Period Positivity Statement
5/24/23 by Erin Swank
Alumna Erin Swank (M.S. Ed, Class of 2021) created this Period Positivity Statement to display in her classroom. Please feel free to download this and hang it in your classroom! Posted in celebration of Menstrual Hygiene Day.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Reflections of a Student Teacher
5/15/23 by Dhruvi Soni
MSED Student Dhruvi Soni reflects upon her student teaching experience at Elk Grove High School.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
School Safety Panel: Learn How Teachers Can Build a Culture of Safety
5/10/23 by Caitlin Dunlap Sikes
On May 4th, 2023, the Master of Science in Education Program held a panel discussion about violence prevention in schools. Three panelists from local school districts spoke about their approaches to safety and supporting students during and after crises. The panelists included Jadine Chou, Chief of Safety and Security for Chicago Public Schools, Mary Kalou, Assistant Superintendent for Maine Township School District, and Angelica Schab, Director of Family Services for East Maine School District. The conversation was moderated by Dr. Timothy Dohrer, Director of Teacher Leadership and former principal.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
You Get Paid What? A Middle School Math Equity Lesson
4/1/23 by Michelle Everly
A middle school math lesson plan with a focus on equity. Prepared by Alumna Michelle Everly (M.S. Ed, Class of 2022). Posted in celebration of Math Awareness Month 2023.
Posted in: Lesson Plans
Designing a Middle School Classroom
3/15/23 by Claire Koster
Claire Koster (Alumna, B.S. Ed., Class of 2022) writes about how she designed her 7th Grade ELA classroom. Posted in celebration of Middle Level Education Month, 2023.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Graduate Assistant Spotlight: Jiaming (James) Zhou
8/31/22 by Jiaming (James) Zhou
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Graduate Assistant Spotlight: Marissa Moss
8/24/22 by Marissa Moss
Meet Marissa Moss, a new graduate assistant and secondary education candidate in the MSEd program!
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Student Spotlight: Rana Becker
6/30/22 by Rana Becker
"I look forward to serving students in a classroom setting while instilling a love of learning. I also want to give students the knowledge and skills they need to be successful as they learn to navigate the world and shape our future." Meet Rana Becker, a secondary social studies candidate in the MSEd program. Rana previously worked as a coordinator and program administrator for a city-run space focused on teen arts, culture, and all-ages music. Read more about Rana's future goals as a social studies teacher.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
How Can We Empower Young Girls? An Interview with Asha Ntim
3/18/22 by Dhruvi Soni
In celebration of Women's History Month, we interviewed Asha Ntim, author of the Dark Brown Girl book series and founder of the Chrysalis Program. Read our interview to learn about Asha and her work empowering young girls to love themselves!
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Instructor Spotlight: Cheryl D. Watkins
3/4/22 by Cheryl D. Watkins
"Be open to varying perspectives, anchored in the thought that equity is the foundation, but that justice in education is the 'north star.'" Learn more about Cheryl D. Watkins, instructor in the Teacher Leadership program, and her advice to students.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Lesson Plan: Baldwin and Ellison
2/17/22 by Liz Shulman
"As an educator, it’s my responsibility to teach about systemic racism when I teach critical thinking in my classroom." MSEd Instructor and English Teacher Liz Shulman writes about the value of teaching Ellison and Baldwin together to facilitate important classroom discussions.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Master's Project Spotlight: Henry Lang
12/8/21 by Henry Lang
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Student Spotlight: Katherine Miles
11/30/21 by Katherine Miles
"I am excited to teach and coach, but then I want to take everything I learn in my classroom to our government to advocate for our students and teachers." Meet Katherine Miles, a secondary social sciences candidate in the MSEd program. Read more about Katherine's goals as a future teacher, coach, and leader in education.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Student Spotlight: Miles Meijer
11/16/21 by Miles Meijer
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Student Spotlight: Priyana Kumar
11/9/21 by Priyana Kumar
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Student Spotlight: Pilar Ricke Zegers
10/26/21 by Pilar Ricke Zegers
"As educators, we plant the seed but students make it grow." Meet Pilar Ricke Zegers, an Elementary Education candidate in the MSEd program. Originally from Chile, Pilar previously worked as an art teacher. Read more about Pilar's goals as an elementary educator and her experience starting this year in the MSEd program!
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Graduate Assistant Spotlight: Claire Sampson
10/19/21 by Claire Sampson
Meet Claire Sampson, a new Graduate Assistant and Secondary Education candidate in the MSEd program!
