A Teacher's Open Letter to Ohio's New State Superintendent
Dear Mr. DeMaria, In your summer email to Ohio’s teachers, you noted that you find this to be an exciting time for public education in Ohio. “Exciting” is not the word I would use. “Frustrating” comes to mind as a …
The 8 Olympic Events of Teaching
Clearing the Hurdles: Within weeks, our version of the Olympic games begins: the 2016-2017 school year. The events are numerous and varied, and after a well-deserved break, it’s time to get back in shape for our Games.
Freedom to teach
About five years ago, the superintendent approached me about starting a program to help students to be prepared for the diverse workforce of the 21st century. So I created a class called the Global Leadership Project. It allows students to examine how Fortune 500 companies in Ohio use diversity to outperform their competitors. My approach, as a lifelong educator, is to create and deliver lessons based on real-life experiences that can change lives.
Lockdown for safety
“This would be the perfect day for a school shooting.” My colleague whispered those words to me during AIR testing week, and followed it up with the equally chilling statement, “I have that thought sometimes. I hate it.” She felt that way because we were all out of our routine in classrooms that were not our own, monitoring tests with kids who were not our own students. If anyone had really had the evil inclination to inflict violence upon those at our school, the controlled chaos already in place due to testing could have made us an easier target.
Top 12 Things for Teachers to Do This Summer
Each summer seems to fly by faster than the last, but take heart. If you feel like your summer is slipping away, it’s not too late to have some fun and get some tasks accomplished. Here are a few suggestions for making your summer full and productive, so you can feel refreshed and ready to tackle the new school year knowing you had a truly good summer.
Why a Nameless Woman Just Became Part of My Curriculum
When I first read the Stanford rape victim’s letter to her rapist, Brock Turner, I considered using it in my classes next year. It is a testament to the power of good writing, to the importance of knowing how to be articulate and eloquent even when writing about an emotional issue. Then I read more about Brock Turner. I got more and more livid. I’m no longer considering teaching this case to my students next year. I am doing it.
An Educator’s Conundrum
By Maria Correale Mueller – AP U.S. Government Teacher, Mason City Schools As an educator, I cherish the opportunities my students have to observe our Constitution at work, going beyond reading about it in a textbook. Watching the fulfillment of …
The unfulfilled vision of Board v. Board of Education
In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that “separate but equal” public schools for black and whites were not constitutional. Segregating kids based on race had long been the practice and it took the government stepping in to put a stop to it… in theory, at least. Over 50 years later, the reality is something else.
To All the Ones I’ve Taught Before
Dear Former Students,
I know it’s coming: the day when I have your children in class. It will seem incredible to me, since I still picture you as teenagers. How can you be old enough to have a child of your own in high school?
In any case, I would like to apologize in advance. Things are different now.
