In 2024, the SESP Teaching, Learning, & Education Program collaborated with the Montessori Unity Academy of Chicago to create a new middle school curriculum. Guided by Professor Kavita Kapadia Matsko and advisor Christin Glodek, a team of MSEd students designed a rigorous, culturally relevant 6th-grade program aligned with Montessori and Islamic values.
This story traces how Professor Jen Munson, MSEd alumnus Joseph Park, and TLEP instructor Joshua Lerner turned mentorship into a two‑way exchange through collaborative lesson study, showing that teaching thrives on shared reflection and lifelong learning.
Meet Aleks Waledziak, a Graduate Assistant and Elementary Teaching candidate in the MSEd program!
MSEd in Learning Sciences alumna Jiayi Wang built an AI tool to help teachers implement culturally relevant teaching.
Meet Sylvia Vivian Boguniecki, a Graduate Assistant and Learning Sciences candidate in the MSEd program!
Jessica Puller, a Northwestern MSEd alumna, is a writer and senior communications strategist at the University of Chicago Consortium for School Research, where she blends her passions for writing, education, and the arts.
A review of the 2025 SESP Summer Learning Series, a three-day professional development experience for educators.
Saranda Karpuzi, an alumna of Northwestern's MSEd in Educational Studies concentration, shares her path from Fulbright scholar to Assistant Director at One on One Learning, where she drives high-impact tutoring programs to boost student achievement.
Shirley Liu, an MSEd student at Northwestern, joined the SESP-Medill Education Collaborative to merge her interests in education and journalism. She has reported on literacy, AI in writing, and health policy, gaining hands-on experience while bridging research and public understanding.
Olga Vaskova, a graduate student in the Learning Sciences concentration in the MSEd Program, has won second place in the Tzu Chi Center’s Character Education Lesson Plan Competition.
Maryarita Kobotis, an MSEd student in the Secondary Teaching concentration, shares how she decided to merge her love of political science with a career as an English teacher.
Zuviriya Anarwala, an MSEd student in the Secondary Teaching concentration, shares how she started Rumaan Academy, an organization that teaches women how to read Arabic.
MSEd Student Jason Kalafatis reflects on his journey from tutoring to teaching, and the importance of fostering relationships with his students.
Chelsi Miller, an MSEd student in the Learning Sciences concentration, discusses her plan to research how free digital music tools can expand access to music education.
Melanie Marzen advocates for AI literacy, emphasizing hands-on experience and ethical discussions to help students and teachers navigate AI's complexities.
Instructor Joao Goebel champions translanguaging — the practice of using multiple languages to learn and communicate. Drawing from personal experience, Goebel equips future educators with strategies to support multilingual students.
Northwestern TeachEd student Lorenzo Jennings describes his experience student teaching in Evanston Township High School's Geometry in Construction class, in which students build a house.
MSEd Student Tray Herod reflects on how his time in the MSEd Program has influenced his current work as a high school English teacher.
In celebration of National STEAM Day, we are featuring Jen Munson, a learning sciences professor at Northwestern's School of Education & Social Policy. Influenced by her own transformative experiences, she advocates for a collaborative math classroom where students work together and ask questions without shame. Her approach aims to reduce math anxiety, foster inclusivity, and promote equal participation.
In celebration of First Generation College Student Week, we tell the story of MSEd student Diamond Jones.
In celebration of First Generation College Student Week, MSEd student Sylvia Vivian Boguniecki tells their story.
Andrea Reyes' Master's Project explored how active learning activities affect student engagement and sense of belonging in a classroom of underrepresented students. This article was posted in celebration of National Arts & Humanities Month.
An interview with Meredith Oldham, a current student in Northwestern's MSEd in Learning Sciences Program.
Meet Carla Cuba, one of the MSEd graduate assistants who is in our Secondary History Teaching concentration!
March combines the celebration of National World Language Month with Women's History Month, offering a unique opportunity to spotlight leaders who are shaping the future of education through language and empowerment. We had the privilege of speaking with Fabiola Fadda-Ginski, a beacon of inspiration in the world of language education and the Director of World Language Programs for Chicago Public Schools.
Meet Catie Reid, one of the MSEd graduate assistants who is in our Secondary Spanish Teaching concentration!
