Posts Tagged ‘Education’

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School Freaks Out Its Parents for No Logical Reason

January 14, 2015

w.f. burns

What on earth was the Principal thinking? Firstly, this dumb idea encourages children to fight gunmen with baked beans cans instead of running for cover, and secondly, it encourages parents to panic about a scenario that is both remote and strictly hypothetical.

 

A US high school has asked parents to arm their children with cans of food as part of its response plan against gun-armed intruders.

School officials from W.F. Burns Middle School in Valley, Alabama, wrote a letter to students’ parents, asking them to buy their children “an 8 oz canned food item (corn, beans, peas etc.) to use in case an intruder enters the classroom”.

“We hope the canned food items will never be used or needed, but it is best to be prepared.”

The strategy was inspired by the ALICE Training Institute, a company founded by a former police officer and a former primary school principal.

The institute follows the mantra of: Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate, and the cans of food are only a small — but still important — part of the whole procedure, school officials wrote.

“We realise at first this may seem odd; however, it is a practice that would catch an intruder off-guard,” the letter read.

“The canned food item could stun the intruder or even knock him out until the police arrive. The canned food item will give the students a sense of empowerment to protect themselves and will make them feel secure in case an intruder enters the classroom.”

Since the letter was sent out, it has been shared thousands of times, with some questioning its effectiveness.

But Chambers County School Superintendent Kelli Moore Hodge told CNN via email that the point of the training “is to be able to get kids evacuated and not be sitting ducks hiding under desks”.

Since the year 2000, the US has suffered through more than 100 school shootings, including the horrific 2012 Sandy Hook massacre, which claimed the lives of 27 people, 18 of them children.

 

Click on the link to read Nine-Year-Old Writes a Stunning Letter to Teacher After He Reveals He is Gay

Click on the link to read What’s in a Name?

Click on the link to read 10 Ways to Move Forward in Teaching as Well as Life in General

Click on the link to read 5 Ways the System Could Better Recognise Teachers

Click on the link to read Teachers, Lay Down Your Guns

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Posted in Education Matters | 4 Comments »

The Plot by Fourth Grade Students to Kill Their Classroom Teacher

January 12, 2015

hand

I hope this doesn’t get dismissed as a kids’ fantasy. I really worry about my fellow colleagues. Teaching should be a far safer profession than it currently is:

 

THREE nine-year-old students have been caught plotting to kill their teacher with hand sanitiser.

The plot was foiled when concerned parents and a school board member became aware of the plan reported WGRZ.

Word initially got out when the students told their classmates about their evil plot.

The students said they were going to cover the classroom with hand sanitiser after they found out their female teacher was highly allergic to antibacterial products.

In a report provided by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department, they said “the suspects made comments to other students that they were going to kill [the teacher] by putting antibacterial products around the classroom”.

When youth officers interviewed the suspected students with their parents and school officials present one student stated that her teacher “yells at us and that the class has problems with her.”

In the end police handed the matter back over to the school to deal with.

“When we realised they never followed through with it and they told us they had no intention of following through, we said there was not much we can do,” Genesee County Sheriff Chief Investigator Jerome E. Brewster told The Buffalo News.

 

Click on the link to read We Are Not Doing Nearly Enough to Protect Teachers

Click on the link to read Teacher Forced to Defend Moving a Child to the Front of the Class

Click on the link to read 10 Tips for Teachers on how to Improve Their Work/Life Balance

Click on the link to read News Flash: Teachers Make Mistakes!

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Posted in Teacher Welfare | Leave a Comment »

We Are Not Doing Nearly Enough to Protect Teachers

January 11, 2015

 

How on earth are we going to attract the best teachers to a profession that is so appallingly bad at protecting the health and safety of its own? Teaching, especially in the upper years, can be an extremely daunting and scary proposition. I don’t care what his excuse is, this student needs to be made an example of:

A high school freshman has been caught on video allegedly punching his substitute teacher and putting him in a headlock, because he said he couldn’t go to the bathroom.

The vicious attack on part-time faculty member and football coach Ron Santavicca at Gorton High School in Yonkers, New York, was recorded on a cell phone by another student in the hallway.

The 16-year-old boy, who has not been named, is seen hitting the teacher and swearing as he grabs his head. 

Witnesses described how the teacher told the student he could not leave after asking if he could use the restroom – prompting him to react violently. 

Senior Rocio Vidao told CBS New York: ‘The teacher was, like, telling him, “Don’t leave,” and then the kid came out of the classroom, and the teacher went after him, and that’s when the kid attacked the teacher.

