Archive for November, 2007
NYTIMES article on Removing Bad Teachers
A New Effort to Remove Bad Teachers
By ELISSA GOOTMAN
The Bloomberg administration is beginning a drive to remove unsatisfactory teachers, hiring new teams of lawyers and consultants who will help principals build cases against tenured teachers who they believe are not up to the job. It is also urging principals to get [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )NYTIMES article on teacher resignation
November 19, 2007
Increase in Teacher Resignations
By JENNIFER MEDINA
More teachers resigned during the last school year than at any time in recent history, according to figures released yesterday by the United Federation of Teachers, the city’s teachers union. According to the figures, 4,606 certified teachers resigned last year, not including teachers who retired or [...]
Nice Little Reminders like this are always helpful
Teaching Secrets: Hallway Hints II
By John Norton
In excerpts from their e-mail discussion group, members of the Teacher Leaders Network share advice on managing and thriving in the classroom.
Let the Students Do the Work
“The fact that the teacher does most of the work at school explains why [...]
I am hopeful…
even though a friend of mine who is also a teacher within the same city school system suggests I start looking for a new job next year.
Despite all my complaints, I am gradually falling in love with these kids, my co-workers, and the area I work in. All in all, my kids are not too [...]
A glimpse of my walk home from school everyday…
It’s such an amazing and empowering mural. It really livens up the dreary neighborhood I work in. I LOVE that I get to walk alongside it everyday. =) I’m slowly learning more about it and the families where my kids are coming from. Art can do so much. This mural rejuvenates me everyday.
A young man [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )It’s Report Card Time…more gripes
It’s report card time and many of my kids are failing. It’s appalling to see how these kids think they can pass and get a good grade without putting in the effort.
Report card grades here are weird. Students receive not letter grades, but number grades ranging from 1-4. 1 is a 55-60. 2 is a [...]
Misconceptions
Science is a tough subject to teach. Kids will continually hold to misconceptions.
One misconception is observations is about seeing things…It’s NOT. It involves the five senses. You don’t always use the five senses, but you can use all the senses.
10 Ways to Engage Students
1) Emphasize the most critical concepts continuously.
[These concepts are really a foreign language for the student--best learned through constant repetition and practice at recall in a variety of settings.] Repeat these concepts in lectures and assignments; include questions relating to these concepts on every exam.
2) Provide a visual aid when possible to explain abstract concepts.
A [...]