John O'Connor is an MSEd adjunct instructor currently teaching English at New Trier High School, who has decades of experience in education and a PhD in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago. We are sharing his story in celebration of National Reading Month
To start off our first blog post of 2024, we had the pleasure of interviewing Xiangyi Liu, an MSEd alumna of the Learning Sciences concentration, and current program coordinator at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign!
Meet Irene Choi, a new graduate assistant and Elementary Teaching candidate in the MSEd program!
MSEd student Carla Cuba reflects upon her experiences as a Peruvian-American. Posted in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month 2023.
Dr. Paula Hooper, Assistant Professor of Instruction for MSED, was featured on WBEZ Chicago's NPR segment Reset. She was asked to weigh in on summer learning loss, also known as "summer slide."
This unit is designed to cover the first five weeks of school for a 7th-grade English class. Prepared by Alumna Erin Swank (M.S. Ed, Class of 2021).
Northwestern University's Master of Science in Education Program is thrilled to introduce two exciting new endorsements: English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education. Read to learn more!
Xinyi (Grace) Wu (M.S. Ed, Class of 2022) discusses how her master's project influenced her career trajectory.
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.
MSED Student Dhruvi Soni reflects upon her student teaching experience at Elk Grove High School.
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.
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.
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.
While leadership posters often boast a majestic picture of the bald eagle, the type of leadership that is more successful is not the watchful eye of a solitary eagle, rather the community of a gaggle of geese. Ironically, although many school mascots are an eagle, the type of school leadership that is truly effective has the spirit of a flock of flying geese.
The fact is that social emotional awareness and competence is not simply an inherent trait. It is knowledge that needs to be taught, acquired, and practiced to achieve success not only on an academic and professional basis, but also in our personal relationships. How can we expect students to learn to manage their emotions, be emotionally intelligent, and problem solve in an appropriate manner when we are not explicitly teaching these skills as a collective community?
Life is hard. It is complicated, capricious, biased and fickle. At least that is how it can feel. It is also a beautiful and magnificent opportunity… often for those same reasons.
Meet Jiaming (James) Zhou, a new graduate assistant and educational studies candidate in the Master of Science in Education program.
Meet Marissa Moss, a new graduate assistant and secondary education candidate in the MSEd program!
Are you being disrespected? Maybe. But maybe not. Better to show patience and suss out the truth than assume malintent. Time to stay curious...
"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.
Empathy is essential to strong leadership. It is similar to “perspective-taking” and has become nearly synonymous with “care”. A leader who lacks empathy, it is suggested, cannot lead well… at least not for long (McKee et al, 2017; Reiss, 2017).
True leaders create a vision, pick a direction, then align the motives and needs of their team toward a shared purpose. Alignment with another’s motives and needs takes empathy. In a previous article, we made the case that empathy is essential to effective leadership.
By teaching social and emotional skills, schools and families are building the skills necessary for success in school, work, and life. These are the building blocks upon which ALL other learning rests!
Leadership depends on the wellness of the leader. Prioritizing wellness is not always easy, but it will always be worth it.
Quite often, I end up explaining teacher leadership through what it is NOT, rather than what it IS.
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!
"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.
"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.
I am an avowed “education geek”. I love reading about any issue that impacts schools, teachers, students, and parents. I’ll even read drafts of legislation being proposed in the state capitol and I get all excited when a new 200 page report is issued by the Department of Education! Total. Education. Nerd.
Have you ever felt “hangry” or experienced the legendary “runner’s high” after a good workout? A growing body of research aligns affect with physiological states.
How can teachers support students with ADHD? Read about Henry Lang's (MSEd '21) Master's Project “'U the GOAT, u get it': The ELA Teacher’s Role in Supporting Learners Who Have ADHD."
"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.
"I believe that language learning is a central foundation for building a future that is more empathetic, more understanding, and more equitable." Meet Miles Meijer, a Spanish K-12 Education candidate in the MSEd program. Miles previously worked in higher education in residential life. Read more about Miles's goals as a future Spanish teacher, and his experience in the MSEd program!
