Civics: An Essential Subject Pushed Aside

We do our students a disservice when we don’t teach them about their government.  Though many consider civics a higher-level subject, it can easily be adapted for younger grade levels to help them begin understanding and engaging with key concepts.

The Communication Key

From letter sounds in kindergarten to AP test scores in high school, it’s important for everyone to be informed when it comes to academic success. When parents don’t know what their student is struggling with, they may be unable to help until it’s too late.

The State of Professional Development

Teacher professional development trainings should be a time to share ways to help kids succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. But are they?

The Art of Inclusion in the Classroom

Inclusion classrooms are centered around making sure all students are given the richest educational experience possible, but teachers must be mindful to overcome the unique challenges they can present.

Meet Julia

Hi, I’m Julia Bashore. I’m an elementary school teacher with ten years of experience in Richmond, Virginia. Though I considered pursuing a PhD in child psychology after getting my Master’s…

The State of the Unions

When considering teachers’ unions, most people automatically assume a positive connotation.  The very term union suggests togetherness, and what could be better than a group of teachers coming together for the common good of one another and their students?

The Factory Model: Does It Work? Did It Ever?

When picturing a modern public school classroom, most people imagine what is now traditional: students sitting silently in rows or groups while a teacher lectures about a topic at the front.   This highly regulated model of schooling, however, wasn’t always the norm.  It became common in the United States in the early nineteenth century, around the same time the Industrial Revolution began.  Its historical timing and impersonal style have led many to refer to it as  “the factory model of education.”