Well – it’s a done deal. Two weeks before the school year began I turned in my resignation to my school district after agonizing all summer awaiting news on how or what our protocols would be in reopening the schools this Fall. I heard the news; I presented my letter. In my head, I had […]
Posted inAsk a Teacher
Was Someone Actually High When They Proposed The Hybrid Teaching Model?
The dark circles under my eyes have returned. The fatigue is deep and familiar–it feels like January tired. And, today is only my third day of teaching in the hybrid model! My husband asked me how the first day went. I replied: “It was not my best opening day.” On the first day, I taught sans […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Reimagining Schools After COVID-19
Since March, the United States has been in a pandemic due to COVID-19. Over 189,000 lives have been lost to this virus. Our country is being led by an unfit leader who has appointed a Secretary of Education with no experience as a public educator. It almost seems like we’re in the twilight zone. Personally, […]
Posted inPodcast
Podcast Review: Nice White Parents
Since teachers listen to plenty of podcasts, we are going to start to review them. One of our firsts is Nice White Parents from the New York Times. Judging a podcast by its cover, the title certainly produces both evocative and provocative responses. All teachers and schools most certainly want to work with “nice parents” […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Support Staff: The Real Superheroes of the 2020-21 School Year
I’ve watched plenty of Marvel movies and read plenty of comics with my kids before we returned to school just a few weeks ago. As a teacher, it was great to feel like an Avenger as appreciative and supportive words from parents, school board members, and, most notably students countered the inane, ignorant comments we’ve […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Class Divide in Emergency Learning: A Crisis Overseas
By: Barry Anthony Parrenas & Mer Inisa Ogario September 10, 2020 Six years ago, our hometown was struck by Yolanda (international name: Haiyan), the strongest typhoon that has made landfall in recent history. At least 20,000 people died and went missing after the storm; several of our families and friends included. Directly facing the Pacific […]
Posted inCOVID
Betsy Devos Need to Spend More Time In Real Schools with Real Teachers
Secretary of Education Betsy Devos needs to know more about real schools and real teachers. Hell, just real people would be good. In calling for enforcement of standardized testing policies in public schools, during a public health crisis, she once again reveals a lack of connection to the lived reality of the victims of […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
5 Things I’ve Learned as a Student this Summer
It’s been a while since I was a student-specifically 4 years. However, I decided to take a course this summer to get qualified to teach Social Sciences, which has been a goal of mine for a while. With the current state of the world, this summer was the right time to take the step to […]