When my son turned 12, he joined my monthly Dungeons and Dragons game with friends. Picking up his dice for his first attack roll, I could see him deducing his chances of hitting the gigantic frog that was trying to devour his character whole. “I’ve got less than a 25% chance to hit it though,” he […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
New law changes how California kids learn to read
This story was originally published by EdSource. Sign up for their daily newsletter.” Gov. Gavin Newsom’s approval of Assembly Bill 1454 on Thursday marks the culmination of a five-year campaign to change how California children are taught to read. But education advocates say there is still much the state needs to do to ensure the state literacy plan is […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
How Misinformation in the Parent Sphere Impacts our Students
When we, as educators, think about the devastating impact of misinformation, we think about our students–the conversations that we overhear in hallways, classrooms, and the cafeteria, parroting back sound bites of information and descriptions of videos that they have seen on social media platforms like Tiktok. In 2024, Pew Research analyzed teens, social media, and […]
Posted inConfessions of a Teacher
The Philadelphia Eagles game that taught the teacher
Ned O’Malley lived for two things: teaching and Sunday football, specifically the Philadelphia Eagles. Monday through Friday, he was “Mr. O’Malley,” the energetic social studies teacher at Franklin Middle School in the suburbs of Philadelphia. But come Sunday, he transformed into “Coach Ned,” the ultimate Eagles fan. Every week started the same way. Monday mornings, […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
Dystopian Teacher Tales #7: The educational advocate and her clients
In this scenario, Donald Trump has been elected to a third term, which is something he’s often mentioned during the first portion of his second term. With the complete closure of the federal DOE, something that both Trump and Secretary McMahon have noted as a priority, many Title protections have been returned to states. Similar […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Education Secretary says shutdown proves department is unnecessary
On Wednesday, the Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon said that the federal shutdown is proof that her department should be eliminated, a longtime wish of Donald Trump. “The Democrat government shutdown has forced agencies to evaluate what federal responsibilities are truly critical for the American people. Two weeks in, millions of American students are still going […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Chronic Absenteeism: The Silent Killer
As a former Texas Master Teacher, I thought I knew everything there was to know about education, as it related to data and metrics. I knew how to tier my students based on their academic needs. I understood the necessity for grouping my students by various demographic markers. I effectively delivered the Texas Essential Knowledge […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Department of Education wipes out nearly all of special education office
This is a developing story. The Department of Education has fired nearly everyone in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in a wave of new layoffs that began Friday, according to the union representing the agency’s employees. This comes after the college access program known as TRIO was let go, according to Rachel Gittleman, the […]