Controversial topics, ideas, and questions that aren’t easy to answer.
Click here for posts that will make you laugh.
Comments and input welcome!
Student Success Is Determined By More Than A Test Score - In a powerful letter by Darein C. Spann, a member of the Mississippi Association of Educators, he addresses the major concerns of the contemporary school system regarding test scores, and how we, as a society must reduce the level of importance we place on these numbers.
Tackling Our Students’ Mental Health Through Literature - I can't say that it's the same for every classroom, every teacher, and every group of students. But what I can (and will) say, is that it's always better to face an issue, to discuss it, to have your classroom be an open forum, rather than avoid mental illness conversation altogether.
It’s Time For Some Positive Self-Talk - Have you seen the video of the little girl, telling herself happy thoughts in the mirror? If not, you need to. And you need to show it to your classroom.
What No One Talks About – The Silence Of Sexual Assault - Today I stumbled across a moving post on Facebook. It was from Duke University, called 'Breaking Out,' that features pictures of people (mainly women) holding powerful signs--quotes, phrases, memories, and statements having to do with their experiences of sexual assault--words said to them by their rapists, quotes from others on the situation, or their most heartfelt, painful thoughts
Why the #LikeAGirl Video Is Necessary to Show In Your Classroom - What does it mean to be a girl? A guy? The socially-constructed stereotypes of each sex? The way we treat one another, intentionally or not? This campaign video, put together by Always in June of 2014, is interesting and speaks to some of the under-the-radar sexist stereotypes that are still prevalent today. And you should show it in your classroom.
Social Media and Students - I came across this powerful video today, by Australian teen Essena O'Neill. She talks about why she's quitting social media and the damage she feels it has done to her and her life over the past three years. It honestly was such a wake-up call.
An Eye-Opening Experience - My student teaching experience at Mason City High School has so far been an incredibly eye-opening experience. If I could name the one, most important thing that I'm pulling away from my time here, is that students come from such varied, different, and often difficult backgrounds.
My Kids Say the Darndest Things! (A Little Humor for Your Monday) - I'm having my English 10 students write in first person--narrative, autobiographical papers and journals. These can be tough because they're a mix of conversational and academic writing...but sometimes I just have to laugh at the hilarious, ridiculous things they write.
ADHD vs. PTSD – Are We Misdiagnosing Children? - There’s been an increase in children/students diagnosed with ADHD in more recent years, no doubt about it. According to the CDC website, about 11% of American children ages 4-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD as of 2011. This equals out to about 6.4 million, and that was four years ago. Numbers are only increasing.