What roles do teachers have in creating kind and compassionate citizens? Teaching is about investing in our future. Teachers need to do more than teach content. We are so much more than knowledge transmitters and test proctors. We are human beings that have made it our life’s mission to improve the world through nurturing, guidingContinue reading “The Top 12 Global Teacher Blogger Discussion: March 2017”
Tag Archives: Standardized Testing
The Top 12 Global Teacher Blogger Discussion: February 2017
How do we teach young people the rigorous critical thinking and research skills to distinguish news from propaganda? How do we ensure the next generation is one which communicates civically, values honesty, and recognizes reality? First, we have to have courses for young people to take that are centered on critical thinking. Most college campusesContinue reading “The Top 12 Global Teacher Blogger Discussion: February 2017”
The Problem with Choice
I know too many people who are not educators (and some who are) that are in favor of the choice movement in education. The biggest reason people want choice is to improve the education for their own children and then create competition so that other schools will be forced to improve or shut down. Unfortunately,Continue reading “The Problem with Choice”
Uncle Phil Radio Show Nov 11, 2016
I had the pleasure of talking about my book on the Uncle Phil Show on Friday. It’s a bit long, but a great hour-long discussion with Phil and Marshall. We had some deep conversations about education, bullying and how to help our children in this climate of fear, but mostly, we laughed and bonded over ourContinue reading “Uncle Phil Radio Show Nov 11, 2016”
The Top 12 Global Teacher Blogger Discussion: October 2016
How do we better engender a healthy, happy, and productive school environment where both teachers and students can flourish? In Martin E.P. Seligman’s Flourish (published April 5, 2011 with Simon and Schuster), he writes about the five elements people need in order to flourish. It goes beyond trying to find happiness: “Flourishing rests on five pillars, eachContinue reading “The Top 12 Global Teacher Blogger Discussion: October 2016”
The Top 12 Global Teacher Blogger Discussion: September 2016
How can we maximize the value of art and music in education and how can it be blended with more traditional subjects (math, science, history, etc.)? I teach at a community college, and a professor there created an art therapy club for professors, adjunct, and staff. Nine people attended the first session where they coloredContinue reading “The Top 12 Global Teacher Blogger Discussion: September 2016”
Top 12 Global Teacher Blogger Discussion: June 2016
How do we inspire the best and the brightest to become educators? We have to make the profession a respectable position. Right now, American teachers are scapegoats for everything wrong with our society. This is not true in other countries. How do we bring respect to the profession? This multiple step process must happen simultaneouslyContinue reading “Top 12 Global Teacher Blogger Discussion: June 2016”
Melissa Bowers: 7 Reasons You Might Not Want to Teach Anymore
This is the post I wish I wrote. Melissa Bowers captures the plight of a teacher perfectly. There are many reasons to leave the profession, which many teachers, including me, have done. The only reason to stay is for our students. Remember that when you want to be overly critical of the public school teachersContinue reading “Melissa Bowers: 7 Reasons You Might Not Want to Teach Anymore”
Joshua Katz’s TEDx Talk: Toxic Culture of Education
Joshua Katz describes perfectly the plight of American education, the damage it does to our lower achieving students, and the super villains behind it all. “We need to pay attention to our students and who they are. . . . How can we help them be better students? . . . How can we helpContinue reading “Joshua Katz’s TEDx Talk: Toxic Culture of Education”
Friday Writing Challenge: I Miss High School
Prompt: Something you miss I miss high school—not my teenage years but the years I spent teaching high school English. A few weeks ago, I went to the local high school with my son to see his friends play a 10-minute exhibition game as the half-time entertainment for the boys’ basketball game. As soon as IContinue reading “Friday Writing Challenge: I Miss High School”
Home 