Teacher Magazine: Lifestyle

July 2, 2009

Lifestyle

Perspectives on Special Education in Japan

An educator reports back from Japan about what the country is doing right when it comes to working with students with special needs. (June 24, 2009)

N.C. Teachers Tell Lawmakers to Spare Education

Gov. Bev Perdue and about 200 teachers told lawmakers Wednesday not to cut school jobs or shortchange students in the face of a historic economic downturn. (June 19, 2009)

Pa. Cyber-School First to Unionize

The first online school to unionize, PA Learners Online voted Monday to have the Pennsylvania State Education Association represent its faculty and staff. (June 18, 2009, AP)

Afterschool Music Program Reaches Out to Cincinnati Teens

Music Resource Center—Cincinnati uses music education and performance experiences to teach life skills to underserved youth and help them build self-confidence. (June 17, 2009, AP)

Ind. Union Laying Off Dozens

The Indiana State Teachers Association says at least 40 union employees will lose their jobs in the face of a financial crisis. (June 10, 2009, AP)

Dropout Prevention Can Start Early

One out of four students fails to graduate from high school in four years and, according to the National Dropout Prevention Center, most dropouts last felt satisfied in 4th grade. (June 2, 2009, AP)

S.C. Job Fair Bursting With Attendees

Record numbers of laid-off teachers, recent college graduates, and others trying to relocate from across the nation packed into South Carolina's annual teachers' job fair. (June 2, 2009, AP)

Some Idaho Districts Cutting Pay, Hours

A new state law allows school districts to cut teacher pay, hours, and contract length after declaring a financial state of emergency. (June 1, 2009, AP)

Kan. Girl Wins Spelling Bee

Kavya Shivashankar won the Scripps National Spelling Bee and more than $40,000 in cash and prizes by correctly spelling "Laodicean." (May 29, 2009)

Spelling Competitors Find Companionship

For many of the National Spelling Bee competitors, the social atmosphere around the event provides a peer group not found at home. (May 26, 2009, AP)

Living Through Lit: Why Dark Young-Adult Books Shouldn’t be Banned

English teacher Jennifer McDaniel says that, though their content can be disturbing, the increasingly popular "real-life" books can be a valuable outlet for some young adults. (May 20, 2009)

Questioning School Choice: An Urban Teacher’s Perspective

The presidential candidates say school choice initiatives can improve inner-city systems. A District of Columbia teacher begs to differ. (October 29, 2008)

Real-Life Civics Lessons

In a new book, a 6th grade teacher chronicles her improbable—but highly educational—run for Congress. (October 29, 2008)

If They Were President

A recent survey asked teachers what advice they’d give the next president to improve education in America. (October 20, 2008)

Top Teacher Movies of All Time

Members of the Teacher Leaders Network take a break to discuss their favorite films about teachers and what they mean to them. What's yours? (October 15, 2008)

Getting Sleepy

A new study says that lack of sleep is endemic in the teaching profession and that schools may be the worse for it. (September 23, 2008)

The Case for PEDs

One high school teacher discovers an effective classroom management tool in the iPod. What’s so wrong with letting students listen? (September 17, 2008)

Are American Public Schools Inherently Biased?

Recent events and a compelling book prompt Mary Tedrow to reexamine her thinking about race and education. Comment on this story. (July 16, 2008)

The Short, Happy Lives of Teachers

Members of the Teacher Leaders Network offer a few words—really very few—on the teaching life. Comment on this story. (July 9, 2008)

Returning to the Classroom

Literacy coach Kathie Marshall explains why, at age 61, she's going back to teaching. (May 13, 2008)

Slam Poet's Muse is Teaching

Slam poet and former teacher Taylor Mali is inspiring young people to teach through his impassioned poems about the profession. (July 18, 2007)

Proceed With Caution

How not to embarrass yourself online. (April 20, 2007)

Schlepping and Learning

Classroomless? A former teacher's invention might be just the thing. (April 20, 2007)