I wanted to take a break from my usual cynical storytelling — don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of that — and address a very serious concern: an ethical, and yes, existential question (despite how overused that word has become) about student grading. I work as a special education teacher in an urban public high school […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
The Transformational Vision of the Library
How many times did you visit your school library as a child? How often do you visit it now, as a teacher? For what purpose? If you ran a quick survey, you’d likely get a wide range of answers. Libraries have changed — we call them Media Centers, Information Centers, Learning Hubs — yet the […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Federal book ban bill advances, Drawing widespread opposition from the public
A controversial federal bill that would restrict access to certain materials in schools and libraries has advanced in the U.S. House, intensifying a national debate over censorship, student access, and the role of government in education. H.R. 7661, known as the “Stop the Sexualization of Children Act,” was introduced in February and advanced out of […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
History, Curiosity, and a Classroom That Thinks: The Inspiring Work of Ryan Donovan
Some teachers assign history. Others bring it to life. For Ryan Donovan, an AP U.S. History teacher at Boulder Creek High School, the goal isn’t simply to help students memorize dates and events—it’s to help them see themselves as active participants in democracy and lifelong learners of the world around them. That philosophy has helped […]
Posted inDepartment of Education
Trump administration proposes 2027 budget with Pell Grant increase and sweeping education cuts
The Trump administration on Friday released its proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, outlining a plan that increases funding for the Pell Grant program while introducing sweeping cuts to student aid, institutional support, and federal research funding. The proposal calls for approximately $76.5 billion in discretionary funding for the U.S. Department of Education, a reduction of […]
Posted inConfessions of a Teacher
An emotional sponge in the classroom
The teaching world felt like it was under my fingertips. At 22 years old, walking into my first classroom as a third-grade teacher, I was certain I had everything I needed to help my students succeed. I had passion, training, and high expectations. I had read the statistics about teacher burnout and high attrition rates […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Washington County Board of Education member censured for calling a student “hot”
Update: The father of the underage high school student, whom a Washington County, TN school board member allegedly called “hot” and then touched on the shoulder has now publicly spoken out: “We have remained largely silent while focusing on supporting our daughter and carefully considering the appropriate path forward after the disturbing and inappropriate actions […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Lawsuit Targets i-Ready Maker Over Student Data Privacy Concerns
A group of K–12 students has filed a federal class action lawsuit against Curriculum Associates, Inc., the maker of the widely used i-Ready educational platform, alleging that the company unlawfully collects and shares student data without proper consent. The case, M.C. v. Curriculum Associates, is emerging as a significant legal battle over student privacy in […]