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General Education Chatboard

The Silent Playground – Why Students Need Daily Recess

by Teachers.Net Gazette

Jul 7, 2014

The school playground was once the highlight of most elementary students’ days. It was an escape where children could socialize with friends, participate in free play, take part in sports, and explore nature.

The endless laughter that once echoed from elementary school playgrounds has unfortunately turned into silence. [Click below to r...See More

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Jumpstart Students' Careers: Work, Study

by Teachers.Net Gazette

Jun 12, 2014

Teachers supervise students employed at banks and daycares, in residence halls at Purdue, and for trucking companies. I.C.E. students work for veterinarians, in restaurants, for major manufacturers, in health care facilities, and for construction firms. In short, they’re everywhere. Click below to read the article by Sarah Powley

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In Finland, Students Always Have Time for Bathroom Breaks

by Teachers.Net Gazette

Jun 8, 2014

Tim Walker is an American educator now teaching in Finland. He blogs about the contrasts between American and Finnish schools. His latest entry begins, "Nothing should ever get in the way of bathroom breaks for students, right? Think again..."

Click below to read the rest, then share with friends!

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Welcome to the General Education Chatboard!

by Bob Reap (Teachers.Net)

Jun 23, 2011

Welcome to the General Education Chatboard. This chatboard is for teachers to discuss general education issues - all topics broadly related to education, and any specific topic involved in education. Teachers.Net features hundreds of chatboards for educators - while you may find teacher chatboards more precisely focused on a given topic, this chatb...See More

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parents talk On 6/24/11, Stellaluna wrote: > Great responses..... good things to think about. Here are what I > see as our biggest challenges. > > Technology - someone posted that kids are distracted by technology > and all of the other distractions. Just 5 yrs ago I could not > have imagined what is available today. To me... the challenge is ...See MoreOn 6/24/11, Stellaluna wrote: > Great responses..... good things to think about. Here are what I > see as our biggest challenges. > > Technology - someone posted that kids are distracted by technology > and all of the other distractions. Just 5 yrs ago I could not > have imagined what is available today. To me... the challenge is > how do we USE this in a proactive and meaningful way. I spoke > with a teacher recently who said that she wishes there were no > computers in K rooms because kids need to be actively playing and > not sitting at a computer.... and I partly agree.... but on the > other hand this stuff is NOT going away (and I love my tech in my > kinder classroom) so how do we use this to better teach kids? > I've also heard how tv shows and tech are affecting kids brain > development and their attention spans. Again.... no matter how > much we complain this isn't going to change. How do we adjust our > teaching style to how kids are changing? > > Politics - I am SOOOO tired on non-educators making decisions > about schools because it is what gets them votes and of educators > (admin) who do things that maybe aren't best for kids because it > is what parents want or because of the (duh-duh-duh ~dramatic > music~) TEST. > > This is a pretty broad vent.... but I feel that we spend so much > energy on trying to please everyone instead of doing what we know > is the best way to teach kids. Politicians spreading the lies > that there are vast amounts of overpaid terrible teachers and > powerful teacher unions who are destroying education. Huh? And > then we have to defend ourselves and our paychecks (as I drive > around town flaunting my 8 yr old Honda Civic and my new outfit > from the clearance rack of Target) when all we really want to do > is the best job we can with what we have. > > How dare you teach music and art when we have the test to prepare > for? Get that fluff out of the classroom. (But Mr. > Principal/School Board Member/Politician, there is compelling > evidence from years of brain research that music and art help > children develop mathematical and spatial reasoning which will > make them better thinkers and learners later on....Errrrr....you > want me to give my kinders test ready worksheets instead? > Alrighty-then) > > Resources - Also broad. I think it is shameful that teachers feel > the need to purchase their own supplies for their classrooms...and > this happens EVERYWHERE. We need to stop subsidizing public > education with our shrinking paychecks and let Joe Public know > what public education REALLY costs. (and when I say shameful.. I > don't mean shame on the teachers... I mean shame on the schools > that expect classrooms with all kinds of materials and decorations > but not provide them. I once had an admin. who used one teacher's > class as a model of how a classroom should look. It did look nice > and the teacher did work hard. She also spent a ton of her own > money ~and could afford it as her husband had a very high paying > job and she didn't need to work. My admin. had written up a > teacher on her classroom environment and brought her to the other > class to show her an example of what a class should look like. > But (with the help of our site union rep) it was pointed out that > everything that the principal liked in the room was store bought > out of the teacher's own pocket - posters, pocket charts, > alphabets and number lines - and the principal had a big a-ha > moment. Realized (he was a first year principal) if he wanted his > school to look like a kodak moment, he would have to find the > funds... and did actually get some money for materials to the > teachers... not much... but the point was made. > > I see teachers buying tissues and copy paper all the time. You > can bet that your superintendent who makes 2-3 times your salary > is not buying his own tissues... never mind for the 30 kids in > your room! > > And give teachers more INPUT on the resources that are purchased. > My school spends $$$$ on materials that sit on the shelf. There > would be more money for resources that would be used if money was > spent more wisely. My current and wise admin. spent money on > technology and bundled it with TRAINING so that the teachers would > actually know how to use it. Training is on going rather than a > one-day-song-and-dance-and-then-forget -everything-they-showed-us. > > Parent Support - This was mentioned a few times. I am lucky that > I usually have pretty good support but not always. But I teach in > a low income school so I go in with the attitude that I may be the > only supportive adult in each of my students' lives, so I am going > to do the best I can and not expect support from home. I can only > control what happens from the time the students walk into my > classroom until they leave. Then any support I get is a bonus. > > Class size - This is a biggie for me. I am in CA where the budget > crisis is hitting us hard, and the first thing many districts... > mine included.... did was raise class sizes and lay off teachers > to save money. Hmmmm... we still have the same number of > administrators but we have 20 % less teachers. My class went from > 20 students to 32 students so my workload increased and my salary > decreased. The admin. workloads actually decreased (less teachers > to supervise) and their salaries stayed the same. What is wrong > with this picture?... oh... and it will be the teachers' fault if > test scores go down with the bigger classes. > > I like having the support of my Vice-principal.... and I quite > like him.... but I don't NEED him to do my job. Yes, it would be > more work for my principal to not have a VP... Hmmmm.... kind-of > like when my class size was increased by over 50%!!!! welcome to > my world! > > I think if districts are really putting kids first, all staffing > cuts should start at the top, and leave class sizes as a last > resort... not a first resort. > > Hmmmmm.... if you read my whole post.... thank you! haha.... > Sadly I could go on and on about other challenges. It is a good > thing I love my job! :)

