I first met Michael Tubbs when he was a freshman in college at our annual African American Student Union (AASU) trip to Stanford’s High School Black Student Union (BSU) Conference. His raw, real, and relatable personality, coupled with a clearly home-taught respect, gave me a glimpse into the incredible future he had before him. I had no […]
Instruction & Curriculum
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Abbott Elementary: When New Teachers Want to Save the World- Episode 2
We already told you last week how much we love Abbott Elementary after watching their Pilot episode, but this week we think this show can expose the world to the foolishness that happens in schools. This week we meet second-grade teacher, Janine Teagues’ no-good boyfriend, who we see drops her off at school (in her […]
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Abbott Elementary is the Comedy You Need In Your Life
Abbott Elementary is the Tuesday night comedy that every teacher needs right now. Set in Philadelphia Public Schools and centered around Janine Teagues, a second-grade teacher struggling to find her voice. In a mix of comedic asides and zingy one-liners, the show nails what it’s like to teach in an urban school that is severely […]
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How VH1 Inspired the Way I Taught Novels
Maybe my millennial is showing, but VH1’s “Watch and Discuss” campaign had an incredible impact on how I taught novels in my grade 8 standard ELA class. I wondered, what if I took the same concept and applied it to reading in English class? I made reading a novel as engaging as watching a VH1 […]
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9 Fresh Voices in Education You Need to Hear in 2022
As the year winds down, it’s important for educators to continue to use their voices to help amplify the voices of those in the trenches. From classroom teachers to retired educators- these are the voices we want to hear more from in 2022. Deidra Fogarty- Founder of Black Girls Teach Black Girls Teach is a […]
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Assessing Your School’s Social Emotional Learning Practice
Social and emotional learning is abuzz in educational circles now at long last. One might even say it’s a call to action, one that is long overdue in our schools.
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
The Quest for Great Educational Video Games – Level 1: Where to Begin
Educational Video Games (henceforth eduGames) are as old as video games themselves, but their respective paths have led to completely different destinations. From Pong to Fortnite, commercial video games went from an at-home experience to a legitimate organized sport. They continue to be one of the most popular items in the entertainment market. Many eGaming […]
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Student Discipline: If the students ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy
I remember my first classroom. It was bursting at the seams with posters, fairy lights, rugs, artwork, and anything that I could squeeze onto the walls in hopes of inspiring students to want to learn. My sweet Guinea pig students were not only dealing with me trying to find my feet as an educator, but they also had to battle the distractions they were fighting in trying to pay attention to me amongst the collage of my excitement suffocating them; on all sides!