We’ve seen this late-night skit too many times before: young Americans being asked simple questions about American history, United States civics, or current events. The people who are captured on camera are usually dumb-founded or give answers that make the audience and/or the questioner laugh (or cry). I used to think it had to be […]
Posted inSocial Justice, Uncategorized
Why Teach About Social Justice in the Classroom?
Social justice can have a very concrete meaning for young children. To them, it is about what is fair and what is not fair. You can hear it from them when a teacher always allows one or two students to do all of the coveted classroom jobs. To them, that is not fair and the […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured
How to Stop Girl Bullying in the Classroom
“Stop putting your hot breath on me,” one girl yells from the back of the classroom. It’s the same boy targeted every single time, and it seems that no matter where you move him, there’s a problem. At first you think he’s doing something to upset people because you never catch anyone else doing anything. […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, Opinion
Stop Censoring Our Classrooms
A staple of democratic society is the ability to civilly converse with those of like and unlike mind. At least, that’s the idea. These days politicians on both sides of the aisle rarely agree on anything, and their communication style is anything but civil. Viewpoints are dismissed with prejudice, and compromise is unattainable. While there […]
Posted inAsk a Teacher, Classroom Management, Current Events in Education, From the Front Lines
What Are We Teaching Teens About Making Excuses?
I get really tired of excuses. In fact, in my classroom when my 8th graders try to excuse their behavior, lack of homework, or unpreparedness I tell them kindly yet firmly, “Excuses are useless.” Initially quizzical looks form on their faces, and then they start to stammer…which is exactly when I interject my reasoning. […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Middle School, Social Justice, Social Studies
Haunting Film about Ellis Island
In 14 minutes, social studies and ELA educators can take advantage of a haunting new titled Ellis about the buildings on the island between New York and New Jersey. Ellis Island served as a United States immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The 2015 film is now available on Youtube and stars Robert De Niro. The setting […]
Posted inUncategorized
Why I Stay in the Teaching World
Written Anonymously for TER I didn’t go into teaching to change the world. In fact, I gravitated toward teaching because I wanted to read and talk about books for my job. I chose the profession simply because, as I sat in my English class senior year, I wanted to talk about 1984 and novels like it forever. […]
Posted inAsk a Teacher, Current Events in Education, Elementary School, Featured, From the Front Lines
The Hidden Emotional Labor of Teaching
It’s time for teachers to talk about our feelings Thursday morning I was called into a meeting unexpectedly and given the news that one of my students would probably not be returning to school this year. The news and the surrounding circumstances hit me with a wave of emotions. After discussing logistics such as how […]