Read the whole thing! :) It's a good thing we love our job.

Jun 26, 2011

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VET Thank you for this chatboard, Bob.

On 6/23/11, Bob Reap (Teachers.Net) wrote: > Welcome to the General Education Chatboard. This chatboard > is for teachers to discuss general education issues - all > topics broadly related to education, and any specific topic > involved in education. Teachers.Net features hundreds of > chat...See More

Jun 27, 2011

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Saxon Math pros/cons

by Mrs. L

Jun 24, 2011

My daughter goes to a charter schoo. I think its great but am not sure I love the math program- Saxon Math. Just today we were talking about how she needs to be quicker on hermath facts and she said "Why does the teacher try to confuse us? We are doing x6 facts and then she gives us a - 100 paper to do! Why?!" I get her confusion. She's in first, d...See More

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judy I taught Saxon math in first grade a few years ago. I didn't love it personally, although some of the first grade teachers did. I didn't think it gave enough practice for difficult skills. It seemed to me like it was like the sayingabout teaching wide not deep, lots of my kids didn't master the many concepts it presented. I tried to supplement and ...See More

Jun 24, 2011

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parents talk On 6/24/11, judy wrote: > I taught Saxon math in first grade a few years ago. I didn't love > it personally, although some of the first grade teachers did. I > didn't think it gave enough practice for difficult skills. It seemed > to me like it was like the sayingabout teaching wide not deep, lots > of my kids didn't master the many ...See MoreOn 6/24/11, judy wrote: > I taught Saxon math in first grade a few years ago. I didn't love > it personally, although some of the first grade teachers did. I > didn't think it gave enough practice for difficult skills. It seemed > to me like it was like the sayingabout teaching wide not deep, lots > of my kids didn't master the many concepts it presented. I tried to > supplement and skip a lesson to devote that day to practicing a > skill, but then I faced the "you're behind" comments. So, I felt > torn between covering the lessons or really teaching the concepts. > However, many teachers loved it. I am not a fan of scripted > programs in general, but I do think Saxon has some good points. > > On 6/24/11, K. Fair wrote: >> I enjoyed using Saxon in Kindergarten, but now we use EveryDay >> Math. I am not familiar with the first grade Saxon > materials. We >> actually used old Saxon worksheets to supplement EDM because it >> jumped around so much. >> >> 6/24/11, wig wrote: >>> I do not teach it, but it is used in our school. Is this her >>> first year with it? The first year seems to be the most >>> difficult for students to get used to the process you >>> described, unless they have used it from First grade one up. >>> Our test scores in Math went up after we started using it. >>> >>> >>> On 6/24/11, Mrs. L wrote: >>>> My daughter goes to a charter schoo. I think its great but >>>> am not sure I love the math program- Saxon Math. Just today >>>> we were talking about how she needs to be quicker on >>>> hermath facts and she said "Why does the teacher try to >>>> confuse us? We are doing x6 facts and then she gives us a - >>>> 100 paper to do! Why?!" >>>> I get her confusion. She's in first, doing time, money, >>>> multiplication, add/sub facts etc. She's covered lots of >>>> concepts this year but I don't think any have been in depth. >>>> What do you think of this program?

