I am passing out Brave New World to the 10th graders. “Is there an audiobook for this?” a student asks. “Why not just read the book?” I respond. “I can’t read this without help,” explains the student. “I’ll see,” I sigh. I admit that in the past I had been a little frustrated at these requests. I […]
Instruction & Curriculum
Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Opinion, Uncategorized
Why I Don’t Celebrate Black History Month In My Classes
I am a black woman. I majored in African American Studies in college. I wrote my dissertation on the integration of Africa-related topics in Georgia’s world history textbooks and curriculum. I used to look forward to Black History Month when I was younger because that was the only time I saw “me” in the school […]
Posted inFrom the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Opinion, Uncategorized
Accountability without Equity
This article is cross-posted from EdGator.com [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] I thought Texas officials had created a monster when they unveiled Franken-STAAR, and I was right. But they unleashed another monster besides a convoluted piece […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Fulfilling The Interdisciplinary Dream
The education world is all about buzzwords. From early classes in all disciplines to graduate level courses in specialized topics, practitioners are constantly throwing around terms like “differentiation”, “STEM” (now STEAM), “flipped classrooms”, “high-stakes testing”, “collaborative learning”, and “MOOCs”. These catchphrases live in the hearts and minds of professionals from first-grade math and high school […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
The Joke That Keeps On Giving: Social Promotion Holds No One Accountable!
Social promotion is the gift that keeps on giving. Let’s have a conversation about what’s next. “How did I fail? I did all of my work! You must not like me… I came to class every day. ” These were the protests from my current ninth graders as I handled the arduous task of doing […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Special Education, Uncategorized
5 Easy Ways to Celebrate Exceptional Children’s Week
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] It’s that time of year again. All across our nation, including the great state of Georgia, teachers, students and parents alike will be celebrating Exceptional Children’s Week March 6-10, 2017. This […]
Posted inCommon Core, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, School Improvement, Uncategorized
Why the Business Model Is Not the Education Model
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] Educational reform is on the minds of many business leaders and several leaders have weighed in with their concerns: “We know we are facing a transition, and we must take this […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Shakespeare Doesn’t Have to be Scary! Six Tips to Help you Start Teaching Shakespeare and be Glad You Did!
In my first year of teaching, I wanted to teach a Shakespeare play, but was completely intimidated by where to start. I befriended the most veteran member of our English department, an actress, director and drama teacher, who gave me fantastic tips and assured me that I would love it and that students would, too. […]