"Happy Earth Day!" I said at the top of my class. While discussing the significance, a student said, "Wait, wasn't Earth Day yesterday?" In response, another classmate said, "You don't know when Earth Day is?" "Look, it's not like it's Christmas or Thanksgiving or something." Despite its cultural weakness as a holiday, I think of … Continue reading Earth Day 2021
Neopronouns in the Classroom
I was perusing my Google News feed when I came across a New York Times article with the title, "What Are Neopronouns?" I'd never heard of a neopronoun before, but it sounded interesting, so I thought it would be a good time to learn about them. Before discussing neopronouns, it's important to define what a … Continue reading Neopronouns in the Classroom
Discussion: James Hurst’s “The Scarlet Ibis”
If there was ever a one-hit wonder when it comes to short stories, James Hurst's "The Scarlet Ibis" is one. Published in 1960 in The Atlantic Monthly, it became a hit and appeared in countless text books. As an English teacher, it's easy to see why. There's a clear theme, tons of beautiful imagery, and, … Continue reading Discussion: James Hurst’s “The Scarlet Ibis”
My Experiences with Race, Racial Bias, and Racial Disparities in the Classroom
I was so proud of myself. Before graduation from New Jersey City University in 2011, I'd landed a teaching job. I was scared I wouldn't be able to find a job afterwards. A lot of my friends, who majored in subjects other than education, decided to stay in college to pursue their Master's Degree in … Continue reading My Experiences with Race, Racial Bias, and Racial Disparities in the Classroom
Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” as a Template for False Reality Narratives
I haven't quieted my reservations about Lucy Calkins' Units of Study, but one of the units I really enjoy is the dystopian unit (this, despite its lack of authors of color or diverse backgrounds, as per usual for TC). As mentioned in a previous post, I've dropped "Harrison Bergeron" as a read aloud and substituted … Continue reading Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” as a Template for False Reality Narratives
Student-Choice Assessments
In the past, I’ve used Independent Reading Checkpoints to assess students’ independent reading. However, after several conversations, and my own experience with the assessment, I’ve decided to discontinue its use. I’ve left the artifacts of the Independent Reading Checkpoint on the bottom of this page for your use. In my experience, teacher-prescribed text assessments do … Continue reading Student-Choice Assessments
Workshopping the Controversy about Dr. Seuss Enterprise’s Decision to Cease Printing of Select Books
There was big news in yesterday's Read Across America Day. AP reported that six of Dr. Seuss's books will no longer be printed due to racist imagery. This is a choice that Dr. Seuss Enterprises, the business that "preserves and protects the author's legacy" (AP) made. I went to Twitter and looked for responses, and … Continue reading Workshopping the Controversy about Dr. Seuss Enterprise’s Decision to Cease Printing of Select Books
Thoughts about “Harrison Bergeron,” by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. and “Speech Sounds,” by Octavia Butler
Since teaching with the Heinemann Units of Study, I've grown weary of "Harrison Bergeron," by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Vonnegut is one of my favorite authors. I could read Cat's Cradle, The Sirens of Titan, and Slaughterhouse Five a million times and never feel the groan of "This, again?" But "Harrison Bergeron" just doesn't do it … Continue reading Thoughts about “Harrison Bergeron,” by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. and “Speech Sounds,” by Octavia Butler
What is Cancel Culture?
To begin, as I write this article, I don't have a strong grasp of what cancel culture is or thorough examples of cancel culture phenomena. I've seen friends post about it on social media like Facebook and Twitter, but the references are lost on me. For example, an actress was fired recently from the show, … Continue reading What is Cancel Culture?
REVIEW: The White Tiger
This is a review of the film, The White Tiger (2021). You can view information for the book here. This title caught my eye because the book had been in my classroom library for many years, but I never actually read the book. At 125 minutes, the film moves at a natural pace. That is, … Continue reading REVIEW: The White Tiger
