Teaching Secrets: The Parent Meet and Greet

Marsha Ratzel provides helpful tips for nervous teachers meeting parents for the first time. (August 27, 2008)

Web Watch

Teacher Voices from the DNC

Three teachers blog about their experiences in Denver as the Democratic National Convention winds down. And more. (August 28, 2008)

Writing to Learn

Writing workshops have drawn a steady and loyal following among teachers seeking to refine their own skills, reflect on their practice, and learn strategies for teaching their young scribes. (August 27, 2008)

Featured Blog

Live from the Democratic National Convention

Vice presidential candidate Joe Biden appears to have adopted Barack Obama’s education platform and more. (August 27, 2008)

NEA Locals Slowly Start to Join AFL-CIO

The national teachers' union gave affiliates the go-ahead to ally themselves with the labor federation two years ago, but concerns about performance pay, health care, and other issues are driving them to act now. (August 27, 2008)

Math Tests for Kindergartners

NYC school officials say the standardized testing won’t affect student grades or teacher evaluations, but the proposal has the local teachers' union worried. (August 28, 2008, AP)

Hamas Breaks School Strike by Rival Fatah

The ruling Hamas movement replaced hundreds of striking teachers with its own supporters Wednesday, purging Gaza's schools of political rivals and deepening its control of this coastal territory. (August 27, 2008, AP)

Blogger ‘Eduwonkette’ Is Identified

The anonymous blogger is taking off her mask to reveal herself as Jennifer Jennings, a doctoral candidate in sociology at Columbia University. (August 27, 2008)

Texas Students Pack Bookbags; Teachers Pack Heat

Under a new policy allowing teachers to carry concealed weapons, some parents feel their children will be safer, while others worry. (August 25, 2008, AP)

Featured Blog

Blogboard

Teacher's look at what's new and noteworthy on educator blogs. Recently: Group Grading, Cyber Police, Teacher Salaries: The Movie, and more. (August 26, 2008)

Discussion

Getting 8th Graders to Talk

Do you have trouble getting 8th graders to participate in whole class discussions? Join the discussion. (July 17, 2008)

Denver Teachers and District Reach Tentative Accord

Beginners would get substantially higher salaries, while veterans would see much smaller raises under renegotiated terms of performance-pay plan. (August 27, 2008)

Shaky Economy Expected to Follow Kids Back to School

Many children will walk farther to the bus stop, pay more for lunch, study from old textbooks, even wear last year's clothes. Field trips? Forget about it. (August 18, 2008, AP)

Instant Messaging While Studying Has Mixed Impact

Students who send and receive instant messages while completing a reading assignment take longer to get through their texts but apparently still manage to understand what they’re reading, according to a new study. (August 27, 2008)

Texas Gov.: I'm OK With Gun-Toting Teachers

Texas Gov. Rick Perry says he supports a school district's decision to allow teachers and staff to pack guns for protection when classes start this month. (August 18, 2008, AP)

Teamwork Key for Pilot Teacher-Incentive Programs

Federally funded performance-pay grants shed light on how to sustain programs designed to improve teaching and learning. (August 13, 2008)

Ed. Dept. Awards Grants to Improve Spec. Ed. Training

Twenty universities will revamp their teacher-preparation programs in order to increase the number of highly qualified teachers in special education. (August 13, 2008)

From Teach For America to Obama’s Camp

Two TFA alums are taking the teacher corps' message to another realm as volunteer advisers to Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. (August 13, 2008)

Teachers Go to School on Online Instruction

A face-to-face meeting hosted by K12 Inc. explores education in the virtual world. (August 11, 2008)

Families Sue Over English-Only Rule

Three Hispanic families have sued the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, claiming that an English-only school policy created a hostile learning environment. (August 11, 2008, AP)

Lack of Qualified Teachers a Dilemma for Mont. Schools

The Montana Board of Public Education says nearly 30 percent of the state's public schools, especially rural schools, are failing to meet accreditation standards. (August 10, 2008, AP)

Interview

Crisis in the Classroom

Journalist Christina Asquith recounts her stressful, but eye-opening experiences as an emergency-certified teacher in a troubled urban school. (August 6, 2008)

Getting Ready for the School Year: Part III

Coleen Armstrong, author of The Truth About Teaching: What I Wish the Veterans Had Told Me, addresses inclusion concerns, forging relationships between teachers and administrators, and acing job interviews. Final of three parts. (August 8, 2007)