As teachers, we interact with kids constantly that we often forget exchanges we’ve had. To many of our students, those exchanges are things they have clung to in their time of need or seen as the straw that broke the camels back. We see so many kids every single day that it’s overwhelming, but I […]
Posted inBack to School
The Importance of Feedback in Distance Learning
Who would have thought that we would be in the middle of a pandemic, and education would change so drastically in a matter of months? It has been a wild ride, at least for me. In our district, we are in a hybrid learning model. Our students come every other day to class and then […]
Posted inOpinion
The Power of Language: Presidential Debate Edition
I try to teach my students that language has power. There are many unfortunate classroom moments when teenagers colloquially use words they shouldn’t. Often, after saying something derogatory, students will immediately look at me and explain. “Oh, I don’t mean it like that” or “It’s just a joke.” Most of the time, I do know […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Teaching with Integrity: “Politics” in English Class.
Reading the News One of the things I love most about teaching English is the broad range of source material I can pull from. I love lesson planning and I dislike being bored, so my teaching is constantly in flux. My students read novels, analyze popular song lyrics, write poetry, watch Ted Talks, and everything […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
No More COVID-10 Aid Until After I Win, Trump Declares
In true fashion, Donald Trump took to Twitter today to let the world know that a new Coronavirus relief package wouldn’t come until after the November 3rd election. This decision has the possibility of being a hurdle to the thousands of K-12 schools who are depending on the aid from Washington to operate during the […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
All the Things We Lose to Standardized Testing…Even During a Pandemic
While many debates on whether or not standardized testing should be a part of the 2020-2021 school year, I (and many other educators) are still wondering why it exists at all. Don’t get me wrong, I see value in data and tracking student progress. However, I absolutely do not see value in billion-dollar testing companies, […]
Posted innews
Was it a Debate or a Debacle: My Seventh Grade Students Could Have Done Better
Man oh man, if you did not watch the first Presidential debate, you’ve probably read the morning headlines or morning tweets regarding it by now. I believe the funniest tweet I’ve read suggested having Andy Cohen, of the Real Housewives shows, moderate instead. Whoever said that made a good point. Honestly, throw a middle school […]
Posted inCOVID-19
It Takes More Than a Pandemic To Stop A Good Teacher
By Courtney Thomas I was once the conductor of an orchestra. The classroom was my concert hall. What I love most about teaching is the shared moment of discovery, especially when it builds into a crescendo. To me, the classroom feels like an orchestra of conversation, motion, and creativity. Maybe it was the fact I […]