Blogs

5 Tips to Create a Classroom Community of Care

By Kevin Wong posted 6 hours ago

5 Tips to Create a Classroom Community of Care By Katherine Horlock and Cindy Melton A classroom community rooted in care lays the foundation for student success and academic growth. When teachers demonstrate trust and encourage a sense of belonging in the classroom , students feel safe, connected, and encouraged to learn. A caring classroom enhances student retention, content mastery, and emotional well-being. For students to excel, teachers must consistently and intentionally plan ways to build connections with students and provide space for a comfortable and safe learning environment. The following ...

Member Spotlight: Mrs. Yauheniya Kakhno

By Raevyn Harris posted 4 days ago

Meet Mrs. Yauheniya Kakhno , a new KDP member, art educator, designer, and founder of the creative design school ConceptART. Through her work as both a teacher and artist, Mrs. Kakhno helps students discover their creativity and develop confidence through art and design. Mrs. Kakhno earned her higher artistic education from the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts, where she built a strong foundation in classical art, composition, and cultural management. Over the years, she has combined traditional art education with modern digital tools to create engaging learning experiences for students of all ages. Today, at ConceptART, Mrs. ...

Laureate Member Spotlight: Dr. James A. Banks

By Raevyn Harris posted 4 days ago

For nearly 60 years, Dr. James A. Banks has worked to change a simple but powerful idea: whose stories matter in school . A KDP Laureate member and one of the leading voices in multicultural education, Dr. Banks dedicated his career to expanding educational opportunity and ensuring that students from every racial, cultural, and linguistic background are seen and supported in the classroom. He served as the Kerry and Linda Killinger Endowed Chair in Diversity Studies and is now Emeritus at the University of Washington. His story begins in the rural South, where he attended racially segregated schools as a child and worked on farms while growing up. ...

Simplifying Differentiation: The Power of Knowing Your Students

By Kevin Wong posted 14 days ago

Simplifying Differentiation: The Power of Knowing Your Students By Erika Flynn, Ellie Glover, Halle Haigis, and Kim McCormick As future educators, we are beginning to realize just how complex and rewarding teaching can be. During our time as preservice teachers, we’ve often heard that every student is unique but experiencing that firsthand through our methods courses made it more real. Successful teaching hinges on recognizing these differences ( Toml inson and Moon 201 3) . At first, the idea of differentiation felt overwhelming, almost like something reserved for ...

Member Spotlight: Hannah Colwell

By Raevyn Harris posted 18 days ago

For Ms. Hannah Colwell , teaching isn’t just about lesson plans or standards. It’s about people. A graduate of Western Governors University and a KDP member of the Alpha Epsilon Sigma Chapter, Ms. Colwell is currently pursuing her master’s degree while continuing to grow as an educator. She says KDP has played an important role in that journey. “KDP connects you with experienced teachers and university faculty who can offer invaluable advice on classroom management, curriculum development, and navigating school politics,” she explains. Just as meaningful, she adds, is the sense of community. “The community provides a network of peers who are facing ...

Laureate Member Spotlight: Dr. William Ayers

By Raevyn Harris posted 18 days ago

A KDP Laureate member, Dr. William Ayers has spent more than six decades in education, beginning in 1965. Now, a retired Senior University Scholar and Distinguished Professor of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, his career has been anchored in one belief that education should help build a better world. In the mid-1960s, Dr. Ayers was a student activist working for peace and racial justice when he visited a school that was based on principles of freedom, joy, and justice. The experience changed him. He was " captivated ." “From that day on, education has been linked organically with the effort to create a world at peace, ...

Why Teaching Cursive Still Matters: For Access, Identity, and Equity

By Kevin Wong posted 28 days ago

Why Teaching Cursive Still Matters: F or Access, Identity, and Equity By Lisa Delgado Brown Do you know how to read cursive ? If so, consider yourself lucky. There are swaths of children and adults worldwide who no longer know how to read cursive . The problem has become so prolific that t he US National Archives recently issued a call for volunteers to translate historical documents originally written in cursive (Rink, 2025) . Thi s re ques t highlights a critical issue that has emerged as the teaching of cursive has faded from mainstream educational curricula: only ...

