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 […]
Search results
Posted inAsk a Teacher
Book Bans: South Carolina Department of Education Breaks Ties with State Librarians
The most recent controversy concerning the state of South Carolina and book bans happened recently with the State Superintendent Ellen Weaver touches on school libraries and policies. The state superintendent recently severed ties between the South Carolina Department of Education and SCASL (South Carolina Association of School Librarians), ending a 50-year partnership. The break with […]
Posted inPedagogy
The Building Blocks for Strong Middle and High School Writers
It was year five in my teaching career, and our principal called us in to bemoan our writing scores from the previous year. It was all the same buzzwords (fidelity, accountability, etc.), and I remember asking a question that changed my teaching beliefs. “If we want kids to be better writers, why aren’t we making […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
The Case for More Accountability: It’s Time to Blame the Parents
As you read this headline, I know you cringed- so did I as I wrote it. But as I grapple with retiring after 25 years in the classroom due to student (and parent) misbehavior, it’s something that I feel uniquely qualified to say. There will be some people who will not hear what I’m saying, […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
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 […]
Posted inPolitics
Ready to Run for School Board? Here’s How
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! In 2024 just about every school district in this nation will have a portion of their school board seats up for election, and teachers who have left the profession, especially retirees, can do their school district a world of good […]
Posted inAsk the Educator's Room
Ask The Educator’s Room: I saw my AP at a swingers party. Should we talk about it?
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Welcome to The Educator’s Room advice column for teachers! Today we’re helping a teacher who had an “interaction” with their Assistant Principal at a swingers party. We’re also helping a teacher who’s trying to set some boundaries around their […]
Posted inPedagogy
We Put “To Kill a Mockingbird” on Trial
Books Are Meant to Be Discussed, Not Banned Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Last summer, I served on the jury of my first murder trial. We heard all kinds of griping testimony, viewed extensive forensic evidence, and witnessed dramatic outbursts from the defense lawyer, […]