After Barack Obama won the presidential election I found myself in conversations with White people who were beside themselves. In their minds the election of a Black president meant that we had truly entered Dr. King's dream and America had become a nation where people are not "judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Somehow on November 4th we had become a so-called "post-racial society.” But my Black friends and I are having none of it. We view the Obama Presidency as promising, but believe racism is alive and well and still a major factor in American life.
Read the rest in the February Teachers.Net Gazette
Mark Twain reminded us: “Don’t let schooling interfere with your education,” wisdom hardly being listened to today.
...as an educator I was fascinated by how much this little boy who had experienced extraordinarily awful circumstances while growing up, managed to stay so humane and to learn so much outside of the school. In the film we don’t see him go to school except for the day that the teacher throws the book The Three Musketeers at him. -------- Click below to access the complete article. Then, please consider sharing your thoughts on the Discussion forum connected to the article.
The Tools for Success "Effectiveness is not a fleeting concept. What it takes to be effective and how to achieve it is known. This month we share with you four successful educators who have seen the benefits of having successful teachers and know how to bring about these benefits."
Click below to access Harry Wong's April article, exclusive to Teachers.Net Gazette.
The ETS operators have always been very nice and helpful to me. I have called several times and they have always been very, very nice to me. They even let me cancel a test with a full refund last minute. I thought I wouldn't get my money back but I did.
By the way, they don't set the standards for what you have to pass. The states are the ones who do that. ETS just gives and grades the tests. If you don't agree with the "hoops" you have to jump through, then your issue should be with the state you live in not ETS
KaWanda McGowanOn 4/14/09, I have had no problems with ETS wrote: > On 4/14/09, KaWanda from Jackson wrote: >> Ets..............Where to begin? Why is this organization >> making you jump through a hoop of fire while ripping you >> off in the meantime? I have a serious problem with >> organizations claiming to "help" people when they ar...See MoreOn 4/14/09, I have had no problems with ETS wrote: > On 4/14/09, KaWanda from Jackson wrote: >> Ets..............Where to begin? Why is this organization >> making you jump through a hoop of fire while ripping you >> off in the meantime? I have a serious problem with >> organizations claiming to "help" people when they are not. >> The only thing that they have helped me with is a migraine >> and a nearly empty bank account. Why soo many charges for >> simple things? And most importantly why the TERRIBLE >> attitudes from the operators? I have never seen an >> organization soo full of you know what! > > The ETS operators have always been very nice and helpful to > me. I have called several times and they have always been > very, very nice to me. They even let me cancel a test with a > full refund last minute. I thought I wouldn't get my money > back but I did. > > By the way, they don't set the standards for what you have to > pass. The states are the ones who do that. ETS just gives and > grades the tests. If you don't agree with the "hoops" you > have to jump through, then your issue should be with the state > you live in not ETS
Well maybe you have caught them on their good days because I have NEVER had a decent conversation with any operators. I don't recall mentioning any problems with the standards of the test, it's the customer service that I'm upset with. Just consider yourself lucky.
As an educator, your students’ well-being is top-of-mind. With the recent H1N1 flu outbreak (initially called “swine flu”), FFF is sharing some important steps that you can take right now to help protect against the H1N1 flu.
Please help continue this mission by listening to and sharing a very important PSA titled, “Flu Fighting Tips” with the readers of [INSERT BLOG NAME HERE] by visiting [link removed]:
1. Covering your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. You can even teach children to cough into their elbows. 2. Stressing the importance of washing hands with soap and water. Any alcohol-based hand cleansers are effective as well. 3. Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces with an appropriate bleach-based solution. As you know, germs can spread by touching infected surfaces and then your face.
For more information, please visit [link removed].
The May Newsdesk includes information about a new book by a longtime T-Netter, web resources about the Great Depression as described in family letters and journals, free classroom materials for teaching tolerance, classroom management help, a pronunciation guide for author names, a helpful poetry database, and resources for the Year of Astronomy.
