Teacher Planet – A bang up to date resource featuring Spring & Summer Season lessons, plans, worksheets, tools, certificates and more.

UsingEnglish.Com – Free English teacher resources for of all levels including hundreds of printable handouts, PDF lesson plans, online quizzes, jobs, articles, teacher discussion forum and more…

Read the rest of the entry for Best of the Web’s Teachers’ Resources.

For those of you who haven’t visited the site yet, Wikipedia is:

A free multilingual encyclopedia project supported by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation. Its name is a portmanteau of the words wiki (a technology for creating collaborative websites, from the Hawaiian word wiki, meaning ‘quick’) and encyclopedia. Wikipedia’s 12 million articles (2.8 million in the English Wikipedia) have been written collaboratively by volunteers around the world, and almost all of its articles can be edited by anyone who can access the Wikipedia website. Launched in January 2001 by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger, it is currently the most popular general reference work on the Internet.

So instead of the traditional large volumes of books you previously had in your shelf, the creators of Wikipedia have developed a system where a community of trusted editors (volunteers) works on informative articles on any available subject.

You might be thinking of adding this website as a magic wand in your teaching career and helping you with certain topics that textbooks may not have yet covered. But you’re also probably thinking is it worth the try? Well, it certainly is.

I’m not suggesting you consider Wikipedia as your sole source of information but as a valuable supplement.

Here are top 5 reasons why you should have Wikipedia as a good teaching tool:   Click Here to Learn More about Wikipedia

Parents Satisfied with Quality of Education in Schools: Survey

Most parents of students in Dubai schools feel that they are receiving high quality education according to a survey conducted by Dubai’s education governing authority.

Sources:

http://tinyurl.com/qen278

http://tinyurl.com/rxums5

Abu Dhabi to Rebuild Old Schools

Old, cramped and dilapidated state schools are to be torn down and 30 new ones will be built in a major upgrade of the system announced yesterday.

Schools lacking gymnasiums, shaded play areas, libraries, canteens or auditoriums will be the first to undergo improvements, the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) said.

Sources:

http://tinyurl.com/pmk4gp

http://tinyurl.com/pwzcts

Click Here to Read More About the Week’s Round Up.

In my (misspent) youth, my school friends and I always found it incredibly sniggery and gossip worthy to discover the following information about our teachers.

1. Their first names. (I know, I know, it wore off by 4th Grade)
2. That they smoked!
3. Seeing them on a weekend in ‘civillian’ clothes and ‘heaven forbid’ with a husband/wife/partner.

You see, kids can be cruel, but you don’t need me to tell you that. The idea that a teacher is a human being too is completely alien when you’re a pupil at a regular educational establishment. Couple this with a daily analysis of your sartorial choices, teaching methods and hormonal cycles, a teaching job is, in my opinion; the occupation of a saint.

By secondary school, most teachers become so frazzled, they are the ones offering YOU the cigarettes and barely hiding the gin bottle in the desk drawer.

Now that I am older, and of course, so much wiser, I look back in horror at the emotional distress our sly looks and whispered comments must have caused those generally decent, committed and kind hearted teaching staff that had the pleasure of getting us through school and onwards.

The blog post below reminded me of these long forgotten, much reminisced days, and also the fact that not withstanding all the rubbish above that I mention, Teachers actually have to deal with, you, establish a TEACHING career and other job responsibilities too!

GASP!

Therefore, sometimes, the life of a teacher with all it’s kids, classrooms, meetings, markings and exams PLUS bitchy schoolgirls can sometimes get a little crazy .

Here’s some very sage advice from Lisa Morehouse on Teaching with Passion: Advice for Young Educators.

Heed the above advice, all you teaching saints out there, and remember, not all pupils are like me!

(Cymbal crash)

But seriously, for a teacher, an in-depth knowledge of your subject is a given (or should be). What about the rest? It’s practically a social work position as opposed to rote learning and writing on a blackboard. (Showing my age there, probably whiteboards now, or even laptops in the desks).

There was great advert on British TV a couple of years ago that had many celebrities and public figures very naturally quoting names. They had been spontaneously asked to name a good teacher from their schooldays. For many it was instantaneous and the tagline was of course, nobody forgets a good teacher. This was part of a Government’s education recruitment drive. In times gone by, teaching was never considered a glamorous role, and some particular subjects were struggling to attract talented candidates.

It’s true though isn’t it? Whilst at the very least all of us can remember at least one positive experience with a teacher, some of us may have even been inspired into our eventual careers by those who guided them through school. The difference in a teacher who can capture the imaginations of his/her pupils and one who is there to cash the cheque at the end of the month is immense. To be able to work with and inspire young minds, at their most receptive is a very powerful thing indeed.

A person in a good teaching career needs a good dose of emotional intelligence to work with. Practical is great, Empathetic is even better. Put yourself in those little (or not so) shoes, have an understanding of the lifestyle the kids lead away from the classroom, interests and friendships crying out to be influenced and developed… I could go on, but it is the recognition of these things that cannot be taught on a teacher training course.

