Lorianne has taught middle school ELA for over twenty years. I have taught sixth, seventh, and eighth grades at all levels. My favorite thing about middle school is the magic of watching people come into our building as children and come out grown! by: Lorianne Palinkas When you told me that my starting salary […]
Instruction & Curriculum
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
The Echo of a Student’s Voice Pt. 1
Comparing education to business is taboo within the pedagogical workforce. Rebukes of disgust at the nerve of doing such a thing come into play when said comparison is made. Bear with me as I explore the similarities and how they can translate into classroom success. The customer is always right. This is a popular concept […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
8 Resources for National Fire Safety Week
The National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA), the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week™ for 99 years, has announced “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety™” as the theme for Fire Prevention Week, October 6–12, 2024. Here are some resources to help educators in the classroom. Be a subscriber, click here for more free resources. FREE CROSSWORD […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Being ‘Just a Teacher’ is More Than Enough
“Have you ever thought about going into administration?” The irony in this compliment is that I find myself having to explain why choosing to stay in the classroom should not be seen as a type of “settling”. I am not the only teacher who has heard this at some point in their careers. It was […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Opinion: What Public Schools Can Learn From Private Schools
Students each wearing matching uniforms calmly making their way to classes. Classes full of well-behaved, eager-to-learn children. Or classes full of snobby, entitled students daring you to challenge them. The latter are some of the ideas – albeit – mostly wrong I’ve had about private schools in my hometown and in general. Last Spring, I […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Organic Diversity is Needed in Schools
People are like plants. They need the proper climate to grow, and no two plants share the exact same ideal for quality conditions. Students are the same in this individual need for a particular climate. Like an Aspen tree planted in the desert of Arizona, we should not expect students to flourish in environments that […]
Posted inMental Health
First-Year Teachers: Raise Your Hand If You’ve Been Bullied Too.
By Lanee Higgins Teachers should share our workplace bullying experiences in shouts instead of whispers, but I understand why we don’t. Seven years ago, I kept a record of the workplace bullying that I endured as a first-year teacher in 2014. Seven years later, rereading it leaves my stomach full of needles, my thoughts racing, […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Teachers Have the Right to Rest: From One Burned Out Teacher to Another
By: Geena Bergen Geena is a teacher and advocate for teachers’ health and wellbeing. After completing her degree in Elementary Education & Psychology with a concentration in Early Childhood Education from Rider University, Geena taught 2nd grade in public school for 7 years. This summer, she transitioned to virtual teaching to have more time to dedicate to diving […]