The below video by educator/rapper Mike Wilson (aka Coma Niddy) is a perfect “storm” of things we love at QED. Content delivered in creative and engaging ways. MC2 Mastery of knowledge being demonstrated through music. MC2 Positive role model for males, students of color, and fans of hip hop. Oh, and science. Like this one? Check out more of Coma … Read More
Schoolhouse vs Jailhouse Infographic
The schoolhouse to jailhouse pipeline continues to plague our society. The causes for the criminalization of our youth are many, complex, and solvable. Whether we are transforming norms in our schools or implementing larger social justice policies, we must engage students in ways that build their strengths, confidence, and overall well-being. A good place to start is by dialoguing about … Read More
The Changing Face of the Teaching Force (Infographic)
Pop quiz: Q: What is the current mode for years of experience in the teaching profession in the US? A: One. In other words, ask all teachers how many years they have been teaching and “one” is answered more often than any other number. The reasons we have come to this are complex (see the below infographic from the work … Read More
Before I die I want to . . .
Creating discussions and constructive conversations that lead to transformational learning necessitates we generate experiences that reframe our perspective on our world. Sometimes this can happen in surprising and spontaneous ways that build community. Candy Chang created just such an event in her neighborhood in New Orleans when she painted an abandoned house with chalkboard paint and then stenciled “Before I … Read More
Gaming and Learning . . . Go Hand in Hand?
Emerging research is continuing to unpack some of the pros and cons of “gaming” on students, learning and behavior. For example, a recent study by Iowa State University professors, Dr. Craig Anderson and Dr. Douglas Gentile, found that prosocial games (defined as ones “in which characters help others in nonviolent ways”) can “increase helpful and decrease hurtful behavior.” While another … Read More
The Power of Outrospection
Roman Krznaric’s website describes him as “a cultural thinker and writer.” He speaks on a range of topics including “empathy, the history of love, the future of work, and the art of living.” His 15-minute talk outlining elements of his book, “How to Find Fulfilling Work,” offers this bit of Aristotle wisdom: Where the needs of the world and your talents … Read More
Education: A “Putting People First” Endeavor
What makes an educator an educator? Or, more importantly, where does “effective teaching” begin? Is it with standards, content, and resources? Or with relationships, connections, and shared experiences? Or perhaps some combination thereof? The New York times recently featured a short award winning documentary about Jeffery Wright, a physics teacher in Louisville, KY. The video is moving, not just because … Read More
Unpacking the Basics of Equity in Education
Achieving equitable classrooms, schools, and communities is vitally important, yet much easier said than done. While educators and education leaders may sometimes feel powerless to affect change on a large scale, they do have control over their local environments — classrooms, schools, and districts. It is here where equity work can, and should, begin. Below is a video of Rachel … Read More
A Landscape of Stumbling Blocks or Stepping Stones?
Our varied perspectives on gun control, safety, and equity will be thrown into stark contrast as we process the recent tragic events in Newtown. Our discourses, dialogues and debates will not be simple or easy, but they will be essential and necessary to not only heal from this tragedy, but to ensure that it doesn’t happen again. In a recent … Read More
Is This Piece Secular, Christmas, or Christian? — Holiday Music Rubric
‘Tis the season for holiday political-correctness, and for those of us working in public education, navigating the establishment clause of the First Amendment, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The pitfalls of this month are many, and vary depending on the understanding of our students, their parents, our administrators, and … Read More
