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April 2009
Vol 6 No 4
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Teachers.Net Gazette Vol.6 No.4 April 2009

Cover Story by Alfie Kohn
When “21st-Century Schooling” Just Isn’t Good Enough: A Modest Proposal
Are we serious about educating students for the global competitive economy of the future?


Earth Day Special Article:
GE Project Plant-A-Bulb
Give the planet the gift of flowers for Earth Day....


Harry & Rosemary Wong: Effective Teaching
The Tools for Success


Columns
»Actively Involve Every Reader—Ten Easy Ideas! Sue Gruber
»Motivating Children Leah Davies
»Multiple Working Hypotheses Todd R. Nelson
»Eliciting vs. Punishments Marvin Marshall
»The Busy Educator's Monthly Five Marjan Glavac
»Tattle Tales and Classroom Helpers Barbara Pressman
»Tips for Travel to France or Italy with Students Josette Bonafino
»Too Much Parent Involvement? Can It Be? Dorothy Rich
»Return to Sender & The Neon Necklace Rick Morris
»Be Your Own Mentor: Reflect Hal Portner

Articles
»Getting Your Students' Work Published Alan Haskvitz
»At Risk Students: Victims of Miseducation and Failure Bill Page
»Teachers – Healing Broken Lives Graysen Walles
»Get Smart! Doodle! Tim Newlin
»A Dozen Ways to Build a Caring Classroom Community Susan Fitzell
»April 2009 Writing Prompts James Wayne
»Using Photographs To Inspire Writing VI Hank Kellner
»Quality in School Systems Panamalai R. Guruprasad
»Problems With 9th Grade Euclidian Geometry Stewart E. Brekke
»Multisensory/Kinesthetic Alphabet ActivitiesJeanine Horner

Features
»Apple Seeds: Inspiring Quotes Barb Stutesman
»Today Is... Daily Commemoration Ron Victoria
»The Lighter Side of Teaching
»Teacher Blogs Showcase
»Guided Reading in Kindergarten (printable)
»Printables - Happy Earth Day, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, We’ve Got the Whole World in Our Hands, Portable Word Wall, Earth Day Every Day Award, Bringing Choices to Light, and April - May Calendar
»Photo Tour: 3rd Grade Classroom, Red Creek, NY
»Lessons, Activities, Theme ideas: Earth Day, Mother’s Day, Paul Revere, Spring, Easter, more!
»Featured Lesson: Outdoor Activities/Nature
»Meet Bill Martin Jr. and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Creative Quotes from Shakespeare, Massive Ant Colony Uncovered! AMAZING science!, Tim Hawkins - Cletus Take the Reel, Lovefield, and Dolphin Bubbles: An Amazing Behavior
»Live on Teachers.Net: April 2009
»Newsdesk: Events & Opportunities for Teachers
»Wisdom for the pain? Why Did You Do It? Why Pursue National Board Certification?


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Cover Story by Alfie Kohn

Effective Teaching by Harry & Rosemary Wong

Contributors this month: Alfie Kohn, Graysen Walles, Hal Portner, Sue Gruber, Leah Davies, Todd R. Nelson, Marvin Marshall, Marjan Glavac, Barbara Pressman, Josette Bonafino, Rick Morris, Bill Page, Tim Newlin, Susan Fitzell, Alan Haskvitz, James Wayne, Hank Kellner, Dorothy Rich, Barb Stutesman, Ron Victoria, Stewart E. Brekke, Panamalai R. Guruprasad, Jeanine Horner, Marie Smith, Carol Goodrow, Jennifer Goldstein, and YENDOR.

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Teachers.Net Asks...

Chatboard Poll

Wisdom for the Pain?

Why Did You Do It? Why Pursue National Board Certification?
Regular Feature in the Gazette
April 1, 2009

Kay asked on the NBPTS Chatboard:

Why did you become an National Board of Teaching Standards certified teacher? I'm pondering the idea for next year, but can't decide if it will make me a better teacher.

5th grade teacher responded:

I did it for my own personal growth. I've been teaching for 20 years, and this was a way to challenge myself and my views on what was best for my students. The process helped me see the things I was doing right, and it refocused my attention on the things that I had let slip over the years. I think my class last year and my current class have really benefited from it. Also, I became more vocal about doing what is best for students & student learning, and I had classroom data to back up what I was doing. It has to be something you are willing to commit to - I know I invested close to 400 hours to the process, but I feel that it was worth it.

kitmusic/OK posted:

Kay, I am going through the process right now as a new candidate -- and I can tell you that I really wanted to see how it would make me think about my teaching. Wow! Am I thinking!! :) I have to answer lots of "why" questions, and although I have never been that teacher who has "always done it this way just because" -- I am now having to put what I already know into words. In that way, even without certifying, it has made me much more aware of what I teach and why I teach it the way I do. That is actually a good thing for my program -- especially in a world that seems to be run by math and reading -- I can "justify" how my program fits in with those and is also strong enough to stand alone.

Then, my secondary reason is that I really want to pursue a Master's program -- but educational funds keep me from doing that. If I certify, my state pays $5,000 per year for the next 10 years -- on top of my salary. That money is graduate school and some home improvements!

Plus, two years ago, my husband was laid off by his company, and he got a job working from home -- but his "office' was really in Maryland. If we needed to move there, I was afraid of not finding a job. This way, I'm hoping that National Certification will get me into any other state if needed.

These are my reasons. So I am working my tail off! And so far, enjoying the process.

Continued on next page »



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