While many of the 94,000 students in Denver Public Schools log onto school, there are hundreds, possibly thousands, of students who aren’t logging onto learning at all. Many of these students haven’t been in touch with a teacher since schools shut down in March. It can seem surprising that so many students can disappear from school rosters, but it makes…
Our Kids Are Relying On Us To Keep Them Healthy and Safe
The last day of school before we closed our doors in March was the hardest day I’ve ever had as a teacher. Only 12 students of our 26 were present. The kids kept telling my co-teacher and me how much they were going to miss us, staff were running around the building trying to get copied packets of work ready…
The Rush Towards Remote Learning Could Hurt My Students More Than It Might Help
I teach in a high poverty school in Denver and I’m terrified of the long-term impact of the COVID-19 crisis on my students and their families. Many online remote learning resources have offered their services for free as a solution to lost school time, which is generous, but feels frustratingly short-sighted. The same students who have a home that is…
We’re not just increasing performance. We’re increasing opportunity.
When a 6th grade science teacher left our school last fall for active duty, a packed room of 6th and 7th graders gave him a tearful military sendoff. “He did so much to help me last year,” said one student, a former member of his advisory group. These words of gratitude were echoed by dozens of students. Watching the emotion…
Let’s Expand the Possibilities of Learning for All Children in Colorado
When asked to describe a typical school day, many students will paint a familiar picture consisting of a core of English, math, social studies, and science courses, along with physical education, a foreign language, and perhaps a creative arts elective. After the final bell rings, they likely attend clubs or extra-curricular experiences that align with their interests and passions. Though…