Nimah Gobir

Oakland

Writer and Producer at Mindshift

Writer/Producer of @MindShiftKQED

Articles

Are Your Slides Too Cute? 3 Presentation Tips That Center Student Understanding

1 month ago | kqed.org | Nimah Gobir

During the height of the pandemic, Christina Scheffel, a high school English teacher in Delaware, was desperate for ways to get students engaged in her presentations. As a solution, she started adding embellishments to her slide presentations, including cactus themed slides with cactus borders, font and arrows. “Every single cactus emoji that I could find got put somewhere on these slides and I really did think it was a way to bring some joy into the classroom,” said Scheffel.
Are Your Slides Too Cute? 3 Presentation Tips That Center Student Understanding

1 month ago | flipboard.com | Nimah Gobir

NowEverybody’s got something they’re good at. Whether it’s breaking down complex topics in a way that just clicks or making everyday tasks look effortless, your knowledge has value. And the best part? There’s an audience for it, no matter how niche it seems. Right now, there has never been an easier …
Handwriting Helps Kids Learn. Here’s How to Make the Most of It.

1 month ago | kqed.org | Nimah Gobir

One of the main advantages of manuscript is that students encounter these letters in books. “Studies show that spending two years learning manuscript writing strengthens letter recognition and helps make writing automatic,” White explained. On the other hand, cursive can be faster. “You don’t have to pick up your pencil every time,” White said.
Three Tools to Help Teach About Black Historical Figures in a Modern Light

2 months ago | kqed.org | Nimah Gobir

Feb 4Failed to save articlePlease try againDawnavyn James, an elementary school educator who specializes in Black history, reached a turning point in her teaching when a student asked, “Did people see in black and white a long time ago?” The question came from the student who observed that historical figures from the Civil Rights Movement were only shown in black-and-white photos.
Boys Face Unique Challenges. Here’s How to Help Them Thrive

Jan 14, 2025 | kqed.org | Nimah Gobir

Media with boy characters that experience and express emotions can be hard to find, but they do exist, according to Whippman. She recommended Gordon Korman’s The Fort, which is all about male friendship, and R.J. Palacio’s Wonder, a favorite of her sons. “It’s written with real complex, genuine interiority, which is usually reserved for female characters,” she said.
When Students Repair School Chromebooks, Meaningful Skills Are Developed

Nov 19, 2024 | kqed.org | Nimah Gobir

Nov 20Failed to save articlePlease try again (Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages)“Here’s how I describe what a Chromebook is to a group of people who don’t know what a Chromebook is,” said middle school teacher and comedian Jonathan Williams in a comedy set. “It’s like a laptop, but broken.” His joke and others about broken Chromebooks are echoed by educators and students likely because Chromebooks are omnipresent at schools.
It’s Not Too Late to Read That Entire Book With Your Students

Nov 11, 2024 | kqed.org | Nimah Gobir

Reading also enables students to make broader connections to the world, whether it has to do with global events, personal conflicts, or societal dynamics. These connections to real life events are called text-to-world connections. According to a recent study, students engage more deeply when books have diverse characters and relatable topics. Jackson recalled teaching Lord of the Flies to her high schoolers. “It’s just such a cool and very important book about governing and groupthink,” she said.
How Can the Community School Model Support Newcomer Education?

Sep 2, 2024 | newsbreak.com | Nimah Gobir

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How Can the Community School Model Support Newcomer Education? | KQED

Sep 2, 2024 | kqed.org | Nimah Gobir

Students at OIHS drop out at nearly half the rate that newcomers students do at other Oakland high schools. The school’s success comes largely from the community school model, which co-locates essential services on campus, ensuring easy access for students and families. The model adheres to the principle of “Maslow before Bloom,” which suggests that students must have their basic needs met before they can fully engage in learning.
Debunking Myths About Graphic Novels and Comics to Unlock Learning

Aug 19, 2024 | kqed.org | Nimah Gobir

POW! SMACK! BAM! The sounds of a classic comic book fight scene have not always been associated with academic opportunities, yet many teachers see students reaching for graphic novels and comic books more often than traditional books. Comic books and graphic novels fall under the umbrella of sequential art. It’s a medium of communication, not a genre, explained Stephane Manuel, founder of TrueFiktion, an educational company that uses comic books to teach history.