When you think about what you want students to learn from a powerful unit on The Crucible, think about five years from now…

The weeks before Christmas break are not exactly a teacher’s favorite time of year. Students are tired and restless; some might be excited about their vacation plans, while some might be…

When I think about my goals as a teacher, I think about how I want to empower my students to go out into the world and think for themselves.  Creating independent, confident, life-long learners who aren’t afraid to try to new things is really the ultimate dream…

Starting a writing unit by examining great examples of the kinds of writing we’ll be doing is one of those ideas that I seem to forget and remember over and over again. Maybe it’s because I rush through writing plans, anxious to get to the assignment so that students can start working. Maybe it’s…

The best piece of advice that I ever got as a teacher was from a principal way back in 2004. He told me that at the end of the day, my students should be more tired than I was. I took that as permission to give myself a break, not martyr myself for the kids, and get them to do the work, not me. The second best piece of advice I ever got as a teacher was from…