You're right, we have to cover the book and not get the concept into their heads. They need the concepts because they come year after year after year and if the students doesn't have the concepts they get discouraged and fall further behind.

Jun 26, 2011

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Biggest Challenge

by JB

Jun 24, 2011

I think the biggest challenge in education right now is funding. Because of the reduction in $$, we are seeing our specialists dwindle. Learning disabled students are going without the help they need and it has become a classroom management problem.

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Gen Fulton Hi JB,

That is true, but I think that will always be the issue. The solution we just have to get more creative with what we have and see how to use it/apply it in different ways. It is sad to see that needs of learners are not being met-awareness is the key. Thinking about general education at a college level I know several students who e...See More

Jun 24, 2011

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Jack/AR/7-8 On 6/24/11, JB wrote: > I think the biggest challenge in education right now is > funding. Because of the reduction in $$, we are seeing our > specialists dwindle. Learning disabled students are going > without the help they need and it has become a classroom > management problem.

..creative funding is rampant at our work as...See More

Jun 24, 2011

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breadth or depth for concepts in early elem? (ie Core

by Curriculum) Mrs. L

Jun 24, 2011

My 1st gr daughter was doing the "Core Curriculum" and I am amazed at what she comes home talking about. Seems like every week there is a brand new topic- Aztecs, Myans, Dinosaurs, 7 continents, Pangea, Pharoas.... tons of topics. I don't think they do anything in depth...just cover 1 thing a week and keep moving. What are your thoughts on this in ...See More

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meep I love Core Curriculum. The "What Your Child Needs to Know" series of books can give you a good general idea of what is covered at each grade level. It is a VERY thorough classical education, particularly if your child is in the program from the beginning. It is way beyond anything the public (or private) schools currently provide and I think those...See More

Jun 24, 2011

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OP On 6/24/11, what is the core curriculum? wrote: > Is it the E.D.Hirsch cultural literacy concepts? > > On 6/24/11, Curriculum) Mrs. L wrote: >> My 1st gr daughter was doing the "Core Curriculum" and I am >> amazed at what she comes home talking about. Seems like >> every week there is a brand new topic- Aztecs, Myans, >...See More

Jun 27, 2011

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Re: General Education

by Mary Anna Hatch

Jun 24, 2011

We have such discipline issues that are not supported by the principal that we spend all our time "getting ready" to teach! It is really a sad day for education!

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Best chnages in education since you started teaching?

by Tallytchr

Jun 24, 2011

We can all think of thinks that aren't so good lately, but I was just thinking back on how things are so different than when I started in 1972...

I love the way computers have changed the way I teach.

I love that kids have soooooo many more choices in books. So many great books for kids these days.

Thoese are two of mine....See More

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K. Fair On 6/24/11, Tallytchr wrote: > We can all think of thinks that aren't so good lately, but > I was just thinking back on how things are so different > than when I started in 1972... > > I love the way computers have changed the way I teach. > > I love that kids have soooooo many more choices in books. > So many great books fo...See More

Jun 24, 2011

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teach4 What a great idea. We so often only think of the negative changes lately, but reading these posts helps one to be thankful for many since 1976. Some good ones already listed -

-Many more book choices for the students to read.

-Technology in the classroom -- just got a SmartBoard last year and love it!!!

I also have a sign...See More

Jul 12, 2011

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changes in education

by Barbara

Jun 24, 2011

I began teaching in 1976 and I would never have dreamed about having the tech we have now. I have only had my smart board 6 months and I don't know how I could live without it. I have found so many interesting ways to use it with my kindergartener's. They just love having me use it and they love using it.

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meep I would love to have consistently working computers!!! My dells run windows 98/2000 and the tech people are not allowed to service them because "we don't service anything on old operating systems." Well, until those things are REPLACED, they are the only things I have! We have a few teachers who have managed to get elmos, in focus machines, etc., b...See More

Jun 24, 2011

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Terry On 6/24/11, meep wrote: > I would love to have consistently working computers!!! My > dells run windows 98/2000 and the tech people are not allowed > to service them because "we don't service anything on old > operating systems." Well, until those things are REPLACED, > they are the only things I have! We have a few teachers who >...See More

Jun 27, 2011

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