Most educated individuals can agree that science and science education is of the utmost importance to our children and our future. The state of Florida does not see things quite the same way as evident by a recent law that allows ANY individual to challenge what is being taught in science class. To make a […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Making STEM Matter in Schools
I just got back from a fascinating conference about the state of STEM in U.S. schools, sponsored by U.S. News and World Report. I was compelled by the idea of making STEM matter in schools; as a middle school teacher, I know this is the prime time to hook kids into STEM. This is the […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
The Golden Handcuffs: When is it too late to leave a District?
There could be hundreds of different reasons why a teacher may want to teach in a new district. Maybe they aren’t getting along with their current administration, they’ve recently moved, they are looking for better pay, shorter commute, etc. Whatever the reasons are, one fact remains- once you become established in a district, it becomes […]
Posted inTeacher Leaders
You Can Always Find the Re-Igniting Fuel in Teaching
It’s the time of the year that we all look forward to the end of the school year. Teachers finally get the opportunity to sit down while enjoying their lunch, use the restroom without a bell schedule, reclaim some free time in the evenings, and truly, honestly, relax. This is the time of year for […]
Posted inHigh School, Instructional Strategies, Teacher Leaders
The Student Who Can, but Won’t
Every teacher is told that they must teach to all learning styles, that they must follow 504 plans and Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and that they are responsible for differentiating assignments so that all students can learn equally. What if a teacher does all of these things, but a student simply won’t learn? Believe it […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
It’s Not the Teacher’s Fault: Where Our Education System Has It Wrong
I’m not a teacher and thank goodness for that because it is the hardest job in the world. As a School Counselor for many years in numerous settings, I have seen teachers blamed, criticized, micro-managed, and treated poorly by the various stakeholders in education. Since the Bush Administration implemented No Child Left Behind in the […]
Posted inEnglish Language Learners
ELL Students: Is it a Language Issue or is it Something Else?
Teachers of English Language Learners (ELLs) may face a challenge when deciding if their students struggle with language or other learning issues. The difference can be hard to identify. As a bilingual and ELL teacher, I ran into many students who struggled in class. I wondered how I could reach them and keep the momentum going for further […]
Posted inOpinion
Facing Student Death
I’m in total, utter shock. I just learned about the tragic passing of a former student. Upon looking at news articles about the passing of one, I unexpectedly stumbled upon the recent death of another former student. Talk about a punch in the gut: two young lives tragically plucked from the Earth when they should […]