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Graduate Assistant Spotlight: Dhruvi Soni
10/13/21 by Dhruvi Soni
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Master's Project Spotlight: Karolyn Walch Cutler
10/6/21 by Karolyn Walch Cutler
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Master's Project Spotlight: Nikki Whittern
9/22/21 by Nikki Whittern
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Master's Project Spotlight: Kelsey Morton
8/4/21 by Kelsey Morton
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Master's Project Spotlight: Sarah Purow-Ruderman
7/27/21 by Sarah Purow-Ruderman
For her Master's Project "Discussing & Questioning: Examining Possible Mechanics of Reading Enjoyment," Sarah Purow-Ruderman (MSEd '21) researched whether two popular classroom techniques would make students more interested in reading.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
The Intersection of SEL and DEI in Our Schools
6/11/21 by Timothy Dohrer
As we reconceptualize schools in the 2021-2022 school year, it is clear that equity and mental health need to be at the core of our reconceptualization. Read more from Timothy Dohrer, Director of Teacher Leadership.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Why Summer Institutes? An Interview With Timothy Dohrer
5/7/21 by the MSEd Graduate Assistants
We sat down with Timothy Dohrer, Director of the Teacher Leadership Program, to learn more about Summer Institutes at Northwestern. Read our interview to find out what Tim wishes teachers knew about Summer Institutes, and why he loves participating every year.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Student Spotlight: Rosalie Shyu
3/3/21 by Rosalie Shyu
Learn about Rosalie, an MSEd student and future math teacher!
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Student Spotlight: Ali Lidbury
2/19/21 by Ali Lidbury
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Student Spotlight: Michelle Ryoo
2/9/21 by Michelle Ryoo
Everyone, please give a virtual welcome to Michelle Ryoo! Michelle is in her second year of the MSEd program, studying to teach students Secondary Biology. Take a moment to read about Michelle's journey through the program and her goals as a STEM educator.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Student Spotlight: Michelle Foster Everly
1/22/21 by Michelle Foster Everly
We are so excited to feature another student spotlight, this time highlighting Michelle Foster Everly! Michelle started the MSEd program in the fall and is concentrating on teaching students Secondary Mathematics. Please welcome Michelle and read on to learn more about what brought Michelle to the MSEd program and all that she is looking to achieve within education and beyond.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Zoom Along: Remote Teaching in the Iron Age
12/1/20 by Liz Shulman
MSEd Instructor Liz Shulman writes about teaching Ovid's "Four Ages" through a screen, reflecting on technology, physical space, self-consciousness, and connecting with students in our own Iron Age.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Student Spotlight: Stanton Cope
11/30/20 by Stanton Cope
Stanton is a current member of the MSEd community and a future English teacher.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Student Spotlight: Margaret (Maggie) Bader
11/16/20 by Maggie Bader
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Graduate Assistant Spotlight: John Wylie
10/7/20 by John Wylie
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Graduate Assistant Spotlight: Rebecca Andrews
10/7/20 by Rebecca Andrews
Meet Rebecca Andrews, a new Graduate Assistant and Secondary History candidate in the MSEd program!
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Surviving and Thriving in a Remote World
10/2/20 by Timothy Dohrer
Posted in: Teacher Learning
E-Learning for Children: A Plan for Families and Caregivers Part II
8/13/20 by Dr. Bahareh Sahebi and Dr. Mudita Rastogi
Part II of Dr. Bahareh Sahebi and Dr. Mudita Rastogi's distance learning series addresses typical caregivers’ concerns with managing remote learning while balancing other demands of daily life.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
E-Learning for Children: A Plan for Families and Caregivers Part I
8/10/20 by Dr. Bahareh Sahebi and Dr. Mudita Rastogi
Adjunct Teaching Instructor in SESP Teacher Education Program at Northwestern University Dr. Bahareh Sahebi shares supportive strategies for a smoother transition to distance learning, and to help adults meet the needs of the children in their care.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Building a Culture of Trust and Shared Leadership
3/25/20 by Claire Bansberg
Read current Teacher Leader candidate Claire Bansberg's essay on the relationship between new teachers and their mentors!
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Suggestions for Remote Learning
3/23/20 by Timothy Dohrer
MSEd Program Director Dr. Tim Dohrer shares some useful suggestions for remote learning!
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Mindfulness in the Classroom
2/14/20 by Sarah Crawford
See how Sarah Crawford, a current Teacher Leader candidate, has implemented mindfulness into her classroom!
