Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

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In the Classroom

Snapshots of the teaching and learning that take place inside schools

Ending the churn

Detroit
October 19, 2017

A splintered system and lack of teachers have created instability for Detroit schools. Now, leaders are craving solutions.

Liberal school choice laws, a decentralized school system and a shrinking pool of available teachers have so destabilized the teacher labor force that many school leaders say they’re constantly looking for new educators to hire

disaster ready

New York
October 19, 2017

Here’s how New York City schools are preparing to serve students impacted by Hurricane Maria

New York City is preparing to potentially welcome an influx of students fleeing Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands after the powerful hurricane struck.

YOUNG ADVOCATES

Tennessee
October 12, 2017

New program aims to make advocates out of Memphis high schoolers

Ten schools in Shelby County are participating in the program, which tries to get students involved in education policy issues.

expansion plans

New York
October 12, 2017

Here are the next districts where New York City will start offering preschool for 3-year-olds

Mayor Bill de Blasio has said he wants to make 3-K available to every family who wants it by 2021.

How I Teach

Colorado
October 10, 2017

This Colorado teacher keeps parents in the loop — even when they’re stationed overseas

A Colorado Springs teacher talks about why parent deployments hit her hard, how she helps students learn about their names and why she’s not afraid to ask for help.
National
October 8, 2017

Need classroom decor inspiration? These educators have got you covered.

This school year, students will spend about 1,000 hours in school —making their classrooms a huge part of their learning experience. We’re recognizing…

Who's In Charge

New York
October 6, 2017

A 1998 agreement that put the New York City police in charge of school safety has never been revised — until now

Due to a decades-old agreement between the police and education departments, the police are in charge of most matters involving school security.

tough talks

Tennessee
October 6, 2017

DACA is still an issue. Here are three questions students are asking in Memphis.

Students at Central High School talk about the wind-down of protections for undocumented immigrants — and what it means for America.

family matters

New York
October 5, 2017

‘We will get this done’: Union chief vows to fight for paid maternity leave after teachers take up the cause

Last week, Emily James took the stage at a teachers-union meeting and described what it’s like to work in a school system where teachers…

Count Day in Michigan

Detroit
October 4, 2017

The pizza and prizes Michigan schools use to lure students on Count Day are ‘unfortunate.’ But is there a better way?

Schools across the state brought out donuts, dinosaurs, smoothies and all manor of special events on Wednesday to lure as many students to school…

MLK50

Tennessee
October 3, 2017

As 50th anniversary of MLK’s assassination nears, Memphis students reenact a famous scene from 1968

Students learn about civil rights history through powerful black-and-white images taken by one of the city’s most famous photographers.

How I Teach

Colorado
October 2, 2017

Fresh from the Denver suburbs, this new teacher visited a poor student in a rural area and learned a valuable lesson

A Colorado special education teacher talks about a home visit she made to a student 29 years ago that still impacts her today.

tough choices

Detroit
October 2, 2017

This beloved Detroit music teacher vowed to stay at his Detroit school — but the cost was just too high

Quincy Stewart, who was featured in a June Chalkbeat story, faced a $30,000 pay cut if he stayed at Central High School.

staffing up

Detroit
September 28, 2017

Sweetening the deal: Detroit considers dangling extra cash to hire 150 teachers

Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said he’s working with the city teachers union to negotiate incentives that might convince certified teachers to take “hard-to-staff positions.”

How I Teach

Colorado
September 25, 2017

For this Pagosa Springs math teacher, mountain biking and ultimate frisbee hold lessons, too.

A Colorado teacher talks about the experience that reaffirmed his belief in outdoor trips, his meatball math lesson and how he brings life to his windowless classroom.

now hiring

New York
September 25, 2017

With a new school year underway, hundreds of teaching positions remain unfilled in New York City

Hundreds of schools are missing teachers and support staff two weeks into the school year, with many of the openings in high-poverty districts and…

deep cuts

New York
September 21, 2017

New York City teachers don’t get paid maternity leave. Their paychecks prove it.

