As a history teacher at Holland High School, I take pride in being organized, reliable, and a bit Type A. Throughout the year, I meticulously plan my lessons, activities, and everything else that I have going on while teaching high school students. I have spent the last 180 days giving 100% of my time to […]
Fiction
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
The Carbon Copy: As told by Ms. Reyes, Honors Chemistry Teacher and Reluctant AI Detective
I’ve taught chemistry at Eastwood High for thirteen years. Long enough to tell when something doesn’t add up—even when it looks perfect on paper. It started last Tuesday, after I finished grading the midterms. Normally, I’d be overjoyed when students scored high, but this time, something was off—way off. Three of my juniors: Dustin, Eliana […]
Posted inOpinion
Mythical, Fictional, Make-Believe…as Long as They Ain’t Black
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! As a Black teacher who advocates for the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion, the heated debate about a Black Mermaid has piqued my interest on many levels. I recently discussed the issue with members of my African American Student Union […]
Posted inProse
Potential and the Classroom: The Power of the Exchange
As teachers, we interact with kids constantly that we often forget exchanges we’ve had. To many of our students, those exchanges are things they have clung to in their time of need or seen as the straw that broke the camels back. We see so many kids every single day that it’s overwhelming, but I […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
And then, the Plot Mountain Blows its Lid Off!
You probably have encountered the plot mountain diagram: Exposition. Rising action. Climax. Falling action. Resolution. The plot mountain diagram is taught with short stories in English Language Arts at different grade levels, but I suspect that like most graphic organizers, the plot mountain diagram is over-taught, especially in […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Independent Reading Book Choice Questions
Independent reading in our school grades 7-12 means students read books of their own choosing, make recommendations, and keep records of what they read. Because of a illness on my staff, we have a substitute (Natalie) who is an enthusiastic graduate of our high school school with a BS degree in Creative Writing. She has been […]