The Teaching Now blog explored the latest news on the teaching profession, from practical classroom tips to raging policy debates. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: teaching, teaching profession, and curriculum.
College & Workforce Readiness
Is Social Studies Dead?
In a somewhat satirical post, ASCD blogger Steven Weber proposes the idea that school reforms have killed social studies.
Families & the Community
Shouldn't 'Nation Builders' Make More Money?
Responding to the State of the Union address, Mr. McNamar of the Daily Grind thinks that if the president really wants to elevate the teaching profession, he needs to put his money—or somebody's money—where his mouth is:
Education Funding
Obama on Teachers as 'Nation Builders'
In Tuesday's education-heavy state of the union address, President Obama gave repeated nods to teachers--and the critical role they'll play in rebuilding the U.S. economy.
Classroom Technology
Making Chemistry Relevant
A new online series developed by the education arm of NBC News offers free videos and resources for chemistry teachers that aim to show students the subject's relevance in everyday life.
College & Workforce Readiness
Creating an LGBT-Friendly Curriculum
Students in England will begin to see gay issues popping up in their classes, as the government pushes to raise awareness about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual community, according to the Daily Mail.
School & District Management
Having Trouble Learning? Take a Test
A new study says taking tests helps people learn, even moreso than some studying techniques.
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Teacher Discounts: Where Are They?
Looking for ways to save money? Gift Card Granny provides a list of stores that reward teachers with discounts on everything from food, clothing, and school supplies to hotels and museums.
Student Achievement
Is the Chinese Style of Parenting Really Superior?
A Chinese mother's explanation of how she raised such "stereotypically successful" children has made more than a small stir. An excerpt from her book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother in the Wall Street Journal has prompted more than 7,000 comments and a sharp rebuttal from New York Times columnist David Brooks.
Reading & Literacy
It's One Space After a Period, Not Two
"Typing two spaces after a period is totally, completely, utterly, and inarguably wrong," Slate columnist Farhad Manjoo writes in a recent editorial.
Classroom Technology
Virtual 'Teachers' in Fla. Getting Poor Evaluations
Some teachers, students, and parents in Florida are less than satisfied with the virtual classrooms that are being used to deal with class size limitations, according to the New York Times.
Education
A 10-Minute Activity That Can Improve Test Scores
There's a way to improve students' test scores and it only takes ten minutes, according to a study released in the journal Science and reported on by the Chicago Tribune.
Curriculum
Va. Schools Get Free (and Error-Free) Textbooks
Five Ponds Press, which published two error-ridden Virginia history textbooks— leading to a media feeding frenzy—said it will distribute the corrected Second Edition books at no cost to the school districts.
Federal
Chinese Educators, Leaders Questioning Focus on Tests
Somewhat ironically, the success of Chinese students on recent international tests has been met with a mixture of embarrassment and soul-searching back home, according to a Los Angeles Times story.
Education Funding
Teachers and the New Economic Reality in Education
This week Education Week released its annual Quality Counts report. The focus this year is on the "new economic reality" in education. If you haven't had a chance to check it out, you should. And I'm not just saying that because it's an Education Week publication. Reading it this morning, I was struck by how important this topic is to teachers (though admittedly that seems pretty obvious in hindsight). It's not something that should be of in-depth concern only to the report's target audience of administrators and policymakers.