Jennifer Nelson

Teaching with Heart: Lessons Learned in a Classroom

Category: School Stories

  • What Teachers Do that AI Can’t

    What Teachers Do that AI Can’t

    https://www.edweek.org/technology/6-things-teachers-do-that-ai-just-cant/2023/09 “While there are a handful of teacher tasks that generative AI tools can replicate, teachers also have so many other strengths and responsibilities that would be very unlikely to be replaced by those tools.” –Education Week 8-31-23 The good news is that AI cannot replace what teachers do in the classroom everyday. Yes, the…

  • Building Community in the Classroom

    Building Community in the Classroom

    https://www.edutopia.org/article/fostering-students-sense-belonging How can teachers help students feel a sense of belonging in class even from the first day of school? Edutopia, an online source of information on what works in education, has some ideas that I plan to try out in my upper level high school French classes. They are the following: I’m looking forward…

  • Kids Need to Read More for Fun

    Kids Need to Read More for Fun

    https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/joy-reading-isnt-dead-yet What a sad situation that children are no longer reading for fun. The number of children and young adults who read for fun has dropped to an all-time low, as cited in an Aug. 30 NEA Today article by Mary Ellen Flannery. National research shows that 17% of 13-year olds read for fun every…

  • High School Seniors Mentor Freshmen

    High School Seniors Mentor Freshmen

    https://www.edweek.org/leadership/this-high-school-matches-freshmen-with-senior-mentors-they-all-get-course-credit/2023/08 “I genuinely don’t think I’d be where I am now, pursuing this career path, if I didn’t choose to do mentoring when I was in high school. It taught me so much about helping younger students with their day-to-day issues, and being empathetic.” –Dane Johnson, who is now in a graduate program in child…

  • Must Teachers Be Entertaining?

    Must Teachers Be Entertaining?

    https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/do-teachers-have-to-be-entertainers-heres-what-they-say/2023/08 “Engaging kids starts with your relationship with them. If you have a good relationship with them, they know you care about them, they are going to be so much more engaged,” she said. -Rachel Murat, high school teacher in Endwell, NY and New York state’s 2020 teacher of the year, For years, I’ve been…

  • Screen Time Poses Dangers for Toddlers

    Screen Time Poses Dangers for Toddlers

    https://www.medpagetoday.com/pediatrics/generalpediatrics/105970 “Screens can disrupt or displace interactions with caregivers and limit opportunities for verbal exchanges, which can impair communication and social skills. Passive screen time, such as mindlessly watching television or videos, may not allow children to practice interactive problem-solving skills.” –Dr. Jason Nagata of the University of California San Francisco. Toddlers who stare at…

  • Affordable Housing for Teachers

    Affordable Housing for Teachers

    “Because there is such a profound educator shortage, districts may decide investing in educator housing is a necessary option.” -Sasha Pudlski, advocacy director for AASA, the School Superintendent’s Association Rising housing costs are making it more difficult for educators to afford teaching in certain communities in America where salaries aren’t high. What should be done…

  • Toxic Disrespect for Teachers, says Ed Secretary Cardona

    Toxic Disrespect for Teachers, says Ed Secretary Cardona

    “You went from the pandemic to persecution. In some parts of this country, they’ve developed an intentional, toxic disrespect against teachers in public schools.” -US Secretary of Education Miquel Cardona Secretary of Education Miquel Cardona believes that teachers are facing an onslaught of disrespect from parents in certain states. Granted, groups like Moms for Liberty,…

  • Can AI Improve Instruction?

    Can AI Improve Instruction?

    https://www.edweek.org/technology/can-ai-improve-instruction-3-teachers-share-how-they-use-it/2023/08 “I use AI to help create lesson plans, presentations, write emails, and to create checklists. AI is a great resource to use as an initial starting point for a task or to give you ideas.” -April Edwards, 6th grade social studies teacher in Texas This article from Education Week discusses on AI helps teachers…

  • Cell Phone Ban in the Netherlands

    Cell Phone Ban in the Netherlands

    “Even though mobile phones are almost intertwined with our lives, they do not belong in the classroom,” said Education Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf.