I Tried to Be Just Like My Teaching Mentor…and I Failed
I knew exactly what kind of teacher I wanted to be, but that's not how things turned out. That doesn't mean I'm not exactly what some of my students need.
Captain Awesome
Captain Awesome teaches seventh grade English at an urban charter school for refugee and immigrant kids. She is a big fan of books, social justice, holiday-flavored coffee creamers, righteous indignation, and Friday Night Lights.
Grades:
Middle School
Why I Want My Students to Get Detention
It’s their job to screw up. It's my job to help them learn from mistakes.
4 Classroom Rules I Always Forget To Enforce
Maybe a better teacher would enforce all these rules...but I just can't.
Enough Is Enough—We’ve Got to Stop Name Shaming Our Students
Judging a kid based on a name is easy to do...and often, its racist.
My Title I Kids Have $300 Shoes. And It’s Nobody Else’s Business.
Before we tell people in poverty how they should spend their money, maybe we should listen to their stories.
What I Told the Kids Who Didn’t Make Honor Roll
My ESOL and special needs kids didn't win many awards this year ... but they should have.
When to Report a Teacher Colleague to School Admin—And When NOT To
There's a bro code in teaching, but sometimes you have to break it for the sake of your kids.
Grades:
Middle School
6 People That Need to Be on Every Middle School Teaching Team
A good teaching team is like a good hors d'oeuvres spread; variety and harmony are key.
Grades:
Middle School
I Gave My Students My Cell Phone Number. Here’s What Happened.
I didn't expect writing ten digits on the board to create a community, but it did.
Grades:
Middle School
6 Steps for Turning Around Middle School Classroom Behavior
Having kids write essays to reflect on their behavior seems like a great idea...but maybe there's a better way.
6 Reasons I’m Not a Perfect Teacher, and That’s OK
I'm good at a lot of things. Here are some things that are not on that list.
Grades:
Middle School
Why I Love the Middle School Talent Show
Sometimes all it takes is an off-key rendition of a Katy Perry song to remind me that I love my job.
Grades:
1st Grade
When the Problem Isn’t Your Kid, It’s the Kindergarten Standards
When kindergarten standards aren't developmentally appropriate, who's to blame when our kids fall short?
Discovering Your Teaching Mission: The Only Way to Avoid Burnout
If your teaching mission is specific, measurable, and attainable...you might be doing it wrong.
Grades:
Middle School
5 Improv Games for Any Content Area (Except Possibly Math)
Get kids out of their seats and engaged with these fun classroom improv games.
4 Funny Holiday Songs for Teachers
Because how could you NOT feel festive when grades are due in six days and you have to organize the winter dance?
