Tips for encouraging self-regulation of digital distraction As more schools introduce one-to-one iPad or laptop policies, teachers are increasingly worried about students’ dependence on screens. Devices are now a constant part of their environment and have become their ‘go-to’ form of communication, information, and entertainment for many children. As a fourth-grade teacher in a school […]
classroom management
Posted inOpinion
Children Don’t Avoid “Divisive” Topics, And Neither Can We
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! As a primary teacher, I had interesting and sometimes challenging conversations on a regular basis. Young children do not limit their comments and questions to what’s “age-appropriate” or what is or isn’t “divisive.” They are trying to figure out […]
Posted inClassroom Management
Why You Should Try a No Cell Phone Policy in Your Classroom
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! If you want to try an interesting experiment, ask your students to turn up the volume on their cell phones and tally how many times in a class period their cell phones signal an alert. We tried it a […]
Posted inPedagogy
Lessons for Teachers From a Military Brat
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! What is a Military Brat? Are you familiar with the term “military brat?” This term refers to someone who grew up in a family where one or both parents served in the armed forces. My father served in the […]
Posted inPedagogy
Justice Jackson and Romeo & Juliet (and Taylor Swift too!)
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! We can celebrate the historic confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and educate our students about many subjects at the same time! My favorite arguments from the newest U.S. Supreme Court Justice are not from any of the important cases she […]
Posted inAdult Learning
The Cakes in the Classroom Lesson Plan That Almost Didn’t Happen
Erika Bailey I graduated with a bachelor’s in history and a master’s in secondary education. I was a math interventionist for elementary and an afterschool program instructor before transitioning to a high school social studies teacher. During my tenure, I also worked as the choreographer for the drama club. Currently, I am pursuing higher education […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Assigning a Research Paper? Think About Rigor, Responsibility, and Relevance in English/Language Arts
As English language arts teachers, we need to teach the language of doing business along with the literary arts. Thesis We teach literary research and other standard ELA concepts because students will be able to transfer the skills. Simply put, if students can research the imagery of Emily Dickinson’s poems, they can, likewise, research blood-alcohol […]
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 […]