New Terrain
Jessica Shyu, who taught special education for two years at an American Indian reservation school in New Mexico, was also a program director for Teach For America in Washington, D.C., where she supported and trained TFA teachers. In this opinion blog, Jessica wrote about the lives of new teachers in today’s schools, exploring their practice, experiences, and career challenges and opportunities. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: new teachers.
Education
Opinion
Broader, bolder (and delivered to your inbox!)
Summer.is.over. It's the start of a new school year, new teachers, new trainings to lead and working 16-hour days, 5 1/2 times a week.
Education
Opinion
More painful than the pump
Education is indeed the great equalizer. Unfortunately, the quality of education given to children in America is not equal.
Education
Opinion
WHY TENURE?
"I'm unclear as to why the union president is coming to the union in the middle of negotiations and why the president of the union is negotiating away seniority and tenure," said Jeff Canady, who teaches third grade at Emery Elementary in Northeast.
Education
Opinion
Free college. Really.
I don't know anyone who doesn't like free stuff. In fact, I know a lot of folks who can use it. A lot of intelligent, hard-working people who don't have any disposable income and who don't necessarily want hand-outs, but who can use a better break in life.
Education
Opinion
DC goes up! (But we're still not off the ground)
Michelle Rhee: "It's a testament to what kids can do. I believe the children in the District of Columbia can achieve at high levels."
Education
Opinion
Learning control
My students on the rural Navajo Nation have far more in common than I would have ever imagined three years ago with the kids in the border town colonias of the Rio Grande Valley and the children of inner-city Anacostia in Washington, DC. The more I move around the country, the more I see firsthand that communities-- in this case, under-resourced ones-- in America are more similar than different-- and not always in the best ways.
Education
Opinion
Not there, but always around
It's around these next few weeks that people are making their final decisions around whether to stay in the classroom next fall or to move into a different role or field. I've always felt some tinge of guilt for going. For those in the midst of making up your minds, remember: Always honor your children. Here was a response I had for a reader who disagreed with my perspective, but who helped push my thinking about my role and our collective role as a society for children.
Education
Opinion
Expect more, get more
"It is ridiculous to think that teachers can become proficient in this very complex experience, called teaching, in a few years. To think otherwise de-professionalizes the profession."
Education
Opinion
Super proud
As I was driving on the highway to get from one school to another last week, I suddenly found tears streaming down my face. And then they wouldn't stop. I was shocked. Awed. A sense of urgency and desperation clenched up in my chest. I was overwhelmed by a feeling. And it took me a second to realize that the crazy feeling that was making me cry, cry and cry while driving really, really fast down Expressway 83 was an overwhelming sense of possibility.
Education
Opinion
Here's to Sylvia
The achievement gap is everywhere. This one is to the whole village being a part of the solution. This one's to the Sylvia's one of the world, inspiring, pushing, and making it possible for people in real situations to get the access they need to better lives. And, as always, this is to the folks out there making it possible for themselves.
Education
Opinion
Growing School Leaders, aka Keeping Great Teachers
I know the magic bullet to closing the achievement gap is having and keeping great teachers in the classroom. But I also know that the fastest way to lose someone away is to force them to do something.
Education
Opinion
How I survived my first year and taught a lot at the same time
I wrote this for Teacher Magazine's new discussion forum. Join in on the talk and copy some titles down for the next Amazon order!
Education
Opinion
Not a teacher? Not a problem. It takes a village. And you're in the village.
As an eduholic, I obsess over education and I'm angry about the achievement gap. And when I'm obsessed over something I'm angry about (imagine ex-boyfriends, people who don't use their turn signals, and the achievement gap) I tend to become more emotional and less logical. (Imagine vengeful emails, excessive honking, and getting angry at anyone who isn't a teacher .)