http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/ Message boards for teachers en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:09:48 GMT vBulletin 15 http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/ http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8714&goto=newpost Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:21:27 GMT I have a fifth grade girl who loves to read... books with inviting, large print and a pretty cover. She recently read The Lemonade Wars. This was not... I have a fifth grade girl who loves to read... books with inviting, large print and a pretty cover. She recently read The Lemonade Wars. This was not challenging enough for her. I am looking for books that will challenge her and that she will be attracted to (she doesn't subscribe to the "Don't Judge a Book by it's Cover" philosophy despite my solid argument).

She is reading "at level" for fifth grade on the west coast.

Thank you! ]]> ahkelteke http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8714 http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8713&goto=newpost Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:40:23 GMT *NOTICE: Only members with over 50 posts and 7 days membership are allowed to post in here, but everyone can see the posts. All of these rules MUST... NOTICE: Only members with over 50 posts and 7 days membership are allowed to post in here, but everyone can see the posts. All of these rules MUST be followed to post in this forum.

• You can advertise your site or product. Personal or commercial. Must be appropriate.
• Only 1 post allowed every 60 days (check this yourself prior to posting)
• You must have at least 10 posts in the month leading up to your post (check this yourself prior to posting)
• You cannot edit or delete a post once it is submitted
• You can put up to 2 links in your post. We recommend against putting your email address into a post, but it will be allowed.

The above rules may change at any time, so read them prior to making each post.

Once making your post, the thread is closed. This means that nobody can reply, but everyone can still see it.

:soapbox:
PLEASE NOTE: YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE you have the required posts (in the last month) prior to posting! I have to manually check to make sure every poster has the required number of posts to be eligible before I approve the post. I will assume that people won't test me on this.

I may need to change these rules as time goes on, so be sure to make sure that there are no new rules when you post.

Thanks! ]]> Member Advertisements Addict http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8713 http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8712&goto=newpost Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:22:10 GMT Effective Sunday, November 22, all California state residents will have their state withholding increased by 10% on their paychecks. The additional... Effective Sunday, November 22, all California state residents will have their state withholding increased by 10% on their paychecks. The additional withholding amounts to an interest free loan being provided by all taxpayers to the state government.

The additional withholding is being implemented due to budgetary shortfalls. The state budget situation is so acute that the outgoing state treasurer actually admitted that he had looked into the possibility of declaring state bankruptcy and/or revoking state status and reverting to territorial status as a way of alleviating California's massive budgetary problems.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...,2028140.story

The good news is that Californians should get this money back when they file their income tax returns. The bad news is that budgetary shortfalls resulted in the state giving out IOUs last year instead of refund checks.

Why is California having budgetary problems? Here is a link to an article about irresponsible school spending. NOTE: Fiscal irresponsibility on behalf of school districts is not by itself, responsible for the state budgetary crisis ... but it has also not helped. I cannot help but wonder whether other government departments in California have had problems with financial mismanagement and fiscal irregularities.

Examples of bad spending practices:

In 1992, the Los Angeles City Schools paid $60 million for a former oil and gas field. Nearly $300 million was spent constructing the initial buildings ... over twice the amount initially estimated. Unfortunately, the site has been plagued with problems from noxious gas seepage and is also sitting on an earthquake fault. Having spent all this money, the city schools have twice officially abandoned this property.

The Los Angeles Unified School District spent $95 million on a computerized payroll system that doesn't work. As a result of computer glitches, the district overpaid teachers by $53 million in 2007 and has been working to recover this money.

Clerical errors at the state level resulted in the Santa Ana Unified School District receiving $3.2 million that it wasn't entitled to. The district initially regraded this as an unexpected windfall and is now facing a shortage in funding as the state recovers this overpayment.

http://209.85.129.132/search?q=cache...us&hl=en&gl=us ]]> General Discussion Chef Dave http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8712 http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8708&goto=newpost Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:10:46 GMT Hi everyone. What do you all think about an advanced child skipping a class age group? My daughter is 2 1/2 years old and the principal of her school... Hi everyone. What do you all think about an advanced child skipping a class age group? My daughter is 2 1/2 years old and the principal of her school told me that she is very advanced and that she spoke to the teachers involved and they think that we should advance her to the 3-4 year group next year. What do you all think?

