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Persepolis helped make the case for open discussion and books reflecting a variety of cultures.

ESOL program coordinator Ann Marie Batista is a “barrier breaker” for ELL students and their teachers.

I noticed a trend several years ago. A sixth-grader tagged along with me into the school. She wanted to use a computer. “My printer is broken,” she explained. “Can I come in with you and print my assignment?” A few days later, it happened again. Only this time, another student needed to edit an essay on a word-processor.

My curls tickle my face. My fingers feverishly sort though papers. I make last-minute decisions for the day. A former student, who stops by every day, chats by my side. It’s 7:30 a.m., and I’m depending on Folgers to usher me into a coherent state when I hear this student say, “Mrs. Yahn, ever since your class last year, I just can’t stop talking. I used to say nothing in class, but now I talk all the time. You taught me that.”

Poet Adrienne Rich once asked: How can we connect the process of learning to write well with [a] student’s own reality, and not simply teach her/him how to write acceptable lies in standard English? The question appeared in her 1979 essay, “Taking Women Students Seriously.” Last week, Adrienne Rich passed away, leaving today’s educators to ponder alone a question that remains as pertinent as ever.

Let’s uncover implicit bias—together.

What you need to know to facilitate classroom conversation about this controversial topic.

What’s your go-to text by an indigenous author? This educator calls attention to the limitations of using only Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko, and offers a detailed list of suggested additional readings.

What would it look like if schools offered every child daily opportunities to do something in which they excel? What if, instead of just celebrating academic successes, we highlighted the unique talents and joys of all our students?

When a conflict between students escalated to a physical level, this teacher looked at all the factors involved, including the classroom space.