Maryland Teachers Chatboard

Hi, I am writing a Unit on Nature for a 2-3 grade ELL student and need to define the term nature in very concrete understandable terms. This is a grad school project and I am really stumped. Can someone help? Thanks

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South Texas Trail Ride - ride along

by students may participate online

Jan 29, 2011

If you are interested, please feel free to follow the trail ride from Corpus Christi to San Antonio via online. Your students (and yourself, of course) are invited to participate in the region 2 (Corpus Christi)challenge, view pictures and videos from the trail ride, ask the cowboys questions, submit video answers, questions, make comments, etc. Ho...See More

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NEH Summer Program Niagara Falls, New York

by Allison Violante

Feb 11, 2011

Niagara University Invites K-12 Teachers to Apply for Summer Residential Program Investigating the History of Old Fort Niagara

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. (feb, 2011) – Niagara University is now accepting applications from K-12 teachers nationwide for a summer program entitled Crossroads of Empire: Cultural Contact and Imperial Rivalry at O...See MoreNiagara University Invites K-12 Teachers to Apply for Summer Residential Program Investigating the History of Old Fort Niagara

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. (feb, 2011) – Niagara University is now accepting applications from K-12 teachers nationwide for a summer program entitled Crossroads of Empire: Cultural Contact and Imperial Rivalry at Old Fort Niagara. The week-long residential sessions, which take place July 11-15 and July 18-22, 2011 at Old Fort Niagara and Niagara University, have been made possible by funding obtained from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

Directed by Thomas A. Chambers, Ph.D., chair of Niagara University’s history department, the workshops are focused on the vital history that emanated from Old Fort Niagara, one of most significant and well-preserved 18th century historic sites in North America. Fort Niagara served as an important crossroads between the empires of Great Britain, France, the Haudenosaunee (the native people who inhabited what is now much of New York state and surrounding areas), and, later, the United States as they battled each other for control of the North American continent. The Fort threatened American territory during the Revolution, was occupied by both sides during the War of 1812, and then a peace treaty secured the Fort and region for the United States.

This workshop will immerse NEH Summer Scholars in the world of 18th century life, from both the Native American and European perspective. Participants will interact with historic interpreters, clamber about ramparts dating to the 1700s, handle beaver pelts and trade goods like fishhooks and beads, and perhaps even fire a musket. One unique feature will be an overnight stay at the French Castle, the three-story stone fortress and trading post perched above the crashing waves of Lake Ontario that dates back to 1726. By week’s end NEH Summer Scholars will understand the perspective of the Iroquois people who first inhabited this region, as well as the struggles of ordinary European soldiers who bled and died to control Fort Niagara.

Teachers of grades K-12 at schools in the United States or its territorial possessions, or Americans teaching in foreign schools where at least 50 percent of the students are American nationals, are eligible for this program.

Teachers selected to participate as NEH Summer Scholars will receive a stipend of $1,200 at the end of the residential workshop session. Stipends are intended to help cover travel expenses to and from the project location, books, and ordinary living expenses.

The deadline for applications is March 1, 2011.

For eligibility and application information, please call 716.286.8091, e-mail [email removed].

Niagara University is located 11 miles south of Old Fort Niagara.

Niagara University Founded by the Vincentian Community in 1856, Niagara University is a private liberal arts university with a strong, values-based Catholic tradition. Its four academic divisions include the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Education, and Hospitality and Tourism Management. The university also maintains an Academic Exploration Program that provides a learning community for students who are undecided about their major, as well as numerous opportunities through Continuing Education. -30-

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Give me the pros and cons of becoming a teacher

by Joan Weintraub

Feb 12, 2011

After a career as a university administrator and a technical recruiter I am seriously considering becoming a K- 12 (preferably K-5) teacher in Maryland. I have a master's degree in counseling and a bachelor's degree in history and would like to hear from veteran teachers on the pros and cons of becoming a teacher at this stage of my life. Really ap...See More

