December 7, 2016
10 Movies All Teachers Should Watch
While there is a lot of great material that you can read about how to become a teacher in the USA, sometimes the best way to get a feel for what the actual classroom experience will be like in America is to watch a Hollywood movie about teachers. Here are the Top 10 movies that will change the way you think about teaching: “Stand and Deliver” (1988) – This film tells the story of a math teacher who’s forced…
November 23, 2016
Yes, Kids Do Need Recess
Over the course of the past two decades, the way educators think about recess has fundamentally changed. Recess has transformed from a fun, natural activity that all kids should enjoy to an activity that is increasingly viewed as an unnecessary distraction from educating, testing and assessing the status of those same kids. Yet, studies continue to show that recess offers important cognitive, social, emotional and physical benefits. Despite this evidence, many schools are cutting down on recess or cutting…
November 22, 2016
Inside the Misguided Logic of High Stakes Testing
High-stakes testing has become an entrenched part of the U.S. K-12 educational system. Some schools start this testing as early as kindergarten, while others begin in third grade. The basic idea of high stakes testing is that it enables schools and school districts to better evaluate teachers and administrators on an ongoing basis. However, this logic of accountability has been applied in increasingly misguided ways by well-meaning teachers and educators to the point where all this testing has gotten…
November 21, 2016
What You Need to Know About Becoming a Special Education Teacher in the U.S.A.
Ever since 1975, special education has played an important role in the U.S. K-12 educational system. As part of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, the U.S. federal government required all 50 states to provide special education and related services consistent with federal standards as a condition of receiving federal funds. As a result, every school and school district within the U.S. places a special emphasis on special education. In order to become a special education teacher in the…
