R. Scott Lee
@drrscottlee.bsky.social
Host of The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast
Leading professional learning programs for educators
Former middle school teacher, high school teacher, and principal
Sometime traditional woodworker
https://bio.site/rscottlee
Leading professional learning programs for educators
Former middle school teacher, high school teacher, and principal
Sometime traditional woodworker
https://bio.site/rscottlee
Of course, this was a totally unsurprising outcome www.chalkbeat.org/2025/11/10/i...
ICE arrests could hurt student test scores, study says — and not just for immigrants
A study of a large Florida school district found that the effects of immigration enforcement on students’ academic performance was concentrated in high-poverty schools. The test score declines also oc...
www.chalkbeat.org
November 10, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Of course, this was a totally unsurprising outcome www.chalkbeat.org/2025/11/10/i...
Reposted by R. Scott Lee
The Most Annoying Story of the Month About Schools dianeravitch.net/2025/11/03/t...
The Most Annoying Story of the Month About Schools
Every so often, I read a story about education that is truly annoying. The most recent one is in The Atlantic. It was written by Idrees Kahloon, a staff writer at the magazine. It is titled “…
dianeravitch.net
November 3, 2025 at 2:30 PM
The Most Annoying Story of the Month About Schools dianeravitch.net/2025/11/03/t...
Great article about cell phone bans in schools-yeah its just the first step. open.substack.com/pub/eduwonk/...
The SmartPhone War Is Over - And We Lost. That Matters With AI Bearing Down.
Bans are a white flag not a victory
open.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Great article about cell phone bans in schools-yeah its just the first step. open.substack.com/pub/eduwonk/...
Want to know the best practices for teacher professional development? There is some surprising nuance in the latest research. Join me for a conversation with Anne Podolsky about professional learning on the latest episode of The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast. www.thoughtfulteacherpodcast.com
The Thoughful Teacher Podcast
The website for The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast. The Thought Partner for today's education professional. Find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spodify and other podcast hosts. This website incl...
www.thoughtfulteacherpodcast.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Want to know the best practices for teacher professional development? There is some surprising nuance in the latest research. Join me for a conversation with Anne Podolsky about professional learning on the latest episode of The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast. www.thoughtfulteacherpodcast.com
Reposted by R. Scott Lee
When I asked a group of middle-schoolers in Virginia last week what's one word they'd use to describe school—fun, exciting, mid, diverse, social—the most positive associations with school came from kids in band. That's not an accident.
As the parent of a 5th grader who last year described school as a "jail", I've never seen her more engaged and excited about school than after she brought home her baritone for the first time. She looks forward to band (2x/week) more than anything else, and constantly practices at home unprompted.
After flipping through it several times, I'm committed to reading The Disengaged Teen in full. Off to a good start:
"We’ve become desensitized to it. We are failing to see it for the crisis it is: Young people, hungry to learn and grow, overwhelmingly associate school with apathy and stress..."
"We’ve become desensitized to it. We are failing to see it for the crisis it is: Young people, hungry to learn and grow, overwhelmingly associate school with apathy and stress..."
October 21, 2025 at 1:34 PM
When I asked a group of middle-schoolers in Virginia last week what's one word they'd use to describe school—fun, exciting, mid, diverse, social—the most positive associations with school came from kids in band. That's not an accident.
I recently discussed the future of the education profession with 2024 National Teacher of the Year Missy Testerman. Not surprisingly there are problems, but she is also excited about the future-check out The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast on your favorite podcast app www.buzzsprout.com/889552/episo...
October 7, 2025 at 3:36 PM
I recently discussed the future of the education profession with 2024 National Teacher of the Year Missy Testerman. Not surprisingly there are problems, but she is also excited about the future-check out The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast on your favorite podcast app www.buzzsprout.com/889552/episo...
We should be thoughtful and intentional in the use of homework-sometimes it is good sometimes it is not: The Pros and Cons of Homework (in 6 Charts) www.edutopia.org/visual-essay...
The Pros and Cons of Homework (in 6 Charts)
The case for homework isn’t black and white, so we looked far and wide for research to shed a little light on the matter.
www.edutopia.org
October 1, 2025 at 3:04 PM
We should be thoughtful and intentional in the use of homework-sometimes it is good sometimes it is not: The Pros and Cons of Homework (in 6 Charts) www.edutopia.org/visual-essay...
