Let's face it; everyone loves to win. Everyone also enjoys fun. So why not introduce those two elements into the classroom experience with games? The magic of games in learning comes from their ability to engage, challenge, and reinforce previously taught skills and content. For this reason, they cannot be dismissed as time-wasting diversions from precious learning time. Games are not just about fun; they help teachers build connections between the rigors of learning and the satisfaction of achievement, while also reducing forgetting.

For students to excel on assessments weeks or months after a related lesson has been taught, it's important that teachers shift from short-term memory tactics and find ways to make what they teach stick. In addition to preparing well-planned engaging lessons, teachers must also consistently invest time into strengthening students’ information recall ability. Games can help with this.

There is no shortage of research examining the importance of having a racially diverse workforce in schools. The results of countless studies showing social and academic gains for students taught by teachers from diverse backgrounds have compelled districts nationally to intentionally recruit more Black, Hispanic and Asian teacher candidates. But what does the research say about male teachers in schools--specifically those like Miguel who teach at the elementary level?

The Alternate Route program at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education is dedicated to increasing teacher diversity and addressing the need for a more inclusive teaching workforce in New Jersey. By actively recruiting and supporting nontraditional teachers, the program has expanded the pool of new teachers in the workforce and improved the diversity of teaching candidates. Our message to candidates is clear: There's a place for individuals from all backgrounds and ages in the teaching profession.

It's no secret that teachers play an essential role in shaping students' lives. That's why districts in almost every state are sounding the alarm on teacher shortages, as pre-pandemic attrition has escalated to a staffing crisis in schools. Nationwide, around about a quarter-million teachers (233,000 teachers) left the profession between 2019 and 2021, representing a 7% slash to the teaching force, according to a June 2022 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.