A blogger shares his thoughts upon his mid life career change, and all the good things about being surrounded by children all day! Range tells you Why Becoming A Teacher was one of the best things in his life.

I wanted to end this post with a quote from a teacher pal..

“Teaching is the most important job in the world because it makes all others possible. I never dreamed of being a teacher because I was smart and hard working enough to be anything, but here I am, teaching little kids how to read. The best part is knowing that you have impacted people’s lives by either giving them essential skills or positively influencing their lives. Yeah, you get the summer off and don’t have to request holidays off from work, but that’s not why people teach.” Sonja, UK.

So… My brother works for a large supermarket chain (people will always need food) my father is a senior civil servant (society will always need prisons) and my sister in law, well, without realising it she maybe made the best career choice of all.

So whilst staking Cola and managing infidels might not carry the most job satisfaction, those jobs aren’t going anywhere at least. My Sis in law is an education professional, so whilst I’d pretty much say she has a job for life, I’m sure others would agree that it is a profession that carries with it a lot of pride.

No one will tell you that teaching is easy. Nor is it likely to make you rich.

Yet, survey after survey finds that people who choose teaching careers are enthusiastic about their work. Career satisfaction among teachers—and especially new teachers—is very high. In a recent national poll, 96 percent of young teachers said that they loved their jobs and 80 percent said that, if they had to start their careers over, they would still choose teaching. For these teachers, the profession has provided unparalleled personal, emotional and intellectual rewards. This new generation of teachers views teaching as a lifelong mission and is nearly unanimous in saying that teaching is the work that they were born to do.

The reasons for this passion are many. Most teachers surveyed said that the teaching “involves doing work that they love to do.” Most also agree that teaching, “gives a sense of being appreciated and respected.” Job security and opportunities for advancement were cited, as well, and most teachers feel that teaching enables them to spend time with their families and enjoy a fine quality of life.

Teaching is clearly an attractive option to those who are looking to change career paths and take jobs in schools, colleges or nurseries. In this article, Train to Teach fair reflects recruitment boom in the classroom, it mentions:

“People are increasingly turning to the teaching profession in a bid to beat the economic crisis.

Nearly 2,000 graduates and jobless people flocked to Birmingham for the two-day Train to Teach recruitment fair held at the Thinktank science museum at Millennium Point, Digbeth.

The figures were a massive 40 per cent up on last year’s attendance as people increasingly see the public sector, including teaching, as a safe haven amidst the thousands of redundancies caused by the recession.”

So why teach?

“A good teacher can bring the world to their class,” says Chris Cole, the headmaster of St Matthias C of E Primary School in London. “They’re role models for their students. They communicate their experiences of life and give children a new outlook. I’ve been teaching for 14 years and I still love it. Teachers provide a positive image; they show kids what they can achieve.”

“Teaching is a very different profession these days,” says Graham Holley, executive director of Initial Teacher Training. “It’s much more inclusive, gives a stronger career path, the pay is much better and its status has been driven up.”

To teach in a state school, you’ll need to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Another option is the employment-based route, the Graduate Teacher Programme. Here, you learn on the job for up to a year, teaching classes under supervision, and you’re paid an unqualified wage. Watch out though: it’s very over-subscribed.

As well as flexible training routes, decent money and good job security are other common reasons new teachers sign on the dotted line. Cash increases when you move up the ladder. Higher salaries go to teachers with managerial roles or extra responsibilities. Extra allowances are made for teachers considered to be excellent. No teacher will deny that long hours and emotional input can be exhausting. Many find the plus points enough reward. However, if you’re interested in schools but teaching doesn’t appeal, there are other positions to consider, such as librarians, learning mentors and teaching assistants.

Of course, teaching doesn’t have to be a career for life. The skills you learn are invaluable, but whether you teach for two years or 20, you’ll never forget the possibility that you could be that teacher that no one forgets.

Study Courses – Range of distance learning courses and home study courses from Oxford Open Learning including A level, GCSE and Professional correspondence courses.

I know there are new age educators already out there engaging in blogs and social networking sites. In fact I’ve noticed great resources featured on Education at Alltop.Com.

However, a refresher guide on the basics of social media will always be helpful for those who are still starting in the social networking scene. Here are a few tips I’ve come up, applicable not only for Twitter but also for other social networking sites 

1. Be Genuine! – The reason why Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media sites, emerged as a phenomenon in because it created a “habit” or “way of life” in the conversations of people around you. Let them know what you’re doing, your thoughts, or even the silliest thing you see around you. Whether you’re describing your delicious breakfast or you’re sharing an article from the Gulf News, don’t hesitate to post it. Add your unique “voice” and “style” in handling your personal profiles.

1. Don’t forget to give out important sources – As you go on with your new online habits in social media, you’ll get to know the respected Icons in the industry like Guy Kawasaki, Chris Borgan, or Sugar Rae. One thing they have in common is that they share valuable information related to their industry. That is why people follow or have connections with them because the public is genuinely interested to what they’re saying. Ergo, research and share the finds that you have. The more resources and valuable the information you share, the more you will be followed, thus increasing more your network.

