Getting Nothing for Someone

Just last week, my oldest son asked me what I wanted for Christmas. My answer? Nothing.

James Madison, Federalist #10, and Factions in America

One of the most vexing problems facing students and teachers alike is the teaching of Federalist #10. Federalist #10 and the issue of factions is critical to understanding the Madisonian model, and the complexities of the design scheme of the United States’ federal system. While students generally...

Native American Heritage Month: An Indigenous Cut to the Bone

In recent months I learned, along with others around the world, of the horrific stories of the mass unmarked grave sites of Indigenous, or Aboriginal, residents of Canada’s Indian residential school system. Wrenching stories of Indigenous students digging graves for classmates, children...

Native American Heritage Month: The Removed

The way authors structure their books is sometimes jaw-dropping. So impressive that by the end you hug it tight, knowing it taught you something, or touched your life in some way. The Removed by Brandon Hobson is one of those books.

Myth with a Side of Mashed Potatoes

Like most kids ushered though elementary school in the days when the Charlie Brown holiday specials aired on television once a year and if you missed them, you just had to wait until next year, I learned the myth of Thanksgiving like it was the gospel truth.

“Where in the…?" — A Conversation on Literature & Setting

Everything happens somewhere.

Hester and Pearl live on the outskirts of town; George and Lennie start off in the wilderness but then live on a farm; Sethe has to live in Cincinnati with her flashbacks across the river in Kentucky; and while Garcin, Inez, and Estelle suffer in their single room in...

Building Classroom Community in AP® Economics

I must have convinced you of the need to build a classroom community from my first post because…you’re here. Or maybe you already know that you need to build a classroom community, so you clicked on my post. Thank you. You are what makes this blog and your classrooms special! That is why students...

My Red Pen Is Dusty, and I’m Glad

Over the course of my career as a middle school ELA teacher, I’ve graded more writing pieces than I can count. I’ve graded late into the night, on plane trips and car rides, while watching volleyball practices, and on my lunch breaks. If you’re a teacher, you’ve been there. You relate.

Native American Heritage Month: Identity & Storytelling

Many lessons ran through my mind while reading There There by Tommy Orange. We could talk about the parallel plot text structure; we could talk about the characterization of Native Americans; we could talk about mental health and addiction. So really, however you use this book with your students,...

AP® Gov: Preparing for FRQ #4

You know the Style #4 Free Response Question on the College Board’s national Government exam can be a real challenge. I am talking about the argument essay that takes more time for students to plan and write. Because it is a little more challenging, I tend to dread then delay teaching it. Not a...