equity
My Black Students Have Learned to Be Wary of People Who Look Like Me, And That's Not Racist
Recently in class, my students and I were listening to Lil Nas X sing “Old Town Road,” for what felt like the 100th time. Unintentionally I began to sing along, weaving through desks and timing my...
Teaching
It's Time for Chicago and Its Teachers Union to Collaborate and Win for Kids
After 11 days on the picket line, Chicago public school teachers are back at work and there’s plenty of chest-beating and navel-gazing underway. Speculation is running wild about the political...
Parents
Parent-Teacher Conferences Might Suck, But We Still Have to Show Up
David McGuire, a school leader in Indianapolis, asked the Twitterati this week what does it take to get parents to attend conferences with their children’s’ teachers? I encourage you to see his post:...
Special Education
Here's What Students Stand to Gain From the Chicago Teachers Strike
On Wednesday, the Chicago Teachers Union’s (CTU) House of Delegates approved a tentative agreement in a tight vote. The CTU deal includes good pay and holds the line on health insurance premiums, but...
opportunity gap
I Got Rid of Course Requirements for My AP English Class and I Don't Regret It
“So you’re just going to let anyone into your AP English class?” she quipped with sarcasm and snark. “Uhm … yeah,” I responded with cool decisiveness. The scene of this conversation? A conference...
Teaching
What You Think You Know About Restorative Justice Is Probably Wrong
On Monday, we ran a piece written by a mother whose experience with restorative justice was a horror story. Readers responded in large numbers to the piece, largely because it resonated personally...