Search Results for: blog what it takes to be a teacher

Simple Teacher Gifts For Christmas

The carols are blaring and the decorations are out, and I am tempted to put my head under something minty-scented until January. Although I love the giving aspect of the Christmas season, its commercial bent gives me a strong desire to flee. But then there’s the problem of homemade. In this world of busy and this world of “but I don’t know HOW to make things,” how can you create homemade Christmas items for teachers, friends, and family and have them delight in what you have made? Over the next two weeks, I’ll explore some super simple ways to create … Continue reading →

Illinois Teachers Lose Retirement Insurance Benefits

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It is now official. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has signed legislation that takes away the free health insurance benefits that were promised to retired government employees, including teachers. The purpose of this legislation is to help balance the budget for the state of Illinois. There was a point in time when I was living in Illinois, and working as a substitute teacher. Back then, my hope was to find full-time employment as an Art teacher in one of the public schools in Illinois. That plan didn’t work out. The state was in the process of cutting away Art positions, and … Continue reading →

Special Needs Blog Week in Review – June 3-9, 2012

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Each week, the Special Needs Blog Week in Review gives you a quick summary of all of the blogs that appeared here in the past week. This gives you an easy way to find the blogs that you missed, or that you didn’t have time to read when they first went up. The Special Needs Podcast Roundup went up on June 4, 2012. This week, I’d like to point out an episode of The Coffee Klatch. The episode is called “Best of The Coffee Klatch – Dr. Russell Barkley – ADHD” This episode features information from Russell A. Barkley, PhD., … Continue reading →

Meet The Teacher Night

School starts back next week and tonight we are going to meet the teachers. This is always an interesting day for our family. When you have a family that does not match there is usually some explaining to do. With our family we also have to tell the teachers the basics of seizure first aid just in case the boys have a seizure at school. Luckily that has not happened but it is better to be safe and informed than sorry and scared. We always explain to the teachers that the children have been adopted and that they all have … Continue reading →

How Do You Thank Priceless Teachers?

A couple weeks before school let out for summer break I received a note asking for money in order to buy my first grader’s teacher a thank you present. I love that the room moms take up a collection, as it takes the pressure off busy parents, and allows the teacher to score a gift worth more than a couple of bucks. I am all for pitching in for the class gift, and sent in money right away. In addition, my daughter drew her teacher a lovely card and we shipped in a couple lei from Hawaii. Honestly, my daughter’s … Continue reading →

Home School Blogger Spotlight: Quirky Momma

When I first began blogging on my personal site a little over a year ago, I came across a blogger who inspired me. It was my pleasure to bump into her on the blogosphere roads through homeschool blogging carnivals, Charlotte Mason carnivals and on online forums concerning education. She is a true professional in her approach to blogging and always gives her best. This blogger has become a blogging buddy; she is Rachel, from Quirky Momma. If you are a blogger you will benefit from her style, her helpfulness, her friendly spirit and creative heart. If you are a blog … Continue reading →

Home School Blogger Spotlight: Kindergarten Works

Kindergarten Works is a blog written by a real live Kindergarten teacher. Leslie makes the sacrifice of time to show us how a traditional Kindergarten classroom works. Now, I used the term “traditional” loosely. Traditional from the standpoint that her classroom is in a school building and not a dining room like many homeschooling Kindergarten moms, however, if images of students seated at desks with their little hands folded in front of them quietly listening to the teacher enter your mind quickly dismiss them. Leslie brings lessons to life. This teacher is the one. The one you want for your … Continue reading →

Parents and Teachers Need to Work Together to Stop Bullying

The Dr. Phil season has barely kicked off and already I am seeing him tackle a lot of teen issues. The biggest one on his plate is bullying. He has already done a couple of shows on teen bullying and is now starting an anti-bullying campaign. Like Dr. Phil, I too believe this is a serious issue. With technological advances in our society, bullying has been taken to a whole new degree. As I have said before, the bullying has to stop. One of the things that I feel would greatly help to stop bullying is if parents and teachers … Continue reading →

Educating Teachers and Students

It’s the start of the new school year and everyone is excited (and nervous) from parents to high school kids to kindergarteners. For some kids, the beginning of school doesn’t mean the reuniting of friends, it signifies that start of another year of loneliness and anxiety. This can be especially true for children who have special needs. Children can be cruel to other kids, especially when there are things they don’t understand, like why someone is in wheelchair or use crutches or why someone has to cough all the time. Kids often see someone that’s different and since they don’t … Continue reading →

Teacher Prep: New Course

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One of the most interesting things that can happen to instructors is to have the opportunity to teach a new class. I’ve been granted that opportunity for the upcoming semester and I’m very excited. Unlike teaching a course that you’ve taught before (something that is very common) a new course gives an instructor the opportunity for drastic change, and sometimes change is needed. New courses also offer an instructor the ability to bring more of their own interests, personal insights, and unique combinations of research into a course. So, dear readers, I’ve already started working on my upcoming class. I … Continue reading →