What Is “Too Political,” Anyway? There has always been a political line in the classroom, though its definition is becoming increasingly obscure. In 2008, I remember asking my teacher who they voted for, and they demurred, saying it wasn’t their place to say. That’s what I thought teachers were supposed to do. And in some […]
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Posted inCurrent Events in Education
America’s Reckoning: How Will Teachers Go Into Their Classrooms Tomorrow?
“How do we teach kids about this tomorrow?” This seems to be the question every American social studies teacher is asking themselves this evening, clutching the notion of the American republic in their hands like a broken teacup. As America continues to be ripped in two from its seams to its soul, we have, over […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
How Do I Explain America To My Students Tomorrow?
January 6, 2021 Americans woke up on the morning of January 6, 2021, learning that Georgia elected its first African-American Senator–a historic event only to be overshadowed by thousands of Americans storming the Capitol building in the afternoon. On my commute home, my mother-in-law, a retired social studies teacher, texts me: “Protestors have invaded the […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
What Do We Make of All This? 10 Must-Read Research Articles on COVID & Schools
As we wade in the waters of COVID-19 and reopening our schools, here are some articles that give us evidence on what works and what doesn’t. Trauma: Trauma-Informed School Strategies During COVID-19 We all know schools are on the front lines of dealing with our collective trauma. This thorough guide from the National Child Traumatic […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
The ABCs of Online Learning
The ABCs of Online Learning Assignments; lovingly and painstakingly created, yet woefully untouched. Bitmoji explosion; as if our bubbly, animated selves can cheerily force our students to really feel how much we care. Chatbox; little glimpses of classroom joy when students type, unprompted, Hi! How is everyone today? I just ate Cheetos! […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
10 Reasons Why American Reconstruction Is the Most Important Unit I’ll Teach This Year
When I first started teaching the second-half of American history, my colleagues and I fell in love with the curriculum. The Civil War, the World Wars, the industrialization and rise of America, and the jazz age all piqued our interests. But one unit that always left us wanting more was Reconstruction. Often glossed over as […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Teaching with Integrity: “Politics” in English Class.
Reading the News One of the things I love most about teaching English is the broad range of source material I can pull from. I love lesson planning and I dislike being bored, so my teaching is constantly in flux. My students read novels, analyze popular song lyrics, write poetry, watch Ted Talks, and everything […]
Posted inCOVID-19
Opinion: Why Are You Worried About Socialism In My Class? What about Fascism?
By Thomas Courtney Donald Trump Jr. believes I’m poisoning my students’ minds with far-left radical ideals. In fact, he’s called my colleagues and I losers as if we purvey socialism like vodka, deodorant, and steaks. I even think a few of my more conservative relatives have their suspicions of me working as a deep state […]