I don't want to place her in a situation that she is emotionally unprepared for, but the principal says that she is not learning anything new in her present class. Their classes go from babies, to 1-2 year olds (where she is now) and the next age is 3-4 year olds. She is very clever and at her age we read books of about 20 pages, she knows 5 geometric shapes, all normal colours, has mastered the "colouring-in motion" and can hold her crayon with the writing grasp.

Would it be unfair to move her ahead?:confused: ]]> Preschool / Early Childhood Anzel http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8708 http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8707&goto=newpost Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:49:34 GMT Hello Everyone :) Hello Everyone :) ]]> General Discussion wellawella http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8707 http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8706&goto=newpost Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:28:15 GMT Hello! I'm a design student at San Francisco State University and for my final research & development class, I've chosen germs in the classroom (rhinovirus and influenza) as my topic. :reading2:

I have a short survey for teachers that should take about 3 minutes to complete. Your opinion is very important in this study! :soapbox:

Thank you for taking the time to read my post! ]]> Surveys and Educational Research Projects trthfnd16 http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8706 http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8705&goto=newpost Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:40:29 GMT Some parents in Orange County, Florida, are suing the state over the poor quality of their schools. The state constitution apparently says that law... Some parents in Orange County, Florida, are suing the state over the poor quality of their schools. The state constitution apparently says that law makers must fund education as a paramount duty. Unfortunately, Florida schools are the 2nd worst funded in the United States, second only after Utah.

Budget cuts have cut $1,675 per student for this year's budget. Since Orlando has a total enrollment of 147,165 students, this comes to a loss of $24,650,375 for Orlando County.

http://www.wftv.com/news/21654818/detail.html

Although I sympathize with these parents, I don't know whether it's practical to squeeze water out of a rock. Given our economy, something has to be cut. The issue over levels of school funding in Florida is the same issue that faces all too many states.

Should Florida cut back on critical road repairs or parole convicts early? Should the state cut back on health care or welfare services?

I think our biggest problem with education funding is that the way we fund our schools is antiquated. Our second biggest problem is that all too many public schools aren't run as businesses. In some districts there seems to be very little fiscal accountability because of this inane mentality which suggests (to some administrators and school boards) that there will always be more money at the public trough.

By comparison, private schools typically do more with less. Catholic schools in particular operate with an average budget that is 40% lower than the typical public school.

A study by the National Center for Education Statistics found that in the 4th grade, the average private school mean reading score was 14.7 points higher than the average public school score. The average private school mean mathematics score was 7.8 points higher.

At the 8th grade level, reading scores at private schools average 18.1 points higher than their public school counterparts. Math scores are 12.3% higher.

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard...es/2006461.asp

Having taught in both public and private schools, I cannot help but wonder whether it makes sense to increase public school funding without making some effort to adjust fiscal accountability.

For example in Central Florida, teacher salaries in 2008 averaged between $42,000 and $49,000. The state governor made $132,932. The Superintendent of the Orange County Public Schools earned $298,756, six times what the average teacher made.

Amazingly enough, the superintendent thinks that he's being underpaid. Unlike Orange County teachers who didn't get a cost of living increase due to budget cuts for the 2009-2010 school year, the superintendent even got a 4% cost of living increase. On top of that, the board awarded him a bonus of $19,256 for doing such a "good job."

