I am always amazed that the Round Robin reading still exists. The empirical evidence has shown that it is an ineffective teaching method. Just being an observant teacher would make you realize the kids are bored and off task. Worst of all, it brings humiliation to students who struggle with reading or English. So how […]
students
Posted inAsk a Teacher, Current Events in Education, Featured, From the Front Lines, Opinion
What Am I Thankful For? A Damn Good Public Education
When people ask what one another are thankful for, there are a variety of great answers. Family, is notably and rightfully among the top answers. Many people are thankful for their friends who’ve helped give them guidance. Others are thankful for a home and a place to lie their head, or the food that’s on […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, High School, Professional Development, Teacher Branding
Teacher Branding Advice for School Districts: Make Your Teachers Happy
Once upon a time in a land far, far away, I worked in a district where the majority of teachers were unhappy-unhappy to the point of downright disgust. Almost every employee I saw walk into a school building there was a smirk followed by a frown and immediately followed up with a collective eye roll. Teachers […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Opinion, Parents
What Is The Most Important Thing A Teacher Can Ever Do?
“To be endowed with a benevolent disposition, and to love others, will almost infallibly procure love and esteem; which is the chief circumstance in life, and facilitates every enterprise and undertaking; besides the satisfaction, which immediately results from it.” — David Hume, “Of Impudence and Modesty” My youngest daughter, Emma Kate, was born two months […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Professional Development
Sparking Class Discussions with One Simple Question
Guest Writer: Arpine Ovsepyan, M.A. “What did you learn in class today?” This is a simple question that helps open the door for thought-provoking classroom discussions, serves as a formative assessment, and provides closure to a lesson. For a little over two years, I have made the commitment to never end a class without asking […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, High School, Uncategorized
The Looking Glass of the School to Prison Pipeline: Why Reading Abilities Matter
“Mrs. Warren, I love you!” Andrew (one of my students) yelled as I gave him a high five after connecting the events to the story in A Lesson Before Dying and the trial of Troy Davis. The other kids laughed at his outburst, but we kept moving so that we could finish the discussion and […]
Posted inFrom the Front Lines, High School, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Uncategorized
The Loneliness of the Post College New Teacher
“The weekends are the hardest.” a young, new coworker friend of mine said, “I think I’ll get another dog, it’s too lonely.” I remember reading somewhere that some of the loneliest people in the world are those of the newly graduated college student, and it seemed that my young, coworker friend was no different. It made sense […]
Posted inInstructional Strategies, Middle School, Uncategorized
Classroom Management in Middle School
Middle school students are both exciting and difficult to teach. They are exciting because they are moving toward adulthood and constantly changing. They are difficult because they are not fully mature and often lapse into behaviors of younger children. Finding classroom management techniques that work at this age takes some trial and error. Here are […]