Search Results for: blog supporting new teachers

The New Teacher

Most of the time my posts are specifically about college or about tips for young adults in a paper-writing or presentation giving mode. It’s what I do and what I know. It’s been a long time since I was in high school. Reunions (plural) have already taken place apparently. I’ve missed them, sadly. They were arranged — poorly — via social networking services. It seems that attendance was well under ten percent as a result. At any rate, I’m fairly well focused on the older crowd of students. That’s not a bad thing at all. But today my focus shifts … Continue reading →

Concerns of Public Education: N = New Teachers

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Finding dedicated, highly qualified new teachers is always a concern of public education. In my view, I have two major concerns with new teachers. First, their training is a concern. Secondly, the support that they receive concerns me. The last two student teachers in our primary grade classrooms, one in kindergarten and one in first grade, were poorly prepared for their intern experience. This was no fault of the two ladies. Their educational institution and professors are to blame. The two women had no idea about primary grade literature, which is a very key element to teaching. They were shocked … Continue reading →

Supporting New Teachers

I love teaching. Besides being financially stable enough to stay home and be with my children, there is no other reason that I would quit the profession. However at times, I find my job stressful, time consuming, and heart breaking. Teachers deal with all types of stress. There are mandated programs that I do not believe in that I have to teach. There are parents that will complain no matter what I do. There are children that I may never be able to reach. There are tasks that have to be completed after work hours. There are some decisions that … Continue reading →

What is Project AWARE?

Shortly after President Obama discussed new policy proposals to reduce gun violence, there were quite a few news articles about something called Project AWARE. What is it? After doing some research, it appears to be the name of the plan to help make mental health care more accessible to people who need it. Recently, I posted a blog that discussed part of the Obama Administration’s plan to reduce gun violence. Since this is the Special Needs Blog, I focused on the parts that related to improved access to mental health care. Today, I saw several news article about something called … Continue reading →

Do You Shield Your Child?

Today is Pearl Harbor Day, the 70th anniversary of a sneak attack that devastated a nation. I’ve studied this event a bit in the past, and it’s pretty gruesome. I want my children to understand facets of history, and yet I worry about giving them too much information before they’re ready for it. This is one of the ways in which parents are uniquely qualified to teach their children—they understand their child’s maturity level and they know what that child can and cannot handle. I have a daughter who can’t hear any bad news on the radio or it distresses … Continue reading →

October 20th is Spirit Day

Not long ago, I blogged about It Gets Better, an organization to help fight against bullying of LGBT teens and young adults. Many LGBT teens and young adults have committed suicide recently after bullying and abuse by peers. To help further raise awareness, October 20th has been declared Spirit Day by Canadian teenager Brittany McMillan. Last year was the first observance, but since then, many organizations such as the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and many celebrities are donning purple to show their support. The color and name was derived from the rainbow flag. In the flag, the … Continue reading →

Homeschooling Groups and Resources in Kentucky M-Z

Involvement with other homeschoolers is very important to a family’s success in homeschooling. Joining a homeschool network or support group in your area will make a difference in your homeschooling journey. You can find homeschooling groups as well as many homeschooling classes, and programs that your students can enjoy. In this series, we are covering homeschool groups and resources across the country. This installment will cover Kentucky homeschool groups and resources M-Z. MacPherson Academy This is a homeschool program where students meet with teachers one day a week and homeschool the other 4 days, except for math and advanced science … Continue reading →

More Controversial School Dress Codes

In a previous blog I addressed Richmond, Indiana’s new school dress code. Public school students in the district can no longer wear clothing that features words, stripes, plaids, floral prints, or illustrations to class. In addition, students are not allowed to wear collars cut any lower than a standard crew neck T-shirt. Richmond’s new dress code has led to the suspension of more than 200 students during the first two weeks of school. However, Richmond schools are not the only institutions of learning where students and their parents are up in arms about what can be worn on school property. … Continue reading →

Step Mothers and Biological Mothers in the Blended Family

A tricky subject is approached when we talk about step mothers and biological mothers. It gets even tricker when you add the step-mother and biological mother into a new family where both parents have children. To quickly dispel the myth, most step mothers never come into the role to replace the biological mother. It is not our job as their step mother to replace that maternal role that rightfully belongs to someone else. But then where do we stand in our role? It almost depends on the type of family you are involved in. If you are part of a … Continue reading →

When Angels Intervene to Save the Children – Hartt and Judene Wixom

In May of 1986, David Young stormed into the elementary school in Cokeville, Wyoming, and took over one hundred and fifty children and their teachers hostage. I was ten years old at the time and barely remember the news stories about it, so reading this nonfiction book about the tragedy was fresh to me. However, I somewhat misspeak when I call it a tragedy, for while it was truly a frightening and life-changing experience, it was also a miracle. David Young was mentally disturbed and believed that if he were to kill the children in the school, when they reached … Continue reading →