Posted inCurrent Events in Education, From the Front Lines, High School, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Literacy, Middle School, Uncategorized

15 Summer Reads for Teachers

Ah, summer. The days are long and the possibilities endless. It’s the perfect time to recuperate from a long school year, and look forward to the possibilities and opportunities the new year will afford. It’s also time to relax a little. And what better way to relax than with a great book? I’ve compiled a […]

Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, High School, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Middle School, Special Education

Inclusion Students – The Elephant in the Room

There has been the great controversy for many years over the inclusion of special education students in the regular education classroom. Some parents are afraid that inclusion students will negatively impact their child’s education. Mainstream education teachers sometimes voice concerns over whether or not they can teach these students when they have no background in special […]

Posted inClassroom Management, Current Events in Education, Featured, High School, Instructional Strategies, Middle School

Student Mentors

It seems like by the time everything gets settled, the school year ends. Then in August, new freshmen arrive and need to be “broken in” to the high school climate. While we have amazing freshmen teachers to help with the adjustment period, sometimes they are not enough.  In Japanese culture, there is a “senpai,” an […]

Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, High School, Instructional Strategies, Middle School, Uncategorized

The Baltimore – Education Reform Connection

  The Baltimore neighborhood that was the focus of protests after Freddie Gray’s death exists in every major city in this country. Too often such neighborhoods were once places where families could graduate from high school and get decent jobs. Schools had decent funding and could find ways to help struggling students like Freddie Gray. […]

Posted inFeatured, Instructional Strategies, Middle School, Uncategorized

What are We Testing? – PARCC and SBAC

  The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) is running several commercials that air concerns of both parents and teachers about PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) standardized tests currently being administered in the state. Concerns include: middle school students getting only a half year of science and social studies in order […]

Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Elementary School, Featured, Instructional Strategies, Kindergarten, Middle School, Technology

The Instructional Techie: Interview with James Sanders of the Ed Tech Team

This article was edited for length from the original interview. To see the whole interview, please view the video embedded at the end of the article. [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] On February 16th, I sat […]

Posted inHigh School, Instructional Strategies, Literacy, Middle School, Professional Development

The Chronicles of a Professional Development Day

What emotions do the words “Professional Development Day” conjure up in your mind? Fear, love, joy, hatred, anger, dread? The day is meant to be one of enlightenment and wonder, but often times we walk away feeling like it could’ve been used more productively elsewhere.  What does a great PD day look like? Does it exist? […]