It’s just about the end of this school year and, as I reflect upon what worked and what didn’t in preparation for next year, I am faced with the unfortunate truth that a lot of my students — my Black students, in particular – are being recommended or mandated to attend summer school. While I’m… Continue reading Black Students, Teachers, and Community Are In A Perpetual State of Emergency.
This summer I’ve been experiencing the perfect synergy of work (I’m teaching a middle school, small-group reading enrichment class), professional development (I’m completing the final two classes required to receive my New York State advanced certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, aka TESOL), and play (I’m in Manhattan just about every weekday… Continue reading Here’s How To Make Summer Reading Fun!
It’s summertime and, while teachers need to rest after a long school year, I am gearing up to head back to the classroom to teach summer school. Many of my colleagues and I simply can not afford to be home all summer without earning some extra money. Even if you are not going away for… Continue reading Why Do So Many Teachers Work Second Jobs?
Many people believe that summer school is a waste of time but I think summer school definitely has its place. However, even given the advancements that Chancellor Carmen Fariña has put into place, there is much room for improvement. One way in which we must improve our system is by abolishing social promotion, which is… Continue reading Summer, Summer, Summer School – Summer School!
