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BEST program -- anyone know why this was repealed? more ....

by newCT teach

Jul 22, 2009

I was wondering if anyone had any info on why the BEST program was repealed...and what they plan to implement in its place. I just renewed my initial cert and got a letter informing me that as of July 1 2009 BEST ended.

On a side note, it looks like others in CT are having a tough time finding a job. I sure am. I have about 20 apps out th...See More

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Recent ARC grad In ARC (Alternate Route to Certification) program this summer, we learned that it was eliminated due to a combination of budgets and that they felt the portfolios, etc. was a bit hard on the first 2 years of teaching.

Someone from the SDE came to talk to us and said that tentatively it is going to be called MAPS (don't know what that stan...See More

Aug 19, 2009

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BEST As someone who went through BEST, we used to call it the Beginning Educator Stress and Torture program... Really an incredible waste of time...

Oct 24, 2009

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Peace day 21 Sept - FREE education resources grades 6-12

by Clare

Aug 11, 2009

A UK non-profit organization, Peace One Day, has just launched a multimedia Education Resource in the US which aims to advance active learning in the areas of conflict resolution, global citizenship, human rights and the link between sustainability and peace, using the annual UN International Day of Peace 21 September as a focus.

Please d...See More

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FREE learning resource available from Peace One Day

by Clare

Aug 17, 2009

A brand new FREE digital education resource, recommended for teachers of grades 6 – 12 in the US, has recently been launched in association with Scholastic. The resource can be previewed at [link removed]=

The resource provides 19 lesson plans and 26 classroom activities for exploring issues of peace, nonviolence, and the protection of t...See More

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What are you doing for World Peace Day 21 September?

by Clare

Aug 24, 2009

World Peace Day is fast approaching - what will your school do for it? To find out ideas for activities and how to get involved on the 21 Sptember go to [link removed].

Dont forget that the FREE education resource is also available online - containing 19 interesting and student-centred lesson plans and 26 classroom resources. Just go to: [...See More

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New US Peace Curricula

by Clare

Aug 26, 2009

Check out the new curricula for U.S. schools on the Peace One Day Education site, as well as the latest article and blogs on education including:

[link removed]

View new footage of the recent US education resource launch at: [link removed]

Thanks!!

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thinking about getting cross-cert in sped

by CTteacher

Aug 26, 2009

I am thinking about getting a cross cert in sp.ed., as I am really tired of trying to find a job in my area of language arts. This summer I have sent out over 20 applications, all over the state, and got one interview. (I found that one district actually throws out all applications after a position is filled. After applying for one job that was fil...See MoreI am thinking about getting a cross cert in sp.ed., as I am really tired of trying to find a job in my area of language arts. This summer I have sent out over 20 applications, all over the state, and got one interview. (I found that one district actually throws out all applications after a position is filled. After applying for one job that was filled, only to find another similar position open up in the same dist., I was told I would have to fill out their lengthy application and send everything in from scratch.) I am really tired of subbing, having done it all last year, not to mention the year I did it when I was finishing up my certification coursework. I did land teaching jobs in the private sector, for 2 and a half years, but always planned to go into public. Now I cannot find a job in public or private! I am not just out of college and this is my second career.

I have been told that sp.ed. is an area where teachers are actually needed. I just looked up some info online and found that an ARC program exists, but to the tune of approx. $4500! I am not wealthy and cannot afford to pay out of pocket, as I am still paying off student loans from the Master's/certification program I entered when I decided to teach. I have worked with special ed. students and found it rewarding. I am just wondering if anyone knows of any funding options, private or public grants, etc., that would help me pay for this.

I am not ready to give up yet, but so frustrated at this whole teaching situation. If I had known how expensive it would be to get my credentials and how difficult it would be to land a job, I probably would have opted to go into a different field. Of course the state is no help, with its system of putting us all into little boxes, from which we cannot get out of w/o shelling out thousands of dollars for "professional development." (I have talked to older teachers who have been in the system for 20+ years, who basically just went into sp.ed. b/c their admin asked them to, and have no special credentials. My, how things have changed.)

Thanks for any input anyone can give me. Pretty soon, I will be looking to go into another field, I suppose, as I just cannot take this much longer.

Cheers! CTteacher

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H I think you misunderstood "anon". I don't believe he/she was talking about competition for jobs, but simply for the "alternate route" training program itself in regards to "traditional route" teachers. NYC Teaching Fellows will not allow an already credentialed teacher (be it from NY or another state) to be in that program because it is a program s...See MoreI think you misunderstood "anon". I don't believe he/she was talking about competition for jobs, but simply for the "alternate route" training program itself in regards to "traditional route" teachers. NYC Teaching Fellows will not allow an already credentialed teacher (be it from NY or another state) to be in that program because it is a program specifically for "career changers". It certainly doesn't mean a "traditional route" person from another state can't teach in NYC, they simply have a completely different application path for someone already credentialed (since they wouldn't need to take all the 'training courses', etc. that NYC Teaching Fellows involves).

