Why Classroom Community Starts with Our Names

It is through our names that we first place ourselves in the world. Our names, being the gift of others, must be made our own. Ralph Ellison I never teach the same lesson twice, and that's because every cohort of students that I meet brings unique backgrounds, hidden stories, and personal histories that shape who …

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Say My Name. Say My Name: Introducing The Teacher Multi-Tool

I’m horrible at remembering names, which is problematic because each year I have nearly 250 new ones to learn. Yale’s Poorvu Center claims that students feel more satisfied, more accountable, more likely to seek help and more comfortable when teachers know their names. I needed to find a way to compensate for my weakness - …

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