How should teachers teach slavery lessons?

Spring is often seen as a time of renewal — a moment to clear out clutter, refresh your space, and create room for growth. But spring cleaning doesn’t just apply to our homes or offices. As educators, it’s important that we also pause and do some spring cleaning for our minds. That means recognizing and…

The recent spotlight on Norwin School District following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education highlighted the district’s failure to address a racially hostile environment. The investigation found that incidents, including the wearing of Confederate flag apparel during school events and offensive social media posts, created a climate of racial hostility, particularly impacting Black…

The simple method of grading on a curve can help many schools overcome the challenges associated with the perception of detrimental grading policies. Grading polices are designed to create a sense of equity that all students can achieve. However, grading policies that exclude grading on the curve present controversial challenges for school boards, parents, school…

Implicit bias, the unconscious attitudes or stereotypes we hold about certain groups, significantly impact education from preschool through high school. Even dedicated educators committed to fairness can unknowingly allow biases to influence grading and feedback practices, potentially causing inequities that negatively affect students’ academic growth, self-esteem, and long-term outcomes. Implicit Bias in PreK-12 Grading: What…

In Moses Lake, Washington, classrooms reflect the growing diversity of the community. While Hispanic and White students make up the majority, African American students are a smaller but vital part of the school population. For these students, representation in the classroom—through curriculum, teacher relationships, and family engagement—plays a crucial role in shaping their sense of…

Positive racial teacher-student classroom relationships impact student social and academic outcomes. Educators often focus on improving parent engagement, but student engagement is just as important.  When students feel a strong classroom connection with their teacher, they are more likely to reciprocate those feelings resulting in higher trust levels, increased learning engagement, less disciplinary challenges, and…