In most states, this is true of their "alternate route" programs as well (can't be taken by already credentialed teachers). It doesn't mean that an already credentialed teacher from another state is at a disadvantage, in fact, it's usually the other way around; they just can't use the "alternate route" as a way to change to that state's credential. I think he/she was talking about, that is resentment about an "alternate route" training program letting in teachers already licensed elsewhere, not resentment about competing with them for jobs, most "alternate route" programs only deal with shortage areas anyway since that's what they're usually designed for.

On 10/08/09, from OP -- still looking for grant options/ reply to "anon" wrote: > acctually, i know people who have gotten jobs from ARC in special ed. > the reason I posted here was b/c I know the program exists in CT, and > yes you can get a cross endorsement in sped if you are already > certified in CT. I can't speak for other states but I have researched > the program in CT. I was wondering if anyone knew of GRANT money or > SCHOLARSHIPS for teachers wishing to get licensed to teach sped, a > big shortage area in CT. > > as for career changers resenting teachers already cert. in the > program, too bad! I doubt also that other states wont let in > profeessional teachers b/c of this.... CT at least is trying to get > qualified teachers to fill its shortage areas, which is why they hav > started the cross cert program for teachers. It is hard enough for > experienced, credentialed teachers to get positions in the state, so > those career changers are going to go to the back of the line, > regardless. Unless of course they want to teach in one of the > gang-ridden high schools deep in Bridgport or Hartford. > > still wondering if anyone has any info on getting private money -- > not loans necessarily, as I already have enough of those. > > looks like th CT board is pretty sloooowwww in general, as not much > activity on the board since my last post. > > > On 8/30/09, Anonymous wrote: >> When did you graduate ARC? I am hearing that except for this >> year's group, most of the math people actually got jobs in the >> end (though often in the inner cities, but that's true about a >> lot of alternate route programs....it's all supply vs. demand). > > >> I am not sure you can enter ARC if you've already done a >> certification program. Most other states' similar programs (i.e. >> NYC Teaching Fellows) will not let you in. I think unlike most >> of these programs ARC will, I know there were a lot of private >> school teachers and L/T subs in my class, though the people who >> were truly "career changing" resented those people thinking they >> will keep them from getting a job (one reason most programs do >> not allow this). >> >> Also, I'm not sure ARC has a Special Ed program per se.

Oct 12, 2009

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OP Thank you for speaking for "anon." Again, you are simply wrong, just like anon, in assuming CT's program doesn't take already credentialed teachers. I ahve already checked into this!!!! You missed my question/point entirely, as did anon, and wasted your time emailing back the exact thing anon said! I won't bother arguring these points -- if you are...See MoreThank you for speaking for "anon." Again, you are simply wrong, just like anon, in assuming CT's program doesn't take already credentialed teachers. I ahve already checked into this!!!! You missed my question/point entirely, as did anon, and wasted your time emailing back the exact thing anon said! I won't bother arguring these points -- if you are not anon, why try to speak for him?

and as for this statement: that is resentment about an "alternate > route" training program letting in teachers already licensed elsewhere, > not resentment about competing with them for jobs,

I do remember anon mentioning the resentment about competition fo jobs. Why else would their be "resentment" if not for the end result?

