“To be or not to be, that is the question” — William Shakespeare. [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”] As the school year ends and we move into summer there are things we do as educators and […]
Instruction & Curriculum
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, Principals' Corner, School Improvement
The Necessity of Failure: The Challenge of Assessments
I have just finished grading final exams for high school sophomores, and I can’t help but wonder if I am guilty of cheating. Balancing high standards with opportunities for retakes shapes my approach to developing assessments. In my view, a student who fails one section of multiple choice should have the opportunity to write more […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Parents
Working with Struggling Readers at Home
For most of us, summer is already here. Your child has survived the school year and is ready to move onto other things – video games, camp outs, vacation, sleeping in late, etc. However, if your child struggles with reading, your child cannot afford to completely take the summer off. Following are tips I have […]
Posted inFrom the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Special Education
Stone Silent: Chipping Away at the Selective Mutism Barrier
Having a student in your classroom with Selective Mutism (S.M.) can be frustrating, confusing, and lead to a feeling of helplessness. You may wonder, “How can I help this child who will not respond to me, talk to me, or to his classmates?” Selective Mutism is a childhood anxiety disorder that may present as oppositional, […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Uncategorized
{Watch Live} The Educator's Room Lunchtime Google Hangout Dealing With Teacher Unemployment
Join The Educator’s Room as we have our first Google Hangout Lunchtime Series on Thursday, June 6th at 12pm EST. This week we will be talking with Cari Harris about her book, How To Finish The Test When Your Pencil Breaks, and she was able to overcome teacher unemployment. Follow The Educator’s Room on Google […]
Posted inElementary School, Instruction & Curriculum, Kindergarten, Literacy
Summer Reading: The 50/50 Paradox
The paradox of summer reading: Read=pleasure or Read=work. All students should read at least one book this summer. Students should practice the independent reading skills they have used the whole school year. They should receive credit for reading over the summer, but to give credit means an assessment. An assessment comes dangerously close to committing Readicide,(n): The systematic killing […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, High School, Instruction & Curriculum, Middle School, Opinion
The Truth Behind the Atlanta Public Schools Cheating Scandal
By now the headlines have screamed about how teachers and administrators cheated in Atlanta Public Schools (APS) to falsify results from the CRCT exams in elementary and middle schools. As a teacher who worked in APS for several years, these headlines literally make my stomach turn. Despite the claims about answer changing parties, administrators who […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, High School, Instruction & Curriculum, Uncategorized
A 9-year old Student Speaks Truth to Power About the Chicago School Closings
[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 an historic, unprecedented move, the third largest school district in the United States has experienced an impressively harsh blow to its students, teachers, and parents: the Chicago Board of Education […]