‘It’s not supposed to be like that, you know. When a teacher says no, it’s supposed to be a no.’ 

Police were called in to investigate the incident, but the student has not been arrested or charged.

Yonkers School District have however suspended him for five days and have arranged a superintendent’s board meeting, according to NBC New York. 

Click on the link to read Teacher Forced to Defend Moving a Child to the Front of the Class

Click on the link to read 10 Tips for Teachers on how to Improve Their Work/Life Balance

Click on the link to read News Flash: Teachers Make Mistakes!

Click on the link to read Is There a More Undervalued Career than Teaching?

Click on the link to read Tribute to the Fallen Teachers

 

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The Horrible Case of Abuse that a School Laughed Off as a “Joke”

January 10, 2015

santa hat

How is this a joke? If proven the teacher should be investigated criminally and those that defended it should be forced to resign:

A teacher ordered two seven-year-old boys to strip to their underwear at a Danish school before threatening to cut off their penises with a pair of scissors.

The pupils were made to take their clothes off after forgetting to bring Santa hats to a Christmas party at Strandmølle School in Assens, western Funen.

It has been reported that the youngsters were also told to climb into bin bags in front of the whole school.

The school admitted that the action was inappropriate adding that even though it had not been funny, it had only been meant as a joke.

But the parents were not satisfied with the response and complained to a child protection group, which urged them to report it to the police.

The school’s deputy chairman of the board, Thomas Hald, said: ‘It is correct that it happened and that this type of humour is something that we on the board naturally do not condone.’ 

He said the fact that the teacher apologised was enough and regarded the matter as closed. 

Would Mr. Hald find it as funny if his child was involved? Would he settle for an apology?

Click on the link to read Should we Continue to Give Out Teacher of the Year Awards?

Click on the link to read The Things Some Teachers Think They Can Get Away With

Click on the link to read I Would Like to Write “Fired” on This Teacher’s Forehead

Click on the link to read Hugging Students Should be a Crime Not an Excuse

Click on the link to read PE Teacher Caught on Camera (Video)

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Posted in Professional Conduct | Leave a Comment »

Tip for Getting Your Kids to Open Up About Their School Day

January 8, 2015

first day

Personally, I try to make the child’s’ school experience pleasurable enough to make them anxious to share their day with their parents. But for the parents who find it hard to get anything substantive from their children in this area, here are some tips courtesy of via parenttoolkit.com:

 

1. Wait at least a half an hour

Kids are generally drained and strained the moment they walk in door. So wait at least 30 minutes to start talking about school. Give your child a chance to decompress and have a snack, take off the backpack, and just breathe.

2. Don’t turn questions into a third degree

What would make you want to open up and tell her all those details? The same rules apply to kids. Big kid turn offs: pushing, prodding, demanding, coaxing, lecturing and threatening.

3. Look interested

Think of how your best friend asks you about your day. Use her example. Make sure you are relaxed and appear genuinely interested when you speak to your child.

4. Ask questions that require more than yes or no

“Do you have homework?” “Did you give your speech?” are questions that make your kid only have to answer with a yes or no response. So pose questions that require your child to respond with more than just yes, no, nope, sure, nothing, fine.

5. Don’t use the same questions

A big kid turn off is hearing your same old predictable: “How was your day?” query. So be creative. Churn up those questions so your kid knows you are interested!

6. Stop and listen

The nanosecond your child utters ANYTHING related to school, stop  and give your full presence. Catch any little nugget of information and make it seem as though it’s a gold mine. Kids open up more when they think you’re interesting.

7. Stretch conversation with “invitation openers”

If and when your child shares a detail try using the “stretching method.” Don’t push or prod but instead use these type of comments: “Really?” “Uh-huh?” “I don’t believe it!” “Wow!” They’re not threatening and invite a talker to open up.

8. Repeat “talk” portions

Try repeating bits of your child’s conversation: Child: “I played on the swing.” You: “You played on the swing.” The trick is to repeat the tidbit in a matter-of-fact but interested way to get your child to open up and add more.

9. Make your house kid-friendly

Many parents swear they find out more about school from their kids’ friends than from their own child. So invite your child’s friends over. Keep the fridge stocked with food. Set up a basketball court (or whatever you need to keep those kids at your house). And then be friendly (but not intrusive) to the friend. You may find that not only do the friends open up more, but your child will tag onto the friend’s conversation.

