Columnist Matthew R. Kay cautions educators against launching into "hot-button" discussions in the classroom without proper planning. Treatment of controversial topics or current events can often be deliberately folded into lessons with better results.

Matthew R. Kay

High School

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Kay October 2021 Header Image

New teachers

Collaboration

Communication

Curriculum design and lesson planning

Classroom Conversations / The Problem With "Pop-Up" Discussions

Instructional Strategies

Curriculum

Teachers’ views have a place (sometimes) in classroom discourse.

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September 2021 Kay Header image

Classroom management

Culturally responsive teaching

Instructional strategies

Media literacy

Classroom Conversations / A Matter of Opinion

Engagement

Diagnosis of instructional errors is critical when teaching sensitive topics, writes Matthew R. Kay. Such errors are often tactical or strategic and don't mean the topic wasn't worth teaching. Part of a theme issue on "From Research to Practice."

Learn from your mistakes and used memo sticks.

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Whole Child

Cultural competency

Discussions

Confronting Inequity / When Racial Discussions Go Wrong

Equity

A psychological study on the power of endings in experiences and interactions offers lessons for educators, especially this year.

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Confronting Inequity / Getting the Endings Right

Leadership

Critical thinking

Listening and speaking

Race

How educators can help students resist reactionary propaganda on social media

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Social-emotional learning

Teacher diversity

Teacher engagement and motivation

Teacher leadership

School climate and culture

Leadership and Management

Leadership strategies and support

Our house, our rules-We must have teachers’ backs as they teach for equity

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Our House, Our Rules: We Must Have Teachers’ backs as They Teach for Equity

School Culture

Opportunity gaps

Standardized testing

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Finding the courage to be specific about systemic racism in education

Assessment

Social Justice

Digging deeper into school racial conversations

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Digging Deeper into School Racial Conversations

Professional Learning

Author

Matthew_Kay

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Matthew R. Kay

About

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Articles by Matthew R.