Posted inCommon Core, Current Events in Education, Featured, From the Front Lines, Uncategorized

Educators Waiting for Mr. Rochester

[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”] This summer I have been visiting the family estate at Gateshead, the harsh boarding school Lowood, and the Gothic mansion called Thornfield Hall through the audio download of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre courtesy of SYNC YA. This […]

Posted inCurrent Events in Education, High School, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy

Picture Books for High School (They’re Not in Kindergarten Any More!)

I hold up the book I will be reading aloud, Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat. The students start commenting: This is one of my favorite books… I love Thing #1 and Thing #2! I (loved) or I (hated) the movie! Can we read Green Eggs and Ham, too? I settle the students down and begin, “The sun did […]

Posted inLegal

Michigan Student Prevails in First Amendment Claim against Teacher

[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”] Johnson “Jay” McDowell, a Michigan high school economics teacher, was found in violation of a former student’s First Amendment right to free speech.  The former student, Daniel Glowacki, expressed views that […]

Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Uncategorized

NAEP's Solution to Flat Reading Scores: "Read for Fun"

The release of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Progress Report for 2012  (“Nation’s Report Card”) provides an overview on the progress made by specific age groups in public and private schools in reading and in mathematics since the early 1970s. The gain in reading scores after spending billions of dollars, countless hours and effort […]

Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, High School, Legal

Michigan High School Bans Athletic Prayer

[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”] Lahser High School, located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, banned its football team from student-led prayer while on the field.  The ban was instituted as a result of a letter sent by the American […]

Posted inAsk a Teacher, Featured, Fine Arts, From the Front Lines

Museum Education: Yes, I Get Paid For This!

[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”] A wild, crazy year is finally wrapping up in the NYC museum education scene. Post conference, post rush for field trips, post bus strike and post Sandy – we are all […]

Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Uncategorized

Letterman’s Top Ten Tribute to Teachers Needs More than Teach for America

[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”] Tributes for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week are appreciated coming just as the school year comes to a close, when very tired teachers are looking back to see student progress over the past […]