At a faculty meeting, a colleague once whispered to me, “So, what do you actually do in your English class if everyone already knows how to read and write?” Though it was an innocent enough question from a chemistry teacher, it brought me to the halting realization that the abstract nature of a high school […]
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Posted inDepartment of Education
New York Governor Hochul Unveils ‘Back to Basics’ Plan to Enhance Reading Proficiency
Governor Kathy Hochul has unveiled a comprehensive initiative, the ‘Back to Basics’ plan, to boost reading proficiency in New York and address the critical need for foundational skills in students. This proposal, a component of her 2024 State of the State address, focuses on transitioning the state’s education system to evidence-based best practices. In an […]
Posted inEnglish Language Learners
Biden-Harris Administration Launches “Being Bilingual is a Superpower” Initiative
In a move to underscore the importance of multilingualism in the educational landscape, the Biden-Harris Administration today unveiled the “Being Bilingual is a Superpower” initiative, spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Education. The initiative aims to promote and enhance multilingual education, focusing on advancing high-quality language programs and fostering a diverse multilingual educator workforce throughout […]
Posted inWriting
The Power of Authentic Audiences
Authentic Audiences: Late one Wednesday morning, my seventh- and eighth-grade multilingual learners with emerging English language skills were emphatically complaining about the amount of writing required of them as we read and answered questions about teenage screen time usage. This work prepared them for an argumentative paragraph assignment on whether kids have too much screen […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Talk Shop Tuesdays: Ingrained Professional Development For Teachers and By Teachers
It’s a Tuesday in March 2023; twelve “staffulty” (faculty and staff, including administrators, counselors, or technology) are gathered in a classroom for professional development. The book club leader, an English teacher, looks around at us and asks, “How much do you like to be confronted? It’s maybe a 2 for me, but I think I […]
Posted inAsk a Teacher
Using the Depth and Complexity Framework to deepen student learning in primary grades
Using the Depth and Complexity Icons to design more meaningful learning experiences.
Posted inSpecial Education
Give ‘Em the Razzle and Dazzle: Supporting Learners with Dyslexia and Others Too!
As educators, some of us have been taught bullying tactics disguised as responsive learner instructional practices and interventions. The infamous excessive drill and practice exercises are one of those instructional practices that we either experienced as a learner ourselves or were taught to use as a part of our teaching pedagogy. Acknowledging October as Dyslexia […]
Posted inEnglish Language Learners
Fluent in Expression, Rich in Identity: How Stories Transform English Learners
English Learners: In the bustling library at Kennedy High School in Richmond, CA, Carlos, a determined senior, recently embarked on an inspiring journey. He was preparing a presentation for the upcoming Latinx Heritage Month Celebration, eager to present options for cultural games that his peers could vote on. He came to me to help him […]