10. Get on the school website

Find out what’s going on in your kid’s school world: read the teacher newsletters, click onto the school calendar, read the school activities schedule and menu. You can then ask specific questions about your kid’s day.

 

 

Click on the link to read Study: Smartphones are a Bigger Concern than TV

Click on the link to read What Kids Really Wanted for Christmas (Video)

Click on the link to read Young Girl Pens Angry Letter to Tooth Fairy

Click on the link to read Gift Ideas for Children that Are Not Toys

Click on the link to read When Parents Get Busted!

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Study: Smartphones are a Bigger Concern than TV

January 7, 2015

smartp

Kids are spending way too much time in front of a screen. In my day the warnings about the dangers of television were very prevalent. Now the smartphone and gaming console seem to have overtaken it on the parental danger list:

 

Having a smartphone in a child’s bedroom translates to less sleep, more fatigue, and later bedtimes, according to a new study. Researchers at UC Berkeley found that kids who slept in the same room as a cellphone, smartphone or iPod touch — what they call “small screens” — got almost 21 minutes fewer sleep than those who didn’t. They also went to bed, on average, 37 minutes later than those without phones in their rooms. (Those who slept in the same room as a TV, meanwhile, got only 18 minutes fewer sleep; the TVs were also associated with a 31-minute delay in bedtime.)

In the study of more than 2,000 fourth and seventh graders, published Monday, 54 percent said they slept near a smartphone. “Small screens are especially concerning because they are a portal to social media, videos and other distractions, and they emit notifications that can disrupt sleep,” Dr. Jennifer Falbe, a postdoctoral research fellow at UC Berkely and the lead author of the study, tells Yahoo Parenting. “Parents should keep screen media out of bedrooms, limit screen time, and set a curfew of an hour before bedtime.” 

Falbe says her recommendations are based on the overall literature that excessive screen media can be harmful to children’s health. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids spend no more than one to two hours a day on recreational screen time, which Falbe says is a good rule of thumb. 

 

Click on the link to read What Kids Really Wanted for Christmas (Video)

Click on the link to read Young Girl Pens Angry Letter to Tooth Fairy

Click on the link to read Gift Ideas for Children that Are Not Toys

Click on the link to read When Parents Get Busted!

Click on the link to read The Inconvenient Truth Kids Style

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Posted in Parenting | 2 Comments »

Look What This Teacher Did To His Students’ Doodles

January 6, 2015

 

doodle1

He will probably encourage his students to doodle even more but I just adore a teacher with a sense of humor. Watch how he improves on his students’ doodles:

 

doodle2

 

doodle3

 

doodle4

 

doodle5

 

Click on the link to read 5 Ways to Change the Face of Education

Click on the link to read Some Teachers Never Change … Literally!

Click on the link to read The Ultimate Bad Teaching Checklist

Click here to read my opinion of ‘child centered learning’ vs ‘teacher centered learning’.

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Posted in Teaching Methods | Leave a Comment »

Tips for Making a Parent-Teacher Relationship Work

January 5, 2015

parent-teacher-cartoonThe strength of the parent-teacher relationship is absolutely pivotal to achieving in the classroom. Below are some insightful tips by teacher Toby Sorge:

 

* Think of what the end goal is. Teachers can tell when the focus is on a specific grade or assessment, whether the communication is by email, phone call or in person. Giving authentic feedback and grading assessments is not an easy task, but remember that the grade that was earned is now in the past.

* Work with the teacher to create a plan. This plan should focus on student engagement and growth. This may take time, so it’s important to trust the process. Maintain open lines of communication, so if you have questions about your role, you can ask and have them answered.

* Trust is one of the core values when it comes to fostering a successful relationship. Trust that the teacher knows what’s best for each student and how to get there.

* Trusting the process of learning is also important. True learning and deep engagement do not happen with one quiz, test or writing assignment. They take time.

* Make sure you work with teachers and not against them. Instead of coming in with an agenda, work on creating a plan with the teacher. The plan should focus on the development, practice and reinforcement of skills.

* Offer suggestions but also take advice. Discussing with teachers ways for students to succeed will help everyone fully understand children and what their capabilities are.

