TheApple

Oh friends! My heart is literally pounding for I am angry! Irritated! Astounded! Today I am angry because I finally read the story from Sunday's New York Times (MASSIVE kitchen re-organizing took over my life this weekend....grueling and intense, but well worth it. I do heart an organized kitchen!!). Did you see this article? If you didn't, you can check it ...

As an educator for over twenty-six years, I have always advocated that schools need to get involved in important issues like feeding the homeless, Live Aid and Band Aid, helping 9/11 victims’ families, supporting our veterans, and assisting those people hit hard by disasters like Hurricane Katrina. I have been reluctant to support schools dealing with what goes on in the home. ...

In today's age of technology, it's hard to keep anything private. Technology is a great classroom tool, but this year, many teachers have found that it can also be used against them. Whether it's a comment in class, a video from a cell phone, or a social networking picture, everything seems to go viral. While most teachers err on the side ...

As summer break approaches, we teachers start thinking about how far we have come during the school year with our students. We also dread that they will be on their own for the summer and may or may not be reading. Shelfari is a virtual bookshelf that you create to show off books that you have read and recommend. It is ...

Whether you’re a teacher, counselor or principal, any job in education can be overwhelming and stressful. Learning how to manage stress and channel it through positive means is vital, not just for a successful career, but for your happiness and well-being too. If you don’t take time to unwind, constant stress can lead to a number of physical and psychological ...

There is a myth, a common misperception, that teachers’ use of technology is a relatively recent phenomenon.  However, the great teachers in my life have all had one thing in common; they all used the technology of the time to encourage and enhance learning. When I was growing up this rarely meant computer use—computers were still relatively new to education at ...

It's almost the most wonderful time of the year, and that can be hard on the wallet. Be thankful for all of the free things TheApple can introduce you to-- enjoy! Materials Get free stuff for your classroom and find great discounts for educators. 1. New H1N1 Children’s Book Available as Free Download 2. TheApple's Monthly Book Giveaway Have you entered ...

What it is: There are some really neat online tools that I find that live in my Google Notebook for a long time (I have upward of 800 links for educational websites yet to post to iLearn Technology…and growing daily!) Some get pushed aside for my newest cool find, and some move to the bottom of the list because, while they ...

Homework? No one wants to do homework! There is a skill to assigning homework that can help your students retain and learn information. Successful homework strategies should be on their way to completion before your students ever leave the room. There are many things you can keep in mind when assigning homework to ensure your students’ success. • Make sure the ...

Thought I’d share with you some exciting new teacher-friendly discounts! This was passed unto me by another educator so you know you are getting timely and updated information. It’s always great to share a support chain and create a resourceful community of teachers! h3. Borders
: Borders announced that it has increased its educator discount from 20% to 25%. Now educators receive ...

If you have ever been frustrated by students who barely bother to read the text or who don’t have even a faint clue about what they read, or even if you find yourself in a rut when planning reading activities, this list of strategies is for you. Most of them are ones that we all know and use from time ...

There are several positive steps to make sure that the homework you assign is appropriate and beneficial to student success. The first is to allow students to decide for themselves (with teacher guidance) what they need to accomplish for homework. If several students are working together, for example, and need more time to finish a project, then they can self-assign homework ...

Throughout the school year, members of TheApple have the opportunity to win free books! Talented education authors are helping TheApple make professional development and literature more accessible. You can enter to win each month! Some months will feature professional development literature, some humorous reading about being a teacher, and others will feature books you can use in your classroom with ...

There has been much written on the pros and cons of NCLB (No Child Left Behind) from an educational management perspective on the return on investment of the program, and point of view of teachers, professors and students effected by it. As educators attempt to navigate the best way forward in these challenging times, it may help to know how NCLB ...

Dear Julia, I am a special education teacher and have A LOT of paperwork on and surrounding my desk. I have tried numerous ways to organize my paperwork and would really appreciate some ideas and help! Especially with managing and organizing my student's IEP's. Thanks. Amanda Hi Amanda, Your concern is one of the most common ones that teachers everywhere share. ...

When teachers intent on making a difference look at the state of affairs in education in 2008, many just shake their heads and sigh. Rightfully so, perhaps, when one considers how many students of education are changing their majors, how many fabulous but disillusioned teachers are choosing early retirement or changing careers, the challenging daily schedules confronting most teachers, their low ...

1. "Don’t assume I know anything." Dear Teacher: "As a new parent, I know nothing. Please do not assume I know when things are (events, functions, etc) or what things are (the annual silent auction or even PTA). You need to be specific and explain in detail all the little and big things I will need to know as a parent ...

MINNEAPOLIS, MN: Educators, parents, and book lovers can get a free, exclusive look at a brand-new middle grade novel, Finn Reeder, Flu Fighter. Starting November 17, Stone Arch Books, a children's fiction publisher, has made the book available as a free download on its website www.capstonepub.com/promo/h1n1/. The book will be released in hardcover as part of Stone Arch’s spring 2010 collection ...

The most dreaded word in school reading for students: book reports. Teachers assign them, viewing them as a necessary component of assessing reading comprehension. Book reports can be a contributing factor to 'readicide'. "Read-i-cide n: The systematic killing of the love of reading, often exacerbated by the inane, mind-numbing practices found in schools." http://stenhouse.com/html/readicide.htm. So, how can we as teachers continue ...

This past Tuesday, I took a day off of school. This is not normal for me, and I even had to fight my urge to go up to school and make sure things were running smoothly. I even drove up to the school and chose not to get out of the car. Why? Because I had a chance where I knew ...