On 10/12/09, H wrote: > I think you misunderstood "anon". I don't believe he/she was talking > about competition for jobs, but simply for the "alternate route" > training program itself in regards to "traditional route" teachers. NYC > Teaching Fellows will not allow an already credentialed teacher (be it > from NY or another state) to be in that program because it is a program > specifically for "career changers". It certainly doesn't mean a > "traditional route" person from another state can't teach in NYC, they > simply have a completely different application path for someone already > credentialed (since they wouldn't need to take all the 'training > courses', etc. that NYC Teaching Fellows involves). > > In most states, this is true of their "alternate route" programs as well > (can't be taken by already credentialed teachers). It doesn't mean that > an already credentialed teacher from another state is at a disadvantage, > in fact, it's usually the other way around; they just can't use the > "alternate route" as a way to change to that state's credential. I > think he/she was talking about, that is resentment about an "alternate > route" training program letting in teachers already licensed elsewhere, > not resentment about competing with them for jobs, most "alternate > route" programs only deal with shortage areas anyway since that's what > they're usually designed for. > > On 10/08/09, from OP -- still looking for grant options/ reply to "anon" > wrote: >> acctually, i know people who have gotten jobs from ARC in special ed. >> the reason I posted here was b/c I know the program exists in CT, and >> yes you can get a cross endorsement in sped if you are already >> certified in CT. I can't speak for other states but I have researched >> the program in CT. I was wondering if anyone knew of GRANT money or >> SCHOLARSHIPS for teachers wishing to get licensed to teach sped, a >> big shortage area in CT. >> >> as for career changers resenting teachers already cert. in the >> program, too bad! I doubt also that other states wont let in >> profeessional teachers b/c of this.... CT at least is trying to get >> qualified teachers to fill its shortage areas, which is why they hav >> started the cross cert program for teachers. It is hard enough for >> experienced, credentialed teachers to get positions in the state, so >> those career changers are going to go to the back of the line, >> regardless. Unless of course they want to teach in one of the >> gang-ridden high schools deep in Bridgport or Hartford. >> >> still wondering if anyone has any info on getting private money -- >> not loans necessarily, as I already have enough of those. >> >> looks like th CT board is pretty sloooowwww in general, as not much >> activity on the board since my last post. >> >> >> On 8/30/09, Anonymous wrote: >>> When did you graduate ARC? I am hearing that except for this >>> year's group, most of the math people actually got jobs in the >>> end (though often in the inner cities, but that's true about a >>> lot of alternate route programs....it's all supply vs. demand). >> >> >>> I am not sure you can enter ARC if you've already done a >>> certification program. Most other states' similar programs (i.e. >>> NYC Teaching Fellows) will not let you in. I think unlike most >>> of these programs ARC will, I know there were a lot of private >>> school teachers and L/T subs in my class, though the people who >>> were truly "career changing" resented those people thinking they >>> will keep them from getting a job (one reason most programs do >>> not allow this). >>> >>> Also, I'm not sure ARC has a Special Ed program per se.

Dec 14, 2009

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Teaching Kids About Entrepreneurship

by Adrienne

Aug 27, 2009

This site offers an excellent Entrepreneurship Workbook and Teaching Series for elementary and junior high school students.

[link removed]

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School Visits/Children's Books

by Maria Luisa Retana

Aug 29, 2009

Good Morning CT. Principals, librarians, teachers, and events’ coordinators, For the 2009-2010 school year High Desert Productions recommends booking six months prior to your desired date. Our busiest time of the year is from January-May. Therefore been the first semester of the traditional school year more flexible. We are also available to pres...See More

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penpals

by mary baker

Aug 31, 2009

I am looking for a class of Fifth Graders to share penpal writing letters for this school year. I have 24 students and would like to correspond every few weeks. It will be part of my writing curriculum. Thank you. Please email me at [email removed]

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Want to learn more about Achievement First?

by Achievement First

Sep 30, 2009

Upcoming October Webinars:

Here are two mini ads you could use…

• Want to learn more about teaching opportunities at Achievement First? Sign up for a webinar on October 13th from 8pm-9pm. The webinar will go over our history, what it’s like to teach at Achievement First and what kind of opportunities we have available for g...See More

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yes, actualy I have posted here before trying to find .... info on your schools from actual professionals who have either worked for AF or know people who do. I have talkd to many people who have "phone interviewed" with you and have not gotten jobs. It is truly odd to think of a professional being interviewed solely over the phone without a face to face meeting.

Also, it seems you have an extrem...See Moreinfo on your schools from actual professionals who have either worked for AF or know people who do. I have talkd to many people who have "phone interviewed" with you and have not gotten jobs. It is truly odd to think of a professional being interviewed solely over the phone without a face to face meeting.

Also, it seems you have an extremely high turnover rate, as evidencd by the constant job postings at all of your schools that appear on the boards throughout the year. Those of us in the trenches know this means one of several things (or all combined): extremely difficult to manage students with severe emotional/behavioral problems, functioning at a low level academically; unsupportive administration with unrealistic expectations of educators and students; a dangerous school environment. We all know about the extra long hours and the extended year. But we want to know what the real deal with AF is! I know we wont hear it from the organization itself, which paints a rosy picture of its schools for obvious reasons. So I am sure I speak for others when we say we would welcome hearing from teachers who work for AF or have worked for the org. I know many fall into the latter category judging from the constant turnover.

I for one would not interview for a job over the phone. I find it insulting. It is as if you are setting up from the beginning that you are somehow above us teachers, and would not deign to meet with us face to face befor weeding us out over the phone in a stock interview.

Anyone have any info on AF? I heard the iterviewrs are atually just recru9iters with no teaching or admin experince in the schools, so that is one more reason to be suspect. I for one would prefer to meet with my future boss and colleaugues personally.

love to hear about AF

> Here are two mini ads you could use… > > • Want to learn more about teaching opportunities > at Achievement First? Sign up for a webinar on October 13th > from 8pm-9pm. The webinar will go over our history, what > it’s like to teach at Achievement First and what kind of > opportunities we have available for great teachers. Please > RSVP now to > [link removed].

Oct 8, 2009

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