Three school years ago, I removed the work email app from my phone. It was one of the best actions I have taken. It is hard to balance your professional and personal life when your professional life is taking dominance at home because you can’t stay off of your work email. Here are some reasons […]
Educator Barnes
Educator Barnes is a middle school dean and adjunct college professor. Previously, she served as an elementary library/media specialist, an elementary and high school literacy coach, a middle and high school English/Language Arts teacher, and a K-5 English as a New Language teacher. Shawnta is an education writer and editor for Indy K12, a publication under the Citizen Education network. She is also the winner of the 2019 Indiana Black Expo Excellence in Education Journalism Award.
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
If You Want to Survive, Find Your Teacher Tribe
When you watch movies about high school, everyone falls into a group or has a label. Me, I was the blerd (black nerd) and the loner. I had a few friends and that was by choice, and most often I preferred to keep to myself and be alone. I maintained this behavior throughout college and […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
This teacher says, “Your momma needs to talk to me not through you.”
There is a picture of five-year-old Cardi B, with her hand on her hip, that has been turned into what I will call “my momma said” memes. I have to admit I found them funny until I came across one that said: Teacher: “There are no hall passes so you can’t go to the bathroom.” Me: […]
Posted inTeacher Self Care
Teachers, Don’t Spend All Summer in PD; Practice Some Self-Care
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to travel to Atlanta, Georgia for the first time. My boys really love aquariums, so we had planned to travel to Atlanta at some point to visit the Georgia Aquarium. When I heard about the Teacher Self Care Conference taking place in Atlanta, it was an opportunity to […]
Posted inRecruitment & Retention
The Hidden Struggles of being a Teacher of Color
Recently, there has been several of videos online showing people of color having the police called on them by a white person. They were reported to authorities because they were taking an action that for some reason made a white person feel uncomfortable or in danger. None of these videos are shocking to people of […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Your Gradebook Should Not Be a Punishment Tool
If you want to start an argument among educators, discuss gradebooks and grading practices. There are various opinions floating around about grades and various grading rules teachers must follow based on mandates from the principal or school district. I have worked at different schools during the course of my career and below are some of […]
Posted inConfessions of a Teacher
Are Elementary Teachers Jacks of All Trades or Masters of None?
Recently, I was facilitating a discussion with high school teachers about Kylene Beers book When Kids Can’t Read What Teachers Can Do – A Guide for Teachers 6-12. In chapter four, Beers explained that one of her students did not understand how to find the main idea and that she did not do a good […]
Posted inOpinion
Are the Kids Alright? Student Reflections on School Shootings
If an event is taking place out in the world, I want my students to know my classroom is a safe space for them to discuss those situations inside our classroom. As a literacy coach and teacher, it is important I give my students the time to process and reflect before we have discussions. To […]