Does any of this make sense at a time when the district has trimmed nearly $30 million from the budget?

http://www.districtadministration.co...s&postid=50886

Granted the $19,256 bonus and the 4% raise is only a drop in the fiscal budget ... I cannot help but wonder what the rank and file think about the salary and perks given to their superintendent. ]]> General Discussion Chef Dave http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8705 http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8704&goto=newpost Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:40:22 GMT Do you remember the story of the Pennsylvania swimming pool from last summer? When 56 Black and Hispanic children from a summer program showed up to... Do you remember the story of the Pennsylvania swimming pool from last summer? When 56 Black and Hispanic children from a summer program showed up to go swimming at a suburban pool, club members complained.

"What are 'those people' doing here?" they asked the club management. Management folded to club pressure and rescinded the contract. The money that the summer program had paid for club membership was refunded and the children were asked to leave.

The club President later said in a written statement to the press, "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion . . . and the atmosphere of the club."

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/lo...imination.html

The club has now filed for bankruptcy. The cost of legal fees has apparently been prohibitive. One class action lawsuit alleging discrimination has already been filed and a second is apparently in the process of being filed.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/lo...ankruptcy.html

What's really sad about this is that the club members who pressured management into rescinding the day care's contract will probably not suffer any consequences other than the loss of their pool. I doubt if they've learned anything from this experience.

What's also sad are some of the reader comments that were made in response to this article. Some readers alleged that the litigation is only about money. Others allege that this is just another instance of minorities stirring up trouble.

There are days when I really worry about the status of race relations in the United States.

I am just barely old enough remember the old Jim Crow laws in the south when minorities could not eat at restaurants designated as "whites only." It took me years to understand why my family never ate out.

In 1984, an Arkansas gas station denied me service. They wouldn't even acknowledge my existence and pretended that I wasn't there. A good Samaritan actually saw what happened and purchased enough gasoline for me to make it down the interstate to the next gas station.

In 1978, I was denied service at a restaurant in Nashville. The hostess kept telling me that my server would be with me in a moment but nobody ever arrived. After an hour I noticed that the servers and hostess were standing in the back of the restaurant smirking at me.

I've even seen human resource secretaries "file" my job applications by ripping them into pieces and tossing them in the trash.

It seems that every time we take a couple of steps forward, we slide back another step. I really don't see why some people have such a problem with treating other people as people regardless of their race or ethnicity.

If our demographic trends continue, whites will be a minority within this country within the next generation. I cannot help but wonder what will happen years from now. Will a group of white minorities ever be barred from a suburban swimming pool because Black and Hispanic club members were worried about the changing "complexion" and "atmosphere" of the club?

I wonder ... ]]> General Discussion Chef Dave http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8704 http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8703&goto=newpost Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:08:59 GMT I am student teaching in a 1st grade classroom. The unit I am about to finish teaching them is on Thanksgiving. Upon the completion of my unit, I... I am student teaching in a 1st grade classroom. The unit I am about to finish teaching them is on Thanksgiving. Upon the completion of my unit, I have to design a learning center.

At The learning center the students must be able to do the activity on their own, and they must be able to self correct themselves.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Please & Thank You ]]> REQUESTS for Lesson Plans futureteacher88 http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8703 http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8700&goto=newpost Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:16:32 GMT Anyone? I would like to speak to any teacher from Denver who's on the Pro Comp program. How does, when and how much it pays.

Thanks.

I already look into the website and it's not quite clear. ]]> General Discussion nandz238 http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8700 http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8698&goto=newpost Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:37:02 GMT Please let me know how to give lesson plan to nursery students for pattern writting i.e standing line and sleeping line. Please let me know how to give lesson plan to nursery students for pattern writting i.e standing line and sleeping line. ]]> Preschool / Early Childhood Disha http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8698 http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8693&goto=newpost Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:42:58 GMT I've been teaching art K-5 for a while now in Title I schools in Atlanta. When I first moved here and took the job, I felt I'd really accomplished something just by getting the job after three years of subbing in Syracuse and one year of part time work in a tiny district! My husband left me after a month in Atlanta, and that was a horrible experience. I'm still dealing with that, but there is a sense of independence and accomplishment at being able to survive without him. As miserable as I am, at least he doesn't determine my destiny anymore.

