and the everyday moments that shape a child’s growth. After more than 30 years in education, teaching in Franklin, Piscataway, and Edison, I have come to understand that…
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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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…