“What does ‘nucleation’ mean?” I asked Josh (not his real name) after I handed him back his write-up on his class presentation. “Uh… I don’t really know Mr. T,” Josh responded. He grinned as he immediately realized he was caught. “Why is that concept in your presentation on Mentos in Soda then?” I asked. Josh […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
I’d Like to Report Some DEI
The following is my DEI report to the Department of Education: There’s now a webpage on the US Department of Education’s website asking for folks to report cases of DEI. Some folks are looking to embrace these anti-DEI measures. A recent oped in my area even asked teachers to help Trump dismantle DEI measures in […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
NEA Executive leadership votes to maintain relationship with Anti-Defamation League
Last night, the nine-member NEA executive committee voted against severing ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) over claims of how it treated organizations critical of Israel. “Today, following the culmination of a thorough review process as governed by NEA rules, including a vote by NEA’s Executive Committee earlier this week, NEA’s Board of Directors—representing the […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
Trump plans to unfreeze $1 billion for after-school funding
The Trump administration will unfreeze more than $1 billion for after-school and summer programming, according to a source within the administration. This comes after funding was paused on July 1, and across the country, school districts and state officials have been on the official. According to ABC News, “The programmatic review is over for 21st […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
New rule immediately stops undocumented immigrants from accessing Head Start
On July 10, Head Start providers nationwide were notified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that they must now verify children’s citizenship and immigration status before enrollment, a policy that could prevent some families from accessing the program. Head Start, a program dedicated to promoting school readiness among low-income children, supports more […]
Posted inWriting
Three things that made my writing professional development actually work
Elementary school is where a child’s love of writing formulates and blossoms. For some of those schools, including my Florida Title I school, writing instruction has become more complex and inconsistent. A survey I conducted about professional development with my teachers revealed that 69% of them dreaded teaching writing and wished they had more support. […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
The moral obligation of teaching “Divisive Concepts”
One of the most chilling movie scenes I’ve ever seen is of a woman removing laundry from a clothesline. Allow me to explain. The film, not well known but critically acclaimed and Oscar-nominated for Best Motion Picture, uses unconventional cinematography, no English dialogue, and in its entirety, haunts me. “The Zone of Interest” (2023) is […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
Republicans to introduce a bill to revoke charter of NEA, the largest labor union
If two Congressional Republicans have their way, the NEA, the largest labor union in the United States, will no longer have congressional ties. In a bill to be introduced tomorrow, Wednesday, July 16, Republicans Rep. Mark Harris of North Carolina and Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee will introduce the National Education Association Charter Repeal Act […]