This is article is by education writer Haley McLeod, and features various podcasts classroom educators should find valuable. [Read more...]
Edible Schoolyard: A Book Review
July 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Substitute Teaching Made Comfortable
April 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment
When I began substitute teaching I was concerned about making my wardrobe work without wasting a lot of extra money on clothes I would rarely wear. Subbing wardrobes will differ in every climate so think comfort with a balance of professionalism. Here in Florida with tropical weather comes tropical, light attire. So how does living where every day clothes are casual translate to the classroom?
A Teacher and Pupil in the Classroom
My first suggestion is to note what other teachers in your school and district wear daily. You’ll get a feel for what is appropriate within a couple visits. The clothing I wear here in Florida may not be acceptable in more formal districts in other parts of the country or world. Though I can say I’ve taught overseas in areas where shorts were acceptable, so it all depends on your region. My second suggestion is ask questions about the appropriate attire if you aren’t certain.
I quickly noted that here in Florida teachers dress casually. I also noted that schools have casual Friday where most teachers and students wear school shirts and jeans, so on those days I dress more casually. These are all things that substitute teachers can take note of in their first few assignments. Another issue in Florida is the heat and the fact that many of my clothing items are sleeveless and sleeveless items are not allowed. I found creative ways to work around this issue because I wanted to be both comfortable and budget conscious. A solution that worked for me was to purchase two light, cropped, crocheted short sleeved sweaters that can be worn over sleeveless attire. Thinking outside the box allows you to wear clothing that you already own, rather than purchasing additional clothing just to substitute teach.
Comfort is key when subbing so I generally choose to wear pants. I have several that feel as comfortable as jeans and one pair that are actually beige denim. For speed and simplicity when preparing to sub I choose either beige or black pants as they reduce my worry about stains and they can be worn with pretty much everything. I try to pair them with colorful tops, shirts and sweaters that are cheery looking. I personally believe it helps our interaction with the students to arrive wearing something cheery and comfortable, if we are relaxed and comfortable the situation will be more comfortable.
Photo Credit: Ctd 2005 Flickr Creative Commons
Subbing Made Simple
April 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment
After teaching in the classroom for twelve years and taking a several year break for career and family reasons, I decided to try my hand at substitute teaching in Florida. When I made the decision to substitute I was nervous about handling groups of students I’d never met, but I quickly found strategies to keep me sane and keep the students on track. [Read more...]
Short-Term International Teaching Adventures
April 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment
If you are a teacher looking to add some adventure and globe trotting experience to your resume then International Teacher Supply might be an option for you. International Teacher Supply is a member of ECIS and hires teachers to fill short and long term substitute positions in established international schools around the world. Positions can last from six weeks to several months. Host schools provide flights, health insurance and a teacher salary.
The International Teacher Supply website states, ” You will not lose money on an IST posting! You will be able to live well, travel and or save money! The international school will pay for transportation to and from the posting and may subsidise accommodation costs. Some schools also pay a cost of living allowance.” To apply for positions through International Teacher Supply applicants fill out an online application and pay a one time fee of 35 GBP, which is $54.19 according to the latest conversions. Applicants are expected to have two years of full time teaching experience and go through a screening and interview process before being hired by IST.
As a former international teacher, I particularly like this short term teaching option because it allows me the flexibility to work and travel overseas without committing to a typical one or two year teaching contract. It also allows me to explore countries and locations I’d like to visit but might not otherwise consider for a long term contract. This type of short term work would be ideal for teachers who have a very flexible lifestyle, those who work from home or who are global nomads looking to make some additional money while continuing their global adventures.
Related Readings: Teach to Travel, International Teaching Jobs, and Extreme Teaching: What’s in Your Bomb Bag?
Photo Credit: Isaf Media
Fearing The Technology Monster: Guest Post from Shelly Terrell
April 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Everywhere you see the students in your school texting on their cell phones or listening to their Ipods. Administrators are beginning to ask you how you use computers in your classroom. [Read more...]
Innovation Goes Mainstream: Reflections from Sean Banville
April 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Fourteen years ago, a student at my college asked to use ‘the computer’. His next question stumped me. “How do you turn it on?” I failed in my attempts to help him. How was I to know the power button on the Apple Mac was on the keyboard? I was an EFL teacher! I made lessons for students in my neatest handwriting with my pencil. No need for technology. [Read more...]
