Starr Sackstein is a secondary educator and school leader in New York. She is the author of several books on education, on topics such as going gradeless, peer feedback, and blogging. This blog is no longer being updated.
Professional Development
Opinion
Generalizing 'For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood ... and the Rest of Y'all Too'
Guest blogger Dr. Douglas Green shares how he applies the lessons in Christopher Emdin's book, "For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood ... and the Rest of Y'all Too."
Teaching
Opinion
Curriculum Is Power, So Co-Create It With Students
When we consider what we teach students, we must ask ourselves why every piece of content is where it is. Who owns the learning and how can we empower students more and more to be in charge of what it looks like?
Teaching
Opinion
Authentic Transformational and Ethical Leadership in 'Dead Poets Society'
Leaders in schools come in all shapes. How a character in "Dead Poets Society," teacher Mr. Keating, can be a model for earning students' trust and respect.
Teaching
Opinion
Use Drama to Explore Literature and Develop Deep Understanding of Craft
We cannot afford to cut funding to the arts. It is the arts that generate a sense of humanity that connects all of our contents together. As classroom teachers of any content, we must consider the powerful skills associated with the arts and incorporate them into all of our lessons. Whether drama or art, media formats or music, the addition to these assorted techniques can enrich any learning environment.
Student Achievement
Opinion
Build Learning Spaces That Inspire Innovation
Schools don't have to keep doing things the way they always have, not in terms of curriculum, assessment or learning spaces. There are ways to start making changes that can truly inspire and reinvigorate the learning process.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
The Joy of Summer Projects
Because I need that creativity all of the time, especially in my job, I need to find ways to better center myself in the thick of all of it. When I was in the classroom, my students and experiences drove deeper learning that I wrote about and shared, there is nuance in the leader role that doesn't allow for the immediacy of that exchange any longer. However, since I'm learning new things all of the time, I need to find a way to channel that learning curve into shareable nuggets.
Teaching
Opinion
Have You Reviewed Your Job Description Lately?
Ultimately, as reflection often does, it has led me down a rabbit-hole of more questions that I hope will shed light on the path to take for next year as the journey continues. I'd like very much to be as great, if not better at this than I feel about my abilities in the classroom. And although I've been reminded to stop thinking like a teacher, there is a part of me that will always retain those connections and commitment so I can continue to empathize and build capacity to the best of my ability.
Professional Development
Opinion
Leaders, Know Who Your Team Needs You to Be
While we are doing all of this stuff for the folks on our team, we also have to stay true to ourselves. Although we may not be able to go at the pace we wanted, we should still act with personal integrity, so we never lose sight of what we believe.
Teaching
Opinion
End of Year Reflection: Know Yourself
Almost certainly, I will never love testing or scores or any kind of evaluation that labels people insufficiently whether it is a student or a teacher, but I understand that in today's climate that is a part of the game for now. And because of that, I will work hard to treat the situation humanely, assuming the best of everyone and hoping they do the same for me.
Teaching
Opinion
Make Learning For and About Those We Teach
The lens through which we approach teaching defines so much of how success will look. It's time we invite students into this conversation.
Student Achievement
Opinion
Since We Still Test, Teach Students to Dissect Questions
Testing has become an unfortunate, but an integrated part of the learning process and within that are the questions established to test students' ability to think.
Too often, the questions that appear easiest on the page really are meant to deceive in complicatedly simplistic ways. Questions can lie and easily mislead students. It is our job as educators to help students break apart the meaning of each question to better be able to answer in the most effective ways. Check out this excerpt from The Power of Questioning.
Teaching
Opinion
Student-Powered Events Empower More Than Classroom Learning
Guest blogger Samuel Williams of Curtis High School in Staten Island shares how students can do extraordinary things when they are empowered to run school events. Read on to see what success can look like in this school and maybe in yours.
Teaching
Opinion
It's Time to End Mandated Summer Assignments
Let's spend more time in school promoting a culture of curiosity and learning that transcends school because learning is its own reward.
Teaching
Opinion
Helping Students Make Reading Predictions
By Jackie Andrejko and Starr Sackstein
Peeking into the room, I see students attentively gathered on the rug, sitting before their teacher who is animated while she explains the activity they are about to start. Students eagerly wait for the cue to get up and move to their stations.
Peeking into the room, I see students attentively gathered on the rug, sitting before their teacher who is animated while she explains the activity they are about to start. Students eagerly wait for the cue to get up and move to their stations.