Always a good reminder that developing quality relationships remains the most important part of the job: The Key to Effective Classroom Management www.edutopia.org/article/key-...
The Key to Effective Classroom Management
A three-phase process helps build strong teacher-student bonds, which can reduce disruptive behavior.
www.edutopia.org
October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Always a good reminder that developing quality relationships remains the most important part of the job: The Key to Effective Classroom Management www.edutopia.org/article/key-...
Reposted by R. Scott Lee
Starting out 5786 right and emailing the many teachers the 9th grader has said he likes to thank them for everything they've done to help him like high school.
Because we all should pay attention when teachers do wonderful things, I want y'all to know that my kid's 9th grade ELA teacher sent us a lovely email detailing all the things my kid did well in the first week of classes. He closed with "we love this and we encourage it."
September 23, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Starting out 5786 right and emailing the many teachers the 9th grader has said he likes to thank them for everything they've done to help him like high school.
The latest episode of The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast is live! In this episode my guest R. Lee Wilson and I discuss the impact of Catharine Beecher. Learn the story of one of the most influential educators that you have never heard of. Available on your favorite podcast app #education #history
September 19, 2025 at 7:12 PM
The latest episode of The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast is live! In this episode my guest R. Lee Wilson and I discuss the impact of Catharine Beecher. Learn the story of one of the most influential educators that you have never heard of. Available on your favorite podcast app #education #history
The Invisible Climate Change Effect That Is Most Likely to Kill You newrepublic.com/article/1986... via @newrepublic.com
The Invisible Climate Change Effect That Is Most Likely to Kill You
Air pollution is less dramatic than floods or storms, less inconvenient, and much harder to politicize. It’s also much more deadly.
newrepublic.com
August 4, 2025 at 1:47 PM
The Invisible Climate Change Effect That Is Most Likely to Kill You newrepublic.com/article/1986... via @newrepublic.com
Reposted by R. Scott Lee
‘Big beautiful bill’ creates school voucher program that benefits the rich baptistnews.com/arti... #SchoolVoucherScam
Trump's budget bill creates vouchers for the rich
The national school voucher program will make the rich richer and further marginalize students based on religious, economic and disability.
baptistnews.com
May 28, 2025 at 1:15 PM
‘Big beautiful bill’ creates school voucher program that benefits the rich baptistnews.com/arti... #SchoolVoucherScam
Join me as I talk with Erika Bare and Tiffany Burns about how to make every interaction with a student lead to positive outcomes on the latest episode of The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast! Available on your favorite podcast app or at: www.thoughtfulteacherpodcast.com
The Thoughful Teacher Podcast
The website for The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast. The Thought Partner for today's education professional. Find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spodify and other podcast hosts. This website incl...
www.thoughtfulteacherpodcast.com
May 20, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Join me as I talk with Erika Bare and Tiffany Burns about how to make every interaction with a student lead to positive outcomes on the latest episode of The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast! Available on your favorite podcast app or at: www.thoughtfulteacherpodcast.com
Reposted by R. Scott Lee
Pastors for Texas Children on the Signing of the Voucher Bill dianeravitch.net/202... @osodtexas.bsky.social @houstoncvpe.bsky.social @texasaft.org
May 7, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Pastors for Texas Children on the Signing of the Voucher Bill dianeravitch.net/202... @osodtexas.bsky.social @houstoncvpe.bsky.social @texasaft.org
Reposted by R. Scott Lee
Most Americans frequently use federal science information. But few are concerned that cuts to federal science spending could affect their access to such information, a new poll finds.
Most Americans use federal science information on a weekly basis, a new poll finds
Most Americans frequently use federal science information. But few are concerned that cuts to federal science spending could affect their access to such information, a new poll finds.
www.npr.org
May 6, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Most Americans frequently use federal science information. But few are concerned that cuts to federal science spending could affect their access to such information, a new poll finds.
Creating a classroom culture where you can talk about race and other difficult topics takes building a safe classroom culture find out more by listening to the latest episode of The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast-also on your favorite podcast app www.buzzsprout.com/889552/episo...
April 30, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Creating a classroom culture where you can talk about race and other difficult topics takes building a safe classroom culture find out more by listening to the latest episode of The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast-also on your favorite podcast app www.buzzsprout.com/889552/episo...
