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Sarah Chen

Curriculum Specialist & Education Writer

Sarah is a former 4th grade teacher with 12 years of classroom experience across public and international schools. She holds a Master's in Curriculum & Instruction from Columbia University Teachers College and has trained over 200 teachers on differentiated instruction strategies.

At Orba, Sarah guides content quality and ensures every AI-generated resource meets the standards real teachers need. She writes about lesson planning, differentiation, standards alignment, and the practical realities of K-8 teaching.

Before joining Orba, Sarah taught in Title I schools in New York and international schools in Dubai, giving her firsthand experience with multiple curriculum frameworks including Common Core, British National Curriculum, and IB PYP.

Areas of Expertise

Lesson Planning Differentiated Instruction Curriculum Alignment K-8 Education Standards-Based Assessment IEP Goal Writing Substitute Teacher Plans Weekly Lesson Prep Parent Communication Report Card Comments

Articles by Sarah

"Parents Never Read My Updates" — How to Build Communication That Gets Through

Proven strategies to connect with busy parents, including audio updates.

The Real Cost of Teacher Burnout (And What Actually Helps)

How AI tools can address the root causes of teacher exhaustion.

The 6 AM Text That Changed How I Handle Sub Plans Forever

Why emergency sub plans don't have to mean emergency stress.

There Has to Be a Better Way to Write IEP Goals

The hidden time cost of IEP goal writing and SMART goal solutions.

I Tried Using ChatGPT for Lesson Plans. Here's What I Was Missing.

Why generic AI falls short and purpose-built tools deliver.

The Weekly Prep Revolution: Never Plan Monday to Friday Again

How AI-powered weekly prep transforms the Sunday planning ritual.

Parent Emails and Report Cards: The Silent Time Thief

The hidden hours teachers spend on communications and how to reclaim them.

The Standards Coverage Gap: When 3 AM Panic Meets Real Data

How teachers can stop guessing about curriculum coverage.

I Tracked What I Spend on TpT. Then I Started Creating My Own.

The economics of buying vs. generating personalized materials.

37 Brain Breaks That Actually Work (By Grade and Energy Level)

Research-backed brain break activities organized for practical classroom use.