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Student Spotlight: Putarut Suntharanund
1/8/20 by Putarut Suntharanund
Sunny is a current member of the MSEd program and a future science teacher.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Student Spotlight: Tianzhou Ye
12/13/19 by Tianzhou Ye
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Graduate Assistant Spotlight: Emily Salzman
12/5/19 by Emily Salzman
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Mindfulness in the High School Trenches: Lessons Learned from a Beginner
12/3/19 by Jeanine Brew
Read about Jeanine Brew's thoughts on mindfulness and her research on incorporating mindfulness activities into her own classroom!
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Graduate Assistant Blog - Tanya Trivedi
12/2/19 by Tanya Trivedi
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Graduate Assistant Spotlight: Andrew Hitzhusen
11/15/19 by Andrew Hitzhusen
In the first bio from the MSEd Graduate Assistants, Andrew Hitzhusen introduces himself as a Secondary History candidate in the MSEd program.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Spotlight: Annie Osenbaugh
2/14/19 by Timothy Dohrer
Annie Osenbaugh is a current member of the MSEd program and a future English teacher.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Spotlight: Ditra Backup
12/12/18 by Timothy Dohrer
Ditra is a current member of the MSEd program and a future history teacher.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Being Prepared to Develop a Unique Classroom Culture
11/29/18 by Timothy Dohrer
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Spotlight: Bradley Smith
11/7/18 by Timothy Dohrer
Bradley Smith was part of the Accelerated Master of Science in Education program as an undergraduate and is now an MSEd student. Bradley is a future secondary math teacher.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Instructional Coaching - Comparing Methods to Find What’s Missing
8/21/18 by Sara Ivory
As instructional coaching grows in schools around the world, so do the varied approaches to coaching. While leading writers in the field agree on a few key elements, there are even more differences between the methods they propose.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Teacher Preparation and Leadership: A Discussion with Tim Dohrer
5/18/18 by Timothy Dohrer
MSEd Director Tim Dohrer joins the cast of the Chicago Coaching Podcast to discuss pre-service teachers and his impressive career in educational leadership.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Becoming a Teacher: An Overview of Recent Research and Best Practice on Teacher Induction, Professional Learning, and Coaching
12/5/17 by Timothy Dohrer
Posted in: Teacher Learning
My First Great Mentor Teacher
4/17/17 by Timothy Dohrer
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Student Spotlight: Amanda White
1/10/17 by Amanda White
Amanda White is a current Northwestern MSEd student and a future Spanish language teacher.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Three Podcasts About Teaching I’m Thankful For
12/5/16 by Timothy Dohrer
Tim Dohrer recommends several helpful and inspiring education-related podcasts.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
MSEd Alumnus Michael Kosko Named Finalist for the Escalante-Gradillas Prize for Best in Education
10/25/16 by MSEd students
MSEd alumnus Michael Kosko, a finalist for the $20,000 Escalante-Gradillas Prize for Best in Education, talks to MSEd students about his teaching practices and goals.
Posted in: Praxis: A Student Journal
"Having Hard Conversations" by Jennifer Abrams
9/8/16 by Ryan Christopoulos
Ryan Christopoulos, a Northwestern Teacher Leadership student, reviews international consultant Jennifer Abrams's latest book, a step-by-step guide to mastering difficult conversations with colleagues and others, and explores the book's applications for educators.
Posted in: Book Report
"The Six Secrets of Change" Offers Straightforward Leadership Approach
8/23/16 by Ryan Christopoulos
In this book review, Ryan Christopoulos discusses Micheal Fullan's "The Six Secrets of Change" and reflects on the secrets of good leadership.
Posted in: Book Report
"Good to Great" Explores Why and How Some Companies Make the Leap
8/19/16 by Ryan Christopoulos
Posted in: Book Report
Lemonade Out of Lemons: Making the edTPA Work at Northwestern
6/3/16 by Timothy Dohrer
MSEd director Tim Dohrer discusses the pros and cons of the edTPA.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Alumni Spotlight: Elizabeth Smith
6/1/16 by Elizabeth Smith
Elizabeth Smith is a 2014 MSEd graduate in secondary mathematics.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
The Trials and Tribulations of Building a New School
5/23/16 by Timothy Dohrer
MSEd director Timothy Dohrer reviews Be the Change: Reinventing school for student success (2015) by Linda Darling-Hammond, Nicole Ramos-Beban, Rebecca Padnos Altamirano and Maria E. Hyler. Published by Teachers College Press.
