Welcome!

Featured Sarah Cooper

Thanks for visiting! This is a place to find my writing, both education pieces and personal essays. I teach history and do academic administration at an independent school just north of Los Angeles. I’ve also written two books about history teaching, Creating Citizens (Routledge 2018) and Making History Mine (Stenhouse 2009), and write regularly for MiddleWeb and Education Week. I like to run, cook, play piano, listen to musicals, search for good bakeries and spend time with my husband and two sons. I’ve also taught English and love memoirs and young adult fiction. @sarahjcooper01 @sarahcooper.bsky.social

“A Gut Sense,” Well-Schooled

Sarah Cooper

Sometimes I find myself justifying with logic what I feel in my gut, translating the body’s knowledge into words. My mom would often say “trust your instincts” when I was growing up, when I was torn between what I thought I should do versus what I felt pulled to do. This phrase applied to a multitude of moments. Sometimes it was whether to take a trip… Continue reading

“How You Can Teach Students to Be More Grateful,” Education Week

Sarah Cooper

“Let’s go on an awe walk!” I said to my 8th grade U.S. History and Civics students at the beginning of second semester last year. We took five minutes to circle our building, head toward the soccer field, and come back along the fire lane. As these middle schoolers clustered like grapes, they looked for one thing… Continue reading

“Not Every Teacher Should Be an Administrator. Here’s How to Decide,” Education Week

Sarah Cooper

Full disclosure: I’ve been an academic administrator for 15 years, but I still get to teach two sections of 8th U.S. history and civics. I realize that this balance is not possible for many administrators, especially in public schools, and I wouldn’t do administration if I couldn’t teach in some way. Being in the classroom fuels me… Continue reading

“Social Studies Books That Are Inspiring Teachers Right Now,” Education Week

Sarah Cooper

So many phenomenal education books appear each year—both from university presses and from K-12 stalwarts such as Heinemann, Stenhouse, Routledge, and ASCD—that it can feel daunting to decide which to read! Here are a handful that have shaped my practice as a civics teacher and academic administrator, especially when times feel polarized… Continue reading