Classroom Talk

If your classroom sometimes feels like the control tower of an international airport—planes circling, radios crackling, and somebody always “needing to go right now”—you’re not alone. Students are juggling academics, friendships, family dynamics, and that level in their favorite video game. A coping skills toolbox gives them (and us) a way to land those metaphorical […]

Ever finish a crystal-clear explanation only to watch understanding slide off your students like water off a whiteboard? Don’t blame them—or yourself. Blame the limits of working memory. Dual coding offers a scientifically tested workaround: pair concise words with purposeful visuals and the message sticks. Think of it as cognitive Velcro for your lessons. What

Why a Musical Poems Lesson Rocks (Literally) I’ve yet to meet a teenager who doesn’t perk up when the speakers crackle to life. By hitching poetry to a catchy melody, we hijack students’ natural sense of rhythm—making meter, figurative language, and theme feel less like homework and more like an impromptu jam session. Learning Objectives

Ever taught the period right after lunch on a gloomy Tuesday? I have, and I swear half my class tried to hibernate under their hoodies. That was the day I discovered the magic of multiple means of engagement—UDL’s fancy way of saying, “Give students more than one good reason to care.” What exactly is “multiple

Confession time: as a rookie teacher I could quote Shakespeare on command, but I couldn’t explain compound interest without breaking into a cold sweat. If my teen self had known the difference between an RRSP and a rapper, I’d have skipped a lot of ramen‑noodle dinners. That personal “oops” fuels today’s mission‑critical topic—the importance of

Introduction I’m a veteran teacher who has watched group work in high school morph from overhead-projector poster sessions to slick Canva slideshows. Some days, collaboration turns my classroom into a buzzing idea lab; other days, it’s more like a karaoke bar where nobody knows the lyrics. Below is my honest, balanced look at why we

Many teachers have experienced the frustration of delivering well-planned lessons only to find that students don’t retain the material later on. After weeks of instruction, test results can be disappointing – not because the content wasn’t taught, but because it never fully transferred to students’ long-term memory​ (edutopia.org). One major reason for this is a

In recent years, a quiet revolution has been reshaping the educational landscape: the rise of microschools. These small, flexible learning environments are gaining traction among parents seeking alternatives to traditional schooling. But what exactly are microschools, and why are they becoming increasingly relevant today? What Are Microschools? Microschools are intimate educational settings, typically serving fewer

Let me tell you something kind of amazing: the robots are finally here, and instead of plotting world domination, they’re helping students with special needs thrive. (I did not see that coming either.) AI in special education isn’t some far-off sci-fi fantasy—it’s happening now. And while it’s not perfect (I’m looking at you, autocorrect), the

There’s something about science fiction that just clicks with high school students. Maybe it’s the time travel, the dystopian worlds, or the philosophical “what if” questions that hook them in. Whatever it is, sci-fi is a powerful genre for sparking imagination and getting students to think deeply about society, technology, and even themselves. If you’re