Lunar New Year 2026: What it is and mini-lessons you can teach tomorrow

By Michelle Melani posted 28 days ago

Lunar New Year is one of the most joyful, story-rich moments to build belonging in a classroom. It’s also an easy “win” for busy teachers: you can teach it thoughtfully in short, low-prep bursts (without needing to be a cultural expert). In 2026, Lunar New Year begins on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 , and the traditional celebration period lasts about 15 days , ending with the Lantern Festival on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 . 2026 is also the Year of the Horse , often described as the Fire Horse in zodiac traditions. This post is designed to help you: Understand key Lunar New Year ideas Choose culturally respectful ways to talk about it Plug in mini-lessons ...

Member Spotlight: Dr. Pede Intong Casing

By Raevyn Harris posted 02-12-2026

Meet Dr. Pede Intong Casing , a KDP teacher member and mathematics educator with more than sixteen years of experience teaching in both the Philippines and the United States. He currently serves as a Mathematics Teacher at Alamogordo High School in the Alamogordo Public Schools District in New Mexico, where he is known for his commitment to student success, innovative instruction, and service beyond the classroom. Dr. Casing holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematical Sciences with a specialization in Mathematics Education from the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines. He also earned a Master of Arts in Education in Mathematics ...

Laureate Member Spotlight: Dr. Christine Sleeter

By Raevyn Harris posted 02-12-2026

Meet Dr. Christine Sleeter, KDP Laureate Chapter Member Dr. Christine Sleeter has spent nearly 50 years working in education. As a member of KDP’s Laureate Chapter , her career reflects decades of teaching, research, and leadership focused on improving learning experiences for all students. After graduating from college unsure of her next steps, she began student teaching in Seattle during a period of active school desegregation. In classrooms shaped by systemic inequality, she observed early on that students of color were not being offered the same level of academic challenge or respect that she had experienced as a student. “I could see ...

Creo En Ti: 5 Tips For Working With Multilingual Learners

By Kevin Wong posted 02-03-2026

Creo En Ti: 5 Tips For Working With Multilingual Learners By Gina Stevens (Above) teacher Gina Stevens believes in her students and fosters biliteracy. “You shouldn’t go into teaching. You’d have to retake the ACT, and you just don’t have the grades.” It wasn’t easy hearing this from a college guidance counselor, especially when I had spent the majority of my life aspiring to be a teacher. I was devastated. Can you think of a time at some point in your life when you felt doubted or discouraged? How has this experience impacted ...

Board Spotlight: Mr. Khalil Roy

By Raevyn Harris posted 01-29-2026

As KDP National Board Director-at-Large and a Social Studies and Career & Technical Education (CTE) teacher for grades 8–12 in Central Louisiana, Mr. Khalil Roy brings both lived experience and deep commitment to his work in education. His path to teaching was driven by a clear purpose: to be part of the solution in closing educational gaps—especially in rural communities like the one that raised him. “What inspired me to become an educator was the desire to be part of the solution in closing the gap in education,” he shares. “I wanted to give back to my parish, a place that raised me but often lacked the resources and opportunities students in ...

Member Spotlight: Ryan Zelinski

By Raevyn Harris posted 01-29-2026

Ryan Zelinski has been a proud KDP member for five years. He teaches in the Exercise Science Department at Wheeling University, where he enjoys working closely with students and supporting them as they pursue big goals. When he’s not in the classroom, you’ll find him on the baseball field serving as an NCAA college baseball umpire. Being part of the KDP community reminds Ryan why he became a teacher in the first place. He shared that what helps him thrive is knowing we have the ability to help others achieve their goals in life. Outside of teaching, Ryan stays busy living on his farm and competing in Ironman triathlons. ...

