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Instructional Assistants

When I first began teaching, teachers’ assistants did the paperwork for teachers. The assistants were used to copy papers, grade papers, put up bulletin boards, and any other tasks that did not involve teaching. They usually came by the classroom and asked if you had any needs for the day. They spent most of their time in their workroom working on papers and such. Over the past couple of years, in my school, things have changed. Teachers’ assistants are now instructional assistants. They help during the instruction time. They do less of the copying and stapling and more tutoring and … Continue reading →

Taking Chances – Teaching Beyond the Text

One of the strange things about being a full-time graduate student and a part-time college instructor is that you’re really not hired to “create” content as much as follow a set of guidelines already laid out before your time… lessons passed down from generations of other student/teachers that you mildly modify to suit your teaching taste, particular students, etc… Something strange happens, though, when you feel like deviating from this design. There is a fear. There is a danger. There is (gasp!) no extra pay or assurance of future employment. There’s also a lot of extra work. The most difficult … Continue reading →

School Overcrowding

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Schools face many different problems in today’s world. They must deal with new types of behavior troubles. They must address children with various emotional issues and unique family situations. In addition to these personal problems, teachers and schools must also deal with physical issues such as overcrowding. When the number of students is excessive, the schools have no choice but to create new classrooms. The states typically mandate a maximum number of students that can be in each classroom. Schools may not go over this number. However, schools may find themselves in a crunch when there are no more rooms … Continue reading →

Opinions About Other Teachers

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As human nature, we all form opinions and make judgments of others. While some of us are more vocal and more judgmental, we all have thoughts about how others look, act, and treat us. The same goes for teachers. Involuntarily teachers make judgments about other teachers. They form opinions about which teachers in the school are doing their part of the work and which teachers are less active in education. Opinions are formed about which teachers are “good” and which ones are “not so good”. In some cases these opinions are very similar across the faculty and in some cases … Continue reading →

Experience Makes a Difference

Research studies are constantly being carried out in almost every subject area that there is in the world. In some cases, I am surprised that a study is even needed to tell researchers what common sense should be telling them. Education is far from being exempt from the studies. One recent study finding that I read dealt with teacher experience and student achievement. The study found that students with experienced teachers did better than students with inexperienced teachers. When comparing the teachers’ degrees and the teachers’ experience, the study found that the teacher’s experience has more of an impact on … Continue reading →

The Truth about School Secretaries

In a few of my previous articles, I have addressed the fact that school support staff receives little of the credit that they deserve. I have discussed the importance of educational assistants and bus drivers. There is also another very important person (or people) in a school. In this article, I will discuss the importance of a school secretary. School secretaries are often thought to sit and manage the telephone calls and the visitors in the school. However this is only a small fraction of their job. The school secretary is usually located at the entrance of the school in … Continue reading →

The Truth about School Support Staff

There are many people who work in a school. When thinking about schools, most people think of a principal, teachers, and students. However, the faculty and staff and management of a school go far beyond that when it comes to the people that make it successful. A school is made up of a principal, teachers, and students. It also has educational assistants, cafeteria workers, custodians, maintenance personnel, bus drivers, secretaries, guidance counselors, and nurses. All of these people contribute greatly to the make-up of the school atmosphere and the success of the students. Like they have about teachers, society and … Continue reading →

Education Week in Review: September 22- September 28

Fall is in the air! Schools are gearing up for football and fall break. While the end of the first nine weeks is near at my school, many hot education topics are blooming. Check out below for this week’s news. Sunday, September 23 What Can Teachers Do About Other Lacking Teachers? Sometimes it can be very difficult to work with a person that does not carry his/her weight. This can be even harder in a profession that most people are passionate about like teaching. There are some things that you can do if you feel that your fellow teacher is … Continue reading →

Grouping Special Education Students for Scheduling Purposes

Scheduling is always a big task for schools. Many schedules have to be created at the beginning of each school year. The task is even more complicated when new positions are added or old positions are taken away. Cafeteria schedules must be created. A schedule for the teachers’ plan periods is also a must. In addition, special people such as instructional assistants and special education teachers require a schedule to follow. With a limited number of hours in the day and many people to accommodate, some schools find themselves in a jam when it comes to creating a schedule for … Continue reading →

Title 1 Funding

Title 1 federal funding began in 1965 when the Elementary and Secondary Act was passed. Since then, Title 1 has played a major role in funding education. Title 1 was created to allow all students an equal opportunity to receive the highest quality education possible. It was designed to remove factors such low income and poverty. Through Title 1, school districts can hire teachers to lower student-teacher ratio, provide tutoring for struggling students, create school computer labs, fund parent involvement activities, purchase instructional materials, host professional development for teachers, create pre-kindergarten classes, and hire teacher assistants. Schools receive Title 1 … Continue reading →