A little background: As a teacher I am constantly reflecting and remembering what it was like for me to be a learner and to be in the shoes my students are currently in. When I look back on my life as a student there are many points that stand out […]
The Problem It is Spring 2013. In my 11th grade English classes at Castlemont High School, students are proposing their topics for their Junior Research Project. The 11th grade team is proud of this new initiative–designed to help students prepare and practice for their ever-looming Senior Project the following year. […]
As a writing teacher, I found that many students were adept at speaking, but struggled with writing. Class discussions unearthed interesting ideas, but many of the papers I graded the previous year either parroted my own analysis or came dangerously close to plagiarism. My initial inquiry was: Does having a […]
I have noticed that my students are often significantly more engaged in class when the topic at hand is connected to a contemporary issue that they understand to be important. This year, in my ninth grade California Studies class at Oakland Tech High School, I wanted to turn that engagement […]
How do my students deeply investigate relevant social issues in order to participate in meaningful social change work? As a 9th grade Humanities teacher in Oakland, it is critical for my students to see themselves and their passions reflected in the curriculum while simultaneously building skills in critical thinking, writing, […]
At the League of Women Voters’ luncheon this past week, I had the opportunity to listen to Tani Cantil-Sakauye speak eloquently about how she became California’s first Asian American Chief Justice despite a childhood where she had struggled to overcome shyness and find her voice. She attributed her decision to […]
When asked why civic engagement matters in schools, History teacher Jesse Shapiro gave the following response, “I found that students really step their game up. Their writing is much better when they know that other people’s eyes, other than me, [are] going to be on it. They become better speakers, […]
If you follow education in Oakland, you may be familiar with the phrase “college and career ready.” If you google that phrase, you will come upon the Achieve.org website, which states that “college and career readiness means that a high school graduate has the knowledge and skills in English and mathematics […]
