Apr 16 Backlash to Indiana’s religious freedom bill helped my LGBTQ students By Brad Layman Editor’s Note: Indiana’s passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in March immediately sparked criticism that the bill would allow private business to discriminate against LGBT individuals. Teacher Brad Layman describes how the bill, though disappointing to his students, also spurred an… Continue reading
Apr 15 Why I’m telling some of my students not to go to college By Jillian Gordon As educators, it’s time to stop pushing all of our students to go to college, and instead push them towards the path that is right for them. Continue reading
Apr 10 What I learned when a lockdown drill at our school went wrong By Heather Jancoski We need a general vocabulary across schools -- not only in the valley or the state of Arizona, but the whole U.S. -- so that students have a universal understanding of what to do if an emergency occurs. Continue reading
Apr 07 What the Boston Marathon bombing taught me about helping students with trauma By Dr. Barbara Gortych Trauma is a slippery thing and not so easily pushed away, even in a resilient town like Watertown. Continue reading
Mar 26 How I teach about climate change in a state that relies on fossil fuels By Roger Spears As a science teacher, it is not my duty to force a belief in climate change or global warming on someone else, but rather allow the scientific method and inquiry process take hold. Continue reading
Mar 13 What my middle schoolers learned from debating marijuana legalization By John Czernicki Living and teaching in Colorado for the past 30 years, I have seen tremendous societal and legislative changes in my state on the issue of marijuana. Continue reading
Mar 02 I’m a queer teacher in the Deep South — how talking about my identity challenges hate By Douglas Ray As debate intensifies over equal rights for LGBTQ people, research has spotlighted the benefits of a supportive environment for LGBTQ students who are at an increased risk for bullying and violence. Teacher Douglas Ray discusses how educators can find new ways to engage… Continue reading
Feb 18 During Black History Month, helping students understand their role in history By José Vilson Editor’s Note: The U.S. recognizes February as Black History Month, prompting many educators to address the extensive history of the African diaspora. But it is important to show students that this history, and a larger conversation about racial equality in… Continue reading
Feb 05 How a ‘Humans of New York’ blog post inspired a principal and a $1.2 million fundraiser By Corinne Segal When was the last time you heard a principal say, “I was broken and I didn't want to go on"? Or the last time you heard a child even mention a principal's name?… Continue reading
Jan 27 When my student told me she hates Malala, it made me rethink how I teach By Alison Walter In the crush of testing, standards and the pitfalls facing students in poverty, it is easy to lose sight of the incredible richness that our interconnected world can offer. So far, I have been able to find a few opportunities… Continue reading