As a classroom teacher of 35 years, I find myself challenged to create relevance with the subject matter in my math classroom in our ever-changing world. The topics of today’s youth and the scenarios they are going to encounter in the “real world” are foreign and seem somewhat out of reach to me. As Kristen […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
The life, legacy, and lessons learned from Malcolm Jamal Warner
Like so many Gen X adults, the death of Malcolm Jamal Warner was a shock. As the kids often say, it hit different. I have read so many articles and seen so many tributes to his impact and legacy that I felt compelled to capture how much his life has impacted my own. From phone […]
Posted inEnglish Language Learners
Can AI Be a Learning Partner? Rethinking the role of generative AI
Imagine that you’ve just assigned your students a reflective essay on something that they’ve read or on a project that they recently completed. Eventually, you begin sifting through the submissions, but you notice some marked differences from previous years. For instance,several essays are polished but kind of generic, with an overly refined tone that doesn’t […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
AI in the Classroom: The impact on student development
“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 […]