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what about the shortage of jobs-a major CON. nfm On 2/13/11, Kathy wrote: > > I am a career-changer. I have been teaching for 9 years now, > and I love it. > > PROS: > I get to talk to other adults who are interested in the same > geeky stuff I am. > I get to talk with teenagers and influence their lives. > I have a nice salary with nice benefits > I get to talk to o...See MoreOn 2/13/11, Kathy wrote: > > I am a career-changer. I have been teaching for 9 years now, > and I love it. > > PROS: > I get to talk to other adults who are interested in the same > geeky stuff I am. > I get to talk with teenagers and influence their lives. > I have a nice salary with nice benefits > I get to talk to other adults who are interested in the same > geeky stuff I am. > I continue to learn new things and new ways of doing things. > I get to learn from my colleagues and my students. > I get to talk to other adults who are interested in the same > geeky stuff I am. > > CONS: > The bathroom is way down the hall and I have 5 minutes between > classes to get there and back. > I never have 5 minutes between classes to get there and back. > When faced with a tough decision or problem, I don't get to take > a walk outside and think about it. > My supervisors have risen exponentially: department chair, VP, > Principal, Department Supervisor, students, parents of students, > parents of other students, neighbors, and the state of Maryland. > (We won't talk about how it can go national - look at California > where they posted teacher effectiveness.) > I see my students and their parents everywhere. > I have had unplanned parent teacher conferences in the lingerie > department at Wal-Mart. > I'm taking a break right now from grading papers. > I can't take a sick day without first doing all the work I would > have done had I been at work. > When I come back from a sick day, I have all the work I would > have completed still waiting for me. > I am very lucky that I am in a new school - the last school had > poor lighting, low ceilings, low technology, and too many people > cramming the halls. > > I've come up with many more CONS, but the human brain usually > find those easier to come up with. > Would I do something else? Would I change the last 9 years? > NO. I love what I do. I love the teens I get to teach. There > are a lot of people in the school system that do not have the > same breadth of experience that career changers have. Many of > the teachers I work with have parents who were/are teachers. > They think that school is the way the world works. I came from > a retail industry and worked for my father's business for quite > a few years before going back to school for my degree in > Secondary Education. > > When you become a teacher, find the best teacher in the building > and listen to what they have to say. Mix that with your own > experience and enthusiasm. Realize also that each teacher has > his or her own leadership style - find what works with you and > make it work with your students.

Feb 14, 2011

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what about the shortage of jobs-a major CON. nfm On 2/13/11, Kathy wrote: > > I am a career-changer. I have been teaching for 9 years now, > and I love it. > > PROS: > I get to talk to other adults who are interested in the same > geeky stuff I am. > I get to talk with teenagers and influence their lives. > I have a nice salary with nice benefits > I get to talk to o...See MoreOn 2/13/11, Kathy wrote: > > I am a career-changer. I have been teaching for 9 years now, > and I love it. > > PROS: > I get to talk to other adults who are interested in the same > geeky stuff I am. > I get to talk with teenagers and influence their lives. > I have a nice salary with nice benefits > I get to talk to other adults who are interested in the same > geeky stuff I am. > I continue to learn new things and new ways of doing things. > I get to learn from my colleagues and my students. > I get to talk to other adults who are interested in the same > geeky stuff I am. > > CONS: > The bathroom is way down the hall and I have 5 minutes between > classes to get there and back. > I never have 5 minutes between classes to get there and back. > When faced with a tough decision or problem, I don't get to take > a walk outside and think about it. > My supervisors have risen exponentially: department chair, VP, > Principal, Department Supervisor, students, parents of students, > parents of other students, neighbors, and the state of Maryland. > (We won't talk about how it can go national - look at California > where they posted teacher effectiveness.) > I see my students and their parents everywhere. > I have had unplanned parent teacher conferences in the lingerie > department at Wal-Mart. > I'm taking a break right now from grading papers. > I can't take a sick day without first doing all the work I would > have done had I been at work. > When I come back from a sick day, I have all the work I would > have completed still waiting for me. > I am very lucky that I am in a new school - the last school had > poor lighting, low ceilings, low technology, and too many people > cramming the halls. > > I've come up with many more CONS, but the human brain usually > find those easier to come up with. > Would I do something else? Would I change the last 9 years? > NO. I love what I do. I love the teens I get to teach. There > are a lot of people in the school system that do not have the > same breadth of experience that career changers have. Many of > the teachers I work with have parents who were/are teachers. > They think that school is the way the world works. I came from > a retail industry and worked for my father's business for quite > a few years before going back to school for my degree in > Secondary Education. > > When you become a teacher, find the best teacher in the building > and listen to what they have to say. Mix that with your own > experience and enthusiasm. Realize also that each teacher has > his or her own leadership style - find what works with you and > make it work with your students.

Feb 14, 2011

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California NEH Workshops for Educators

by Dr. Laura Talamante

Feb 18, 2011

Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to join us for our one-week workshops in June 2011. As NEH Summer Scholars at the “American History through the Eyes of a California Family” workshop, you will use the artifacts and archival sources of both the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum and CSU Dominguez Hills Special Collections to trace the Domingue...See More

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Baltimore City teacher buyout

by job seeker

Feb 20, 2011

Anybody on this board teach in Baltinmore City? According to the Baltimore Sun, teachers with more than 10 years experience are being offered an early-retirement buyout program.

The paper also said that Balt. City is getting way more teacher job applications than in the past. The city has always been considered a terrible place to work but...See More

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Leaving Baltimore City Teaching Program

by Christina

Mar 1, 2011

Does anyone know the penalty for leaving Baltimore City Teaching residency before commitment of five years is complete?

why do you want to? On 3/01/11, Christina wrote: > Does anyone know the penalty for leaving Baltimore City > Teaching residency before commitment of five years is complete?

Why do you want to quit? Did you have to pay to be in the program

Mar 8, 2011

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