Seeing Dyslexia through three sets of lenses
By: Chris Murray, NBCT From as early as I can remember in elementary school, I had difficulties with words, spelling, and sounds. That difficulty was diagnosed when I was in fourth grade (currently the majority of cases of dyslexia are not identified until at least third grade), but I truly did not begin to understand…
The Silver Lining of the Black Box
By: Mia Manduca, NBCT I teach to Black Boxes. At the beginning of the school year teaching, psychology to high school seniors on Zoom was intimidating and confusing. Black boxes with names like “Saucy” and “Nugget” didn’t match my roster and with no visual cues, I couldn’t tell the difference between Kiana and Kiara. But…
Tales from the Pandemic: Silver Linings and Lessons Learned
By: Michael Ida, NBCT Unless you’re a journalist, it’s dangerous to write history while it is being made. However, as teachers, we don’t always have the luxury of waiting for the dust to clear before taking stock. We have a tremendous opportunity in front of us. Having no choice but to try new things during…
“Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor” Jackson Brown, Jr.
Dedicated to Stacy Nishina, HSTA Deputy Executive Director By: Tracey Idica, NBCT In the summer of 2013, I received a phone call from an NBCT on a neighbor island who had created a small network of NBCTs. She had received an invitation to attend the National Board Leaders Convening in Raleigh, North Carolina and was…
COVID, Community, and Connections
By: Erin Medeiros, NBCT Twenty rectangles appear. First Kylee, in double French braids and her lashes. Then Tapa, outside working on a lei for his project. Eden is by her bed, and Gardenia sits with her back against the white wall. Lili chats that she just got up and that Lei is with her. Lele…
Sharing your pronouns: Becoming a Gender Affirming Educator
By: Chris Murray, NBCT On Thursday, January 7 more than 50 educators from Montgomery County Public Schools (MD) continued their journey to a deeper understanding of how gender impacts our students. This PD provided educators an opportunity to learn from experts in the field about ways to make our schools and school systems do everything…
A Call to Re-Invest
By: Dr. Dolores Cormier-Zenon, NBCT Throughout 2020, the world experienced much tribulation. Last January we opened the year hopeful but unaware of what enormous turmoil was yet to come. A pandemic rising to a magnitude, so clearly unfathomable, that we’d lose hundreds of thousands of lives. In addition, we quickly ascertained how aggressively the pandemic…
Following to a T – and add a rap!
By: Nicholas Westfall, NBCT I was in sixth grade during the “No Child Left Behind” era. I was told to choose a career path and somehow determine whether I should take advanced placement, college-prep, or college-tech prep courses in high school. I was eleven years old. I had no career in mind so, with tears…
Informing Instruction with Holistic Assessment
By: Heavenly Montgomery, NBCT Great teachers dedicate time to learn about their students. Getting a holistic picture of each child allows proficient educators to design instruction to meet specific needs. The COVID 19 pandemic has put new obstacles between teachers and students that seem insurmountable at times. I am impressed with the way some educators…