Navigating the ESL Maze: Finding the Right Approach for Multilingual Learners

By Kevin Wong posted 01-20-2026

Navigating the ESL Maze: Finding the Right Approach for Multilingual Learners By Daniel Malakowsky Back To School Imagine it's your first week of school. You've greeted your students, gathered assessment data, and now face the challenge of meeting the diverse literacy needs of students . A mong your students are multilingual learners (MLLs) who come to schools with multiple languages , and the question arises: How do you support them effectively? This article explores support models for MLLs—guiding educators in choosing the right approach. Of course, culturally appropriate Tier ...

Member Spotlight: Brooke Tiano

By Raevyn Harris posted 01-13-2026

KDP is proud to spotlight one of our newest members, Brooke Tiano, an ESE Support Facilitator whose passion for inclusive education and student-centered teaching makes her an incredible addition to her KDP community. Finding Connection and Purpose Through KDP As a special education teacher and new KDP member, Brooke shares that joining KDP has already been transformative. “KDP has connected me with educators who truly understand the heart and complexity of teaching—especially in special education, where every student’s journey is unique.” Through virtual events, shared resources, and member support, she has found fresh strategies ...

Board Spotlight: Dr. Joi Patterson

By Raevyn Harris posted 01-13-2026

Meet Dr. Joi Patterson , who serves as a Director-at-Large on the National Board of Directors as a Director-at-Large. Dr. Patterson currently serves as Chief of Institutional Engagement and Excellence at Governors State University, where she reports directly to the President and sits on the President’s Cabinet. An Unexpected Calling “I never imagined I would become an educator, ” Dr. Patterson shares. Growing up, she didn’t see many teachers who looked like her, so teaching never felt like a realistic path. “Because of that, education didn’t seem like an option.” Her plans initially pointed toward nursing or medicine—until college changed ...

Family Knowledge Matters: Reframing Engagement with Emergent Bilingual Communities

By Kevin Wong posted 12-09-2025

Family Knowledge Matters: Reframing En ga gement w ith Emergent Bilingual Communities By Grace Kibe Parents of emergent bilinguals (i.e., multilingual learners; formerly referred to as English language learners ) are often misunderstood and sometimes perceived as negligent regarding their children’s academic performance due to lower visibility in certain school involvement opportunities . As a result, some educators may blame parents of emergent bilinguals for their low academic performance. Without culturally responsive practices , educators might overlook the reality ...

Board Spotlight: Dr. Leah Carruth

By Raevyn Harris posted 12-04-2025

Meet Dr. Leah Carruth, who serves as KDP’s President-Elect, teaches as an Associate Professor of Teacher Education at Angelo State University, and mentors future educators as the chapter counselor of the award-winning Mu Gamma Chapter. A Surprising Path Into Education For many who knew her growing up, Dr. Carruth’s career in education may have seemed unlikely. Naturally quiet and reserved, she once imagined she would “finish my degree and be okay in a classroom.” But during her studies, something shifted, and she uncovered a vibrant enthusiasm for learning. “That enthusiasm pushed me to pursue a doctoral degree,” she reflects, “and I continue ...

How to Recognize Children’s Grief Awareness Day in Your School

By Michelle Melani posted 11-20-2025

If you’re a preservice teacher, student teacher, or in your first few years in the classroom, you might feel like big schoolwide initiatives are someone else’s job. But when it comes to Children’s Grief Awareness Day, your voice and ideas matter— a lot . Children’s Grief Awareness Day happens every year on the third Thursday in November (November 20, 2025). It’s a reminder that grieving students are in every classroom, and that schools can be powerful places of comfort, connection, and healing. The Coalition to Support Grieving Students has created a practical guidance document to help schools recognize this day in meaningful ways. As part of KDP’s ...