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by Teachers.Net Gazette
Jan 4, 2013
Click below to access the article, and be sure to share the link with other dedicated educators!
by Teachers.Net Gazette
Jan 9, 2013
Dr. Robert Rose, author of Abuses of Power in Education; Challenging Practically Everything (Outskirts Press, 2008), shares insight gained during his radio show dialogue with Dr.Howard Seeman, as they explored their belief in the importance of assertiveness in teachers.
by Teachers.Net Gazette
Jan 10, 2013
An Inquiry Science Lesson: Are Mittens Warm? By Selina Smith
Here is an inquiry science experiment you can try with your intermediate students. [Hyperlink to the lesson is below.]
by Teachers.Net Gazette
Jan 11, 2013
How to limit interruptions while you work with small groups - By Rick Morris
When I’m working with a small group of students at the reading table, I don’t like to be interrupted by other students. Nonetheless, there will be three or four of them who feel it’s critical that they share some need, issue, or concern immediately. And alth...See MoreHow to limit interruptions while you work with small groups - By Rick Morris
When I’m working with a small group of students at the reading table, I don’t like to be interrupted by other students. Nonetheless, there will be three or four of them who feel it’s critical that they share some need, issue, or concern immediately. And although you would think that just asking everyone to not bother the group would do it, experience has taught me that it doesn’t. So, as opposed to trying to suppress their energy for sharing their needs, I figured out how to redirect it instead. [Click below to read the solution.]
by Teachers.Net Gazette
Jan 23, 2013
When you turn the other cheek, you are not necessarily expected to be passive in any situation, or even to simply refrain from violence. [Click below to read the rest.]
arents and Expatriate/Local Hire Teachers: Stay away from Al-Ghanim Bilingual School in Salwa, Kuwait!
It’s my opinion that you should stay away from Al-Ghanim Bilingual School in Kuwait. These are some of the things that I disliked about the school:
1. The turn-over rate is very high for new “Westerners.” I think the reas...See Morearents and Expatriate/Local Hire Teachers: Stay away from Al-Ghanim Bilingual School in Salwa, Kuwait!
It’s my opinion that you should stay away from Al-Ghanim Bilingual School in Kuwait. These are some of the things that I disliked about the school:
1. The turn-over rate is very high for new “Westerners.” I think the reason for this is the administration does not provide the appropriate classroom support. Instead, the climate at the school is one in which some administrators are critical of teachers. In fact, the Director, Dr. Afaf El-Gemayel said in a meeting with new staff members, “If you look hard enough, all student problems are the teacher’s fault.” As a result of this attitude, the probability of surviving for very long at this school is low. Given the low probability of surviving at this school, it is not worth the financial, emotional, and time investment to go here.
2. The administration is constantly popping into classrooms to observe teachers. In some cases, they will go into a teacher’s classroom five or more days straight . . . And, then they will still come back to do more observations at- will. It is very uncomfortable and nerve-racking for the teachers who are being watched. The administration says that they are doing it to “help” the teachers, but it feels more like they are doing it to “push” them out of the school. It seems barbaric.
3. On a regular basis, the school “docks” people’s pay. As a Westerner, this was abhorrent to me—the idea that you could work a day and then lose that day’s pay based on the judgment call of an administrator. (My belief is that if someone has done something egregious enough, suspend them without pay. But to have people work and not pay them seems too self serving.)
4. The school does not live up to financial commitments. You may or may not receive money owed you. Just because an administrator says in an e-mail that she will reimburse you for expenses, does not mean that she will. Also, I heard stories about how this school refused to pay summer salaries and “indemnity” pay owed to some teachers.
5. The housing the school provided smelled. I think it was a combination of cigarette smoke and feces (no joke) from poor plumbing. When I returned to the “West,” I had to wash all of my clothes because they smelled.
6. During the interview process, Dr. El-Gemayel said that the school had all the necessary classroom resources. The classroom decorations that were supplied to a colleague of mine were old and dirty, and several important resources were not available for the start of school.