New York City teachers don't get paid maternity or family leave, a policy that takes a toll on teachers’ paychecks and creates deep gender inequity.

How I Teach

Colorado
September 18, 2017

When a parent pushed for a lesson on Mayan history, this Colorado teacher invited her in to help

How do teachers captivate their students? Here, in a feature we call How I Teach, we ask great educators how they approach their jobs.

How I Teach

Colorado
September 13, 2017

This Colorado music teacher doesn’t want to stifle the noise — or students’ creativity

A music teacher from western Colorado talked about his sense of humor, his extracurricular jobs and the conversation-starters he uses with students.

Into the unknown

New York
September 7, 2017

In New York City, the new school year starts with anxiety over DACA

School began Thursday for most New York City students, some of whom will face the new year with anxiety over their legal status -- or that of their family members.

How I Teach

Tennessee
September 6, 2017

Why this Memphis educator hates being called a ‘teacher’ and loves ‘organized chaos’

Memphis biology teacher Chikezie Madu is one of seven Tennessee educators honored with the nation’s highest award for teachers of math and science.

How I Teach

Colorado
September 6, 2017

This Colorado history teacher learned an important lesson from an angry father

A high school history teacher talks about the man who inspired him to enter the field, how he earns students’ respect and what he learned from a student’s angry father.

Back to class

Detroit
September 5, 2017

On Detroit’s first day of class, unusual staffing problems hobble some schools and draw parent protests

On the first day of school, Detroit’s main district was dealing complications related to its merger with a defunct state-run recovery district and was scrambling to fill 250 teaching jobs.

First Person

National
September 1, 2017

I’m a Houston geography teacher. This is my plan for our first day back — as soon as it arrives

By teaching about the flood, I hope I can play a small role in helping our city avoid repeating some of the tragic scenes I witnessed this week.

How I Teach

Colorado
August 31, 2017

For this first-grade teacher, visiting students at home is part of the job

A Denver first grade teacher talks about why she likes home visits, how she uses classroom technology and what she learned from a set of twins with special needs.

First Person

Tennessee
August 28, 2017

I went viral for walking my students home from school in Memphis. Here’s what got lost in the shuffle.

I was photographed walking students home in 2015, and the picture went viral. Two years later, I've changed tactics for trying to help young people.

Out of this World

Colorado
August 21, 2017

Named for a renowned astronaut, this Colorado school took a break from classes to watch the solar eclipse

Scott Carpenter Middle School, named for the famous Colorado-born astronaut, provided glasses so all students and staff could view the total solar eclipse.

How I Teach

Colorado
August 21, 2017

For this Denver AP English teacher, success means students who push against the status quo

A Denver teacher talks about why she sees teaching as an act of social justice, what she hands out on the first day of school and how her favorite lesson unfolds.

In the dark

Tennessee
August 18, 2017

With solar eclipse looming, shuttered school planetarium represents ‘missed opportunity’ for Memphis students

Craigmont High School's planetarium is a significant teaching tool that’s tailor-made for the rare atmospheric event, but it sits idle and in need of a makeover.
Indiana
August 18, 2017

When students at an Indianapolis high school weren’t talking about Charlottesville, this teacher started the conversation.

When teacher Delvonte Arnold came to school after a weekend of racist violence, he expected students to have questions. But to his shock, Charlottesville didn’t come up.

'tough conversations'

Colorado
August 18, 2017

These seventh-graders started the school year talking about Charlottesville and what they can do about racism

Mirroring conversations happening nationwide, a group of Denver seventh-graders this week delved into a discussion about the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville.

First Person

National
August 17, 2017

‘I didn’t feel like I had anyone to ask for support’: Why it matters to have teachers who look like me

Writes a high school senior: "Going into my senior year, I like how diverse my teachers are now, but I wish I’d had the same experience when I was younger."

