Teaching
How Opening Up to My Colleagues Made Me Realize Social-Emotional Learning Isn't Just For Students
Faculty meetings. What comes to mind when you hear those two words? Earlier this year, I experienced an extraordinary faculty meeting at my elementary school, a game changer. And it taught me that...
Teaching
Parents Don't Want Their Kids to Be Teachers But I Do
Recently, I overheard my daughter in the kitchen giving her friend instructions on how to make guacamole. She was so patient, even-keeled, and genuinely helpful. In between bites of chips and...
Charter Schools
You Won’t Believe How This School Started the Year
At Phoenix Charter Academy in Chelsea, Massachusetts, our culture of continuous learning is centered around a strong community. In preparing for this new school year, we spent countless hours...
student achievement
Some Thoughts From a Teacher on What People Think About Teachers
Education Next’s recent poll offers a fascinating peek into what Americans think about a wide array of educational issues—teacher pay, school spending, immigration and school choice. As a former...
U.S. Department of Education
Arne Duncan’s New Book Made Me Feel Awful But You Should Totally Read It
I just finished hate-reading Arne Duncan’s book, “ How Schools Work.” I didn’t hate the book, but for so many reasons, I really hated reading it. As a teacher, the most damaging, dangerous thought I...
Diversity
Start the School Year With Equity in Mind
I’ve always liked the beginning of the school year much more than I like the ending. There is a mad rush at the end of the year that precedes that final bell. Compare that to the beginning of the...
