Posted inInstruction & Curriculum

Vote Now! Tell Us the Workshops You Want to See at The Educator's Room Annual Conference !

Have you ever attended a conference and been disappointed because you had no clue what you were paying for? Well The Educator’s Room Annual Conference is determined to change that. We want our readers to determine what workshops they want to attend! Take a moment and vote below! Results will be revealed  by September 1st! […]

Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Uncategorized

NAEP's Solution to Flat Reading Scores: "Read for Fun"

The release of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Progress Report for 2012  (“Nation’s Report Card”) provides an overview on the progress made by specific age groups in public and private schools in reading and in mathematics since the early 1970s. The gain in reading scores after spending billions of dollars, countless hours and effort […]

Posted inInstruction & Curriculum

Boot Camp for the Brain: Advanced Placement World History Reading

Never have I been more inspired, exhausted, or revitalized during a professional development than I was at the annual College Board AP World History Reading. Each June, college faculty and teachers from public and private schools gather from around the globe at a central location to grade AP World History exams. Developing standard grading rubrics […]

Posted inConfessions of a Teacher, From the Front Lines, How to Fix Education, Instruction & Curriculum

The Argument for Summer Vacation

A couple of mornings ago, I happened to be listening to the radio while a popular education pundit was being interviewed. After  listening to him tout his own personal accolades and his ideas for educational reform, he said something that struck me. He claimed that at his school, he did things that were beneficial for the students, instead of the teachers in the building.  He continued to brag that  at his school, students attend during the summer  and during the year they not only have extended day (every day of the week), but students come to school almost every Saturday for  more content enrichment. As I listened I thought, “How can a […]

Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Literacy, School Improvement, Uncategorized

Reading Proficiency Increases 2% in 41 Years…That's All.

I recently had to write a position statement on assessment and evaluation.  The timing of this assignment, June 2013, coincided with the release of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Progress Report for 2012. This “Nation’s Report Card” provides an overview on the progress made by specific age groups in public and private schools in reading and […]

Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Social Studies

The Case For Learning Through Experience

[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”] In 1938, education theorist John Dewey published a short volume entitled Experience and Education. In typical Dewey fashion, he begins by arguing the philosophical underpinnings of what makes experiences so valuable. […]