Posted in: Book Report
Coaching Conference
5/4/16 by Alison Gordon
Register now for the NU Educational Coaching Network's second annual conference on Thursday, April 21, 2016.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Alumni Spotlight: Sara Fliehman Levinstein
4/29/16 by Sara Fliehman Levinstein
Sara Fliehman Levinstein is a 2009 MSEd graduate in Secondary English.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Building the Capacity for Peer Coaching within a High School Mathematics Department
4/1/16 by Scott Galson
Posted in: Praxis: A Student Journal
Ever-Changing Leadership
3/11/16 by Theodore Golota
Theodore Golota, North Lawndale College Prep math teacher and student of Northwestern's Teacher Leadership program, discusses his working definition of leadership.
Posted in: Praxis: A Student Journal
Student Spotlight: Alicia Khedari
1/28/16 by Alicia Khedari
Alicia Khedari is in her first year of the Master of Science in Education Program at Northwestern, coming to us from her hometown of Caracas, Venezuela.
Posted in: Praxis: A Student Journal
Charter School Debate: November 2015
1/26/16 by Timothy Dohrer
Tim Dohrer gives a brief overview of the charter school debate that took place this past November, and provides a link to a video of the debate for those who missed it.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Student Spotlight: Dan Voss
1/26/16 by MSEd Office Staff
A Q&A between Master of Science in Education Program office staff member and current student Dan Voss.
Posted in: Praxis: A Student Journal
How to Build a Teacher
12/17/15 by Timothy Dohrer
MSEd director Tim Dohrer discusses teacher preparation and what he believes are the essential building blocks that create a great teacher.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Always Leave Them Wanting More
10/22/15 by Brad Wadle
Following his last post on lifelong learning, Brad Wadle discusses how to feed students' curiosity without stifling it.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Foundational Texts on Classroom Management
10/16/15 by Timothy Dohrer
Tim Dohrer reviews three books in his discussion on classroom management: Principles of Classroom Management, Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community, and Better Than Carrots or Sticks: Restorative Practices for Positive Classroom Management.
Posted in: Book Report
What Does Lifelong Learning Mean in a K-12 Environment?
10/15/15 by Bradley Wadle
Bradley Wadle is the assistant director of the MSED Program. In this article, he ponders whether the dispositions necessary for lifelong learning need to be created in our students, or if those dispositions already exist and merely need to be preserved.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Leadership through Service: A Case Study of Teacher Leadership Constructed through a Socially Conscious Curriculum
7/8/15 by Patrick Duffey
Posted in: Praxis: A Student Journal
Lead Differently
6/24/15 by Ryan Christopoulos
Ryan Christopoulos is currently an MSEd student in the Teacher Leadership Program. He is an 8th grade science teacher at Robert Frost Junior High, part of Schaumburg School District 54. This article focuses on Ryan’s practicum work where he developed a collaborative teacher team around the school’s gifted population.
Posted in: Praxis: A Student Journal
Articles of Confederation Lesson
6/1/15 by Allie Niese
MSEd student Allie Niese designed this lesson on the Articles of Confederation for 12th-grade students in a US government or civics classroom. It is meant to be completed in one 50-minute class period.
Posted in: Lesson Plans
Lunar and Solar Eclipse Introductory Lesson
5/11/15 by Jonathan Ropiequet
MSEd student Jonathan Ropiequet created this lesson plan for third-grade students. The learning goals for this lesson are for students to learn to formulate questions based on a science topic, collect data based on observations of images and models, and report and display group findings to the class.
Posted in: Lesson Plans
#BRINGCIVICSBACK
4/24/15 by Allie Niese
Current MSEd student Allie Niese recently attended the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition's Annual Convening. Here are some of her thoughts.
Posted in: Praxis: A Student Journal
Personal Artifact Lesson: Santo Domingo Jewelry
4/9/15 by Jonathan Ropiequet
Jonathan Ropiequet, current MSEd student, designed this lesson plan for third grade students as an opportunity to bring a piece of his own personal history into the classroom. Through this lesson, students are also exposed to technology, geography, history, reading, writing, and art together in a dynamic and entertaining way.
Posted in: Lesson Plans
The Act of Teaching
2/6/15 by Timothy Dohrer
MSEd Director Timothy Dohrer pulls back the curtain for a glimpse into the act of teaching in his latest blog post.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Review: Instructional Coaching: A Partnership Approach to Improving Instruction
7/3/14 by Timothy Dohrer
Tim Dohrer reviews Jim Knight's book, Instructional Coaching: A Partnership Approach to Improving Instruction.
Posted in: Book Report
The Experiment Was a Success
2/4/14 by Timothy Dohrer
A book review of Becoming Self-Directed Learners: Student & Faculty Memoirs of an Experimenting High School 40 Years Later by Bellanca, Paul, and Paul (editors).