 

Click on the link to read Sometimes It’s Worth Risking a Fight With a Parent

Click on the link to read 10 Tips for Dealing With Difficult Parents

Click on the link to read 5 Helpful Tips for a Better Parent-Teacher Conference

Click on the link to read The Cafeteria Controversy

Click on the link to read Insensitive ‘Parent Bashers’ Take Aim at Grieving Colorado Parents

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Posted in Dealing with Parents | 2 Comments »

My Personal Resolutions for 2015

January 4, 2015

2015

As some of you might be aware, I have been out of teaching for two long but enormously satisfying years. I have been taking on the privilege of being a stay-at-home dad to my baby son and his older sister whilst my wife continues on her quest to becoming an obstetrician.  This has included taking over all aspects of home and child rearing whilst my wife completed her rural rotation and endless night shifts. Although I was already a “hands on” father, two years making my children the sole focus of my life has proved extremely rewarding and quite useful as I prepare to go back to recommence teaching at the end of the month.

I have always loved my job and even though I’ve had a great time being a stay-at-home father, returning to the classroom has me bursting with excitement. I know there will be cobwebs to negotiate and things have changed in the last 2 years (since when did everyone have to have an iPad?), but I have an urge to come back as a better teacher than the one I was when I took leave.

These are some of my initiatives in the lead up to day 1 and throughout the calender year:

 

1. If they Wont Buy it For Me, I’ll Get it Myself – Every teacher buys stuff for their classroom. You just can’t avoid it. But, there are times after proposing a valuable resource and you get turned down by your school that you give up the idea altogether. There is no way my school would invest in hand held whiteboards for each student. I love them and will find so many great uses for them along the way. I can’t really afford a class set, but that’s not going to stop me this year.

 

2. Lose Weight – Two years of sandwiches has taken its toll. I’ve got 5 kilos to lose in a month. I’m not sure that’s possible, but it can’t hurt to try. Many people think that teaching is not a physical job. Boy are they wrong! To be at my best, I must be able to withstand the stress, exertion and sleep deprivation that this job demands. For me, it means I can’t get away with starting off the school year looking like the Duff blimp.

 

3. No More Worksheets! – I don’t like worksheets and have made an effort to avoid them at all costs, but the lazy voice in my head sometimes prevails. It also doesn’t help that the teacher resources handed to you at the beginning of the year features nothing but worksheet laden books. Where are the dice, playing cards, tokens and imitation money? I don’t want to subject my students to worksheets unless I simply have no choice.

 

4. No Yelling – I never yell at individuals and my students will tell their parents that I never yell at all. I wish they were right. I have on more than enough occasions yelled at the class as a whole for reasons such as disrespect towards each other or for treating a substitute or specialist teacher in an unbecoming manner. I have to try to get my messages across without screaming at them.

 

5. Develop My Students as People, Not Simply as Learners – Up until now I have approached teaching with 2 main objectives. Firstly to increase the self esteem of each individual by instilling a sense of cohesion in the group and empowering every individual. And secondly, to foster a love of learning by making my lessons engaging and relevant to the learner. This year I want to add a third plank. I want to help prepare my students for the real world by helping them to develop “real world” skills such as working within a budget, developing a stronger work ethic and having better organisation skills. I think I’ve dropped the ball a bit in that area and I sincerely wish to improve.

I’m sure that along the way I will have more to add to the list, but it’s a good start. Now to get those pounds off. Oh well, quinoa can’t be that bad, can it?

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Posted in My Personal Journey 2015 | Leave a Comment »

Perhaps There Should be a Standardized Test for Teachers

January 3, 2015

literacy

Of course I am not in favor of persecuting teachers even further by subjecting them to standardized testing, but you can’t help but shake your head at the lack of skills some of us possess:

 

Many would-be high school teachers reportedly have worse spelling skills than their prospective students, raising concerns within the education union.

The union is seeking to have entry standards on new teachers raised after a study revealed many teachers had trouble with spelling and had a limited vocabulary, News Corp has reported.

In a study of more than 200 teaching undergraduates, none were able to spell a list of 20 words correctly, with some not getting even one word right.

Among the more frequently misspelled words were “acquaintance” and “parallel”.

The university students also had trouble with word definitions.

Some believed “sanguine” was a type of pasta, while others defined “draconian” as having something to do with dragons.

Australian Education Union president Angelo Gavrielatos said it was evidence standards for new teachers needed to be raised.

The federal government will soon release a report in how to improve teaching standards.

 

Click on the link to read Reasons Why I am Forced to Teach to the Test

Click on the link to read There is Nothing Wrong With Testing Young Children

Click on the link to read The Negative Effects of Standardized Testing are Exaggerated

Click on the link to read Standardized Tests for Teachers!

Click on the link to read Oops, We Seem to Have Lost Your Exams

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Posted in Standardised Testing | Leave a Comment »

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