Dear WeAreTeachers:I feel so left out today. Our school is having a spirit week. Today’s theme was “Students Dress as Staff / Staff Dress as Students Day.” There were two popular teachers with a lot of students dressed up like them. The principal even announced it and invited students to their chosen teacher’s classroom to … Read more
Society expects a lot from those in charge of educating children. That often means we need to be on our best behavior … or at least look like we are! Alas, not everyone is perfect. We all have several teacher secrets we keep hidden from those outside the world of education. But we can definitely … Read more
Dear WeAreTeachers:I feel so left out today. Our school is having a spirit week. Today’s theme was “Students Dress as Staff / Staff Dress as Students Day.” There were two popular teachers with a lot of students dressed up like them. The principal even announced it and invited students to their chosen teacher’s classroom to … Read more
When it comes down to it, reading might be the most important skill kids learn in school. Being a fluent reader opens up endless opportunities for lifelong learning. That’s why schools and teachers everywhere are constantly trying to improve the way they teach this fundamental skill. One phrase that’s emerged in recent years is the … Read more
Kids tote a lot of stuff to school and use a lot more while they’re there. And they need places to stash it all! If your school or classroom doesn’t have built-in cubbies or lockers, you might be looking for other solutions. These DIY classroom cubbies provide options for handy teachers who love to build, … Read more
What kid doesn’t dream about being an astronaut one day and visiting the stars? All future astronauts and rocket scientists will love these fun and free space activities for kids. It’s time to blast off into learning—just in time for the release of Disney’s new movie Lightyear! 1. Construct a spinning solar system. This fun … Read more
We Should Teach About Uncomfortable Ideas, Here’s How How can we identify a democratically ideal set of principles to help us grow a culture of conversation? In my 15 years as a K-12 teacher, I rarely found myself at risk of being in trouble for what or how I was teaching. Perhaps I was just … Read more
Despite it’s early adoption as a state holiday, July 4th wasn’t declared a Federal holiday until 1941. 4. The Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is tapped 13 times every July 4th in honor of the original 13 colonies. The Liberty Bell explicitly states its purpose with an inscription that reads “Proclaim Liberty throughout all the Land … Read more
Learning–real, informal, authentic, and lifelong learning–can ‘begin’ with just about anything. In that way, this is obviously not an exhaustive list. Nor am I implying that these are ‘the best’ starting points or that they would be in every case effective in your classroom. There are simply too many variables. What I hope to accomplish … Read more
Anyone who works in a public school knows that the teaching profession is at a crisis point. Burnout is high, teachers are leaving their jobs at record rates, and the pipeline of new teachers is growing smaller. Below, we’ve gathered 14 of the most alarming 2022 teacher shortage statistics that prove we need to make … Read more