Posted in: Book Report
Book Review of Schooling America by Patricia Graham
12/5/13 by Timothy Dohrer
Tim Dohrer reviews Patricia Graham's Schooling America: How the Public Schools Meet the Nation’s Changing Needs. New York, NY: Oxford.
Posted in: Book Report
Book Review of Philosophy of Education (3rd Edition) by Nel Noddings
11/4/13 by Timothy Dohrer
Tim Dohrer reviews Nel Noddings' book, Philosophy of Education (3rd Edition).
Posted in: Book Report
The Push and Pull of Cultural Differences: Presentation by Dr. Hazel Rose Markus
1/29/15 by Timothy Dohrer
Cultural differences are part of our daily lives, and researchers at Stanford University are trying to better understand how those differences interact and make us who we are. Leading those efforts is Dr. Hazel Markus, who spoke to 100 audience members on Friday, January 24, at Northwestern University’s McCormick Foundation Forum.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Leading from the Front of the Classroom
1/8/15 by Timothy Dohrer
Timothy Dohrer, director of the Master of Science in Education Program, recently attended the first Teach to Lead summit on teacher leadership. In his post, he explores the expanding definition of teacher leadership and its integral role in transforming schools.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
The State of Teacher Education
11/14/14 by Timothy Dohrer
Recently, teacher preparation programs across the country have reported drops in their enrollment. As director of the Master of Science in Education Program, Timothy Dohrer tries to grapple with this emerging issue in his most recent essay.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Get to Know the edTPA: An Interview with Rebekah Stathakis
11/11/14 by Rebekah Stathakis and Charles Stone
At Northwestern University’s Master of Science in Education Program (MSEd), we are always striving to improve how we prepare teachers for success. Teacher candidate assessment is a fundamental part of that process. Earlier this fall, we talked with Rebekah Stathakis (BS02), Northwestern alumna and MSEd staff member, about a new assessment, the edTPA portfolio.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Why Do You Want to Be a Teacher?
11/6/14 by MSEd Program
This week, we asked our MSEd students one question: Why do you want to be a teacher? Here are some of their answers.
Posted in: Praxis: A Student Journal
Mindset and the Power of Perceived Utility
10/16/14 by Erik Parsons
On May 9, 2014, the Family Action Network hosted Carol Dweck, Lewis and Virginia Professor Psychology at Stanford University and one of the world's leading experts in the field of motivation, to speak on her research on risk-taking, challenge, and the growth mindset. Erik Parsons, an MSEd student in the gifted education program, wrote this review of the event. Stay tuned for upcoming events hosted by the Family Action Network and MSEd.
Posted in: Praxis: A Student Journal
Philosophy of Education: The Reason I Am a Teacher
9/23/14 by Timothy Dohrer
Earlier this year, ASCD put out this request: "In 200 words or less, tell us about a teacher who made a big difference in your life." Here is the response from the director of the Master of Science in Education Program, Timothy Dohrer.
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Never Rest: Closing Remarks for Graduation 2014
9/19/14 by Mike Stevenson
MSEd alumnus Mike Stevenson gave the closing remarks at this year's graduation ceremony on August 2, 2014. Here is his message to his fellow graduates.
Posted in: Praxis: A Student Journal
A Day in a School in Tanzania…
7/25/14 by Shao-Yun Guo
Shao-Yun Guo, a current MSED student, describes his experience at a primary school in Tanzania this past summer.
Posted in: Praxis: A Student Journal
The Power of Education
8/27/14 by Timothy Dohrer
This is a draft of the address Timothy Dohrer delivered at the Northwestern University School of Continuing Studies Convocation on June 21, 2013. As a graduate of the program himself (MA, English, 1995), it was an opportunity to congratulate the students for accomplishing this monumental undertaking and get them thinking about using their new skills and knowledge to give back to their community. There is power in education. The question is: how do we use it?
Posted in: Teacher Learning
Atomic Structure: Before, During, After Activities
8/26/14 by Eric Garay
Master of Science in Education student Eric Garay offers a lesson plan for a "people search" as a before-reading activity for a chemistry textbook chapter on atomic structure. He maintains that this activity encourages students to activate and make connections to any prior knowledge they may have on the topic. It also provides social and physical engagement.
Posted in: Lesson Plans
Book Review: The Flat World and Education by Linda Darling-Hammond
8/20/14 by Timothy Dohrer
Tim Dohrer, director of the Master of Science in Education Program at Northwestern University, reviews a book by Linda Darling-Hammond that concerns issues of equity and education.
Posted in: Book Report