Troops to Teachers
The Troops to Teachers program is an effort by the Department of Education and the Department of Defense to ease the transition of former military personnel into new careers and improve the quality of education in America. The program provides members of the military with funding and support to obtain licensure or certification to teach in public schools. The Department of Defense’s Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES) provides eligible individuals with assistance, in…
Becky Thiegs, Founder of Stage of Life, on the Importance of Stories and Teaching
Becky Thiegs is a cofounder of Stage of Life, a website that has built an international community of bloggers who want to make an impact by sharing personal stories. Stage of Life aims to create the largest collection of multi-generational stories by allowing anyone from any walk of life to “share their story and impart their wisdom.” It is one of the only places where you can read stories by teenagers, retirees, working professionals, educators, parents and students, all in one place.
Becky earned her Masters of Education from the University of Minnesota and has taught for 14 years in a variet…
Celebrate Maurice Sendak
Your students might not know exactly who Maurice Sendak is, but it’s more than likely that they’re familiar with the legacy he’s left behind. Maurice Sendak is the author of the much beloved 1963 children’s book Where the Wild Things Are. This bizarre and enchanting tale of the mischievous boy Max who imagines that he is king of the Wild Things has sold over 20 million copies to date. The story is known for the way it conveys important themes of imagination, heroism and courage into a whimsical fairytale, as well as for the dark but fascinating illustrations of the lovable monsters.
Most children know Where the Wild Things Are, and if they don’t, introducing this timeless story to your younger students is a great way of inspiring their imaginations and bringing a new element to the classroom. Sadly, Maurice Sendak passed away on May 8, 2012, but there is no better way to honor his contribution to literature than by celebrating his birthday on Ju…
Interview with Curtis Acosta regarding the Mexican American Studies Ban in Arizona
Arizona lawmakers have upheld the decision to ban ethnic studies in the Tucson Unified School district, which they believe to be in violation of ARS 15-22, a law designed to favor the teaching of Anglo-American culture. The specific target was Mexican American studies (MAS), and across the district, programs were disbanded, curricula reworked and educational materials confiscated. The decision caused an outrage among educators, parents and students alike, and was seen as an oppressive act. Countless individuals have mobilized to speak against the ban. One of those people is Curtis Acosta, a teacher at Tucson High Magnet School, the oldest school in Arizona, whose Mexican America…
Guide to Kickstarter for Teachers
Crowdfunding is a relatively new online development that allows a large group of unknown individuals to each contribute a small amount of money to help a cause reach its funding goal.Kickstarter -- a micro-funding website that TIME magazine called one of the 50 best inventions of 2010 -- has become a top source for funding creative projects. Inventors, artists, writers, filmmakers and musicians have received funding on the site. Now many teachers have discovered that they can fund education projects on Kickstarter.
Anyone can post a project on Kickstarter. Projects can be any size, serious or silly, innovative or traditional. What …
Education News Round-Up
Though the academic year may be coming to a close, the world of education still gathers momentum as reform policies aim to improve the quality of education across the country. Check out five of this month’s important education news stories.
Connecticut Plan for Education Reform Signed into Law
On May 16, Governor Dannel Malloy of Connecticut signed into law a comprehensive education reform bill that will raise the budget for education funding by $100 million. In addition, the law seeks to t…