I Have Stage IV Lung Cancer But I Couldn’t Imagine Not Being in the Classroom

I always thought I’d be a professional baseball player. It was everything that ever mattered to me—even if I couldn’t play, I knew I wanted…

Teacher-Led Advocacy Isn’t a Choice, It’s Just What We Do

Historically, Teacher Appreciation Week has included cute coffee mugs stuffed with candy and treats for beloved teachers. Apple themed gift baskets, Starbucks cards and handmade…

Well, Damn. I Am ‘Just a Teacher’ and Proud of It.

OK, so here’s this embarrassing thing I did recently. I kinda promised myself I would never admit this to anyone, so please don’t tell. It…

Why We’re Struggling to Keep Teachers in Our Most Vulnerable Schools

A recent article from the Philadelphia Inquirer revealed truths that, while saddening, troubling and infuriating, were not exactly surprising. High teacher turnover hurts kids and…

Our Students’ Truth Matters and We Must Listen

As an English teacher, I encourage students to take risks as they dive into learning and embrace failure. I encourage them to share their struggles,…

Illinois Has Fixed Its School Funding Formula, But That Didn’t Help My Student

Kylie, now an eighth-grader, came to our school in second grade. In her six years with us, she came to think of our school as…

How John Singleton’s ‘Boyz n the Hood’ Changed the Way I Teach

I am not a movie person. I don’t go to the movies much and when I do, I often forget them rapidly. That’s not what…

I’m Teaching My Students How to Read and Think Beyond the Headline

We’ve all been there. A tempting headline, a picture too startling to keep our fingers at rest. We skim through the article. We write a…

Teaching Our Students to Save the Planet May Be the Most Important Lesson We Can Teach

Miko Vergun, 17, lives in the Portland, Oregon suburb of Beaverton. She fears she may never be able to visit her native Marshall Islands in…

New EPA Proposal on Pollution Could Lead to More Students With Asthma Missing School

How could my students succeed if they were not able to come to class? It was a question I used to struggle with constantly. Prior…