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1 week ago | 
kappanonline.org | Starr Sackstein |Kathleen Vail
Q: I work with elementary-aged students who are excited to participate in class. I love their enthusiasm and don’t want to quash it. Unfortunately, students get upset when they aren’t called on to share. How can I support students who don’t have an immediate opportunity to share when they aren’t called on first? How can I help them work through their disappointment so they know they will have other opportunities?
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2 weeks ago | 
kappanonline.org | Starr Sackstein |Kathleen Vail
Q: My high school math students are struggling to stay in their seats. Do you have advice on bringing more movement into my classroom? Signed, A high school math teacherA: Many educators face the challenge of keeping students engaged and focused, especially in a subject like math, which is sometimes perceived as dry or overly rigid. Fortunately, there are numerous strategies to infuse movement into your classroom, helping to improve focus, energy levels, and overall learning outcomes.
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3 weeks ago | 
kappanonline.org | Starr Sackstein |Kathleen Vail
Q: How do you engage students who don’t want to be in school while nurturing highly motivated students? — Signed, Dean of studentsA: Among the most pressing challenges an educator faces is effectively engaging students who are disinterested in school while simultaneously nurturing highly motivated ones. Striking a balance between these two groups can be complex, but we can create an inclusive learning environment that fosters student growth with the right strategies.
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4 weeks ago | 
kappanonline.org | Starr Sackstein |Kathleen Vail
Q: “How do I stay motivated to innovate and avoid burnout when students aren’t motivated, and educators and their administrators have defaulted to non-tech or low-tech?”-Signed, A teacher looking for helpA: As we continue to navigate the complexities of teaching, many of us find ourselves grappling with burnout and a dip in motivation — on the part of students and ourselves.
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1 month ago | 
kappanonline.org | Starr Sackstein |Kathleen Vail
Q: Our district has many teacher vacancies, and we have been forced to use substitutes and other uncertified staff to ensure student education isn’t interrupted. Our state has laws against uncertified substitutes being in the same classroom for more than four days in a row. How can we support these substitutes, some of whom would like to get a teaching license and others with no desire to do so?
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1 month ago | 
kappanonline.org | Starr Sackstein |Kathleen Vail
Q: “I’m struggling to get my students to reflect and self-assess with depth beyond whether they liked a project or assignment. Can you offer tips that empower students to explore their reflections?”-Signed, A teacher who wants to let go of controlA: Encouraging deeper reflection and self-assessment among your students is commendable and essential for fostering independent learners, but it is not always as easy as it sounds.
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1 month ago | 
kappanonline.org | Starr Sackstein |Kathleen Vail
Q: “I’m having difficulty finding a teaching job. I’m 61 and have little K-12 teaching experience. I don’t feel that I have good job references. I don’t have a good resume. There is no teacher shortage in my city.”-Signed, Older career changer hoping to become an educatorA: Finding a teaching job can be a challenging experience, especially when faced with obstacles such as limited experience, references, and competition in the job market. It’s understandable that you may feel disheartened.
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1 month ago | 
kappanonline.org | Starr Sackstein |Kathleen Vail
Q: I am a [middle management] leader in my school district. I frequently find myself in “reaction mode” because of a lack of clarity in communication from those in higher leadership positions. which causes work to be left undone, decisions left hanging, or incorrect information being shared.
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2 months ago | 
kappanonline.org | Starr Sackstein |Kathleen Vail
Q: I would like to coach support staff (paraprofessionals, teaching assistants, etc.) and create full-time teaching avenues for them. My current school already has an instructional coach for teachers. I coordinate teaching assistants half-time and have a full teaching load. Leadership does not value my role and what I try to do for teaching assistants. Going somewhere else is scary, and the independent school network here is tiny, where everyone knows everyone.
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2 months ago | 
kappanonline.org | Starr Sackstein |Kathleen Vail
Q: “I’m concerned about the lack of authentic school-family partnerships. Often, parents/caregivers seem to be quick to attack educators and schools, placing blame and disregarding human decency. This is demoralizing for educators. Other places of work (post offices, doctor’s offices, retail stores) post signs stating that bullying and harassment will not be tolerated. Yet in schools, educators, administrators, and staff are treated with disrespect.
