“It seems to me that whenever we start[ed] succeeding, they start[ed] canceling the programs. When we succeed, the powers that be…they don’t want us to succeed.” retired Atlanta Black mathematics teacher, 2018 Authors: Jenice L. View, Toya J. Frank, Jay Bradley, and Marvin Powell In our previous article, we introduce the Trajectories study, our project […]
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Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
There’s One in Every Class: The Musings of a College Instructor
Steve is currently the Director of the Rose Warner Writing/Critical Thinking Center at the College of Saint Scholastica. He has been teaching college composition for over 30 years, working with students from a diverse range of institutions, including high school, community college, university, a state prison and even overseas (The American University in Cairo). His […]
Posted inBack to School
Nine Questions Every New Teacher Should Ask Themselves
You’ve started your first year, and it has been a whirlwind – but now what? Between the chaos of the school day, required training, and drop-in observations, you probably haven’t had much time to reflect or take a breath. Yet, reflection as a new teacher is one of our most excellent tools to improve our […]
Posted inChild Development, Mental Health
Creating a Trauma-Sensitive Classroom Part 1
“Billy, that is the umpteenth time you’ve gone to the pencil sharpener. You need to sit down and get to work!” The teacher is frustrated with Billy as he continues to get out of his seat to walk around the room to the pencil sharpener. And then she reflects on what she recently learned about […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Being ‘Just a Teacher’ is More Than Enough
“Have you ever thought about going into administration?” The irony in this compliment is that I find myself having to explain why choosing to stay in the classroom should not be seen as a type of “settling”. I am not the only teacher who has heard this at some point in their careers. It was […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Opinion: What Public Schools Can Learn From Private Schools
Students each wearing matching uniforms calmly making their way to classes. Classes full of well-behaved, eager-to-learn children. Or classes full of snobby, entitled students daring you to challenge them. The latter are some of the ideas – albeit – mostly wrong I’ve had about private schools in my hometown and in general. Last Spring, I […]
Posted inMental Health
First-Year Teachers: Raise Your Hand If You’ve Been Bullied Too.
By Lanee Higgins Teachers should share our workplace bullying experiences in shouts instead of whispers, but I understand why we don’t. Seven years ago, I kept a record of the workplace bullying that I endured as a first-year teacher in 2014. Seven years later, rereading it leaves my stomach full of needles, my thoughts racing, […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Teachers Have the Right to Rest: From One Burned Out Teacher to Another
By: Geena Bergen Geena is a teacher and advocate for teachers’ health and wellbeing. After completing her degree in Elementary Education & Psychology with a concentration in Early Childhood Education from Rider University, Geena taught 2nd grade in public school for 7 years. This summer, she transitioned to virtual teaching to have more time to dedicate to diving […]