20 Professional Development Resources for Teachers
April 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment
For most teachers, education doesn’t end when a degree is earned. The teaching profession demands continuing education, and in certain cases, advanced education. Fortunately, there are many online resources that can help teachers with professional development. Here are 20 resources for educators to explore:
NCATE – The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) accredits schools, colleges and departments of education. The NCATE website is a good place to find lists of accredited institutions and scholarship resources.
NEA – The National Education Association (NEA) is an advocate for teachers and students. Members can access classroom management and professional development resources as well as web and print tools.
AFT – The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is a teacher’s union that offers many interesting resources on their website. Teachers can view salary surveys, education news, and publications and reports on a wide range of topics.
ASCD – The ASCD is a non-profit organization with members in more than 100 countries. The organization offers an excellent professional development survey on their website as well as several other professional growth resources for teachers.
NBPTS – The National Board for Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is a non-profit organization that was formed to advance the quality of teaching in schools. NBPTS offers information about education standards on their website and provides numerous development tools for teachers.
RISE – RISE (Resources for Indispensible Schools and Educators) is a non-profit organization that dedicates itself to connecting teachers with low-income public schools. Teachers can use the RISE site to search and apply for jobs.
PBS TeacherLine – This PBS site is an online professional development resource for teachers. TeacherLine provides standards-based graduate-level courses for credit as well as a few free resources to encourage professional growth.
Thinkfinity – The National Verizon Thinkfinity Training Program provides many free training opportunities and resources for educators and after-school practitioners. Offerings include state-specific professional development, instructional videos, and free courses for graduate credit.
Learner.org – Learner.org offers many free professional development video courses to teachers. Courses cover a wide range of subjects and provide information on how to teach today’s standards-based curricula.
Teachers Network – The Teachers Network is an advocate for teacher leadership and student learning. The organization provides many free professional development resources for teachers, including articles, how-to’s, and lesson plans.
Teacher’s Domain – This online teacher library provides free digital media for the classroom and professional development. Teachers who register for a free account can store and share resources online.
TeachersFirst – TeachersFirst offers a series of free online education sessions for teachers. Known as OK2Ask, these sessions last approximately one hour and can be attended from any computer with an Internet connection.
The Teacher’s Podcast – The Teacher’s Podcast provides PD resources for teachers who are interested in integrating technology into the classroom.
We the Teachers – We the Teachers is a social network for teachers. It is a great place to meet other educators and discuss professional development opportunities.
The Apple – Created for current and future educators, this social network provides career advices, education resources, message boards, free job postings, and many other online resources.
Applebatch – This K-12 teacher community was created to help teachers advance their careers. Teachers can join groups in their profession, share resources, build their network, and apply for new jobs.
TeachAde – TeachAde is a social networking site for teachers and other education professionals. Members can network with other educators around the world, search for resources, and create resources of their own.
FolioSpaces – FolioSpaces is a unique social networking system that can be used to create free electronic portfolios.
Fund for Teachers – Fund for Teachers is a non-profit organization that provides teacher grants and other professional growth resources. New grants are awarded each year.
Scholarships and Grants for Teachers – This blog post provides information on a wide range of grants and scholarships for future and current teachers who are pursuing continuing education or degrees in education.
Guest post from education writer Karen Schweitzer. Karen is the About.com Guide to Business School. She also writes about online colleges for OnlineColleges.net.
Other articles from Karen:
Tuition-Free Education Courses for Teachers
25 Free Apps and Web Sites for Tech Loving Teachers
40 Places to Find Free Lesson Plans
Photo Credit: Trek Hound
10 Tips for First Year Teachers
April 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The first year in the trenches can be overwhelming, to say the least. You come out feeling prepared only to realize very quickly there’s still lots to learn. You’re on your own now though, so leaning on your advisors and host teacher from your internship are no longer an option, particularly if you landed a gig teaching around the world from where you studied. Here are ten general tips I wish someone had given me my first time out of the gate. [Read more...]
Supporting Teachers: 8 Ideas for Administrators
April 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Are you a school administrator? Feel like you’re herding cats on a regular basis? Do you appreciate and respect the independence of your staff, yet wonder how to balance that with needing them to fall in line when necessary? With the free-flow of creative energy comes at least a moderate need for the same thing you recommend your staff provide to their students: structure. Read on. [Read more...]
