A TikTok video titled “Can You Read,” where a student asked his peers if they could read simple sentences, has caused chaos at a Philadelphia Charter School and has reportedly gotten the students threats of expulsion. The video posted by TikTok user, @whatthevek, has garnered over 14 million views as of today and has […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Establishing quality relationships with students
Recently, I took an informal survey of fellow instructors regarding their most memorable moments as a “student” in education. This would have been long before many considered a career in teaching. Responses included memories of elementary school, junior high, high school, and even college. While expecting a collection of stories regarding a specific event or […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Teacher Appreciation Deals for the week of May 4-8
This upcoming week of May 4-8 is Teacher Appreciation Week, with Teacher Appreciation Day being May 5th. According to the nonprofit TCEA, Teacher Appreciation Week originated in the early 1940s, when Mattye Whyte Woodridge, a teacher from Arkansas, lobbied political and educational leaders to advocate for a day honoring teachers. Scroll down for the businesses (both […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Gratitude Tour: Chuck Roser
I visited Chuck Roser, his husband Tom, and their sweet rescue dog Patsy in their Pittsboro, NC, home on Friday, September 12, 2025. As a gesture of my gratitude, I took Chuck and Tom a six pack of 12-ounce bottles of Kona Big Wave Liquid Aloha. I gave Patsy dog treats and gentle pats on […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Learning Insights; A Nerdy Take on the Judgment of Learning
I am, unapologetically, a nerdy educator. I enjoy exploring research from other disciplines and examining its potential value in the classroom. I do so with skepticism. What holds up in a carefully controlled, research-driven lab environment does not always survive the unpredictability of a classroom. Still, fields such as behavioral psychology, neuroscience, and cognitive psychology […]
Posted inFrom the Front Lines
You are a Teacher; Not a Mum, Not a Savior: Teacher
As a full first-term teacher assistant, I was living the dream. I had built a class family that followed the rules, settled nicely, and spread love amongst each other so much so that we had become the envy of the other classes. I juggled many responsibilities and still found a way to show up in […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Ronie L. Mataquel: Leading Through Service, Faith, and Innovation
“To lead is to serve—faith gives the courage to do both.” This guiding principle has shaped the remarkable career of Dr. Ronie L. Mataquel, a visionary educator, scholar, and community leader whose impact stretches from classrooms in Queens, New York, to Filipino communities worldwide, to being named a Top 50 Educator for The Educator’s Room. […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Instructional Coaching That Actually Works
It all started in a classroom that looked like everything was going as planned. The students seemed to be engaged. The lesson was moving along. Nothing appeared to be off-track. But when the teacher and I sat down afterward, she paused and said, “I think they’re doing the work, but, honestly, I don’t think they […]