Now in my third year, I'm still an itinerant going school to school throughout the week. Since no sane person wants to do it (there is a perception of lower status and responsibility), I volunteered thinking it ensure that I wouldn't be on the surplus list. There were lay offs in the district as well as pay cuts. I have four schools and each week feels so stressful. The idea of going through this for the rest of the year is killing me. Something's got to give!

I've done some research, and no wonder I'm burned out! Knowing why I'm burned out doesn't help me stop it though.

*outrageously high work load.
i.e. having to teach art on a cart, no planning periods, having a school added midyear, setting up classrooms midyear, and increased class sizes of as much as 35 kids (legally. One school has 37, but gives the home art teacher two classes on Fridays and 4 free periods to make up for it. I teach 6 classes that day, a full day with no planning.). I even have one class that just keeps growing because I get all the kids who are kicked out of band. This year= worst case scenerio for an art itinerant short of unemployment.

*no achievement or accomplishments. This is not just a feeling. I really am in a position where I am not valued except as a babysitter sent in to relieve classroom teachers during their required 45 min daily break.

*Alienated from colleagues. As an itinerant and art teacher to boot, I'm viewed as an outsider and, when classrooms and materials are shared with me, I'm an interloper taking away from "their" resources. Many of my colleagues are extremely territorial! They seek to control their environment- and mine!

*Personal life crap: Since the divorce, I have not met anyone. I have two friends who are not close and are both in intimate serious relationships. I'm not from here, but I am close to my family. They are geographically distant and Mom gets tired of hearing me vent quickly (she's a college student and was a stay at home mom my whole life). I am dealing with depression from the divorce a year ago still, and paycuts made life stressful outside of work too.

Never thought I'd be here. Never thought I'd be this whiney miserable person!
OMG HELP. Any advice welcome. I'm ready to change my life. ]]> Artsy Marci http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8693 http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8692&goto=newpost Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:21:58 GMT I need some employment advice. As some of you may know, I left my district at the end of last year. I was initially going to open a restaurant but... I need some employment advice.

As some of you may know, I left my district at the end of last year. I was initially going to open a restaurant but funding fell through when my B&B in Pennsylvania didn't sell. I found a job with another district, three hours north. Unfortunately, when the principal belatedly called my former CTE director for a reference, she blasted me and the job offer was withdrawn.

I now have a defamation lawsuit pending against my former district. I'm looking for a written apology, a promise to cease and desist, recovery of legal expenses, and one year's salary with cost of medical benefits. I am quite frankly amazed that my former district has so far refused to even discuss what happened.

At this time I am unemployed. In addition to my home in Arizona, I still own my B&B in Pennsylvania. I have two mortgages to pay, two sets of insurance payments, two property taxes, and legal expenses.

My financial burden is pretty heavy and although I may see some relief in February if my B&B sells, the sale is by no means certain. I also have no idea as to when the lawsuit will be settled. Assuming I win, the district could appeal and litigation could drag out for years.

In terms of finances, I have sufficient assets to last for at least another year. If the inn sells as the realty agent keeps promising, I'll have considerably more resources available since I bought this property with cash. Not only will sale of this property free up the money I used to purchase it, but I should also make a modest 15% return on the initial purchase.

Until I prevail in court, my employment as a Culinary Arts teacher is pretty much moot. I can't get a job if my former supervisor keeps giving bad references. I find it odd that she is doing this since my district invited me to renew contract for the 2009-10 school year.

Since I used to be an elementary teacher in Texas, I have applied for and received state certification in Arizona.

At this time, I have two choices.

1) Wait for a local job to open up. There is a Native American district about 20 miles from where I live which has a high rate of turnover. The community I live in also has three elementary schools. If nothing opens up mid-year, there should be a vacancy for next year. (The district I live in is not the same one that I'm suing.

2) Elementary teaching jobs are opening up in other parts of the state - but this would necessitate relocating. Given legal expenses, I wouldn't be able to buy a third home. I'd have to take a 1 bedroom apartment and commute back on the weekends since I have four cats and two ponds to care for.

