Former Teacher
Inspired Ideas
Data Rich, Decision Poor
By Lissette Read, Former Educator & Curriculum Specialist — Throughout my twenty-five years as an educator in one of the largest and most diverse school districts in the U.S., I was afforded ample opportunities to observe and reflect upon a wide array of instructional practices. …
Are We a Village?
By Janis Effner, Former Educator and Professional Services Director at McGraw Hill — Educators work together for the common good. Seeing the needs of students day after day, they understand they must come together to help students survive and thrive. Educators have felt this. We have lived it. Educators have always done more than asked, but now doing more is a must in…
5 Ways to Form Authentic Connections with Students
By Mindy Spelius, Former Educator & Academic Designer — "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." — Maya Angelou My career in education spans over twenty-five years and has been quite diverse. I started as an elementary teacher and spent several years teaching reading…
The Importance of Gameplay in Student Engagement
By Bill Kearney, Former Educator & McGraw Hill Sales Rep — I never planned on being a teacher. As an undergraduate in upstate New York, I studied Philosophy and English Literature and planned on being a lawyer or maybe a professor someday. Alas, here I was, and teaching is exactly what I was being asked to do. I had a lot…
How to Build Relationships with Students that Have a Lasting Impact
By Amanda Schaffer, Former Teacher — I have a note from a student that I have kept for over a decade now. She handed it to me the day I left teaching students and shifted to teaching teachers instead. It reads, "Please don't go, if it's about the money, I'll give you my allowance." I didn't…
It Experts
Patrick Stroud
The Happiness Factor of Back-to-School
By Janis Effner, Former Educator and Professional Services Director at McGraw Hill — Is anyone else feeling a sense of happiness as this new school year begins? I don't know who is happier, parents loading up backpacks and prepping for back-to-school madness, students ready to talk with friends in-person, or teachers who want to delete their online teaching app and never look back! …
How Teaching Gave Me the Gift of Empathy
By Dan Parvu, Former Teacher and Assistant Principal — Names have been changed to preserve the privacy of those involved in this story. When I was in the fifth grade, my teacher, Mr. Campbell, who I dearly loved, let us know that one of our classmates, Mark, was diagnosed with leukemia and would not be in class for a…
·Jul 27, 2022
How My Training in Theater Prepared Me for a Career in Teaching
By Lisa O'Hara, Former Teacher and Senior Academic Designer — Let's look back to the first day of school the first time you taught. I don't know about you other current and former teachers out there, but my realization at that first-period bell was, "I have no idea how to teach." I had read over the rosters for each class…
·Jun 29, 2022
Teachers: Connecting with Students is Your Most Important Work
By Dr. Sara Bhonsale, Former Educator — When all is said and done, your relationship with your students is what matters more than anything. That is what they remember and your connection with them determines what they learn in your class, be it both positive or negative. Really though, think back to your favorite teacher. You remember…
How to Help Your Students Engage in Productive Discourse During Small Groups
By Becky McDowell, Science Curriculum Writer — In my work for McGraw Hill, I develop lesson components for digital articles and texts to engage students and provide lesson options for teachers. …