Posted inHigh School
The Great American School Shuffle
I am a bit of an eavesdropper. When I hear the word school uttered in a conversation near me, I perk up. Like a prairie dog popping out of its hole, my neck lengthens, and I turn my head towards the speaker. My nosey nature concerning talk of education has led me to two observations: A majority […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?: The Neuroscience Behind Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood
Mister Rogers and his philosophy of loving our neighbors as they are has gained momentum over the past year, especially since the release of the biographical documentary film Won’t You Be My Neighbor? in 2018. What’s more, the trailer for the film “A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood” starring Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers was […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
“This is NOT a Drill: Back To School is REAL!”
About a week or so before your summer comes to an end, feelings of sadness, anxiety, and uneasiness start to set in. Summer is coming to an end and all of the memes about how great it is to have summers off are fading into the distance. If your summer was good, you’ll smile at […]
Posted inClassroom Management
Three Changes to Make to Your Teacher Language This School Year
The way we speak to our students holds more power than we think. Our tone and word choice can either motivate our students or make them recoil in anger and frustration. The language we use can also be ineffective and won’t get us the desired results in our classroom. I realized I needed to work […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Patriotism and Politics: “In God We Trust” in Public Schools
As the 2019-2020 school year commences, the calendar might as well read the year 1956–the year President Eisenhower included “one nation under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance and the national motto declared: “In God We Trust.” Although the futuristic year of 2020 is upon us, we continue to live in a time of anxiety […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
3 Dangerous Phrases to Remove From Your Vocabulary
As a teacher, we can get overwhelmed fast. In the midst of being tired, irritable, and frustrated, we can say some destructive words to ourselves, and if we’re not careful, to our students as well. Here are three phrases you should try to stay away from this school year. “Is it summer vacation yet?” I’m […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Imagining a National Teachers’ Strike
Back to School Hopes and Fears Kids and teachers around the country are heading back to school. In New York City, we have a few weeks more of summer vacation. But like many teachers, my mind is already thinking about the year ahead. I’m curious about the kids I’ll teach, and the families I’ll work […]