TheApple

Face it, you are not as good of a teacher as you could be. You’re not living up to your potential. Nobody is. There are many reasons to quit, here are 9: 1. Bad students 2. Bad administrators 3. Bad curriculum 4. Too much paperwork 5. Too much negativity 6. Too much responsibility 7. Not enough time 8. Not enough credit ...

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about how my friend Junior had posted on his blog calling for people to write about what kind of a legacy we wanted to leave. I have been thinking a whole lot over the past few months about my progression as a teacher, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to really flesh out ...

TheApple is listening, and what we've heard is that you need extra support dealing with difficult students and difficult situations you face as a teacher. If you have a question and need the help of a seasoned teacher, here's your chance. Send your question in a message to Dear Julia, acclaimed author, Julia G. Thompson. Julia will answer your question in ...

I did a writing across the curriculum exercise where students described what their perfect school would be like. Some of the students had really good insights and I thought I would share my student quotes with you. Quote #1 "My perfect school would be a night time school." Next page: Quote #2 [page] Quote #2 "Kids will be given a laptop ...

1. Start With the Standards Each teacher has a set of standards by grade level and subject that they are tasked to accomplish throughout the year. If you haven't committed them to memory, make sure you post them or have them ready for easy reference. These standards should guide everything you do. Follow the wording of the standard closely to make ...

Ethics are, of course, subjective. Intentional teachers are naturally focused on modeling behaviors that will serve their students long into the future. In today’s world, depersonalization is rampant; we are often reduced to student IDs, pin numbers, account numbers, employee numbers and other digital labels. Sometimes, perhaps inadvertently, depersonalization manifests itself in classrooms of even the most well meaning educators. From ...

Beginning in October, TheApple will feature an exclusive column titled _Everyday Ethics._ This column will focus on topics- some controversial- that educators encounter everyday in creating an ethical classroom. Read about our author Dr. Rosanna Pittella below: Rosanna Pittella, MA, PhD abd, is an ethicist who based on studies of Piaget, Kohlberg, and Gilligan, developed a unique theory of integration of ...

Are you principled, ethical, or both? Everyone makes decisions and behaves according to his or her own set of guiding principles and a personal code of ethics. As an educator, you are certainly aware that your behavior and decisions affect and act as a model for your students. Naturally, it is important for you to know what triggers them and evaluate ...

No matter how many years of experience you have under your belt, there are certain things that teachers should never do. Not only are the things on this list pushing the ethical envelope, they could also be damaging to your career. I'm sure TheApple readers could help make this list longer, but I've narrowed it to ten things I feel are ...

“The words that are chosen by a teacher carry so much meaning and power. I think we all forget just how much power we have. When a kid falls down in class and forgets homework, does poorly on a test, or even is the biggest thorn in our side, we have a choice to use words that beat them down or ...

Who, exactly, is at fault for poorly performing schools? Based on what we read and hear and see in the media, there seems to be more than enough blame to go around. The feds are at fault for high-stakes testing. The state is at fault for inadequate funding. School districts are at fault for a host of reasons. And teachers ...

It is hard for me to believe this and feel like a good teacher at the same time, but I do. Of course, I did feel better after reading there are worse things than dropping out of school from siobhan curious: classroom as microcosm, Siobhan Curious states, “I also think there needs to be a shift in social attitudes supported by ...

1. You Aren't Their Favorite Teacher Students will tell you that you are in fact their favorite teacher. They want to make good grades and stay off your bad list. But the truth is, student opinions change with the wind. Don't put a lot of stock into what students think about you or how popular a teacher you seem to be. ...

It happens this time every year. No, I’m not talking about the exhausted crash and burn landing into spring break. I am talking about contract renewal time. That time of the year when teachers have to decide, “Do I really want to come back and do this again next year?” It’s easy to sign early in the years, especially before tenure ...

[photo:71231] The 2008-2009 school year is finally over! It's time to look back on the craziest things that have happened this year in schools. Some of these moments are funny, some scary, and some are just plain crazy. Countdown the 15 Craziest Moments of the School Year Now! Next Page: #15 Craziest Moment [page] #15: Gun-Toting Teachers [photo:70825] The north Texas ...

When they looked back, teachers remembered moments of poignancy, joy, and struggle—and sometimes the fear of the unknown. But all seemed somehow transformed, even emboldened, by their first year teaching. What stands out is the teachers' untainted optimism, which is repeatedly put to the test and yet emerges intact. The other striking quality is how privileged these teachers feel in serving ...

Principal Confession #1: Dear Parents: "I will not move your child from class to class until he finds a teacher he likes. Sometimes we have to deal with things we don't like- it's part of a larger life lesson." Next page: Confession #2 [page] Principal Confession #2: Dear Teachers: "All of our jobs are hard. The grass is not greener in ...

Over the last month or so, a great deal has been written (and far more has been spoken and gossiped) about the wars between "education camps" and who is going to take the lead in the Obama Administration. At Sunday's National Urban Alliance gathering, the crowd heard from NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, AASA Chief Dan Domenech, and Linda Darling-Hammond, Stanford ...

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 ...

I consider these items to be absolutely indispensable in the classroom. They have multiple uses and help you avoid problems that you probably haven't thought about. 1. Painter's Tape This special tape doesn't stick to anything permanently, but sticks strongly enough to leave until you're ready to take it off. You can use this to section off your board, floor, walls, ...