You gotta go for what you know To make everybody see, in order to fight the powers that be -Public Enemy Public Enemy’s song, “Fight the Power,” was a call to action in the late 1980s for African-American communities (and beyond) to get more political and take a stand against the “powers that be.” When […]
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Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Having a Tupac State of Mind: Supporting Our Students that Grow from Concrete
“We wouldn’t ask why a rose that grew from the concrete has damaged petals, in turn, we would all celebrate its tenacity, we would all love its will to reach the sun, well, we are the roses, this is the concrete and these are my damaged petals, don’t ask me why, thank God, and ask […]
Posted inFeatured
Watch Your Demonstrative Adjectives: Culturally Responsive Teacher Talk
Guest Writer By LaToya Morrison The Adjectives Demonstrative adjectives are simply adjectives that are used to modify or describe a noun. Grammatically, they are necessary so that one knows which specific person, place or thing is mentioned. In the context of language and grammar study, demonstrative adjectives are important; however, in the context of teacher […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Opinion: Age-Grading is Stupid
Age-grading is, in a word, stupid. It is built on a cultural conception of development that precludes the ability of individuals of different ages to have healthy, appropriate interactions and learn from one another. Unless, of course, a clear power dynamic defines the relationship: teacher-student, babysitter-child, employer-worker, coach-player etc., then the interaction is sanctioned. Instead […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Grades: Is There a Better Way to Measure Learning?
If I ran a school, I’d give the average grade to the ones who gave me all the right answers, for being good parrots. I’d give the top grades to those who made a lot of mistakes and told me about them, and then told me what they learned from them. – R. Buckminster Fuller. […]
Posted inTeacher Burnout
Teaching is Really all About Love
It took me years to embrace this truth: teaching really is all about love. To all those cynics who immediately say there is more to it: yes, of course, the skills of a teacher extend beyond the heart. But nothing matters without love. Why is this so hard to accept? Even those of us who […]
Posted inAsk a Teacher, Special Education
The Experts Among Us: The Value of Mentorship
My first year of teaching, I knew nothing about teaching. I had a vague concept of what teaching looked like based on television shows, movies, and books. As a lateral entry teacher, I had to study and take a test that demonstrated my understanding of child development, special education, and the tenets of teaching and learning. […]
Posted inFeatured, Principals' Corner
Are You a "Justa" ?
By Guest Author Andrea Shunk It’s lunchtime at school and a familiar scene is playing out once again with my coworkers amid the reheated leftovers and cold sandwiches. “Ugh,” complains Sheila. “I hate teaching this reading intervention curriculum.” This is the reheated version of the same conversation I’ve had with Sheila for three years. Today’s […]