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The 500-Pound Gorilla
by Alfie Kohn

With such pressure to look good by boosting their test results, low-scoring districts may feel compelled to purchase heavily scripted curriculum programs designed to raise scores, programs such as Open Court or Reading Mastery (and others in the Direct Instruction series)...

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A Teacher/Students Dialogue on Ernest Hemingway's Short Story, "A Day's Wait"
by L. Swilley

I have encouraged teachers of literature to use a formal-critical approach in their address to literary works and to employ a Socratic question/answer method with their students to realize such an address. This article is an illustration of the technique for this formal treatment...

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What Does It Take To Teach Middle School?
from the Teachers.Net Chatboard

I am 23 years old and would like to know what it takes to become a middle school science teacher, besides getting certified . What kind of person is best suitable to teach this age group? Do age and looks matter?...

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Which is more important: Teaching or Research and Publication?
by Bikika T. Laloo

The article discusses the duties of teachers with emphasis on the teaching and research activities of university teachers. It tries to explain both teaching and research duties and to find out whether teaching or research is more important...

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Planning a Reading Sleepover Party
from the Teachers.Net mailrings

I am planning a reading night sleepover. I would love ideas for activities (gr. 1-4) to keep them busy and have fun too. Organizational ideas welcome too!...

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Centers in a Tub
from the Kindergarten Chatboard

Does anyone have their centers organized in tubs? Would you please share your ideas, rotation and etc.?...

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The Teachers.Net Gazette is a cooperative publication by and for members of the Teachers.Net community. We accept for consideration brief articles (approximately 350-2500 words) on topics of interest to educators. Articles should be fully edited, spell checked, and ready for publication. Send submissions by e-mail to editor@teachers.net along with a brief biography written in third person. A digital photo (headshot) is desirable but optional. Teachers.Net reserves the right to edit articles accepted for publication.
Kathleen Carpenter - Editor in Chief
Mary Miehl - Technical Editor

Tips for Getting Published

Kathleen Alape Carpenter,
Editor

Teacher Tax Relief Act Leaves Many Teachers Behind
A step in the right direction, but too little for too few

The Teacher Tax Relief Act of 2001 provides that K-12 teachers, instructors, counselors, principals and aides who work at least 900 hours during a school year in public and private elementary and secondary schools may (this year and next) subtract up to $250 of qualified expenses when figuring their adjusted gross income (AGI)...

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LT Marshall Branch
Greetings from Ross Island!

Another interesting animal we saw was a Weddell Seal that came right up to us at the pier where the POLAR SEA was going to tie for refueling. The ship had to stop and wait for about 15 minutes while personnel attempted to herd it out of the way of the 400-foot ship...

Kathleen Carpenter - Editor, Teachers.Net Gazette
Editor's e-Picks - February Resources

  • Teachers.Net Resources for Read Across America Day & Dr. Seuss
  • Children's Book Authors/Illustrators chat transcripts
  • Winter Recipes & Crafts...
    •

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    Annette Breaux and Harry K. Wong

    Spotlight: New Teacher Induction book

    This new book offers advice and techniques on how to structure a new teacher induction program. It's a "how to" book that leaves no teacher behind...

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    Kerry Weisner

    Polar Bear Theme

    A collection of resources for a polar bear theme

    I'll tell you a secret
    About the polar bear.
    He really does wear...
    Underwear!

    		Joy Jones
    Writing Tips for Teachers - Part 2

    Are you a teacher with a story to tell, an issue to explain, a statement you want to put in print? If you've already overcome writer's block, conquered the agony of an empty page, and have actually succeeded in writing something down, you're ready to look for someone to publish your work...

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    Jeff Cooper Technology Curriculum Tips

    Jeff Cooper responds to the following plea;
    I teach computers to 1st through 8th graders. There is no set curriculum so I am often at a loss as to what to have the kids do. Is anyone aware of any curriculum that could be used?...

    		from the Kindergarten Chatboard
    "Three Little Pigs" Activities

    I'm looking for math and literacy activities related to The Three Little Pigs folk tale. So, of course, I come to my best resource...

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    Paulie Schenkelberg

    Paulie's Igloo

    Paulie explains and shows the major steps in constructing a delightful igloo in her kindergarten classroom...

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    Also in this issue:

    COLUMNS
    How to Retain New Teachers Effective Teaching by Harry & Rosemary Wong
    Curriculum, Instruction, Classroom Management, and Discipline Promoting Learning by Marv Marshall
    Strategies to Meet Standards, Promote Reading and Boost Skills Instant Ideas for Busy Teachers by Barbara Gruber and Sue Gruber
    Now is a Good Time Teachers As Learners by Hal Portner
    Master Parents Ask the School Psychologist by Beth Bruno
    Six Traits Resources The Eclectic Teacher by Ginny Hoover
    College and University Sites The Busy Educator's Monthly Five (5 Sites for Busy Educators) by Marjan Glavac
    Joining the World of the Palm Pilot Users Ed-Tech Talk by Dr. Rob Reilly
    Streamlining Your Self-Selected Reading Block 4 Blocks by Cheryl Sigmon
    Dim Sum and Then Some: Discovering China with Children's Books! Postcard from Planet Esme - News from the world of children's books by Esmé Codell
     
    REGULAR FEATURES
    Apple Seeds: Inspirational quotes by Barb Erickson
    Special Days This Month by Ron Victoria
    Classroom Photos by Members of the Teachers.Net Community
    February Poem
    Winter Memories
    The Lighter Side of Teaching
  • Goose the Substitute Teacher by Goose
  • YENDOR'S Top Ten
  • Schoolies
  • Woodhead
    • Handy Teacher Recipes
    Classroom Crafts
    Help Wanted - Teaching Jobs
    Recipe for Friends from the Lesson Bank
    PRINTABLES
    Sentence Builder
    Meet the Feet!
    Reading Contract
    Autobiography
    Upcoming Ed Conferences
    Letters to the Editor
    TEACHER INSPIRATION
    Why Be a Teacher? by smagee/k/tx
    I am feeling soooo good about this... by Tina
    ON-SITE INSIGHTS
    Do you keep track of how you come to think the way you do? by Roger Fuller
    Why Can't We Clone Great Teachers? by Dave
     
    FYI
    The NEA Foundation's Grant Opportunities for 2003 from: NEA
    "Breakthrough Strategies to Teach and Counsel Troubled Youth" Workshop from: Ruth Herman Wells
    Tour and Educational Journey to Costa Rica from: Nancy Brunn
    Summer Scholars Program from: Karen Ellis
    Win Books for Your Classroom! from: Ellen Jackson
    Sackmann brings school lists to Educational CyberPlayGround from: Jim Leonhirth

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