Check it out now. I've provided the url AND a link below. Enjoy! [link removed]
An educator here in Chicago forwarded your email to me. My name is Beverly Paramore and I have designed a workshop for students K-5. However, it can be used for students up to 12th grade as well. The workshop is titled Open Mike: Treating Others The Way You Want To Be Treated. As a result of this widespread problem in our school system, I want to be a part of finding solutions that will motivate these children to stop the behavior of bullying. After reading your email, I have decided in addition to the actual workshop to also transition this workshop into a training manual to assist educators, social workers and organizations that are working with youth regarding this issue. I will be working on this manual and anticipate it to be ready at the beginning of the school year this fall. I would like to speak to you in greater detail regarding this subject. My email address is [email removed]].
Listed below is an article from the Executive Office of New Schools announcing my workshop to educators in Chicago, Illinois.
Open Mike: Treating Others the Way You Want to be Treated Article Dated June 5, 2009, Chicago, Illinois
"In 2008, Beverly Paramore designed a workshop titled Open Mike: Treating Others The Way You Want To Be Treated for K- 5th grade students. In 1994, Ms. Paramore designed a workshop that taught job search techniques to parents of Chicago Public School students. These parents were transitioning from welfare to work. In addition, Ms. Paramore is a Christian published author and has published four books. This workshop brings awareness to students and teaches them non- threatening techniques. Bullying is a term we are all familiar with, but perhaps some of us are a little bit more familiar with the fact that some children are committing suicide as a result of it. It is a shocking fact that suicide is the third highest cause of youth deaths.
The purpose of the workshop is to open dialogue for students. Children find it very difficult to talk about this and it is that suppression that often leads them to suicide. Oprah Winfred aired a show May 5,2009 and the topic was, "Being Bullied to Death". This show featured two mothers of children who committed suicide as a result of being bullied. One of the things the two mothers said in common is that their children (both age 11) did not communicate their true feelings. When some children are confronted with this behavior, they feel hopeless and helpless.
Open Mike workshop provides a platform for the children to talk about their feelings in a creative environment that promotes harmony. No one is singled out - only the behavior is exposed. If you would like more in-depth information about this workshop, feel free to contact Ms. Paramore at 773-248- 1068 or by email at [email removed]]."
On 6/04/09, Alisa Finck wrote: > I am an elementary school teacher in a rural school > district in upstate NY. The issue of bullying in all forms > (including cyber-bullying) has been an increasingly > dusturbing problem in our district (and across the > country). We've had tolerance and acceptance > workshops/assemblies with the students at all levels, but > that is only a temporary fix. Recently we decided to form a > committee to try and research possible porograms that other > schools across the state/country are using that are > effective. > Bottom line: We need an effective program that is K-12 and > has clear consequences for the offenders. Our district > needs to develop a policy that creates a safe learning > environment for our students and teachers. I've been doing > research on the internet, but wanted some feedback from > those that have experience with it firsthand. Any > suggestions?
Youthink! (youthink.worldbank.org) is the World Bank’s website geared towards informing and engaging the world’s youth (ages 16-25) on international development issues (poverty, conflict, corruption, trade, environment, debt relief, education, health, etc.). Youthink! offers: -Information and materials on international development issues -Opportunities to get involved with international development -A section for teachers
We, the Youthink! team, are planning on updating/renovating the website, with a special emphasis on the section devoted to teachers. Our goal for “4Teachers” is to provide excellent educational support on international development issues to instructors around the globe. Currently, 4Teachers provides downloadable PDF’s on various development topics, discussion points, and quizzes.
As a part of the updating process, we would like to ask you for your opinion of Youthink! Your opinion is important to us, as this website is aimed at you and your colleagues throughout the world. We hope to utilize your thoughts and ideas to make Youthink! an excellent teaching and learning resource.
After becoming familiar with Youthink!, please take a moment to fill out our brief survey. You can find a link to the teacher’s survey on our homepage in the “Take Action” box. Or you can type this link into your url: [link removed]
Unemployment has denied my claim stating that MA teachers cannot collect unemployment during the summer months or school vacation weeks, even though I do not have another job in September. Has anyone had any experience with this that can please help me try to understand the law, or tell me what to do?