I am a firm believer that school should be fun for kids. I don’t mean the fun from watching videos, going on field trips or letting them run around all day—although that is fun too. I mean fun in the classroom learning. Yes… kids can have fun learning in the classroom. Of course, it requires … More How To Actually Have Fun In Class
It’s that time of year again. It’s the time of year that falls between the holiday season and spring break. It’s that time of the year where the prescribed off days are few. It’s that time of the year where children begin to feel restless, the calendar seems to stand still and the adults are … More It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
I am the director of an after-school and summer program for my school district. We house our program in classrooms in a specified area of the building. During the school day, teachers occupy those rooms. Teachers can be a fickle and possessive group of people. If you give a teacher something, don’t expect it back. … More You Don’t Own Your Classroom
When it comes to education reform where Black and Brown children are concerned, I always ask one simple question: are the best interests of Black and Brown students top priority? In particular, this question frames the way I look at the charter v. traditional public school debate. As a Black educator, I find myself between … More Unsure About Running the Relay
The Constitution of the United States is a powerful document. Not only does it lay out the rules for governing, but it is also the mirror by which we look at ourselves as a nation; for better or for worse. As a former history teacher, I may come off bias, however, to know and understand … More A Curriculum Teaching the Rules of Engagement
Police officers should not be stationed in schools. However, you may teach at a school where there is probably a school resource officer on the premise. Depending on the population of your school, you may have multiple on the campus. School resource officers are police officers who are assigned to schools to maintain discipline. They … More How Do You Discipline?
Years ago, I gave a professional development at a school where I was teaching. It was on cultural competency and cultural responsiveness and I was presenting to elementary school teachers. I remember a kindergarten teacher who made a comment that she didn’t believe her students saw color. She said something about her students never brought … More They See Color… Even When You Don’t
As a teacher you encounter a number of students throughout your career. Some students enter and depart from memory, while others leave an impression that is lasting for a lifetime. You run into some students who exhibit great coping skills when they are faced with adversity. Then there are other students who don’t cope quite … More When The Breakdown Happens
In one of the schools I taught, they had a system for contacting an administrator for a student behavior problem. First you had to go through a set of procedures you yourself employed before calling the Dean. If none of those worked and the behavior posed either a safety threat or interrupted your instruction, then … More When Waiting for a Disciplinarian
The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone
Where Race and Sport Intersect at the Point of Commentary
A blog on race, equity, and urban education
... A Strong Rhyme to Step To
"To sting people and whip them into a fury, all in the service of truth."
Navigating Inner City Ministry in Real Time
Urban Education Mixtape 