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 […]
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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 inFeatured, High School, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies
Treat Students Like they are Going to College
All teachers have college degrees. It is no surprise that we want our students to experience higher education as well. We know the benefits of a college education and want better for them. If I honestly look around my classroom, even my AP classroom, I know statistics tell me that only a third will go to college […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum
Formatting Tests for Skills Assessment
The days of “Who is the main character of the novel?” questions are over. Multiple questions should be challenging our students to think and use textual evidence to prove their answer. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, […]
Posted inElementary School, Featured, High School, Instructional Strategies
The Importance of Real-Life Application
I pound the idea of the application of skills and concepts into my students on a daily basis. I always tell them that is no use learning material if they don’t know how or when to use it. Therefore I’m always looking for times where I can show my kids that all of this ‘school […]
Posted inFeatured, High School, Middle School
The Many Hats of a Teacher
Teachers wear many hats. Frank McCourt, famous teacher and author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning autobiography Angela’s Ashes once was quoted saying this: In the high school classroom, you are a drill sergeant, a rabbi, a shoulder to cry on, a disciplinarian, a singer, a low-level scholar, a clerk, a referee, a clown, a counselor, a […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Middle School, Opinion
Four Things Teachers Should Try Before Removing a Student
At some point in their career, teachers will have to deal with a student so disruptive that the class can quickly become a nightmare. Perhaps the student talks through the lesson or throws objects in the middle of class. Sometimes, the student teases other classmates, making them uncomfortable. And when it comes to respecting the […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Making the Most of Book Reports
I require book reports from my students each month. These are projects that are done at home, but could just as easily be done in class. Before school starts I assign a book genre to each month. The crop of kids I have determines the format for the book. This year I happen to have […]