I’m a Teacher and I Don’t Want Your Blind Support. I Want You to Challenge Me.

I am a teacher. I care about my students and work really hard. I have spent my entire 14-year career working in urban schools, and…

Using Chosen Names and Pronouns for Students Is Important

If you have been reading my work long enough, you know I am adamant about teachers pronouncing students’ names correctly. A student’s name is part of…

DACA Isn’t Just a Debate to Me

Growing up undocumented with immigrant parents, I was made aware of my status and the limitations it imposed on me. I learned to always be…

Is Education Journalism Driving School Segregation?

The question in the headline above must be asked because a recent study concludes that informed parents exercising choice are a cause of segregation. If…

How to Teach About Impeachment Without Pissing Parents Off

Times are tough for social studies teachers. We are living in a historic moment no matter which side of the aisle, but teaching controversial and…

It Shouldn’t Take a Tragedy for Us to Act on School Bus Safety

Imagine you’re running late to work. You hop in your car and drive just under the speed limit, but you’re in a rush, so you…

The Story I Wish ‘Harriet’ Told Our Students

I took my children to see “Harriet” this past weekend, and I was truly entertained. The story of Harriet Tubman was one I learned about…

To See the Real Picture on NAEP, You Have to Know Where to Look

It would be all too easy to see the grim headlines about the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores as the whole…

Given the Conflict of Visions in Education, Who Can We Trust?

In his book, “A Conflict of Visions,” Thomas Sowell describes the common disagreements we see in politics today as being rooted in the “different visions…

A Calendar, a Plan and Friends Can Make Unexpected Time off Rewarding and Productive for Your Kids

Gil Gibori recently launched The House Tutoring Lounge, a space in Chicago’s northern suburbs where teens can study, prep for college entrance exams and socialize,…