First Person
Personal essays by teachers.
Author and school consultant Kirsten Olson thinks schools need to create a new leadership position to keep the focus on organization-wide learning.
(July 1, 2009)
An educator reports back from Japan about what the country is doing right when it comes to working with students with special needs.
(June 24, 2009)
English teacher Jennifer McDaniel says that, though their content can be disturbing, the increasingly popular "real-life" books can be a valuable outlet for some young adults.
(May 20, 2009)
A high school teacher finds an unintended consequence of the push for accountability: The students who need the most help often end up getting the least.
(March 4, 2009)
Tired of giving directions multiple times, one middle school teacher uses competition to make her class more independent.
(February 4, 2009)
Math teacher and author Derek Stolp thinks intelligent design has a place in the high school curriculum, if only to strengthen the teaching of evolution.
(January 28, 2009)
Natalie Schwartz, author of The Teacher Chronicles, says that our society’s lack of respect for teachers stems from widespread misconceptions about what teachers do.
(January 14, 2009)
The holiday season can be stressful for teachers, but Matt Levinson thinks we should embrace the multicultural teaching moments December provides.
(December 17, 2008)
The presidential candidates say school choice initiatives can improve inner-city systems. A District of Columbia teacher begs to differ.
(October 29, 2008)
A veteran educator paints a realistic picture of the day in the life of a teacher and offers tips for those just starting out.
(October 22, 2008)
One high school teacher discovers an effective classroom management tool in the iPod. What’s so wrong with letting students listen?
(September 17, 2008)
How the verbal slings and arrows of one teacher inspired her shaken victim to teach.
(June 11, 2008)
A middle school principal confronts bullying with tolerance.
(April 23, 2008)
Why Keith Manos and the teachers in his district went on strike was not unusual, how the strike ended was.
(April 16, 2008)
For one teacher, reaching out to parents is the key to reaching students.
(March 26, 2008)
A clinical psychologist remembers the painful challenges and surprising lessons of a former student.
(February 6, 2008)
A high school English teacher sees her students in a new light on Facebook.
(November 13, 2007)
Parent and art therapist Judith Costello argues that blurred gender lines create problems in the classroom.
(October 24, 2007)
By NCLB standards St. Louis’ Lift for Life Academy is failing, but teacher Denise Pattiz Bogard disagrees.
(August 22, 2007)
First-year teacher Erin Reed loves her job, but finds her youth is a liability.
(July 16, 2007)
No-holds-barred writing connects an educator with her students.
(April 20, 2007)
Controlling class chaos can be a major job. And a great one.
(February 26, 2007)
Parents who don't get involved aren't always apathetic.
(December 22, 2006)
A summertime trip to Botswana becomes a living lesson for one New Jersey educator.
(November 10, 2006)
In Japan, an American educator learns the meaning of responsibility.
(September 29, 2006)