Sarah Gonser
edutopia
New York, United States
Contact Sarah
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
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Past articles by Sarah:
How to Engage Students the Moment They Enter the Classroom
Openers matter and set the tone for the lesson that follows. Here’s how to start strong when you need to. → Read More
For New Teachers, 6 Principles to Remember This Year
It won’t be easy, but if you prepare for turbulence and set reasonable goals, you’ll stay calmer and make progress in all the right places. → Read More
The Qualities of Exceptional Mentor Teachers
Hundreds of teachers answered the question ‘What makes a great mentor?’ We read all 851 comments and distilled the very best advice. → Read More
6 Quick Strategies to Build Vocabulary
Teaching students new words can be a brief and agreeable part of the school day—providing valuable exposure to vocabulary they need to know. → Read More
5 Review Activities That Kids Actually Like
Content review doesn’t need to be boring—here’s how to liven it up and make the information stick. → Read More
Developing Emotional Literacy Across the Grade Levels
Teaching students how to identify and express their own emotions—and consider those of others—empowers them and sets them up for learning. → Read More
4 Ways to Fight Bias in Grading
Unconscious bias may be unavoidable, but here’s how you can reduce its destructive impact. → Read More
How Kids Can Overcome the Awkwardness of Asking for Help
There are many reasons students don’t ask for help. Research shows there are strategies to help them overcome their reluctance. → Read More
The Importance of Student Choice Across All Grade Levels
When students get to make decisions about their learning, it can be powerfully motivating. → Read More
The Magic of a Noisy Classroom
Sometimes building connections and community matters more than adhering stringently to all of the rules, teachers say. → Read More
4 Reading Strategies to Retire This Year (Plus 6 to Try Out!)
A look at a few popular literacy practices that shouldn’t make the cut—along with fresh strategies that experienced teachers and literacy experts recommend instead. → Read More
Continuously Refine Your Practice With Student Feedback
A simple, tightly focused student survey can help teachers quickly home in on areas to improve—but you need to be fully prepared to make changes. → Read More
From the Classroom to the House
Jahana Hayes, congresswoman and high school history teacher, on the disconnect between Washington and the classroom, and the importance of keeping teacher voices in the mix. → Read More
The Enduring Importance of Extracurriculars
It will be tempting to put after-school activities on the back burner this fall, but experts say that’s a missed opportunity—especially for teenagers. → Read More
Is Class Participation Too Arbitrary to Grade Fairly?
How one teacher quit “hanging a grade-based incentive over my students’ heads” and offered different, more inclusive ways for students to participate. → Read More
Reading Aloud Together, Across the Grade Levels
When teachers read out loud to students, modeling the skills of good reading, it improves kids’ reading mastery. → Read More
Basketball Mathematics—and 4 Other Ways to Mix Movement and Learning
Getting students to be physically active while they’re learning can deliver significant cognitive and academic benefits, a new study confirms. → Read More
Using Conflict as an ‘Avenue for Change’
When conflicts arise, administrators may be tempted to sweep them under the rug—but that’s a missed opportunity for improvement. → Read More
Teachers Opt For More Leniency, and Get Better Work
Extending understanding in subtle ways can lead to more student ownership, and unleash unexpected possibilities in the classroom. → Read More
Before Writing, Getting Students Unstuck
When students struggle to get their thinking on the page, here are a few practices for getting the ideas flowing. → Read More