Master Teachers Chatboard

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Thor On 2/16/11, Leah wrote: > You may be interested in the following article

Democratic education refers to democratic schools - not citizenship lessons in a traditional school. Democratic education schools include children in the governance of a school - it's rather a radical concept if you've never heard of it. You might check out the Su...See More

Feb 18, 2011

Lisa Daniels Brooklyn Free School was one of the schools featured in this episode of This American Life dealing with Kid Politics

[link removed]

On 1/29/11, ThothboyAnak wrote: > Hi, I'm very glad to be here. I've recently started a > website dealing with democratic education and children's > rights. The basic idea is each week I wi...See More

Feb 19, 2011

Do Great teachers deserve more pay?

by Matt

Jan 29, 2011

What do you think?

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Not if "greatness" is determined On 1/29/11, Matt wrote: > What do you think?

by the students' state test scores.

Feb 1, 2011

Lynde In my school and in these times, being a "good" or better yet, a "great" teacher sometimes means just getting a kid to be willing to come to school, to come without trying to sneak in a knife, to come with something approximating a pleasant attitude, to just get a kid to think--if even for only half of a minute-- that maybe there's some reason to k...See More

Feb 2, 2011

low income school?

by Beth

Feb 7, 2011

Hi! I currently work at a low income school. I have been starting to wonder if I should apply to a "nicer" school. I know each has its pros and cons. I wanted to hear any experiences of transfers and how it was? I deal with no parent support and low students now. I'm afraid I won't like the hovering parents. Any advice would be appreciated!

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test "test."

Mar 12, 2011

Leah Davies Dear anon, I loved what you wrote. Those students are fortunate to have you as their teacher.

> I work in a low income, but not inner city schoool. In other > words, needy kids but not huge discipline problems. I lot that > my kids are amazed by things I show them, that I am giving them > experiences they wouldn't have at home...See More

Mar 15, 2011

Greetings Teachers, My name is Joshua Kim representing Solatoz Co. Our company is a HR Consulting/Career Service company. We are currently working with schools in Asia and work on sending teachers to teach abroad.

Do you guys want to teach in another environment? This is the job for you. Requirements are: 4 year degree minimum with a BA o...See More

ESL TEACHERS NEEEDED!

by Joshua Kim @ Solatoz

Feb 24, 2011

Does anybody know where I could purchase algebra exams?

by dan s

Feb 28, 2011

Hey,

Does anybody have an idea of where I can purchase complete algebra exams?

thanks

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Sara On 2/28/11, dan s wrote: > Hey, > > Does anybody have an idea of where I can purchase complete > algebra exams? > > thanks

The textbook companies sell them - they sell a book of exams to go with their textbooks. I'm pretty sure they'd sell you just the book of exams.

Mar 1, 2011

RS Try ebay. Just search by publisher and reference teacher or home school and you should have plenty of options!

On 2/28/11, dan s wrote: > Hey, > > Does anybody have an idea of where I can purchase complete > algebra exams? > > thanks

Mar 15, 2011

I am currently studying to become a speech language pathologist. I am seeking advice and experiences of teachers relating to motivating students. When I have a student who is not focused or is uninterested in learning a specific content, what are some ways in which I can motivate the student and generate interest? Thank you in advance for any sugge...See More

Motivation

by Sarah

Mar 16, 2011

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Steve On 3/16/11, Sarah wrote: > I am currently studying to become a speech language > pathologist. I am seeking advice and experiences of > teachers relating to motivating students. When I have a > student who is not focused or is uninterested in learning a > specific content, what are some ways in which I can > motivate the student an...See More

Mar 16, 2011

peer support activities and exceptional students

by Melanie Morphyades

Mar 16, 2011

I am Melanie Morphyades. I have been eagerly following the messages on this board for the last few months. I am currently seeking a Masterâ€™s of Arts in Teaching Special Education at the University of South Florida. I am researching the use of peer support activities with exceptional students in the regular inclusion classroom for my Educatio...See More

Ignoring behaviors in the classroom.

by Samantha S.

