On Friday afternoon everyone in my classroom suddenly fell silent as we waited for the bell to ring. “I’ll see everyone on Monday, I hope. But who knows?” I had meant it as a throwaway sentiment, a verbal filler to occupy the dead air before the bell rang, ending the oddest, most surreal week in […]
Current Events in Education
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
The Lost Identity of Teachers: The COVID-19 Story
Due to COVID-19, on Thursday evening, it was announced that all schools in my state would close for two weeks starting the following Monday. Immediately, teachers began cloning themselves, figuring out how to recreate their daily learning experiences in absentia. Remember, a teacher’s value is their ability to listen and analyze the needs of a […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
Has Your School Closed Due to Coronavirus? If So, Here Are Some Resources
Across the country, schools are preparing for long-term closures. Use these resources below to help students stay on track and parents be sane! We will add to this list hourly. Just leave us a comment with the resource. Curriculum Associates: Reading:Grade K | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | Grade 5 | Grade 6 | Grade 7 | Grade 8 Mathematics:Grade K | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade […]
Posted inLiteracy
When the Fire is Gone: Real Stories for Survival, Resilience, and Heartbreak When Dealing with Teacher Burnout
When the Fire is Gone: Real Stories for Survival, Resilience, and Heartbreak When Dealing with Teacher Burnout To read a sample chapter, click here. (Atlanta, GA – March 11, 2020) When the Fire is Gone: Real Stories for Survival, Resilience, and Heartbreak When Dealing With Teacher Burnout, is the first follow-up book from the 2012 […]
Posted inSocial Studies
Teaching in a Time of Coronavirus Anxiety
Every day I cover at least one current event topic with my sophomore Global History and Geography classes. Recently, only one issue dominates the coronavirus. We began our discussions a month ago by looking at China and predicting the impact on the economy. As the days progressed, we viewed pictures taken by NASA showing diminishing […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
Teach Hard History. We All Need It
I am a social studies educator. Emblazoned on the wall of my classroom is a sign proclaiming “I Teach Hard History.” Earlier this year my students looked at vivid, graphic, and unfiltered views of the Middle Passage that brought enslaved Africans to the New World. I’ve challenged students to think about whether or not the […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
Reflections on my 3rd Black History Month Celebration…
I have been teaching social studies for twenty-five years, eight of which I focused on United States History, but February 11, 2020, was my third celebration of black history. Although I am a veteran educator, I am a novice historian. I am a rookie at social justice, and my students are my mentors. My third […]
Posted inHow to Fix Education
Getting Reading Right: The Education Week Online Summit
Getting Reading Right was the title and focus of the free online Education Week summit held on January 28, 2020. EdWeek reporters moderated with guest literacy specialists in six separate online chats framed by the results of the 2019 EdWeek Research Center survey on Early Reading Instruction. Online registered participants were eligible for a certificate […]