34,000 Feet – Somewhere Over the Atlantic I was utterly crushed. There is absolutely no other word to describe it. On the eve of my last day of a magical family holiday, I got the bad news. For the second year in a row my AP scores were disappointing…VERY disappointing. In the wake of last year’s […]
Opinion
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Making STEM Matter in Schools
I just got back from a fascinating conference about the state of STEM in U.S. schools, sponsored by U.S. News and World Report. I was compelled by the idea of making STEM matter in schools; as a middle school teacher, I know this is the prime time to hook kids into STEM. This is the […]
Posted inOpinion
Facing Student Death
I’m in total, utter shock. I just learned about the tragic passing of a former student. Upon looking at news articles about the passing of one, I unexpectedly stumbled upon the recent death of another former student. Talk about a punch in the gut: two young lives tragically plucked from the Earth when they should […]
Posted inHow to Fix Education
The STEM Revolution in Higher Education
I just got back from a fascinating conference about the state of STEM in U.S. schools, sponsored by U.S. News and World Report! I was compelled by the idea of a STEM revolution in higher education; as a middle school teacher, it really didn’t occur to me that colleges would be reacting in a similar […]
Posted inConfessions of a Teacher
Changing Schools: How do you know when it’s time to go?
How do you know when to leave? When to change your job, school, district, profession? There is only one thing that is unfailingly true: no matter what, someone will disagree with your choice. I am not talking about the obvious stuff: total misery, incompatible supervisor, burn-out, moving for love. I am talking about the times when […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Opinion, Teacher Leaders
To Pack or Not to Pack: Ending the School Year Successfully
To pack now or to pack later? To pack fast or to pack better? Packing up your classroom is a highly personal choice. I believe it is a choice that should be made with care. [bctt tweet=”Packing up your classroom is a highly personal choice.” username=”EducatorsRoom”] Here are some things that can influence your choice: […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, Middle School, Opinion, Parents
Teacher Awards Student “Most Likely to Become A Terrorist”
Like many students at the end of the school term, Lizeth Villanueva brought home a superlative from one of her teachers. However, when her mom further examined the award, CNN reports, she saw that it said “MOST LIKELY TO BECOME A TERRORIST.” Seriously. Villanueva, a 13-year-old 7th-grade student at Lance Cpl. Anthony Aguirre Junior High […]
Posted inHigh School
13 Reasons Why: Conflicting Reviews
Jay Asher’s 13 Reason Why was the first young adult novel I read during my student teaching. When the librarian spoke to my freshmen about novels for a choice project, I was drawn to the premise of the story: Before completing suicide, a sixteen-year-old girl (Hannah) records the reasons for her choice on audiotapes and […]