“Foreign language anxiety can silence students. Here’s how teachers can help them speak with confidence.” By: Soyoung Lee When I worked as an English as a Second Language (ESL) coordinator in California, I noticed something puzzling about Maria, a new student from Venezuela. Despite her strong academic background, she rarely spoke in class. During group work, […]
What happens when we stop labeling students and start connecting with them? In elementary school, I (Nita) was a struggling learner placed in a classroom of high-achieving students. My mother wanted me in the “gifted and talented” classroom with the teacher who taught my older sister. She loved that teacher, and so did my sister. […]
“Treat your students’ errors with curiosity, not disappointment, and their learning will deepen.” Emma Chiapetta “We learn more deeply, and the learning sticks, when we make a mistake.” Emma Chiapetta On an October afternoon in my algebra class, Carson slumped at his desk, one hand propping his chin up and the other gripped tightly around […]
“All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and somebody who believes in them.” Magic Johnson When someone expects you to be successful at something, do you think it has an impact on whether you succeed or not? Think back in your lifetime about a situation when a parent, teacher, or other […]
Promoting Student Voice and Volunteerism: Listening to Customers Matters in Education If we are trying to build tomorrow’s leaders today, one of the best ways to do it is by having a student leadership group on campus. It can begin in elementary school and go as far as adult education, and beyond. In the private […]
“When we unmask our own biases and shift our thinking, we create learning spaces where every student can thrive.” Growing up, I was a student navigating an education system that didn’t fully see me. As a young immigrant in a new country, I wrestled with language, culture, and identity, sitting in classrooms where few, if […]
Here’s What Most Teachers Prioritize on Day One of a New School Year The academic schedule’s cyclical nature offers teachers a chance to hit the restart button at the beginning of each school year. To prepare, teachers take on a number of tasks, from decorating their classrooms to devising new lesson plans. But the real […]
Making grading more about feedback—and less about the score. Any work I assign through Google Classroom is an optional enrichment learning opportunity. Students will not receive grades that will count for their report card. However, I will offer feedback, sometimes as a score or as comments, to help each child progress in their understanding of […]
Being able to understand others’ lives and perspectives is a key factor in emotionally intelligent leadership. Our brains are wired for survival, but also for empathy. We have mirror neurons that fire when we see other people’s pain. Let us learn to love ourselves, so we can be more open and compassionate to others, and […]
“A student’s inner monologue can make or break the way they deal with challenge. Here’s how to guide them toward positivity.” Whenever I hand students a challenging math problem, they make a series of choices. It may feel to them like the adults in the room have all the power, but some of the most […]