1. Connect and Engage – The word social does not mean all you have to do is just talk and listen to the people within your network. Look for people whom you think your expertise and knowledge, or potential clients. There are a lot of tools within social networking sites in finding the relevant people. Be sure to connect with people you are genuinely interested in or else the essence would be lost. So judge carefully who you network with.

1. Acknowledge – When people start connecting with you already, acknowledge or thank them for the follow/connection. Again, engage in conversations rather than just ignoring them as they include you in their circle. Don’t ever use auto-response as what others may use. Trust me, a lot of people get offended with not-so-personal approaches on either social media sites.

1. Regularly Update – Some people average 4-6 hours while others just for a few minutes like checking their mails in the morning, whatever amount of time you devote to invest on social networking, make sure you do it regularly. Have time to view at those who have replied to both your messages and posts or just simply post what not’s of your daily life. Be visible and be a regular. Believe it or not, as you progress, people will expect to see your updates regularly and it will be unwise to disappoint them at any point in time.

There you go, I hope I didn’t sound as geeky as I should be. But ever since I started my social habits, I’ve been a regular especially in the Dubai network. There are still a few of us and hopefully will grow even more. I have other personal social media accounts but I’m sticking to Twitter because it displays the very basic fundamentals of Social Media Networking.

There is an unfortunate saying;

Those that can – do,

Those that can’t – teach.

Then there’s the next bit, but we won’t go into that.

As a career option, few are recession proof. Alongside the majority of civil servant roles however, a role in the sphere of education is a fair bet for anybody looking for a job for life.

No doubt due to mass redundancies in other sectors, (and the fact that rocky economic times such as these are likely to make more people stop and re-assess their personal situations, there is a marked rise in the amount of people taking up further academic studies and or retraining to take up teaching.

A more extreme, but arguably successful example is the American ‘Troops to Teachers’ scheme that aims to bring a little bit of military discipline back into the classroom.

From an altruistic perspective, it’s all warm and fuzzy to know that Many workers wanted to do jobs in which they felt they could “make a difference” to people’s lives, a poll of 1,778 graduates aged 21 to 36 found , back in 2005 (source. BBC)

However, there is an excellent counter argument made here http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/mar/03/teaching-teacher-training about the quality of teaching offered by retrainers.

Debate is wide open to experience and influence, but in my humble opinion, and as such in other professions, an experienced, older candidate, perhaps with a family of their own and certainly diverse backgrounds enrich most professions.

A teaching career is also useful if our partners have work that takes them abroad. The notion of ‘teleporting’ the family overseas may be a lot more palatable with a teaching qualification up your sleeve. Many international schools in expat hubs such as Dubai and the Middle East are always keen to welcome new staff who can really bring something to the table , or desk as it were. Teaching, as well as being a truly fulfilling profession, really is the perfect ‘job in a suitcase’.

The Education Professionals showcases job opportunities for roles based in the Middle east, Gulf region and Dubai.

“In January, the 43-year-old enrolled in the tuition assistance program at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania.

The program offers county residents who have been laid off since September 2008 the opportunity to take 12 college credits — usually four courses — for free.

McFadden said the program will allow her to reassess her options while she improves her marketability and salary potential.”

While the common course of action when retrenched or terminated is to look for a substitute opportunity, it’s never too late to back to school to earn a few units which is actually worth a lot in pursuing a career in these dire times.

Here are reasons why I think further education may be better than desperate job search

1. Acquiring New Sets of Skills – If you are in the construction, real estate, or banking industry, chances are its quite dead end as markets have slumped. And now you were wishing you can have a 2^nd, 3^rd, or nth skills to shift to and start a brand new career. Well, it’s not too late. If there are no education programs near your area, the internet has hundreds of affordable online courses. Learn something which you may have interest in, and educate yourself to the fullest. Once you have acquire that other skill, you can now add that detail to your resume which future employers may see and opt a position for you.

1. Having the Right Papers – It’s fairly given that once you finish a course; you get a certificate or diploma for completing the course of your choice (be sure to check for this before enrolling). That certificate alone is an asset to your profile. It’s a concrete evidence that you do have the knowledge (and hopefully the skills) sufficient enough to fulfill your duties and responsibilities in a future company.

Remember that education will always be an investment. It may not give you a return immediately, but it will definitely pay off in the future when you least expect it.

And so she should. Can you imagine if this had happened in the West and not the Middle East? She’s be sued to within an inch of her life and probably charged with Actual Bodily Harm.

Interestingly, comments made by readers of this story in another paper have suggested that , had the boy have been behaving properly, the incident wouldn’t have taken place. True, in essence, but punishment a tad harsh I feel for a small child who cannot be quiet!

But what to do? As much as we wish all students to be obedient and peaceful souls, they are humans, so are, by nature, neither of these traits. How to deal with unruly behaviour in the classroom that is becoming all the more an issue?

Even harder to handle is such behaviour when imparted upon staff by secondary pupils, teenagers with as much physical strength as the teachers themselves.

Whether the answer lies in firm clear guidelines or in more behaviour support classrooms, or even British style Pupil Referral Units, it’s certainly a topic not to be overlooked in an increasingly more violent and stress fuelled society. Kids included.