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
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.
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Graduate Assistant Spotlight: Jiaming (James) Zhou
8/31/22 by Jiaming (James) Zhou
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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Master's Project Spotlight: Henry Lang
12/8/21 by Henry Lang
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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.
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Student Spotlight: Miles Meijer
11/16/21 by Miles Meijer
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Student Spotlight: Priyana Kumar
11/9/21 by Priyana Kumar
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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!
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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!
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Graduate Assistant Spotlight: Dhruvi Soni
10/13/21 by Dhruvi Soni
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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
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Master's Project Spotlight: Kelsey Morton
8/4/21 by Kelsey Morton
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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.
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Student Spotlight: Rosalie Shyu
3/3/21 by Rosalie Shyu
Learn about Rosalie, an MSEd student and future math teacher!
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Student Spotlight: Ali Lidbury
2/19/21 by Ali Lidbury
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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.
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Student Spotlight: Stanton Cope
11/30/20 by Stanton Cope
Stanton is a current member of the MSEd community and a future English teacher.
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Student Spotlight: Margaret (Maggie) Bader
11/16/20 by Maggie Bader
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Graduate Assistant Spotlight: John Wylie
10/7/20 by John Wylie
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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!
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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!
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Suggestions for Remote Learning
3/23/20 by Timothy Dohrer
MSEd Program Director Dr. Tim Dohrer shares some useful suggestions for remote learning!
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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!
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Student Spotlight: Putarut Suntharanund
1/8/20 by Putarut Suntharanund
Sunny is a current member of the MSEd program and a future science teacher.
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Student Spotlight: Tianzhou Ye
12/13/19 by Tianzhou Ye
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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.
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Spotlight: Annie Osenbaugh
2/14/19 by Timothy Dohrer
Annie Osenbaugh is a current member of the MSEd program and a future English teacher.
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Spotlight: Ditra Backup
12/12/18 by Timothy Dohrer
Ditra is a current member of the MSEd program and a future history teacher.
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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
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My First Great Mentor Teacher
4/17/17 by Timothy Dohrer
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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
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
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
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
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.
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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
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
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
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
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
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