California made a significant move to protect children from the harms of social media with Governor Gavin Newsom’s approval of a bill aimed at limiting “addictive feeds” for minors. On Friday, Newsom signed Senate Bill 976, known as the Protecting Our Kids From Social Media Addiction Act, introduced by Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley). Supported by […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Banned Books Week 2024: The preliminary research and the titles
In anticipation of Banned Books Week this week (September 22-28, 2024); the American Library Association has released preliminary data documenting attempts to censor books and materials in public, school, and academic libraries during the first eight months of 2024. Between January 1 and August 31, 2024, ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 414 attempts to censor library materials and […]
Posted inBack to School
Corsicana ISD Assistant Principal attacked by student: Who will protect the educators?
Tears welled up in my eyes as I watched Corsicana ISD Assistant Principal Candra Rogers describe the horrific incident that occurred at the middle school she leads. Like many educators across the nation, she went to diffuse a situation with an irate student who had become dangerously enraged in a behavior classroom. As the assistant […]
Posted inFeatured
Two Springfield, Ohio Elementary Schools Hit with Bomb Threats After Trump’s False Debate Claims About Haitian Immigrants
Springfield, Ohio, has faced bomb threats for two consecutive days following former President Donald Trump’s remarks during a high-profile debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump, without providing evidence, claimed that Haitian immigrants in the city were engaging in alarming behavior, thrusting Springfield into the international spotlight. “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people […]
Posted inFrom the Front Lines
Do you want to teach empathy? Use Books in World Languages Classrooms
Recently, after reading a troubling article in the New York Times detailing students’ alarming pranks against teachers, I found myself drawn to the comments section. While I shared in the outcry for discipline and action, I couldn’t help but cringe at the focus on the perceived lack of empathy displayed by the students. Research indicates […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Don’t Skimp on Social Studies! Write to Learn in History Class!
By Rhonda van Bergen In many elementary classrooms today, literacy has taken center stage as new standards in reading and writing are implemented. Teachers spend significant time teaching English Language Arts (ELA) skills and strategies to prepare students for high-stakes testing in those areas. Unfortunately, content area instruction in science and social studies often takes […]
Posted inSpecial Education
Embracing the Rhythm: Understanding and Supporting Stimming in Autism
Recently, when discussing a parent’s concerns about his son’s stimming. Stimming, which is short for self-stimulatory behavior, refers to repetitive body movements or sounds, such as hand-flapping or other repetitive hand movements, rocking, tapping, spinning, or vocalizations, such as humming or repetitive sounds or phrases. What is stimming? Stimming is a common action exhibited in […]
Posted inBack to School
Tips for Setting Up Classrooms on a Budget
When you are new to a school site, the first question you often ask is: How am I going to teach in an environment that isn’t suitable for children? I asked a dozen teachers I know for tips about setting up their classrooms on a budget. Their advice, like finding a box of unused pencils […]