What do teachers want? Within the last four months, there has been so much controversy in the education including but not limited to, a teacher who was arrested for questioning a superintendent’s salary, there have been multiple school shootings, movements to arm teachers in the classroom, and strikes. So what do teachers want? I don’t […]
teacher professionalism
Posted inOpinion
Teacher Solidarity Matters
One of the pieces of advice I remember from my first year teaching came from a veteran teacher. She told me, “Sweep the snow from your own doorstep, don’t worry about the frost on your neighbor’s roof.” I remember thinking, what the.. huh? It wasn’t until years later that I realized the wisdom behind this […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Interview Tips from the Other Side of the Table
Whenever my school has interviews for an open position, I do my best to be able to be a part of the process. Our candidates are always really impressive, and there are just a few things, for me, that set certain candidates apart. I’ve come up with four areas that could make or break a […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Stress and Mess: Deliberate Practice and Professional Obligation — Part I
Editor’s Note: Writers Dan McConnell and Jake Miller teamed up to take on two driving buzz words – “deliberate practice” and “professional obligation” – and explore how they’re driving teachers to stress. DAN: Teacher Stress Is Not Blessed Teacher stress is a very real problem, and without reforms where they are truly needed, that is […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
The 600 Pound Gorilla in the Room: Dealing with Educator Sexual Misconduct
If there is one topic that educators don’t want to talk about, it is educator sexual misconduct. It is disturbing and disgusting to think that individuals who are hired to help, encourage, and teach students would think to do anything so profane. In fact, it makes me sick to my stomach just writing about this. […]
Posted inFeatured
Proof of Civilization’s Decline? Teacher In-Services
“All that is human must retrograde if it does not advance.” –Edward Gibbon Audacious barbarians at the gate do not always foretell a civilization’s decline. No, sometimes the changes are small and unspoken in a culture, manifesting themselves in the most surprising of places. Bemoaning a hollow cult of celebrity or decrying the perpetual […]
Posted inTeacher Leaders
Teaching Outside Your Classroom
In my last article “Teaching Class (with Class),” I explored the varied definitions of class: one a group of students we teach, another a way to uphold one’s self with students (and the public, in general). This week, we’re going to explore methods on how to move the public pendulum outside of school with these […]
Posted inFeatured, Professional Development
Before that last school bell rings: How to sustain yourself as a professional
The end of a school year arrives with both relief and trepidation for many teachers. Some are limping toward the finish line after a Spring of relentless testing cycles, struggles to get students to the point of mastery, threats of budget shortfalls, and general burnout from 60+ hour work weeks for the last 10 months […]