According to an article in the New York Times, "This year, for the first time since the National Assessment of Educational Progress tests began tracking student achievement in the 1970s, 9-year-olds lost ground in math, and scores in reading fell by...
The rise of politics in school is most visible at the ballot box. Some politicians claim to be "education candidates." Their platforms promise money and better school facilities. However, once they count the ballots and fill their campaign coffers...
But it's not just the students who are casualties of this period. Teachers are struggling with their own social-emotional matters. This takes a toll on teachers' energy levels and ability to want to interact with kids. A daily barrage of students'...
eachers deal with so much more than delivering the curriculum. There are discipline issues, extra duties before and after school, lesson planning and grading that follow you home, parent phone calls, meetings... Those are just the physical issues.
When did public schools become Public Enemy #1? There have been so many issues over the last few years that point accusatory fingers at our public schools. Now the latest threat to public schools is how the ideas of race and racism should be taught...
Now that people are finally stepping out of their homes and starting to travel, this episode replay may be especially helpful and deserves a listen. Jackie is famous for knowing how to travel almost cost-free and she shares her tips and tricks with...
We examine the various qualities an "effective" teacher should have and who sets those standards. We also discuss the national board certification process! But wait! Is certification even the ultimate sign of effectiveness? How about certifying...
Finally, this school year is ending (thank god for small favors) and we are packing up our minimally used classrooms. For many teachers, this will be their last time having to do this. Many threw in the eraser this year and turned in keys. They will...
So does all the investment in a piece of paper really mean a teacher is competent? What does a teaching credential really prove? What does it take to get a credential. We discuss what it means, and more importantly, what it doesn't mean. Of course...
In 2005 then-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted to make changes to California’s teacher tenure. He pressed to increase the time to achieve tenure from 2 to 5 years. He also proposed that teacher pay be based on merit, not length of tenure...