A Place at the Table
Susan Graham taught family and consumer science (formerly “home ec”) for 25 years. She is a National Board-certified teacher, a former regional Virginia teacher of the year, and a Fellow of the Teacher Leaders Network. In this opinion blog, Graham invited readers to pull a chair up to her virtual table as she offered her voice-of-experience perspective on teaching today, with a special focus on teacher leadership and continuous professional growth. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: teacher leaders, teacher PD.
Education
Opinion
It Isn't Easy Being Green
It's good for our schools to be green. But I wonder: Are we as intentional about conserving human resources as we are about conserving natural resources?
Education
Opinion
The Sound of Silence
Testing season is here and it's important to be quiet in the hall. So much for making your own kind of music.
Education
Opinion
Guess Which Thing Is Not Like the Others
With the best of intentions, standardized testing may give us all the wrong answers because they do not ask "Why?" And if we don't know why, then how will we discover how this human being is not like the others?
Student Well-Being
Opinion
How to Be a Football Hero
Most middle school boys plan on a career as a pro athlete. And for most, it's nothing more than a dream. But this is the story of a young man who made his dream come true.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
The Test Will Go On
Accountability matters, but when a school's testing schedule seems to be at least as important as the emotional welfare of the children, decision makers need to be held accountable for caring more about testing process that the children who are being tested.
School & District Management
Opinion
The New Kid in the Classroom
In the debate about public education, what would happen if we saw people on the other side of the policy table as fellow teacher and learners?
School & District Management
Opinion
Is it Really All in the Numbers?
Some stakeholders believe they have found the formula for success and happiness, Does Algebra II have all the answers?
Education
Opinion
Who's Cheating Whom?
Students cheat. Why? What does it matter? What should we do about it? If you've got the answers, please advise!
Education
Opinion
Just A Little More Stretching
Because our children need more exercise and schools are being to ask to stretch their limited resources even farther.
Education
Opinion
When Push Comes to Shove
I've got no argument with pushing one's position or opinion. But when folks are willing to use strong arm tactics to shove through their agendas, it;s hard to assume good intentions.
Education
Opinion
The New Normal of Class Size Just Isn't Normal
The "New Normal" of balancing the public education budget by increasing class size gets tangled up when there are 62 shoe laces involved. Come on policymaker, show how you'd do that!
Education
Opinion
Love, Actually
If education were edible, what kind of Valentine candy would your school be?
College & Workforce Readiness
Opinion
I Could Have Told You So
It seems that people who live in the ivory towers of higher ed and the palaces of government bureaucracy are the last to find out. This may be breaking news to policymakers and pundits, but it's not news to most teachers. College doesn't have to be for everyone.
Education
Opinion
The Toughest Exam Question
The risk of examining one's own practice, is the possibility of discovering not only do you not know the answers, you may not even understand the problem.