Years ago, as an education major, I took copious notes on the importance of “the first six weeks of school” to increase student buy-in. There are even entire books written on the weight these initial weeks carry. As a hopeful, fresh-faced 21-year-old, I fully bought into the magical school year one could have if you […]
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Five Ways to Increase Parent Involvement in Schools
I am fortunate to be uniquely positioned to be both a parent and a teacher. As a high school and college instructor, the world of elementary education is extremely new to me. I am also a mother who has jumped into the new terrain of raising an elementary-age child with neurodiversity. The boundless questions and […]
Opinion: While Zuckerberg and Musk Battle, Educators Should Be Wary of Their Advertisement
Zuckerberg and Musk are battling over rival social media platforms right now, and let me say right away that I’m not much of a fan of either. While Musk seemed content to sell us Teslas simply, he’s now in the business of Twitter. Zuckerberg, on the other hand, has been attempting to market share his […]
From Tattletales to Titans: The Case for Reviving After-School Detention
Is After-School Detention the cure for some classroom management issues? As teachers, we’ve seen it all. From the eyebrow-raising antics of kids who watch too much TikTok, to the not-so-subtle eye-rolling that frequently accompanies even the kindest of behavioral redirections. The modern classroom can sometimes feel like a battleground where disrespect and apathy are the […]
From the Classroom to the Recovery Room: How the Stress of Teaching Led Me to Alcoholics Anonymous’ Supportive Space
Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) is a supportive community where you can share your experiences, find understanding, and gain the tools necessary for recovery In my second year of teaching, the unexpected arrival of Covid-19 brought immense challenges. The already demanding workload nearly doubled as I grappled with preparing work packets, transitioning to virtual learning platforms, reaching […]
From STEM, Let’s Pivot to the BRANCHES of the Humanities
There is no doubt that the neglect of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – better known as STEM in educational circles – has come at our own peril. Our students’ achievement in mathematics is surely not where other Americans expect it to be, and the comfort of anyone saying “I hate math” is embarrassing. As […]
Remote Learning was a Brave New World: A Dad’s Reflection
While polls show that moms typically carried the heaviest burden in supporting children’s remote learning, many dads were also working hard to help their children learn at home. Yes, I consider myself an active father. Yes, I am around more than my father was, but the credit is not entirely mine. While certain stigmas about […]
Cultural Resident or Cultural Visitor – How do you identify?
Cultural Resident: Determining cultural impact through residential and intellectual mindset Merriam-Webster defines a resident as “. . . serving in a regular or full-time capacity”. Meaning. Moreover, visitor is defined as, “One who makes formal visits of inspection.” As an instructional leader and teacher in the GREAT city-state of Newark, I’ve had the privilege to […]