Mar 20, 2011

Hi , Im a future teacher and have been doing many of my observation hours in schools where the teachers use extinction as a method of reinforcement for behaviors. Now I know sometimes little things can be ignored but I feel like ignoring behaviors makes them worse and I cant ignore them for too long. So I was wondering if anyone had any techniques ...See More

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looneyteachr the more engaged kids are in the lesson - the less irritating behaviors there are- kids can only sit still for max 20 min and even then they need to be doing something - even highlighting stuff or making flashcards as teacher instructs can engage them

create a little organized chaos in the classroom by having kids up and around doing stuff...See Morethe more engaged kids are in the lesson - the less irritating behaviors there are- kids can only sit still for max 20 min and even then they need to be doing something - even highlighting stuff or making flashcards as teacher instructs can engage them

create a little organized chaos in the classroom by having kids up and around doing stuff! On 3/22/11, Yes, but what is condered small? wrote: > On the prior posts, I too believe in extinction and feel it is > good to ignore little things. The question though is what does > one consider little? While I consider pencil tapping or a book > dropped little, I have begun to see a pattern of teachers not > knowing how to handle children who refuse to sit at all and who > like to get up when they choose and move about disrupting those > who are trying to learn ( I understand there are learning > disabilities, but now why all of a sudden do these getting up > appear to have increased?). How do you feel this should be > handled as extinction is not the answer for everything either. > There also need to be rules, and reasonable consequences so that > the children understand they too have the responsiblity to try > to sit as long as teachers also work with them.Many here know > also that there are always going to be some parents who expect > you to teach around their child, they really could care less > about the other students. I am not against the response, I just > personally feel that extinction and positive manangement is not > being used entirely correctly. Any thoughts? > > > > > > On 3/20/11, Sara wrote: >> On 3/20/11, Samantha S. wrote: >>> Hi , Im a future teacher and have been doing many of my >>> observation hours in schools where the teachers use >>> extinction as a method of reinforcement for behaviors. Now >>> I know sometimes little things can be ignored but I feel >>> like ignoring behaviors makes them worse and I cant ignore >>> them for too long. So I was wondering if anyone had any >>> techniques they use for extinction or thoughts on how to >>> make it work? >> >> Children weren't meant to sit still for long periods of time >> or meant to be silent while they sit for long periods of >> time - school is an unnatural process and it runs counter to >> the development realities of children and to what Nature >> intended children to be doing. So it's equally unnatural to >> expect perfect silence from children and to expect them to >> sit still both for long periods of time. So I ignore the >> minor things -

Apr 10, 2011

Leah You may want to read the following list

Apr 27, 2011

Building relationship with diverse families?

by Amy

Mar 23, 2011

Hello everyone!

In my setting, many children are from other cultures.

Although I want to encourage their families to be involved more,I sometimes find it hard to communicate with them since they have different cultural values and beliefs.

How do you build a collaborative partnership with families with different values and...See More

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Amy Thank you Leah. I agree with your idea 'practice that goes with research'. Our effort and attitude probably always will be the most important thing in building a meaningful partnership.

On 3/24/11, Leah wrote: >> I'd appreciate if you share your ideas. > > It is difficult, especially if you have nobody to translate > for yo...See More

Mar 25, 2011

Sara On 3/25/11, Amy wrote: > Thank you for your great response and insightful comment Sara. > > The cultural diversity I meant is not only limited to language- > it includes different parenting stlyes and practices (such as > Eastern vs Western) influenced by cultural and religious > beliefs.

Is this a theoretical question o...See MoreOn 3/25/11, Amy wrote: > Thank you for your great response and insightful comment Sara. > > The cultural diversity I meant is not only limited to language- > it includes different parenting stlyes and practices (such as > Eastern vs Western) influenced by cultural and religious > beliefs.

Is this a theoretical question or are you actually encountering different parenting styes and practices? After 25 plus years of teaching, I'd say with assurance there are many different parenting styles in our own culture. You can have a class in front of you where every single child's family has lived in the community for generation and all be the same faith and have the same cultural background and you'll yet be able to have at least several different parenting syltes and different practices among those otherwise similar families.

On that list will include parent supervision of homework - some American parents do that, others don't. Some believe fervently in the value of homework, others done. Some believe it's their responsibility to monitor homework and others believe it's their responsibility to allow their child to be independent with homework to foster in independence in the child. Bedtime is another area where parents vary widely in their parenting styles - what time is a proper bedtime will vary by hours in the same community among different families. What kind of films the children are allowed to see from family films to families that routinely allow their young children to watch R rated films. How parents allow their children to speak varies widely among Americans in the same communtiy and of the same background and social class.

