It’s almost Halloween, which means things are spooky! But the good news is that teachers are almost through the October Doldrums, the time of year when emotions are deep and sleep is minimal. You’ll notice that this week’s articles touch on familiar themes (e.g., race, education) while also dabbling in other important topics (e.g., sleep, love). Please enjoy!
Hey, New Teachers, It's OK To Cry In Your Car
Being a new teacher is hard. I’m coaching a few this year, and the biggest challenge is to encourage new teachers not to drown in all the various (mostly negative) stimuli. (In other words, the best thing to do is to act exactly the opposite of how I acted when I was a new teacher.)
This Senator Saved My Love Life
Death, Sex, and Money is my favorite podcast right now. Host Anna Sale begins this 26-minute episode with the story of how her ex-boyfriend tries to repair their relationship. Then all of a sudden she’s interviewing former Senator Alan Simpson and his wife about what’s at the heart of a strong and lasting marriage. There’s a bit of everything here (including Anita Hill).
Sadly, this is what happens to physical books in many public schools. They get thrown in random bins on classroom floors. It’s time these books get back where they belong: in students’ hands. The Kindle is the best way. :)
African Americans get less sleep and worse sleep than their white counterparts. Researchers are studying whether racism and discrimination lead to chronic stress, which results in higher rates of sleep deprivation and sleep disorders.
Studying at a Diverse School Doesn't Hurt White Kids' Test Scores
In last week’s issue (#15), Abby Norman was frustrated that her white friends did not send their kids to their community’s diverse neighborhood school. This piece offers more data that suggests that white parents’ fears are unfounded.
As always, let me know what you think by replying to this email! i’d love to hear from you. Have a wonderful week!