"Teaching, to me, is not about getting students to worry about achieving a good grade, but to practice self-growth." Meet Priyana Kumar, a Secondary Math Education candidate in the MSEd program. Priyana previously graduated with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. Read more about Priyana's goals as a future math teacher and leader in STEM education, and her experience in the MSEd program!
Though the concepts might seem paradoxical, it is clear that both compassion and discipline are needed to get systems of education back on track.
"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!
Meet Claire Sampson, a new Graduate Assistant and Secondary Education candidate in the MSEd program!
Meet Dhruvi Soni, a new graduate assistant and secondary economics candidate in the MSEd Program!
History teachers have the power to choose whose stories they wish to emphasize and which sources they want to invite into the classroom. Read about Karolyn Walch Cutler's (MSEd '21) Master's Project, "'I think everyone should stand up for people': Examining the Impact of Centering Marginalized Voices in a Middle School Social Studies Classroom."
A new study reports that more teaches than ever are implementing SEL programming and belive it can improve student lives and learning. But is belief enough?
If I allow students to choose between meaningful formative activities, how will this impact student learning? Read about Nikki Whittern's (MSEd '21) Master's Project "Looping through learning: Influence of choice on student learning through meaningful formative activities in the 11th grade science classroom."
Teacher Leaders Virginia Nguyen and Stacy Yung share how to integrate anti-racist pedagogy into your Professional Learning Communities ahead of their two part online workshop on Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) culture, history, and resources in your classroom.
How can teachers make mindfulness activities more meaningful for first graders, and will doing so increase student participation in those activities? Read about Kelsey Morton's (MSEd '21) Master's Project "In the Minds of First Graders: Understandings of Mindfulness and Engagement in Calm Classroom Activities."
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.
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.
New teacher induction has become more popular across the United States and is proving to be effective in reducing teacher turnover. Schools need to become better at training teachers as Mentors through high-quality professional learning and a focus on instructional coaching.
A few years ago, I was lucky to be invited to a summit on teacher leadership set up by the Department of Education and a number of educational organizations.
Leaders – everyone within an organization, for that matter – will want to incorporate Objective Grace. It is connected to empathy. It is essential for complex problem solving. And once you get good at it, it makes day-to-day interactions feel a whole lot better.
Learn about Rosalie, an MSEd student and future math teacher!
While we set sail some years ago towards a journey of understanding and implementing SEL (social emotional learning), we have more S-E-L (studying, educating and learning) of SEL to navigate and explore.
We are so excited to feature Ali Lidbury in this week's Student Spotlight! Ali comes to the MSEd program having previously studied musical theatre and has worked as an independent dance contractor and as a substitute teacher. As a career changer, Ali is excited to teach students Secondary History. Read on to find out more about Ali's journey!
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.
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.
Stanton is a current member of the MSEd community and a future English teacher.
Meet Rebecca Andrews, a new Graduate Assistant and Secondary History candidate in the MSEd program!
Meet John Wylie, a new Graduate Assistant and Secondary Mathematics candidate in the MSEd program!
As we come to terms with our new "normal", read Dr. Tim Dohrer's thoughts on how we can all move beyond survival mode and find ways to experience the joy of learning and connecting.
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.
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.
Read current Teacher Leader candidate Claire Bansberg's essay on the relationship between new teachers and their mentors!
MSEd Program Director Dr. Tim Dohrer shares some useful suggestions for remote learning!
See how Sarah Crawford, a current Teacher Leader candidate, has implemented mindfulness into her classroom!
Sunny is a current member of the MSEd program and a future science teacher.
Tianzhou is a member of the MSEd Teacher Leader program and is a current Mandarin teacher (and previous Latin teacher) in Chicago.
Meet Emily Salzman, a new Graduate Assistant and Secondary Mathematics candidate in the MSEd program.
Read about Jeanine Brew's thoughts on mindfulness and her research on incorporating mindfulness activities into her own classroom!
What makes the MSEd community fascinating, are the different ways in which we all find our way here. Read about Graduate Assistant Tanya Trivedi's journey here! Tanya is a current member of the MSEd community and a future English and Economics teacher.
In the first bio from the MSEd Graduate Assistants, Andrew Hitzhusen introduces himself as a Secondary History candidate in the MSEd program.
Annie Osenbaugh is a current member of the MSEd program and a future English teacher.