7. Even though the school is not licensed to teach special education students, the school has numerous low-level classes called “Special English.” Guess what the “Special” stands for? These classes have many students that should be evaluated for special education services. It appears to me that the administration does not want these students evaluated because if the results determined that these students needed special education services, then the students would have to leave the school, and the school would stand to lose a lot of tuition money. So, when teachers have trouble managing and teaching these students, the administration acts like the problem is with the teacher rather than acknowledging these students need services beyond the scope of a regular educational classroom.
Although I recommend staying away from this school, if you are even considering working there, make sure that you get the following before making a final decision:
1. A copy of the contract.
2. A copy of the staff manual. If it’s the same staff manual that I received, you’ll find a list of things teachers should not do and the consequences—including the number of days pay that will be lost.
3. Your assignment and schedule in writing. (There were teachers who were told that they would be doing one thing, and when they arrived they were told that they would be doing something else.)
When you request these reasonable things, consider how the administration responds. Do they freely offer them to you with a smile, or do they come up with excuses not to provide them? If they don’t provide them, beware!
If you make the mistake of accepting an offer from this school, then make sure you receive copies of your Initial and Final Approval Letters. (These approvals are sent to the school from the Kuwait Ministry of Education.) Also, once you receive copies of these items, contact that Kuwait Ministry of Education to make sure an original copy of your contract, as well as Initial and Final Approval Letters are on file. PLEASE DO THIS BEFORE YOU EVEN BOARD THE PLANE TO KUWAIT! I sought the assistance of the Ministry of Education when I was experiencing difficulty with the school administration. A ministry representative informed me that she couldn’t help me unless she had my original contract and approval letters on file (which she didn’t). Fortunately, the ministry representative was kind enough to refer me to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor. (This ministry was a big help.) Unfortunately, I think the school administration purposely delays giving teachers these items so they won’t be able to seek assistance from the Ministry of Education when they’re being mistreated.
Please read additional reviews for the school and its director, Afaf El-Gemayel, on internationalschoolsreview.com. You must pay a membership fee to read reviews. Reviews may be posted for free.
Hello, I am a first year teacher, teaching in an impoverished county at a little school with 3 grades per classroom. I am the middle school teacher (grades 6, 7, 8) and teach all three grades all subjects. We are half-way through the school year and I am feeling rundown and near despair. I have at least two students (two really serious ones)that ar...See MoreHello, I am a first year teacher, teaching in an impoverished county at a little school with 3 grades per classroom. I am the middle school teacher (grades 6, 7, 8) and teach all three grades all subjects. We are half-way through the school year and I am feeling rundown and near despair. I have at least two students (two really serious ones)that are so unmotivated and disruptive that it is absolutely ruining this first year of teaching for me and effecting the other students with their negativity. The two students' grades are not good and they blame everyone and everything and accept no responsibility for not turning in homework and even classwork. Their comments incite a couple of other students to call school "stupid" and say "I hate this place" and so on. I know as the teacher it is my job to motivate them and reach them. It is my job to maintaine classroom control and to curtail the behavior and somehow keep everyone on-task and motivated. Excuse me for whining. I also have (as all teachers do) a wide range of ability levels in my room and trying to manage the ability levels, the 3 grades, the behavioral problems and lack of textbooks, etc (due to low funding) is really wearing me down. I still have half the year to go and feel desperate. I would like to add that I have a family of my own and one of my sons has aspergers. I guess I am feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment.
Signed, Needing motivation of my own.....
by Teachers.Net Gazette
Feb 4, 2013
Do you want your students to develop high-level communication skills? The ability to arrive at informed judgments? The ability to function in a global community? Flexibility, persistence, and resourcefulness? Try Problem-Based Learning.
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Teacher Chatboards
I am sorry for your experience and desperate feelings. I can totally understand your situation. First of all, as a first- year teacher, everything will be challenging. You need to know your students, design lesson plans, get familiar with school routines and culture. I think every first year teacher will feel overwhelming at first. But...See More