I wouldn't be thrilled about leaving my cats behind. To be candid, I'm also feeling a mite peckish. I don't like the idea that my former CTE director has essentially made me unemployable as a Culinary Arts teacher and given a choice, I'd rather teach Culinary Arts than return to the elementary classroom.

I am presently working on a couple of novels. One is a fantasy work and the other is a story about the Holocaust. Although the fantasy hasn't received rave reviews from my writing critique group, I am told by professional authors that my Holocaust story is very "cinematic" and has the potential to become a national best seller. At my current pace, I should have the Holocaust novel finished within 6 months.

If I follow my "muse," I will continue writing and will be ready to begin looking for an agent in May or June. By that time, perhaps my legal problems will be settled and the way back into Culinary Arts will be open. If not, I could then look for a job as an elementary teacher.

I'm thinking that there is no need for me to rush to find another job.

Although I am having some personal issues about the defamation, I am for the most part content with my life. It is way too early to see whether I have the aptitude and ability to become a professional writer but the initial critiques have been quite promising.

I must admit that I like this lifestyle. I typically write or do on-line research related to writing from 4 AM through 4 PM and go to bed by 8 PM. Given my background as a chef, restaurant manager, and innkeeper, it's hard for me to "sleep in." I pretty much keep farmer's hours and am up before dawn and in bed just after sunset.

I don't mind the fact that my situation has made me pretty reclusive. I am by nature, a reclusive person. I don't mind staying home and enjoy puttering around the kitchen, playing with my cats, and tending my two fresh water ponds.

On the flip side, my conservative nature thinks I should have a "real job" and that I should be doing something to bring in money. My ability to publish a novel is by no means certain. I'm pretty sure I could find a job as an elementary teacher since I did this for 17 years before going into the food service and hospitality industry.

All told, I have 19 years of teaching experience - 17 with elementary and 2 with secondary. I have three college degrees including a degree in Culinary Arts and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction.

What do you think I should do? Should I follow my muse provided I can afford to do so ... or should I knuckle down and go back into the elementary classroom - even if this means relocating out of the area? ]]> General Discussion Chef Dave http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8692 http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8691&goto=newpost Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:50:37 GMT Hello all, I was just wondering if there are any NYC student teachers out there. My question is, since there is a hiring freeze in NYC, what is... Hello all,

I was just wondering if there are any NYC student teachers out there. My question is, since there is a hiring freeze in NYC, what is everyone doing about jobs. Are people leaving the city in search of teaching jobs, getting jobs as tutors, or leaving the teaching field until the freeze is over? Also, has anyone heard how long the freeze may last? I am graduating with my masters in December and my student teaching will be over as well so I am a little bit concerned

Thanks everyone.
mjanis ]]> General Discussion mjanis http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8691 http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8690&goto=newpost Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:33:23 GMT Hi,

Just today, I found myself in the washroom with another teacher. I mind my business since it's not the best social area.
Anyhow, after I was finished going to the bathroom, this person noticed me washing my hands with water and not with soap. This "intrigued" her to the point that she asked me, "Why don't you wash your hands with soap?". I replied, "Do they smell?" and she said, "No, I'm just carrying conversation." This is not the first time that this person "inspects" my behaviour in the washroom. She isn't the only one. Anyhow, I've had to avoid the washroom when she's there, so that I can have some peace and quiet after teaching. I get the feeling that I'm treated like a little kid who needs guidance in the bathroom....something like teachers do when they bring their students to the washroom. Anyhow, I replied to her question, but I'm asking you this: What does a good teacher do in such a case? Feeling inspected like a kid is uncomfortable. If I were to spend my time "inspecting" this person's behaviour, I would be "drained". I try to avoid the situation, but if I find myself in a similar situation, what other strategies can a good teacher use?

Thanks,
Pencil
. ]]> General Discussion Pencil http://www.theteacherscorner.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8690