Teachers are Underpaid and Overworked No one goes into teaching to get rich. Not with a teacher salary. You probably won’t see a teacher roll up to school in their Ferrari, Chanel bag in hand, strolling across the parking lot without a care in the world. You are more likely to see a teacher hopping out […]
Maria Ntumba
Maria Ntumba is a licensed French and English Language Learner teacher based in the state of Minnesota. Her passion is to teach students to be critical thinkers, leaders, and most importantly, lifelong learners. She believes that education is the key to open doors of opportunity for the learner.
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Three Tips on How to Create an Engaging Lesson Plan
Need tips on how to make an engaging lesson plan? The truth is, it’s easier than you may think. There are only three key elements necessary to make a lesson plan exciting. Interested to know what the three key components are? Drum roll, please….Here they are: make learning fun, relatable to students’ lives, and give […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Want Happy Teachers and Students? Start with Relationship Building in the Classroom
What is the key to success in the classroom? Relationship building. Creating positive teacher-student connections may be the most important thing you can do to build a solid foundation in your classroom. Let’s dive into why. Why Relationship Building in Classrooms is Essential According to Edutopia, building strong relationships might be the first and most […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Words Can Stick With Students for a Lifetime: Part One
Words Can Stick With People for a Lifetime “Be mindful when it comes to your words. A string of some that don’t mean much to you, may stick with someone else for a lifetime.” -Rachel Wolchin Whoever came up with the childhood rhyme “ sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
The Power of Words in the Classroom: Part Two
Every teacher should know the power of words in the classroom. In part one of this series, I introduce the idea that words have the power to heal or the power to harm. In this series, I give tips on words to avoid, words to say more, and how science shows that words can change […]
Posted inOpinion
Teachers are the Real Superheroes
Teachers, the Real Superheroes Growing up, I thought teachers were the coolest people in the world, and second only to my mom. In my mind, they were the real superheroes that the comic book authors forgot to write about. In fact, I admired teachers so much that I ended up going to college to study […]
Posted inEnglish Language Learners
English in America: Is English Really our “Official” Language in Schools?
English, the “Official” American Language Although the United States does not have an official language, everyone knows that English is the language of the land. Despite our history of multilingual immigrants who later became Americans, English has always been the “American language.” Our school system has reinforced this idea and has caused many challenges for […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
Elective Teachers Are Not Treated The Same…That Must Change
Not all teachers are equal, nor treated the same. This statement may seem extreme, but to thousands of elective teachers, it is their reality. Unfortunately, that has been my experience as a French teacher. My path towards teaching has been an uphill battle from the start. I as well as many other elective teachers have […]