Here we go again. Many people are struggling with the new normal surrounding education and COVID-19. The kids have too much work. The teachers aren’t doing enough. It’s all busywork. Can you believe there are 5 live class meetings each week? Can you believe there is only 1 live meeting a week? How will students […]
Adam Sutton
Adam Sutton currently teaches 11th and 12th grade social studies in Baltimore, MD. In addition to teaching for 13 years, Adam is an avid writer, father, and husband. His work has been published from TheEducatorsRoom to The Baltimore Sun, The Chicago Tribune, and beyond. Currently, he is working on his book "Teachers Don't Get Tired" while doing his best to corral his two wonderful daughters.
Posted inHow to Fix Education
The Ideal School Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
What would an ideal school look like? My wife and I, like many educators and parents, have had this question thrust to the forefront as part of the COVID-19 crisis. Overnight, my wife and I–both trained, veteran middle school teachers–have had to set up The Sutton School to teach our own kids. We’ve made all […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
The Lost Identity of Teachers: The COVID-19 Story
Due to COVID-19, on Thursday evening, it was announced that all schools in my state would close for two weeks starting the following Monday. Immediately, teachers began cloning themselves, figuring out how to recreate their daily learning experiences in absentia. Remember, a teacher’s value is their ability to listen and analyze the needs of a […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Schoolhouse Crisis: Teachers Exiting
We are in the midst of a schoolhouse crisis. A Learning Policy Institute study predicted a shortfall of over 100,000 teachers each year starting several years ago. The science seems to be confirmed by anecdotal evidence of teachers heading for the exits. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released findings last fall […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
Teach Hard History. We All Need It
I am a social studies educator. Emblazoned on the wall of my classroom is a sign proclaiming “I Teach Hard History.” Earlier this year my students looked at vivid, graphic, and unfiltered views of the Middle Passage that brought enslaved Africans to the New World. I’ve challenged students to think about whether or not the […]
Posted inFrom the Front Lines
Battling Teacher Exhaustion: 5 Do Now Tips!
Every teacher comes into the profession ready to change the world one life at a time. Every teacher also learns quickly that changing the world is exhausting. 10 years ago, my buddy gave me a ride home from work. As I stumbled out of his car holding what looked like a metric ton of stuff, […]
Posted inOpinion
Accountability is a Joke
Guest Writer: Adam Sutton Accountability has been a required buzz word when talking about school reform for 20 years. It ties results to school spending. In particular, test scores and student achievement data are expected to rise with spending. Accountability’s current usage is useless and divisive. Accountability, as it stands, is a way to lay […]
Posted inOpinion
Restorative Practices, Exhausting Teachers
Restorative Practices (RP) is the new darling of education circles. As its goal, RP seeks to interrupt and halt the school-to-prison pipeline while helping students overcome and cope with trauma. To do this, RP relies on developing relationships with students which enables them to reflect on and repair the harm they have caused. RP’s goals […]