March 2007 - Posts
The College Board is auditing all AP courses to make sure they are what they claim to be. An explosion in AP study – participation in the program has nearly doubled this decade – has bred worry, particularly among college leaders, of a decline in the
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Watch Bossaball in action on YouTube to see a new twist on volleyball. Of course, the equipment is probably very expensive, but the video would be fun to show to your students. This reminds me of a video that the coaches made in our middle school a few
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Stephen Murray uses his guitar and creative talents to enhance his students' learning of physics and chemistry. Listen to one of Mr. Murray's songs and see him in action. The Grapevine High School teacher's music sticks with his students and contains
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When I was a kid, we got excited about going to the symphony. Most of us didn't care for the music itself. It was all about the bus trip. Our music teacher even made a large poster of a bus and recorded each student's name on the bus after receiving that
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To see and hear famous actors read children's classics and other stories, go to storylineonline.net . There are also some fun activities to do along with the stories.
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A seventh grade student in Napa, California, is part of a lawsuit alleging that her school's dress code is "unconstitutionally vague and too restrictive." The policy requires students to only wear solid colors, specifically blue, white, green, yellow,
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Click on the National Education Association website and find out what others think about NCLB. NEA members from across the country share their stories and concerns.
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Due to contracts and up front money, schools across the country are finding themselves stuck between the vending machine and a hard place. Less than a year after the nation's largest beverage companies pledged to remove high-calorie drinks and limit sugary
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Some educators are enhancing test days by passing out peppermints with the hopes that a whiff or taste of the minty snack will help students maintain their focus and concentration. The idea is not new and does have some scientific backing. Charlotte Boucher,
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It looks like a similar plot for a popular TV show. A student returns thirty years later to request a transcript only to find that he owes fines for missing books. Jeff Rolson is just relieved he didn't get sent to the principal's office. The 40-something
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It takes a thick skin and a sense of humor to teach in middle school. Not all teachers take the same approach, but most will agree that you have to be a little out there yourself to make it for very long. When a student at Seth Low Intermediate School
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When I was a kid, St. Patrick's Day was a really big deal. Kids who forgot to wear green to school were at the mercy of others all day long. Teachers today usually help out the kids by giving them some small green ribbon or something, but back then, you
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Without a mandatory retirement age, Rose "Mama G" Gilbert is still getting a kick out of teaching at the age of eighty-eight. She is a full time literature teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District . Although she is the oldest teacher in the
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My kindergarten grandson told me a few days ago that he was going to get to dissect a frog when he was older. He told me that it was something he had to do because "they don't give you a choice, Bee". I see the older kids are already spreading the news.
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Not everything happens during a convenient time. Family vacations or bonding time might just occur during the school year, and we're not talking about spring break. Sometimes parents can't even get vacation time during the summer. Leave it to a district
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The Nutritional Sciences Preschool sounds a little like my mother's kitchen. Their approach to getting preschoolers to eat healthier fare reminds me of my childhood and also of tricks I used to play to try to get my own children to eat their veggies.
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Check out sample test questions to see the types of problems eighth graders in New York State will be facing next week. Annual math exams in grades three through eight will be administered this week and next. The state’s math standards require eighth
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U.S.A. Today has an education section that I love. They take current events and create exciting lesson plans including objectives, students pages, teacher information, and meaningful questions. The offerings include math, science, and social studies lessons
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Some high school students are taking online classes to help squeeze in all of the credits they need for graduation. An article on dallasnews.com describes area districts who are implementing online programs to provide flexibility for students wanting
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I hear a lot of jokes about teenagers and their work capabilities. People sometimes think of them as inept and lazy. Maybe there is more to the story. Most high school teachers realize that some of their students are burning the midnight oil and that
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Pizza Hut's Book It program has been around since 1985 and has motivated a lot of kids to get into reading. With all of the concern about childhood obesity, some people feel that it is time to not Book It. You've read the book, now eat the pizza. Since
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I have heard the word toppers used to describe people who always have a better story. There could also be interrupter toppers (ITs) who can't wait for a story to end before beginning theirs. Then, there are those who never really listen. They sort of
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Texas has had its share of headaches when it comes to testing. Does anyone else remember the TECAT? That was a test that every Texas teacher had to take to keep on trucking. It was an absurd, expensive ordeal where teachers were treated like cattle because
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