Estimates are that over 100 million people (broadcast television and streaming combined) tuned into the Presidential Debate on September 26, 2016 – the largest viewership ever of a debate, and one of the largest television audiences ever. In the week following the debate between candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, several parts of the debate […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
A Paul Bunyan Story Map Becomes a Lesson in Racism
As it often happens, I was looking for one thing (Google’s expansion into creating maps and navigation tools) when I came upon another. I had clicked my way to a story map of the folk tale hero Paul Bunyan. I had followed a link to the Osher Library Map Cartographic Southern Maine University website and soon was down an […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
An Educator’s Message to Vaccination Opponents
A few days ago, I heard some loud noises coming from the room next door. It then turned to screaming. I briefly peered out into the hallway to see if it was under control, and a few teachers’ aides were helping to calm one of our autistic students. I revisited the classroom during lunch to […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Harnessing Competition
I have a room full of highly competitive students. Most of them are first born or only children and their natural wiring towards competition can drive a teacher crazy! Instead of trying to stifle their exemplary leadership skills, I use it for my advantage. Not to the point of pitting one against the other, but […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
[Podcast S2E9] Practicing Self-Care By Teaching in the Dominican Republic
During this episode, Franchesca Warren talks with The Educator’s Room writer, Whitney Kaulbach as she discusses how her journey to self-care took her to teaching in The Dominican Republic. For the past couple of weeks, we’ve discussed the need for teachers to not only advocate for self-care but to understand that teachers must be taken care of […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
36 Weeks of Technology: SeeSaw
In this series, #36weeksoftech, I will review tech tools in my fourth-grade classroom. I will give you my honest opinion and some pros and cons through the eyes of an experienced teacher. This is my 21st year in the classroom. I teach all subject areas. I have 19 students, an iPad cart I share with […]
Posted inConfessions of a Teacher
Fridays: A Teacher Confessional
Rebecca Black took a student’s perspective with her song “Friday,” focusing on the last day of the work week, where she wrote after “gettin’ down on a Friday, everyone’s looking forward to the weekend.” So, what about teachers’ perspectives on Friday? We asked our writers and readers, and here’s how they claimed to end the week: […]
Posted inUncategorized
Unnecessary Tasks of the Teacher
The law is changing for the college administrator; under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the institution must provide overtime compensation for some administrators (based on annual salary). Since my salary is below the benchmark, I will be compensated for any work over 40 hours a week. During a staff meeting, my director asked us […]