Creative English Teacher — Old School Meets New School

Did you miss Part I? It is here. Every case starts with a mystery–or in our case, a question: Why do we teach writing? Is it because students will need to know how to write in college? So they can get a good job? Or is it something deeper?” The reason I teach writing–and why I enjoy reading my students’ writing–is because it is an expression of their thoughts. It’s a glimpse into their mind. Their soul. When my students write, I can hear their words expressing their ideas. Is it perfect? No, but even when writing is broken and...

I am building an A.I.-resistant classroom. I’ve been told that it’s impossible to completely “A.I.-proof” my classroom, but I accept the challenge to resist it as much as possible. I want my students to use their own thoughts, write their own words, make their own mistakes, and become better human beings in the process.

It’s tough recommending educational reading to teachers. We are busy people. And although a lot of educational books have merit, sometimes reading 200 pages only yields a handful of usable ideas. There is a ton of educational research out there waiting to impact your classroom, but how do you find the time? I’ve often wished there was a way to access it in a concise and practical way. That’s why I was excited when I discovered DistillED, a FREE email newsletter by Australian educator Jamie Clark.

Are you a "strict" teacher? Surely, if you’re strict it means that you are mean, cruel, or demeaning. But just the opposite is true: If you care about someone, you want the very best from them. Being strict means you care enough to hold them to the highest standards possible.