First Person

New York
August 16, 2017

A Queens teacher on Charlottesville: ‘It can’t just be teachers of color’ offering lessons on race

Talking about racism in the classroom is the best way to fight it, she argues.

readers helping readers

National
August 15, 2017

‘There will be questions you can’t answer’: Readers’ advice about tackling Charlottesville in the classroom

We asked educators for their best advice about handling students’ questions — and starting conversations of their own. Heres what you told us.

How I Teach

Colorado
August 15, 2017

This Colorado teacher doesn’t come to class with ironclad lessons. Instead, students help her plan along the way.

A teacher from Western Colorado talks about the woman who inspired her to teach, the importance of parent feedback and why she likes it when students laugh in class.

First Person

Tennessee
August 15, 2017

I grew up near Charlottesville and got a misleading education about Civil War history. Students deserve better.

In a disturbing irony, these white supremacists understand an aspect of history that I wish my peers understood from their time spent in school.

lesson planets

National
August 15, 2017

Syzygies and sun funnels: How 5 teachers along the path of totality are taking on the Great American Eclipse

From escape rooms to sun funnels, here’s how some of the nation’s science teachers are handling the plunge into darkness.

Talking about race

Detroit
August 14, 2017

Tough conversations after Charlottesville: Week in Review special edition

As teachers head to their classrooms, they must decide how to talk about Charlottesville with their students.

moving forward

National
August 14, 2017

5 key anti-racism resources for teachers, courtesy of #CharlottesvilleCurriculum

Looking for help addressing Charlottesville in class? Dozens of other educators have your back.

classroom consequences

National
August 14, 2017

How community trauma can hurt student learning

Among the many consequences of this weekend's events in Charlottesville: teachers are wondering how the violent displays of racism will affect their students.

First Person

Colorado
August 8, 2017

Cut from the same cloth: Why it matters that black male teachers like me aren’t alone in our schools

Being the only person of color at the school meant that I received a great deal of attention while still feeling alone — and under a great deal of pressure.

How I Teach

Colorado
August 3, 2017

Why this Colorado kindergarten teacher embraces student questions she can’t answer

A Colorado teacher talks about her switch from accounting to teaching, what she does when kids are off task and how parents can talk to their kids about school.

How I Teach

Colorado
July 31, 2017

For this Denver civics teacher, American history — warts and all — provides inspiration for changing the world

A Denver civics teacher talks about how her students change the world through civic projects, why she loves meeting parents and what celebrity coined her favorite advice.
Indiana
July 31, 2017

High fives and storytime welcome students back at two Indianapolis Public Schools

The crowd shouted encouragement to the students – “4.0! 4.0 this year!” one man chanted.

How I Teach

Colorado
July 26, 2017

As a first-year teacher, he wanted to quit. Watching ‘the greats’ helped him stick it out.

An elementary art teacher talks about his habit of “stealing” ideas from other teachers, the challenge of getting to know students and his love of fidgeting.

try try again

New York
July 20, 2017

Why this Bronx middle school believes in second — and third — chances

Students are regularly tested on learning targets. But they’re also given three chances to prove they’ve mastered the skills.

draining the pool

New York
July 20, 2017

New York City principals balk at plan to place teachers in their schools; some vow to get around it

Some principals say they’ll avoid any attempt to place teachers at their schools, even if that means obscuring open jobs from the city’s hiring systems.

Good reads

Tennessee
July 19, 2017

How one Nashville school uses classic novels to get young students ahead in reading

Beginning in the earliest grades, reading goes far beyond sounding out words at Nashville Classical Charter School.

First Person

Colorado
July 18, 2017

When my students got aggressive, my school agreed to help. Here’s how we changed a class reputation

No one had taken the time to teach them concrete strategies for coping with the stressful situations they faced in and outside of school. So we did.

How I Teach

Tennessee
July 14, 2017

Why this Memphis Spanish teacher loves to teach about the evolution of the piñata

Kylie Cucalon is known as Señorita Cucalon to her students at Caldwell-Guthrie Elementary, a charter school operated by Memphis Scholars.
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