The Shot & The Plot: Sesquicentennial of Lincoln’s Assassination It was 150 years ago this month when a single gunshot from a Derringer pistol changed the course of American history. On April 15, 1865, John Wilkes Booth interrupted a performance of “My American Cousin” to assassinate the President of the United States. The actor and […]
Current Events in Education
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured
Teaching and the Fear of a Mistake
Teaching. No other profession is so closely watched for mistakes. Of course, I realize why- we are in charge of America’s future and it is a very important job. Public school teachers have an extra reason for being held accountable: we are paid with the public’s tax money. Teachers take their roles very seriously and we […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, High School, Opinion, Technology
Why Schools Should Teach Social Media Etiquette
The most arduous day of my education career was a day centered on Facebook. I was completing my principal practicum, and just before my hours were finished, a student made a death threat on that social medium. I spent the day calling an array of high school students to my principal’s office, where I took […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Elementary School, English Language Learners, How to Fix Education, Instruction & Curriculum, Languages, New Teacher Bootcamp, The New Teacher Chronicles
Advice for New ESOL Teachers: Communicating with Home
By: Jon Hardy Dealing with parents is a very intimidating part of being a new teacher and the normal hurdles are intensified with parents who don’t speak English, or who are learning English themselves. These families may need teachers to put in extra effort to reach out to students but be unsure how to ask […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Elementary School, Kindergarten, The Student Teacher Diaries
Student Teaching Diaries: Is This For a Grade?
When students enter preschool and kindergarten they are excited by learning. They explore and engage in activities for the sake of what is happening. Teachers set up experiences and lessons that develop skills and provide learning for students. As students progress through elementary school, however, they begin to see the association of work for “a […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Educational Apps, Professional Development
Teachers Need #Edcamps
Yesterday marks another celebratory moment at our public school. Our administration approved hosting a second annual inservice edcamp organized by our school tech integrationist. He scheduled workshops designed and run by educational expertise right here on our campus and helped host requested workshops for specific professional development. No outsiders involved, no forced learning. Personalized learning (PLP) works from the […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, Uncategorized
Why My Greatest Fear as a Teacher is Coming True
I have always had a potent and unspoken fear I chalked up to insecurity and a penchant for fatalistic thinking: What if, despite my best intentions and efforts as a teacher, I have little to no impact on the lives of my students? A spate of new scholarship and findings suggests the role of teachers […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Elementary School, Featured, Kindergarten, Parents, The Student Teacher Diaries
Student Teacher Diaries: Parent Teacher Conferences
Twice a year the school system demands we stop and reflect. This is not enough, but I love this time of year when I look at the growth all students have made. Not everyone is where I want them, but it is important to focus on how far students have come in the year and […]