[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] The first newspaper was published in America in 1690.* This changed the way information was shared: from tales and gossip to written word. Beginning in 1885, newspapers were delivered daily by train. […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum
Let Them Think!
A few years ago I had a student in my classroom with a scrappy personality who was unafraid to speak his mind. One day, towards the end of the year, my fourth graders were working and one student came up and asked me an obvious question. From across the room Mr. Scrappy yells, “She’s not […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, How to Fix Education, Uncategorized
NYC Mayoral Election and Education
This is an important year for all New York City Public School teachers. The Bloomberg Era of being unable to work with the teacher’s union is finally coming to a close. Because New York City is one of the largest public school systems in the country, the new policies rolled out by the new mayor […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Opinion
Classroom Pets = Caring In The Classroom
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] I am an animal person. Always have been. And not in a needy-gotta-take-care-of-something sort of way (although I do love it when I get to bottle feed a rescue), but in […]
Posted inCommon Core, Current Events in Education, Featured, From the Front Lines, Uncategorized
Rigor…. "Inconceivable!"
Some of best lines in the film The Princess Bride are given to the assassin-for-hire Vizzini. For those unfamiliar with this classic film, Vizzini’s repeated use of the word “inconceivable” is finally challenged by the vengeance-seeking swordsman, Inigo Montoya while they stand overlooking a cliff watching the Dread Pirate Roberts climb in pursuit: [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ […]
Posted inOpinion, Parents
Tips for "Meet the Teacher" Night
On September 12th, our school will hold what we call “Back to School Night,” or what other schools have dubbed “Meet the Teachers Night.” Whatever your school calls it, it’s a very fun and casual way for teachers and parents to meet one another. Yet for others, this is a nerve-wracking event – especially for […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
A First Year Teacher’s Lesson From Student Vomit
It happened, not two weeks into the school year. A student vomited during class. Now, this is something for which my teaching credential program did not prepare me. The cheerleader shrieked, the surrounding students rapidly pushed back their desks, and the room was consumed with student reactions and freak-outs. Meanwhile, Chad sat there, as if […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Elementary School, Featured, Kindergarten
How to Decorate Your Secondary Classroom
At the end of last year, I changed positions. The difficult part of that was being expected to “replace” one of our best teachers in the entire district. Part of this involved his fun, learning-based classroom environment that he’d created over the 30-odd years of being there. I still remember one of my colleagues saying […]