By: Tishely Ortiz I was an adjunct instructor for over a year when I decided to teach English in Mexico. I fell in love with the country when I visited, so when I got word that a position for an English teacher was open, I jumped at the opportunity. The friend who referred me said […]
Instruction & Curriculum
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Boosting Critical Thinking Skills Through Guided Reading
by: Candice Yamnitz Guided reading: HOT stem posters, language objectives with higher DOK questions, and lesson plans designed with student thinking in mind, OH MY! In my dual-language 4th-grade classroom, we were set! The students were going to be critical thinkers. This eventually did happen with 100% of my students, but it wasn’t the whole […]
Posted inElectives & Special Areas
Whiteboarding Your Way to Relationships
by: DeAna Morgan This was my “first” year in my second high school teaching position. I was super stoked to be building an art department from the ground up again. It’s always a trying and exciting time when you start over because you fear fitting in, finding everything, and getting used to the new groove. […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
The Power of Authenticity in the Classroom
Guest Post by: Maria Kruzdlo “No one ever changed the world by choosing the best out of five possible answers.” While the author of this quote is unknown, the weight of the statement can not go unnoticed for it drives home the value of learning in the first place. In our ever changing world, it […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Opinion, Teacher Leaders
To Pack or Not to Pack: Ending the School Year Successfully
To pack now or to pack later? To pack fast or to pack better? Packing up your classroom is a highly personal choice. I believe it is a choice that should be made with care. [bctt tweet=”Packing up your classroom is a highly personal choice.” username=”EducatorsRoom”] Here are some things that can influence your choice: […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
The Post’s ‘America’s Most Challenging High Schools’ List Is Deeply Troubling
As a College Counselor, a certain part of my world is dictated by ratings. I have parents and students who speak with me all the time asking about colleges that they have heard of because they may only appear in some ranking list. The most popular of the lists that I hear about is U.S. […]
Posted inInstructional Strategies
Why Teachers Should Add Debate to Their Curriculum
At the end of the school year this year, I looked at the list of causes of the Civil War. I’ve taught this once or twice, usually with just enough time to explain them. However, this year I finally got my curriculum in check and had time to ensure these topics were taught right. So […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
A Day in the Heart of a Teacher
A recent Friday was my 1,379th day of teaching. And it was a day that reminded me what it means to be a teacher. On Friday I used my heart so fully, and this to me is the essence of being a teacher. Friday morning I went to City College for their annual Poetry Festival. […]