With recent developments in technology, A.I. tools have emerged and firmly embedded themselves in the educational system. This evolution has sparked controversial debates: Will AI replace teachers? Will we lose our jobs? Will it enhance teaching and learning, or will students become overly dependent, leading to a decline in their critical and creative thinking skills? […]
Instruction & Curriculum
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Using Soft Starts in the Music Classroom
I think we can all collectively agree that trying to teach to students still fixated about who won or lost (or cheated) in their most recent athletic endeavor in gym class is not only time-consuming, but also teeth-gritting and nerve-fraying. As an elementary music teacher, 50% of the students I teach each day are coming […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Relax Teachers, You’ve Been Doing it All Along
Think back to your favorite teacher. I had two, Mrs. Swartz and Mr. Clevenger. One was my 1st grade teacher and the other, my 9th grade Social Studies teacher. They taught way back in the 1960’s and 70’s. As a student, I wasn’t able to label their teaching methods, but I did know they were […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
When Teaching Hurts: When Teaching Becomes Violent
Breaking the Silence I am an educator who became the victim of a student assault—an experience that changed my life and my career in ways I never expected. For years, I found it hard to talk about what happened. The trauma was too intense, and the memories too overwhelming. But now, after completing my Doctorate, […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
It’s Writing Time: Helping young writers find their voice
Have you ever found yourself in the hallway discussing curriculum with your colleagues? All of a sudden, a casual stroll turns into a 20-minute conversation. As you finally make it back to your classroom, your to-do list grows as you think about all the changes you want to make. Many teachers want to ensure that […]
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Congress pushes back against Trump’s education cuts in FY 2026 budget proposal
This week, both Democratic and Republican congressional lawmakers released a fiscal year 2026 education budget proposal that rejects the Trump administration’s plans to reduce funding for the U.S. Department of Education and eliminate financial aid programs. The plan is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to “take all necessary steps to close the Department […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
New unbanned book network aims to counter rising book bans in schools
In response to the nationwide surge in book bans, a grassroots organization dedicated to increasing diversity in publishing is launching a program to counteract censorship in schools and libraries. This week, We Need Diverse Books, or WNDB, announced the creation of the Unbanned Book Network, focused on donating books by authors who have been banned and select […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Reframing Accountability: Supporting teachers without losing the heart of education
When I think about accountability in education, I think about the times I stood in front of my students with a walkthrough clipboard looming outside the door. I remember rearranging my lesson plan not because it was best for my students, but because it would check the right boxes on someone else’s rubric. Federal accountability […]