It was during my lone year as a vice principal that I was the disciplinarian at my school. I absolutely hate the job. I loved the kids. I knew many of them very well because I taught them previously. They were really great kids. I hated the job because of my teacher colleagues—they saw my … More How NOT To Discipline in an Urban School
When you ask a teacher about lunch duty, they give one of two answers… either they think it’s cool or they hate it. Some teachers hate lunch duty for legit reasons. One reason is that their colleagues ditch it and their left with one or two less adults. Another reason is because there is little … More Lunch Duty
Not to toot my own horn (although I clearly aim), but I think that I do a great job when facilitating a professional development session; that’s what the attendees say on the evaluations. After each PD I facilitate, I always run down what worked and what didn’t work to improve for the next session I … More Ingredients of a Great PD
Are you curious about how to address students who are failing classes? I have a few suggestions. There is a catch: you must (1) have an open mind, (2) err on the side of common sense, and (3) have the capacity for human decency. If you can check all of those boxes, you’re ready. If … More How To Address Failing Grades
“If we are to believe that majority of writers of Negro dialect and burnt-cork artists, Negro speech is a weird thing, full of ‘ams’ and ‘Ises.’ Fortunately, we don’t have to believe them. We may go directly to the Negro and let him speak for himself.” -Zora Neale Hurston, “Characteristics of Negro Expression” One of … More The African-American Vernacular
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
There has been much fanfare surrounding the latest Marvel comic, turned movie Black Panther. Black people across the diaspora are excited about this movie, what it means and what it represents. Black Panther proves that an all-Black cast with a Black director can put together a quality film from head to toe, that can be … More From Wakanda With Love
If you’re looking for a place to find an honest conversation about all things education, Steven Singer’s (not the Philly jeweler) blog gadflyonthewallblog is a good place. Mr. Singer speaks truth to power ranging from race and poverty in education to school privatization. One of Mr. Singer’s latest entries speaks of a study, authored by … More Research Brief: No-Excuses Expansion
I love music. While I can’t play an instrument, I know good music when I hear it. When I hear good music, it takes me to a place that feels right. The right music takes me back to my childhood; it takes me back to drives to Rowan to visit my wife when we were … More Music In Your Classroom
Standardized testing is considered a necessary evil in inner-city schools. Folk will say that the students are at the nucleus of what happens in a school, but the truth is that at an inner-city school, test scores are at the nucleus. Do not let anyone tell you any different. Standardized tests are administered to gauge … More Do Standardized Testing Smarter
I want to take a moment to discuss something that I saw on Facebook recently. Normally I don’t discuss specific items found on social media on the Mixtape, however what I saw disturb me and I want to give parents a heads up in case something happens where you feel compelled to take matters into … More In Decency and In Order
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
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 