I tell myself that I love teaching, in theory, I get summers “off”!  But I realized recently that I have not taken a summer off in over 12 years!  Some may ask why have I consistently worked during the summer? To be honest, the money is pretty good, since it’s my hourly wage without being […]
Instruction & Curriculum
Teaching Immigration Empathy: Why Refugee by Alan Gratz Should Be Added To Your Curriculum
It’s summer vacation which means that most of the Secondary ELA groups I am in on social media are full of teachers asking for recommendations for books to add to their curricula. I am a big believer in the power of books to change hearts and minds, so my suggestions lean toward YA literature that […]
Social Justice and the Ethical Obligation of School Counselors
As a school counselor, have you thought about approaching controversial topics with your students? Are you nervous? Do you wonder how to address the naysayers? In light of recent events, I have talked to some school counselors who feel nervous or scared to infuse social justice topics throughout their counseling programs. For example, a counselor […]
Taking the Anxiety Out of Student Placement in Special Education
If you are like me you get very invested in your students in special education. So invested that it is difficult to release them to the next special education teacher. I teach kindergarten through third grade mild/moderate special education in a resource room, so some of my kids loop up with me the next year […]
Civility in the Classroom and the Rise of American Fascism
Setting the Stage I am in a hotel room with three millennials: Grace, 24, Gabriel, 22, Glorie, 20. An argument is raging: How can I be civil with people who support evil? I know that’s harsh. Is your neighbor who voted for Trump evil? I’ll say no. But these young people are having none of it. […]
[Opinion] If You Are a Quality Educator, You Can’t Be Pro-Trump
As a mother and a teacher, my job is to educate, care for, and love my kids. I treat my students as I would my own kids, and I expect my daughters’ teachers to do the same. To hear about the 2,000 children who remain separated from their parents, and left in cages and tent […]
Why Don’t Students Do Homework? 3 Factors To Consider
When I first started teaching, I would assign homework nearly every night. I remember learning in my undergraduate classes that homework was an extension of what was done in class, and was ultimately important to ensure students had grasped the concepts taught in class that day. So Imagine my naive surprise when only â…“ of […]
The Politics and Pedagogy of Immigration Policy
The national debate over the Trump Administration policy of separating children from their parents at the southern border has reached a fever pitch. Images and audio of crying children, traumatized by the removal of their parents to detention facilities while the children are detained in what amounts to cages, have preoccupied the national media and gripped […]