Reposted by R. Scott Lee
How Schools Can Push Back Against Christian Nationalism open.substack.com/pub/curmudgu... @katherinestewart.bsky.social
How Schools Can Push Back Against Christian Nationalism
Christian Nationalism is neither Christian nor nationalism, but it is currently inescapable in this country.
open.substack.com
April 25, 2025 at 1:15 PM
How Schools Can Push Back Against Christian Nationalism open.substack.com/pub/curmudgu... @katherinestewart.bsky.social
He was fired for teaching-nothing more. www.buzzsprout.com/889552/episo...
April 24, 2025 at 9:36 PM
He was fired for teaching-nothing more. www.buzzsprout.com/889552/episo...
Reposted by R. Scott Lee
Bad for school kids, bad for farmers, and sure as hell won’t “make America healthy again.”
April 21, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Bad for school kids, bad for farmers, and sure as hell won’t “make America healthy again.”
Reposted by R. Scott Lee
‘Show Me Where You Make Autism!’ Shouts RFK Jr., Storming Sour Patch Kids Factory theonion.com/show-me...
‘Show Me Where You Make Autism!’ Shouts RFK Jr., Storming Sour Patch Kids Factory
EAST HANOVER, NJ—As part of the health secretary’s highly publicized pledge to determine the cause of the disorder in the next five months, a wild-eyed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reportedly shouted “Show me where autism is made!” Thursday while storming the Sour Patch Kid factory. “Attention Sour Patch Factory people: Give me the autism and no […]
theonion.com
April 17, 2025 at 9:00 PM
‘Show Me Where You Make Autism!’ Shouts RFK Jr., Storming Sour Patch Kids Factory theonion.com/show-me...
Teacher Matt Hawn was fired for asking students in his contemporary issues class to consider if structural racism exists (a court has since ordered him re-hired, but the school board appealed instead). Our entire conversation is the latest episode of The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast-inks in bio
April 15, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Teacher Matt Hawn was fired for asking students in his contemporary issues class to consider if structural racism exists (a court has since ordered him re-hired, but the school board appealed instead). Our entire conversation is the latest episode of The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast-inks in bio
Reposted by R. Scott Lee
"...lawmakers and superintendents would have significantly less evidence to drive decisions in policy and practice, like data on teacher shortages or whether costly education programs are actually effective."
If you want a cost-effective education system you need evidence!
If you want a cost-effective education system you need evidence!
Opinion: Eliminating IES means fewer resources for districts, states to educate well
Eliminating IES Means Fewer Resources for Districts, States to Educate Well
Nordengren: Cutting funds for NAEP, regional education labs and IES research grants won’t help schools deal with stagnating student achievement.
www.the74million.org
April 11, 2025 at 2:52 PM
"...lawmakers and superintendents would have significantly less evidence to drive decisions in policy and practice, like data on teacher shortages or whether costly education programs are actually effective."
If you want a cost-effective education system you need evidence!
If you want a cost-effective education system you need evidence!
Reposted by R. Scott Lee
Recommended reading:
SCOTUS's two big school cases aren't just about religion.
From Aaron Tang:
These cases could upend the tradition of broad community guidance of school curriculum and values.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
SCOTUS's two big school cases aren't just about religion.
From Aaron Tang:
These cases could upend the tradition of broad community guidance of school curriculum and values.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Opinion | The Biggest Threat to Public Education Is Coming From an Unexpected Place
A pair of Supreme Court cases could destroy public education as we know it.
www.politico.com
April 11, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Recommended reading:
SCOTUS's two big school cases aren't just about religion.
From Aaron Tang:
These cases could upend the tradition of broad community guidance of school curriculum and values.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
SCOTUS's two big school cases aren't just about religion.
From Aaron Tang:
These cases could upend the tradition of broad community guidance of school curriculum and values.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Great strategies to use in classrooms-even if students are not struggling! Supporting Teens With Mental Health Issues www.edutopia.org/article/supp...
Supporting Teens With Mental Health Issues
A teacher working in a mental health facility shares strategies that general education teachers can use to ease students’ anxiety and frustration so they can focus on learning.
www.edutopia.org
April 11, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Great strategies to use in classrooms-even if students are not struggling! Supporting Teens With Mental Health Issues www.edutopia.org/article/supp...