Jessica Fitzpatrick is a high school librarian in Houston and is in her eighth year of education. She holds a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from the University of Houston and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of North Texas. She is the 2020 TLA Branding Award Winner for Community […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Teachers Don’t Need More Mugs, They Need Respect and Empathy for Teacher Appreciation Week
“I am not a perfectionist, but still I seek perfection. I am not a great romantic, but yet I yearn 4 affection” (Tupac Shakur). Teacher Appreciation Week is near, and teachers want respect and empathy. No matter the profession, everyone wants to feel valued, to know that someone appreciates their efforts, and to think that […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
I’m an Educator in Canada and I want the COVID-19 Vaccine
I’m sitting in my office at home, after a day of teaching online, and I just tried to book my vaccine appointment, only to realize that since I don’t live in a hotspot, I’m not eligible. However, I want the vaccine. I have wanted it for months, and I knew that as soon as they […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Can We Talk About Inclusion for Autistic Educators?
. Hi, I am a teacher, and I am autistic. I am new to public education in the realm of elementary school. I have 15 years of experience as a preschool teacher, but I recently changed careers because I wanted to teach elementary-aged students. Can we take a minute to talk about inclusion for autistic […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Opinion: Two Men in Uniform: The Lessons Black Educators Have to Teach Students
Two men in uniform. One with visible hands raised in an effort to avoid any “misunderstandings”, and the other literally holding the other’s life at the end of the chamber in his gun. One clearly serving his country and one perpetuating the stereotype so many hold about law enforcement officers. As the daughter of a […]
Posted inAdult Learning
Surviving Pandemic Teaching: Teachers, Secure Your Own Self-Care Oxygen Mask
We have all heard the guidelines around how to properly use an oxygen mask in case of emergency while flying. Whether you have flown Spirit, Delta, American, Frontier, United, Southwest, or Allegiant you have heard “…and remember to always put your own mask on first before helping others” (American Airlines Safety Video). But, why don’t […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
“It’s Time To Make The Donuts:” Teaching in 2020-2021
In 1984, Dunkin Donuts released a commercial starring Fred the Baker. Fred becomes somewhat famous, and his one-liner resonated among workers who related to his daily grind-“it’s time to make the donuts.” As the 2020-2021 school year continues on an endless repeat, I have begun uttering: “It’s Time To Make The Donuts,” as I drag my […]
Posted inCOVID
It’s Worth A Shot: A Teacher Reflects on Mandatory Covid-19 Vaccines
When I began my teaching career, I had to follow several routine requirements to proceed: fingerprinting, background checks, and vaccinations. These are the basic required vaccinations: Varicella-zoster; MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella); Seasonal influenza; Human papillomaviruses (HPV) (eleven through twenty-six years of age); Others as determined by the ACIP and state and local public health […]