Teacher Talk
How to Keep Kids Off Their Phones While Homeschooling
By: Scott Wilson | Sep 2, 2026
The most reliable way to keep kids off their phones while homeschooling is to agree on a spot where the phone goes during schoolwork, out of reach and out of sight. Set a clear return point, keep the work surface phone-free, and switch off notifications before the session starts.
Teachers have been working on this problem for a long time. Now it's your kitchen table.
Eyes down ...
What College Readiness Really Means for Students
By: Lisa Nielsen | May 26, 2016
College readiness means a student has both the academic skills and the self-direction to handle coursework, deadlines, and decisions without someone managing it for them. It's more than GPA and test scores. The gap can show up in motivation, learning strategies, independence, and academic knowledge. I spent years building a career ...
The Passion for Knowledge: Teaching Curiosity in an Age of Instant Answers
By: Cailyn Dougherty | May 25, 2016
A passion for knowledge is the drive to keep asking questions after the answer arrives. It can fade when classrooms leave little room for curiosity and inquiry, and it returns when students are given real reasons to be curious. Teachers rebuild it by modeling questions out loud, not only by ...