Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Welcome to The Educator’s Room advice column for teachers! Today we’re helping a teacher who’s dating a student’s dad. We’re also helping a teacher whose community is grieving. See what our writers have to say, then share your own advice in the comments! […]
relationships
Ask The Educator’s Room: What do I do about all my absent teachers?
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Welcome to The Educator’s Room advice column for teachers! Today we’re helping a teacher who’s less than excited about teaching a former student. We’re also helping a teacher who is trying to support trans and gender non-conforming students at her Christian school. See […]
Educators Need Safe Spaces Too
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! “Thank you for helping me feel seen.” As educators who advocate for equity in education, some of us might expect this statement from a student. So would it surprise you that this was from a teacher? I recently returned […]
Behind the Mask: Returning to School in the Midst of a Pandemic
We got the kids back. So why is it still so hard to reach them? Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Like many educators, I was excited when we managed to reopen our little Washington DC charter school last August. As middle school principal, I’d […]
Mr. Rogers Was a Genius, Virtual Learning Showed Me How
By Thomas Courtney When I was a child, Mr. Rogers taught me how I was a part of my community through the magic of TV. Mr. Rogers would take us to the post office to see how mail was sorted. He would take us to a factory to see how things like tomatoes were canned […]
Is Your Teaching Experience an Abusive Relationship?
I know the title is a heavy one, but it’s a thought I’ve had since I started in this profession. I am in an abusive relationship with teaching. I know this isn’t everyone’s story. I see teachers all over Instagram discussing the love and dedication they have for their schools. Their leadership is great. Their […]
Great Teachers Eat Apples: Building Relationships
Every year as school days come to a close and summer sets in, I find myself sitting at my teacher desk sifting through tokens of gratitude from students. From flowers and lotions to candies and heartfelt notes, families generously express their appreciation for the hard work and care I have invested in their students’ school […]
I Wish My Teacher Knew: Beneath the Surface
In April of 2015, Colorado teacher Kyle Schwartz facilitated a writing activity in her third-grade classroom she called “I Wish My Teacher Knew.” Schwartz prompted students to complete the sentence “I wish my teacher knew…” with their own truths, hoping to understand her students on a deeper level. The activity yielded heart-wrenching responses from “I […]