How will you tell your students about YOU?

It’s August. Everywhere you look on education blogs or edu-Twitter, there are posts about going back to school. I know—I’ve written my fair share of them. Last year, I wrote about using centers for the first day of school and this year I wrote about relationships mattering more than content. But as you read about great ideas for the first day of school and building … Continue reading How will you tell your students about YOU?

Didn’t address Black History Month? It’s not too late to have an impact!

As we come to the end of Black History Month, I take off my teacher hat and put on my dad hat. I have three kids who are truly empathetic to the world (though strangely, not to each other). They want to fight injustice anywhere they see it—in bullying, inequalities, or in the environment. My wife and I have tried to help them see that … Continue reading Didn’t address Black History Month? It’s not too late to have an impact!

Make a Great Old-School Lesson Better with Technology

On January 1, I subjected myself to the horror of reading edu-Twitter, where people were coming up with the #oneword for 2018. So many were great words—mindfulness, belief, commitment. But then there were the ones that made me roll my eyes—”technology”, “1to1learning” (which isn’t even one word, it’s four!), and “paperless”. Technology is great. But it isn’t a cure-all in education. Technology can enhance a … Continue reading Make a Great Old-School Lesson Better with Technology

3 Ways My Students Are Going to Save the World in 2018—and Yours Can Too!

It’s beyond sad that as a nation and around the world, we don’t look forward to the next year, we fear what comes next. Fixed pic.twitter.com/uUTmyNYBEa — lil zyrtec (@dorseyshaw) December 6, 2017 When I was a kid, I remember looking forward to the new year. We saw it as a new beginning—a chance to right wrongs and improve ourselves. But in today’s climate, too … Continue reading 3 Ways My Students Are Going to Save the World in 2018—and Yours Can Too!

Three Ways to Teach Civil Rights Through Geography

As we dive into Geography Awareness Week, I start with the reminder to all social studies teachers: social studies is more than just history. It’s economics, psychology, civics, and most importantly (yes, I’m biased) GEOGRAPHY. If you skip out on geography most weeks, make sure that this week you find some time to work it into your plans. This year’s Geography Awareness Week theme is “The … Continue reading Three Ways to Teach Civil Rights Through Geography