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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: teaching, teaching profession, and curriculum.
Teaching Profession
A Surprise Classroom Lesson in Acceptance
A first-year teacher in Canada who recently came out as gay to his students describes how his "tough" class offered their acceptance in a way that moved him to tears.
Teaching Profession
Remembering Newtown Teachers, Six Months Later
By guest blogger Clara Pak
As of today, half a year has passed since tragedy struck in Newtown, Conn. In remembrance of this somber anniversary, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, and Tom Kuroski, president of the AFT affiliate in Newtown, co-wrote an op-ed piece for a local Connecticut paper, The News-Times. In honoring the fallen educators of Sandy Hook Elementary School, they also recognize all teachers and school staff across the country whose "first instinct is to love and protect their children." They write:
As of today, half a year has passed since tragedy struck in Newtown, Conn. In remembrance of this somber anniversary, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, and Tom Kuroski, president of the AFT affiliate in Newtown, co-wrote an op-ed piece for a local Connecticut paper, The News-Times. In honoring the fallen educators of Sandy Hook Elementary School, they also recognize all teachers and school staff across the country whose "first instinct is to love and protect their children." They write:
Teaching Profession
Baseball Sabermetrics and the 'Effective Teacher'
In a blog post for The Brown Center on Education Policy, Thomas Kane proposes a new definition for an "effective" teacher: one whose "predicted impact on students exceeds that of the average novice teacher."
Special Education
A Photographer's Push to Reframe 'Disabilities'
A fashion photographer begins taking photos of people with genetic conditions to "reinterpret beauty," much like those pushing for the education community to change its "disability discourse."
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Teacher: Liking Your Job Is Not a Necessity
In a Chronicle of Higher Education opinion piece, an associate professor at a Midwest university writes about disliking teaching while also being good at it.
Teacher Preparation
Bank Analysis: Teachers' Degrees Not Paying Off
A new study from Bankrate.com finds that, when it comes to return-on-investment for professional degrees, teachers are getting a raw deal.
Special Education
Can a Font Help 'Cure' Dyslexia?
A Dutch designer has created a font he says will help people with dyslexia improve their reading.
Classroom Technology
Obama's ConnectED Plan Seeks to Improve Teacher Tech Use
The president's proposal to overhaul the e-rate program in large part prioritizes training teachers to better use technology in the classroom and providing them with more technology resources.
Teaching Profession
Ed. Policy Debates: Teachers vs. Teachers?
Diane Ravitch laments Teach for America's alleged plot "to groom" future education reform leaders. Slate blogger Matt Iglesias responds that the debate is one set of teachers against another.
Teaching Profession
Sandy Hook Teacher Starts Nonprofit to Teach Empathy
Having survived the horrific attack at Sandy Hook Elementary school, and been on the receiving end of enormous generosity afterward, 1st grade teacher Kaitlin Roig began thinking about ways to give back.
Professional Development
Teachers' Data Use Becoming PD Emphasis
A recent report by the New America Foundation looks at federally funded professional development programs in Oregon and Delaware that aim to train teachers on using data to improve their instruction.
Teaching Profession
The Common Core Cooking Comparison
In a piece about local implementation of the Common Core State Standards, Nan Austin of the Modesto Bee opens with an education-jargon-free—yet potentially divisive—explanation of how instruction is changing.
Education
Best of Luck, Francesca!
Today marks the end of an era for Education Week Teacher: Our diligent and steadfast intern, Francesca Duffy, is leaving our ranks.
School Climate & Safety
Man Poses Bomb Threat at Ore. Teaching Office Over Misspelling
A man was arrested in Salem, Ore., yesterday after carrying a pressure cooker into the offices of the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practice Commission and claiming he was trying to blow up the sign outside because of a misspelling.