I’ve been teaching middle school for 3 years and college for 6. While these two levels can be quite different, commonalities are present. Whether a student is in junior high or a junior in higher ed, one often asks a similar question: “Why aren’t we taught about money in school?”. Regardless of program or area […]
Posted inTechnology
When testing means torture: The unseen burden on students with visual impairments
The moment that broke me was quiet. The lead tester and I locked eyes from across the room, and both of us mimed a slow groan. My student’s finger—just one small hand on one long page—hadn’t moved in over an hour. He wasn’t distracted. He wasn’t lazy. He was simply doing his best to read […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
From Classroom to Cruise Ship: Retired educator sets sail on a 15-Year ocean adventure
Sharon Lane, a 77-year-old retired foreign language teacher from Orange County, California, has turned her dream of ocean living into a full-blown reality. After decades of teaching high school students in Los Angeles and San Bernardino, she’s now taking a crash course in world travel aboard a cruise ship she’ll call home for the next […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Congress Approves $930B in Medicaid Cuts—Schools Brace for Impact
In a narrow 218-214 vote on July 3, the House passed the final version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), enacting devastating Medicaid cuts that will impact school health services, especially in rural communities. Despite Republican control, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) joined Democrats in opposing the bill. This […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Daily Digest: July 3, 2025
The Daily Dispatch is our quick bites of real talk in education, every weekday. We publish every morning at 5:00 a.m., just in time for your daily coffee. Federal NewsBillions in approved federal K–12 education funds remain withheld by U.S. Department of Education (The Educator’s Room) GOP ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ threatens key services for […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Teaching 102: Avoid Recess Issues? Go Play!
It’s a Friday, and you’ve got a terrific math lesson planned. All you need to do is move your group of math geniuses from where they line up after recess back to your classroom. But as you have been dreading, there’s another argument between two young men on the playground. What if someone hadn’t “started […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
Can public dollars fund religous charter schools? SCOTUS says no.
In May, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 4-4 decision, effectively upholding the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s ruling that it would be unconstitutional for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School in Oklahoma City to receive public funding. The tie vote means the lower court’s decision remains in effect. Due to the evenly split vote, the […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
Billions in approved federal K–12 education funds remain withheld by U.S. Department of Education
As of July 1, billions in federal education funds approved by Congress remain frozen by the U.S. Department of Education (ED), raising alarms among education advocates and state officials. These funds, intended to support summer and after-school programs for migrant students, English learners, and underserved communities, have yet to be distributed, despite being authorized in […]