Teaching
Making students the evaluators
Queens high school teacher Amy Matthusen explains ways to center students in creating evaluative criteria to help deepen learning.
Building rapport from the start
As any seasoned teacher will tell you, it’s important to start the school year off on a good note. Along with essentials like reviewing classroom rules and units of study, ice breakers play a key role in setting the right tone and building rapport with a new group of students.
Doing a technology inventory
The start of the year is a good time to consider what equipment you have on hand, what you may need to obtain, your classroom protocols related to technology, and what technology projects you’d like to pursue. Here is a framework for doing this inventory
Three helpful strategies for teaching math
I have tackled the challenge of implementing Illustrative Mathematics, the Department of Education’s new mandated algebra curriculum, by embracing the pedagogical practices in “Building Thinking Classrooms," developed by Peter Liljedahl.
Helping students identify real vs. fake
If someone possesses “information literacy,” they can find, evaluate and effectively use sources of information. With the advent of social media and AI, it’s become easier and easier to spread mis- and disinformation. How can we help our students differentiate between reliable sources of information and those with ulterior motives?
Stop shelving school libraries
Approximately 30% of New York City schools don’t have libraries, and there are only 250 certified school librarians throughout a system with more than 1,800 schools. School libraries are needed more than ever.