I do realize that what I am talking about is scary. I know that most teachers believe that they will be in the same classroom that they have been in for the past 10 years for the rest of their teaching careers. I know that teaching has always been considered a safe place and secure …
In the corporate world, it is not uncommon when offered a new position to be offered a signing bonus (around $10,000), full paid moving expenses and even a place to live. Are there any teachers who have been offered any of these “perks?” I think that teachers will soon become teacher contractors. Schools, especially independent …
[Q]uestions about how we should reform our nation’s schools have now entered the public consciousness in a very real way. The global financial crisis and our economic woes have collided with increased mainstream coverage of our failing educational system. Education Week gets it. They know that print resources are dead. Look at their site! They …
The New York Times has jut released the eulogy that Steve Jobs’ sister gave. I was struck by these words: Steve always aspired to make beautiful later. He was willing to be misunderstood. I always considered myself to be a detail person, but as I began my teaching career, I realized I could see ahead. …
One of the aspects I miss the most about being outside of the classroom, is students teaching students. I was a technology teacher last year and was in way over my head. I was trying to set up student blogs and give my students exposure to google apps with a little bit of podcasting sprinkled …
In the midst of my reading for divinity school, I encountered the term “embedded theology,” which is A theology deeply in place and at work as we live The discussion distinguishes between embedded theology and deliberate theology or a chosen theology. Embedded theology is often not questioned, but causes us to make decision. If that …
I am getting started in affiliate marketing at a perfect time. There are so many resources available to help me learn the in and outs of affiliate marketing. There is also an incredible network of affiliate marketers. PayPerTrends , Affiliate Summit and ShareaSale have been great starting points, but thanks to Jim Kukral’s tweet, I’ve found Missy Ward and a …
Yesterday at the SWP Fall Renewal Conference, Barry Lane entertained us with song parodies about the cultural climate of the public school system. He’s a good writer and he knows teachers. It was nice to be able to laugh at the ridiculous turn that public schools have taken. But as I looked at my fellow laughing colleagues, …
I attended Spartanburg Writing Project’s Fall Renewal Conference yesterday. All of the attendees had name tages with their school or district name on them. I didn’t. I didn’t have a school. I didn’t have a district. But I am a teacher. It’s seems like a contradiction. How can you be a teacher without a school? …
Teachers have long resisted outsiders who compare public schools to a business model, citing results and products as the most important determining factor for funding and teacher pay scales. This idea discounts and forgets that humans are unpredictable, especially third graders! Current state mandates are pressurizing the classroom and teachers. We are worried about losing …
