Right now, the world is flooded with articles about teaching at home and adjusting to teaching during this global pandemic. This is not going to be one of those articles. Instead, this article is going to focus on graphic novels and their place in the classroom. To clarify, when I say “graphic novels,” I’m specifically […]
teaching
Posted inHow to Fix Education
The Ideal School Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
What would an ideal school look like? My wife and I, like many educators and parents, have had this question thrust to the forefront as part of the COVID-19 crisis. Overnight, my wife and I–both trained, veteran middle school teachers–have had to set up The Sutton School to teach our own kids. We’ve made all […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
Teaching from Home: Tips for Focusing on Results- One Teacher’s Reflection
I am now past ten days of teaching from home. Being away from the students has made the job more difficult. Teaching from home pushes challenges that normally exist in the spotlight. How do I reach the hardest to reach? How do I assess progress (or lack of it)? Remembering that I am still their […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
The Lost Identity of Teachers: The COVID-19 Story
Due to COVID-19, on Thursday evening, it was announced that all schools in my state would close for two weeks starting the following Monday. Immediately, teachers began cloning themselves, figuring out how to recreate their daily learning experiences in absentia. Remember, a teacher’s value is their ability to listen and analyze the needs of a […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: Things Are Weird Right Now
Guest Writer: Jill Jackson The last year as an educator has been a weird one for me. First, I was rejected from speaking at a conference that I never applied to speak at. Here’s the rejection letter, in case you’re interested: Good Morning and Happy Holidays! After careful consideration, unfortunately, your speaker’s expressed […]
Posted inConfessions of a Teacher
Dear Teacher Friends, It’s Time to Show More Empathy
It’s always wonderful when teachers from different parts of the world can come together and laugh, joke, complain, or cry about the same common things happening in our classrooms. “I’ll Wait.” “Where are all my pencils?” “This PD could’ve been an e-mail!” *Insert teacher on the way to break meme* Yes, we can all agree […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Opinion: The War on Teachers is a Civil War
By Adam Sutton There is a war going on, and it’s a war against teachers. It is headlined by pushes for charter schools, attacks on teacher unions, and policies promoting edtech and testing over teachers. However, those headlines are only made possible by the civil war that pits teachers against teachers. While teachers squabble with […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
We Teach Children, Not Curriculum
What happens when you feel more committed to the curriculum than the kids you teach? I’ve been thinking about this lately. It is my 11th year teaching, but it is my first time feeling immense pressure to keep up to a curriculum pacing calendar. For those who don’t know, a pacing calendar is a tool […]