Search Results for: blog what is a last chance school for special education students

Disney English Learning Centers in China

I know I haven’t been very supportive of Disney’s business deals in China, but recent news from The Washington Post finds me giving at least a partial thumbs up to one of Disney’s latest branding efforts there. In fact, this particular story starts in the city about which I blasted Disney’s efforts to build a new theme park: Shanghai. While there’s not much more news on Disney building its second Chinese theme park there, and whether it’s improved its dealings with the locals it would be displacing, in 2008 Disney did do something good for the city of Shanghai: open … Continue reading →

College Smell Test Part 2

In College Smell Test Part 1 we found out that the nose doesn’t always know best. This is especially true if said nose is attached to a typical college co-ed who has limited cash and even less common sense. According to a survey of more than 6,000 college students, to save money most university undergrads make like cavemen and simply smell expired food before determining whether or not it’s safe to eat. Food experts call the common practice “dangerous” and “unhealthy.” Frankly, I was surprised by how some of the students answered the survey questions. For example, when asked whether … Continue reading →

Proposed NJ Homeschool Legislation

When I reported the finding of the New Jersey Homeschool Association the other day, I promised more information regarding the proposed homeschool legislation. The exact proposal can be found here Here is my interpretation of the exact proposal. Parents must submit a notarized letter to the school district each year that holds the name and age of students, the person who would be teaching them, the address and phone number of the homeschool location, and evidence that required subjects are taught in addition to up-to-date immunization records. They would have to prove that there is no one living in the … Continue reading →

Funding Site I Discovered: Donorschoose.org

If you are a teacher or if you have ever spent much time in a school, you know that schools, and especially teachers, are always looking for a way to gain supplies or money for their classroom. Teachers likely spend more out of pocket money on their job than any other professionals out there. Most states give teachers an allotted amount of money to spend on their classroom. Many parents also send in money or supplies for their children. However, considering the vase amount and variety of items needed for a classroom, these funds just do not last all year. … Continue reading →

Homeroom Student Assignments

In most cases, the classroom roaster is not created by chance or by luck. Teachers and school administrators usually take much consideration into which children are placed into a classroom. Each school or county has a different procedure for assigning students to teachers. There are many different ways that a class can be created. Class Assignment by Test Scores Some school principals look at test scores when assigning students to a classroom teacher. They do their best to create equal amounts of high, medium, and low students in each class. A balanced class is not overpopulated with one level of … Continue reading →

Have Schools Gone Too Far With Their No Tolerance Policy?

Many schools, especially high schools, have enforced a policy they call “No Tolerance.” Basically, it states that anyone involved in a fight is suspended. In many schools, a fight consists of both physical altercations as well as verbal. Often times, the police are called out to make a report. I have to say, while I understand their point of wanting to crack down on violence and threats, I am not sure I am a big fan of this policy. Let me explain. I have a student who is a high school senior. He happens to have just turned 18 as … Continue reading →

Vocabulary Word of the Day: Scrupulous (screw-pew-luss)

Scrupulous means acting with extreme care. When dealing with the education of children, one has to be scrupulous. If children do not sense a modicum of care and concern, chances are, they will not be open to learn. Even when done unintentionally, one misplaced word can do a lifetime of damage. News report after news report tells of teachers that are truly unscrupulous (devoid of scruples; oblivious to or contemptuous of what is right or honorable)~dictionary.com. A quick Google search shows numerous teachers jailed on sex charges ranging from child porn to rape. Last year a local teacher made a … Continue reading →

Private School Tuition

Yesterday, I started looking for a school for Tyler to attend when we return to New Orleans. Last week during the honors program he received awards for making all A’s and for making a perfect score on the CRTs. He even received a shirt with scholar embroidered on it which is so cool. The students get to wear these shirts instead of the regular uniform shirt as a way to acknowledge all their hard work. Before Katrina New Orleans had several public schools that catered to the gifted population. They were known as Citywide Access Schools and included schools that … Continue reading →

A Day in the Life at a Last Chance School: Take Two

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A day in the life at a last chance school has been the topic of my blogs for the last few days. I have focused on what a last chance school is and what typically went on behavior-wise in the school. What I haven’t touched on is what was more important in this school, a school for severely behavior-disordered students. Were academics the focus or were behaviors? Because our school was solely for children with severe behavior problems, we of course, focused a lot, and I mean A LOT on the social skills that would allow these kids to be … Continue reading →

A Day in the Life at a Last Chance School

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If you have read my blog about last chance schools for special education students you will know that I mentioned I would speak of my experience teaching at one. What was a typical day like teaching gang members and kids who really didn’t seem to care if they ever got an education or not? Let me journey down memory lane and share my experience. I remember stepping into the school for the first time. I was fresh out of college and just starting work on my master’s degree. I had graduated with a B.A. in Elementary Education and minor in … Continue reading →