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An Illinois high school student may spend time behind bars for his stream-of-consciousness writing assignment. However, I am of the opinion he may need therapy rather than incarceration. When students expressed themselves in similar ways in my language arts classes, a referral to the counselor always followed. Are officials reacting too heavily to recent school events? Read more here.
If you are a fan of graphic organizers, this website will be your new best friend! Arranged like the Periodic Table of Elements, this interactive site provides examples of an exhaustive list of visuals. Teachers searching for one more way to present material to students should bookmark this today. . .
In the Spring 2007 issue of School & Community, MSTA Executive Director Kent King asked members to "digest, debate, destroy, or develop" his thoughts on performance pay for teachers. This article, written by 2003 National Teacher of the Year Betsy Rogers, echoes some of King's sentiments.
As King states, "We're treated not as a profession but as assembly-line workers, with a pay system that fosters low wages. We have no real input on our own unique qualifications and success and find ourselves on a dead-end street with nowhere to go." So how do we empower ourselves to change this scenario?
Please read Rogers's article from Teachers Magazine. I'm interested in your thoughts. . .
This is Financial Literacy Month. . .
As of 2004, thirty-eight states have personal finance curriculum standards available for use by public schools. I wish I would have had the benefit of such a course in high school. Upon college graduation, I was forced for the first time to budget money, pay bills, and file income tax forms on my own. It would have been nice to have had at least a rudimentary understanding of these tasks in addition to savings accounts, retirement plans, and overall wealth management.
If you are a teacher in Missouri, you may be interested in the state's competencies, curriculum, and graduation requirements. Click here to take a look.
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