“Mr. Dean, I wanna stay in here,” is the highest praise one can hope for from students. Teaching is often a thankless job, but students’ desire to prioritize being in your class rather than any other class is not something to take lightly. When considering what makes students want to stay in one’s class, I […]
Dean
Dean is an educator constantly considering new ways to reimagine education. He is most concerned with creating curriculum that entertains and empowers. Dean is currently pursuing his M.A in Curriculum and Instruction for Social Justice. During his free time, he writes poetry and plays chess.
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
The American Myth of Justice for All & Critical Race Theory
2021 seems to be the year of parent engagement. Parents all over the states are advocating for or against teachers utilizing Critical Race Theory in class. Some parents view Critical Race Theory as a method to offer a more transparent and equitable education. Other parents view Critical Race Theory as problematic, as it may make […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
We Need to Reimagine Education. Is Critical Race Theory the Answer?
Believe it or not, we are living during an educational renaissance. Politicians are grappling with how much money should be dedicated to school systems to adequately pay teachers and provide proper resources, principals must consider the metrics to use to observe teachers as virtual academies crop up throughout the states, all while teachers navigate mitigating […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
LGBTQ+ Students Need Advocates, Not Tolerance
As pride month comes to a close, we should consider the needs of our students who are members of the LGBTQ+ community. To be sure, these students have needs that go unmet daily. Considering how homogeneous and patriarchal most curricula are, we have a long way to go to equitably represent the LGBTQ+ community. Rather […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Students Are Coming Back to School: How Can We Engage Them Post-Pandemic?
Back to School: I saw online that hand sanitizer is 70% off at Target, which seems akin to a groundhog poking its head above the soil to marvel at Spring’s arrival. What’s the significance of discounts at Target? Well, a discount on hand sanitizer is symbolic of the pandemic nearing an end. Vaccines were so […]
Posted inSocial Justice
The Danger of Honors Classes in Our Schools
When it was time to receive teaching assignments for the 2021-2022 school year, our department gathered around our principal in the hallway. The six of us stared back and forth, wondering why she was so excited. Then she said it; she turned to our history teacher and announced that he would teach honors next year. […]
Posted inBack to School
Joining or Avoiding the Educator Exodus
To stay or not to stay, that is the question. Saying that the 2020-2021 school year was difficult for teachers would be an understatement. We navigated virtual learning, hybrid learning, transitioning to 100% traditional learning in some cases, all while being evaluated and fearing contracting COVID-19 in our classroom. I’m not sure what the qualifications […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
As a Student, I Needed A Culturally Responsive Curriculum; As a Teacher Lets Change That
By Joshua Dean When I was in High School, I never questioned the curriculum much. I was too busy thinking about football or my high-school sweetheart. As a graduate student pursuing an MFA in Poetry, I read the Dreams Songs without causing a stir in class. Even when the professor mentioned that John Berryman wrote […]