From beloved heartwarming Christmas melodies to intense songs of angry political and social protest, music is one of the most emotionally charged forms of expression. Although the psychological research behind that statement is fascinatingly complex, the layman’s explanation is quite simple: music is a powerful combination of both lyrics and sounds. These two elements work … Continue reading Using Concept Albums to Engage with Layers of Theme by Susan Decker
The Kids Can Do It: Slow down, Collaborate, and Scaffold by Chelsea Bowker, Austin Castro and Anastassia McNulty
Across the United States, many educators will face what often feels like an insurmountable predicament. The goal is to provide students with complex, grade-level academic challenges designed to achieve a rigorous set of standards. The problem is comparable to a 20-foot brick wall in front of us and our students, and we have 120 days … Continue reading The Kids Can Do It: Slow down, Collaborate, and Scaffold by Chelsea Bowker, Austin Castro and Anastassia McNulty
New Kinds of Windows, Mirrors, and Sliding Glass Doors: Destigmatizing Mental Health in Our Classrooms through Young Adult Literature by Rebecca Chatham-Vazquez
A review of Kia Jane Richmond's Mental Illness in Young Adult Literature: Exploring Real Struggles through Fictional Characters. ABC-CLIO, 2019. After meeting Kia Jane Richmond at the Annual NCTE Convention in Baltimore in 2019, I knew I had to read her work. Rather than starting with a short article—of which she has written many—I began … Continue reading New Kinds of Windows, Mirrors, and Sliding Glass Doors: Destigmatizing Mental Health in Our Classrooms through Young Adult Literature by Rebecca Chatham-Vazquez
Engaging Minds, Inspiring Readers by Jen McCarty Plucker
In classrooms filled with diverse learners, engagement doesn’t come from compliance—it comes from connection, curiosity, and relevance. Before we can expect students to meet us in rigorous academic work, we must first understand the often-hidden reasons behind their resistance. In my teaching practice and research, I’ve discovered that many seemingly disengaged behaviors are actually defense … Continue reading Engaging Minds, Inspiring Readers by Jen McCarty Plucker
Strategies for Changing Hearts and Minds by David Beard
Teaching about anti-Semitism has never been more important and, possibly, more complicated than it is today. The Anti-Defamation League identifies anti-Semitism as on the rise (e.g., in “U.S. Antisemitic Incidents Skyrocketed 360% in Aftermath of Attack in Israel, According to Latest ADL Data”). It has also become more complicated, as a topic for civic life … Continue reading Strategies for Changing Hearts and Minds by David Beard
Finding “The Wisdom to Know the Difference” about AI by Matthew Schempp
The Serenity Prayer Like many other schools across the state of Minnesota, we at BlueSky School have struggled with the dual opportunities and threats of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the last three years. Last May, we presented our struggles, guiding philosophy, and paths to teaching in this new environment. In … Continue reading Finding “The Wisdom to Know the Difference” about AI by Matthew Schempp
Speak Something Alive: Spoken Word Poetry in the Classroom by Kyle Tran Myhre
An adaptation of a presentation at the 2024 MCTE Spring Conference On the first day of an artist-in-residence gig, I generally dodge the question: What is poetry? I’ve been a working poet for twenty years, was on two National Poetry Slam championship teams, performed everywhere from the Target Center to the United Nations, even contributed … Continue reading Speak Something Alive: Spoken Word Poetry in the Classroom by Kyle Tran Myhre
The Case for Teaching Climate Literacy in English Class by Abby Hartzell
Climate change belongs in the English curriculum just as much as it belongs in science. Last spring, I presented about my experiences teaching a climate literacy unit to my 9th grade English class. During the presentation, I encouraged audience members to consider the myriad ways reading and analyzing climate texts can engage students from any … Continue reading The Case for Teaching Climate Literacy in English Class by Abby Hartzell
Making Time for Teacher Candidates to Write in the Language Arts Method Course by Kay Rosheim, Freelar Htoo, Van Tuong Nguyen, Aisha Muhammed Warmahayye, Hermela Tibebe Solomon, Yorina Roh, Sagal Daad, and Azza Suri
How can writing teachers understand what they ask their students to do unless they do the work themselves? Effective writing teachers are, in some way, writers themselves. They model the different processes, behaviors, techniques, and pleasures involved in writing. This allows them to respond to learners’ written efforts in ways that promote learner reflection and … Continue reading Making Time for Teacher Candidates to Write in the Language Arts Method Course by Kay Rosheim, Freelar Htoo, Van Tuong Nguyen, Aisha Muhammed Warmahayye, Hermela Tibebe Solomon, Yorina Roh, Sagal Daad, and Azza Suri
Beyond Color: Strategies for Introducing Diverse Books, and Some Book Recommendations Too by Rosalind Hudson and Hiawatha Smith
Reflection Pause for a moment and reflect on your response to these thought-provoking questions: Introduction The world is rich in diversity, and it is crucial for students to learn about and engage with this diversity. Diversity encompasses much more than the representation of “color” and the well-known non-dominant groups; it reflects the broader pluralistic world. … Continue reading Beyond Color: Strategies for Introducing Diverse Books, and Some Book Recommendations Too by Rosalind Hudson and Hiawatha Smith
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