If you read a lot of parenting and education blogs eventually you are going to come to an obligatory post about, “All the Things They Don’t Teach You in School.” Many writers use this as an opportunity to criticize absent minded teacher or “silly state standards” about how they could forget something so important. That…
Author: Andrew Pillow
Indiana Student Receives Perfect AP Calculus Score
When students are applying to colleges, advanced placement classes and credits are one of the few accomplishments that makes them stand out above the rest. Since 1955, The College Board AP program has existed. The rigorous tests are often used as a key benchmark for academic performance. So much so, that when a high school…
Why I Write: Andrew Pillow
I was not a very good student in school. I was told by my mom that I actually got good grades when I was younger for whatever that’s worth. Not that grades in 1st and 2nd grade don’t really mean as much but I don’t remember them. For all of my adolescence, I can remember,…
Top Five Resources to Teach Students Current Events
In this day and age, everyone should be keeping up with the news. With the advent of social media and digital news, no adult has any excuse to not know what is going on in the world. Knowing what is in the news is not just for grown-ups. Students should be in the know too….
Indianapolis Commemorates MLK 50 With John Lewis and Kerry Kennedy
Wednesday, April 4, 2018, marked the 50-year anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On April 4th, 1968, King was in Memphis, Tennessee, organizing on behalf of sanitation workers. He was staying at the Lorraine Motel. It was there he was fatally shot by James Earl Ray at 6:01 p.m. Predictably,…
No, We Don’t Need a Men’s History Month
It’s Women’s History Month and I have been teaching my class about the accomplishments of women throughout history. While pretty much all of my students are receptive to the idea of spending extra time learning about women, some of them do seem a bit confused as to why we are doing it. Some even going…
Women’s History Month Resources
Women’s History Month is in full swing. Schools are notoriously bad at having resources on hand to help teachers give students a well-rounded education about women’s accomplishments. So, here are some online resources to help you teach Women’s History Month in a way that is both engaging and practical for your students. 1. Documents from…
The Civil War Was About Slavery and Teachers Need to Stop Teaching Students Otherwise
The Civil War is the most important war in our nation’s history. It literally changed the geopolitical landscape of the country. The ramifications of the war caused major effects that can still be seen and felt today. From the end of slavery to the beginning of modern warfare, the Civil War has continued to matter…
The Food Pyramid Is Wrong and We Need to Stop Teaching It in School
How often have you seen the “food pyramid”? Probably your whole life. You’ve seen it in school. You’ve seen it at doctor’s offices. You’ve seen it on cereal boxes. The food pyramid has become almost ubiquitous in our daily lives. For as long as most of us can remember, the food pyramid has guided traditional…
What Do You Do When a Parent Thinks Their Child Is Perfect?
There are few things more annoying as a teacher than the “perfect student.” That’s because obviously, nobody is actually perfect. However, there are students whose parents believe they are perfect. These are the parents you hate calling to give a negative report because you know as soon as you tell them whatever offense their child…