Why Every Child Should Go Camping At Least Once (But Preferably All the Time)

Sometimes, I worry that today’s kids are overly connected– staring at their phones, requiring constant entertainment, especially in the city. When I ask my students what they did during the weekend, their answers usually include the words “Netflix” and “Snapchat” more often than “biking” or “play.” Last week, I took my students (city kids growing…

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When Students Admit They Need Help

We’ve all had that student. The one who pushes our extra help away because he doesn’t want his friends to know he struggles. The one who puts down teachers in front of peers to gain a few laughs. The one who acts like (and sometimes says outright) he doesn’t want to be in your class.…

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An Open Letter to my Students

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the Teach For America 25th anniversary summit in Washington, DC. The summit had over 15,000 attendees, all committed to improving the quality of education for students in low-income communities. One session that particularly moved me was titled “Fighting Like Hell for Kids: Award-Winning Teachers on Staying in…

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And Another School Year Begins…

Tomorrow marks the start of the next school year– my second year of teaching. Though I would not want to repeat my first year, I am a bit envious of my one-year-ago self. She was about to embark on the most inspiring an powerful journey, during which she would meet students and families who would…

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Empowering Through the Growth Mindset

Standardized tests can be really hard on kids’  self esteem. They send the message that a child’s worth is defined by a number. A few months ago, my school administered middle-of-year testing. Once the results came in, I had a conversation with one student about her performance so far during the year. She identified that her…

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