What De La Soul can teach Black students (and teachers) about breaking the status quo Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! I grew up listening to De La Soul. They are part of the landscape of my adolescence and young adult development. The trio from […]
creativity
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Stuck Like Glue: What Curriculum Adherence Can Do for Your Classroom
By: Jade Porsche The curriculum in my state is in its third year. It is a good curriculum—it’s rigorous, in-depth, and prepares students for the end-of-the-year state assessment with what we call “LEAP like” tasks and academic vocabulary. It gives teachers “Teacher Notes,” creates all the graphic organizers, supplies quizzes, and even give sample student […]
Posted inHow to Fix Education
Blueprint for Reform: Building the Foundation
Ever since the 2002 reauthorization of ESEA—otherwise known as No Child Left Behind—a day doesn’t pass without talk of education reform. The media tell us our schools are failing students, our teachers are exhausted, and our parents are dissatisfied. As much as we can agree that our nation’s schools are struggling, it is not as […]
Posted inAsk a Teacher
TEACHING RESPECT: Removing Creativity Hinders Respect for Teachers
Lack of respect is something that I’ve discussed with many of my fellow educators, as it has seemingly run rampant in recent years. The product of our discussions usually center around our love for teaching, but also, we discuss how difficult it has become to maintain in an environment where we do not feel respected […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Teaching Creativity: Simplicity and Decision-Making
By: Aimee Cribbs There was a Christmas that Santa filled my daughter’s stocking with masking tape because my little girl was not interested in the season’s hottest toys, but making things out of the boxes they came in. As an art educator in retrospect, I realize how this unsophisticated Christmas contributed to my now-teenage daughter’s […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
How To Teach Creativity In A Test Driven Culture
I am blessed to have what many other teachers don’t: autonomy. A 2014 Forbes article listed the top 10 skills wanted by employers: ability to work in a team structure, the ability to make decisions and solve problems, the ability to communicate, the ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work; and the ability to obtain and process […]
Posted inSchool Improvement, Uncategorized
Summer Inspired Lessons
It’s summertime! And whether you have still have school (sorry), year round school (sorry, again) or you are home, summer is a busy time. We vacation during summer, organize our homes, even remodel a little, and more importantly, we have fun. Here are some lesson ideas that are inspired by the summer. Characters and vacation– […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Elementary School
Artsy Smartsy
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] Monkey, my three-year-old, “wrote” a dinosaur song a couple of weeks ago. He drew shapes and letters and has it sitting on the piano. He will play and sing his song, […]