You don't have to step outside of your neighborhood to find different parenting styles and practices. As to how you show anybody respect, you do it with warm welcome. To help them feel their voices and values are valued, you ask yourself - do you sincerely value them? If you do, that sincere regard will come through in your manner. > As for the greatest challenge I think I ever met with in terms of a parenting style that took be aback, it was from a suburban mother. She told me and with no smile on her face to "hold my son's little feet to the fire." What awful language. And this was a child now in 7th grade. His feel weren't little, he wasn't little - what was up with the 'little feet' - there was something so peculiarly demeaning in the way she spoke of her son - even a touch of the sinister almost.

So i could have recoiled but you don't do that even when a bit surprised by the otherwis pleasant looking and seemingly normal person just says something rather... offish. She certainly had the wrong teacher because I'm noted for a warm, welcoming and friendly manner to students and parents alike. I did say, "I've not been asked that before and I'm a bit afraid of fire (pleasant smile on face when saying that) but Tom is doing well in class. For next year we can request just the right teacher for him so please think about who you would like that to be."

If your regard for others and their different ways is sincere, you don't have to worry about what to do when you encounter different ways.

This question was for an education class you're taking, right? I don't mind that at all but it's so out of touch that it just sounds like a question a college professor would assign an education class. >

Mar 26, 2011

I have no problem when adminstrators "walk through" my room, and wouldn't mind if I were being secretly observed, but those formal, 45 minute observations kill me. I get so nervous I can hardly think, and my written out lesson plans make little sense to me, don't seem good enough, etc. We don't know when they will come, so can't plan a spectacular ...See More

help

by Observation phobia

Apr 1, 2011

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looneyteachr my principals observe often and for varied amounts of time - i luv that they're interested in what's going on

On 4/05/11, Leah wrote: > EXCELLENT advice Judy2/CA. > > It has to be stressful to have someone observe, unannounced for > 45 minutes! How often does this happen during the year? You > might (IF you would feel comfor...See More

Apr 10, 2011

Chena LOL my classroom is right across from the staff lounge and bathroom, and it is VERY cold in our room since we have an exterior door and we are in Alaska. So, each day after their snack break and before we get into our second long work period, we exercise for 10 minutes, using note cards with various activities students wrote down at the beginning o...See MoreLOL my classroom is right across from the staff lounge and bathroom, and it is VERY cold in our room since we have an exterior door and we are in Alaska. So, each day after their snack break and before we get into our second long work period, we exercise for 10 minutes, using note cards with various activities students wrote down at the beginning of the year during our nutrition unit. It gets their blood flowing, we have a good time, and we are often singing/dancing while we do it. The upshot of all this is that the Principal walked by one day while we were "exercising" and stuck her head in and said "My, are we excited?" (I think she was a little taken aback, maybe she thought there was a riot) but then, being the awesome person she is, she came in and exercised with us. I could have gotten all flustered and called a halt to it and made them sit down, but the thing is, a) I had a valid, instructionally sound reason for spending the time this way b) I had already established the norms for the activity and students knew the parameters and what WOULD cause immediate seating. We had a great time and I never heard a word about it from the principal. I think it must be hard to always be on the outside looking in and making people nervous by your mere presence. Just relax, do your thing and make sure you ask for tips after.

I once had a review lesson observed without notice. The kids were like deer in the headlights. It was like they had never heard this stuff before. I had to reverse, try a different tack, round up different materials, have the kids write on school property, and start over again, all while she was watching. Afterward she said THAT was what she wanted to see, how I could react to different situations in the classroom, read the reactions of the kids, and regroup. So, while it felt like a bad situation, it was ultimately for the best. Relax. You are a professional. Show it off!

On 4/10/11, looneyteachr wrote: > my principals observe often and for varied amounts of time - i luv > that they're interested in what's going on > > On 4/05/11, Leah wrote: >> EXCELLENT advice Judy2/CA. >> >> It has to be stressful to have someone observe, unannounced for >> 45 minutes! How often does this happen during the year? You >> might (IF you would feel comfortable doing this) talk to the >> principal about your reaction when observed, especially after the >> observation went poorly. Perhaps he/she could drop by for >> shorter time periods also, to get a true sense of your teaching >> ability. Best wishes

Jul 4, 2011