Interdisciplinary Teaching

Interdisciplinary teaching is all about simultaneous application of knowledge, ideas, and/or values of a domain in multiple academic domains. These domains may be related through a central theme, issue, problem, process, topic, or experience. The basic building block of interdisciplinary teaching is known as a theme, thematic unit, or unit. A unit is a detailed plan with desired goals/results which set expectations on what the students should know at the end of these experiences and tutorials included in the unit. The schools integrate different disciplines in two levels: In the first level, various language arts are integrated (listening, speaking, reading, writing, thinking); and in the second level, all curricular areas are integrated into one based on a theme.

Interdisciplinary teaching is gaining wide acceptance as an efficient method to answer some frequently occurring educational problems like fragmentation and isolated skill instruction. It can also help us in handling different aspects of education like knowledge transfer, training students on thinking and reasoning, and designing a more relevant curriculum for the students.

Benefits of Interdisciplinary Teaching

Interdisciplinary teaching refers to the methodology adopted in imparting of knowledge using an integration of content and skills simultaneously from several disciplines to teach one particular academic discipline. This is a highly motivational style of teaching since the students experience certain cohesiveness among learning of different school subjects taught in the scholastic session. Students view a definite relationship among the diverse disciplines and not as fragments of a whole. When students are tutored using this approach, they can use it as building blocks to add to their knowledge base, consolidating the connection between it and what they are in the process of learning. This inter-collaborative teaching establishes a level of thinking that is far superior and much needed for greater success in life.

Interdisciplinary teaching is a high-strung way of teaching and calls for teachers to have special skills and imagination. The trick is to bring the various branches of learning under one umbrella, yet keeping the pupils from feeling lost or uncomfortable. Increased thrust is given to the field of learning while taking maximum advantage of diverse viewpoints. With the elimination of elements of isolated, water-tight teaching, students actually begin to enjoy and come up with fresh ideas themselves.

Social studies incorporates the study of social sciences and humanities so that proficiency in community living is enhanced. Teaching of this subject needs special aptitude on the part of the teacher as she has to link whatever knowledge she is disseminating to real life situations of her students. Subjects such as history, geography, sociology, political science, psychology, anthropology, civics, economics and religion are comprised under the broad term of "social studies". The composition and focus on each of the disciplines may however vary depending upon what the level the students are at, that is, primary, middle or high school. Any aspect dealing directly with human society falls under its purview.

Social Studies Prepares Students for Society

How Social Studies Prepares Students for Society

Etymologically social studies refers to the different branches of study dealing with social sciences such as civics, economics, linguistics, management, history, geography and a host of others. It varies from natural sciences and affects human behavior and interpersonal relationships. Social studies is a crucial discipline in the school curriculum. Social sciences had their roots in the study of philosophy and theology in ancient times, gaining greater impetus during the medieval era. It prepares students to face life's challenges realistically, systematically and with a practical bent of mind. Yet, it is a sorry state of affairs that in a hurry to get ahead in life and career, students and even educational institutions lay poor, if any, attention to the richness of learning- teaching of social studies.

A few of the areas of social sciences that mould the personalities of students are discussed below:

Integrate education with life - This branch of learning helps pupils to analyze real life situations in their correct context. Students are drilled in the finer realms, such as oneness of mankind, cooperation, justice for all. The learners begin to appreciate the very essence of living in this world full of strife and everyday grind. A realistic viewpoint and a practical outlook are adopted by students of social studies.

Deeper understanding of human nature and behavior - Through the learning of social sciences, predictions can be made about how people will react under certain circumstances. This also implies that while dealing with people, the knowledge of his mental make-up can help in assessing the way he is likely to give an overt expression to his innermost, pent up emotions. Psycho-analysis has become an indispensible part of any organization's day-to-day functioning. All successful entrepreneurs have also been good psychologists. Teachers too need to understand educational psychology. In fact, professionals in all walks of life must have an insight into how and why people think and behave in the manner they do.

An air of authenticity has come to surround social studies since the percentage of students' participation is higher in the teaching-learning process. The child-focused curriculum makes each student singular, encouraging greater enthusiasm. In the context of social studies, cross curricular instructions proves ideal since each of the subjects falling under its broad head are, more or less, interwoven. To exemplify, geography has influenced history, which in turn had a tremendous impact upon the economy of a country. Furthermore, the society and political structure is affected by the financial system and psychology of people. It is this beauty of interdependence that instructing using cross curricular or thematic style adds much realism to social studies.

Importance of Social Studies

There are many reasons for the importance of social studies. For instance, it increased consciousness. Powerful teaching of social studies generates greater awareness in students of their civic duties. The learners are encouraged to uphold the democratic values so that they not only survive but also thrive. The students' eagerness, readiness and willingness to assume increased responsibilities as a citizen of a nation are ignited by social. They become well-informed residents who will sustain and further the cause of democracy when they grow up and take up the reins of the land. They can contribute positively towards the global cohesiveness. Its cumulative effect is reflected in how well civilians participate in understanding the government policies.

The importance of social studies is that it helps make students environmentally conscious. Through the studying of geography, environmental science, the learner realizes how devastating tampering with nature can be. He becomes responsive towards the importance of maintaining ecological balance, thus impeding the eventual destruction of nature. The importance of social studies is that it helps students to understand how nations and cultures are interconnected and affect one another.

For predicting the outcome of future events based upon past examples - Correlating the past to foresee the future can be deftly accomplished by students of social. Interpretation of statistical data can come in handy while laying out future plans at local, national and international levels. Projections are made and chances of lurking dangers are eliminated. Political leaders know how necessary it is to look ahead, while keeping an eye on the past experiences.

The importance of social studies can never be overemphasized. It forms a crucial part of K-12 curricula, instilling in the young minds awareness of the society around them and how best they can not only fit in but contribute towards its betterment. Parents and educationists around the globe have come to hail social studies as one of the greatest catalyst of humanitarian advancement. Although of-late, the subject has taken a backseat, owing to stiffer competition for the scarce jobs, it has not lost its intrinsic charm and utility. Some of the most critical disciplines of scholastic syllabus fall under its broad umbrella, such as history, geography, political science, sociology, anthropology, linguistics, economics, civics, theology and a number of others. Teaching of social studies has become an integral part of a student's growing up and all-round development to become an upright human being. Contributing towards the improvement of society at local, national and global levels is the core issue of social studies.

Benefits of Cross Curricular Instruction

There are many benefits to cross curricular instruction refers to the methodology adopted in imparting of knowledge using an integration of content and skills simultaneously from several disciplines to teach one particular academic discipline. This is a highly motivational style of teaching since the students experience certain cohesiveness among learning of different school subjects taught in the scholastic session. Students view a definite relationship among the diverse disciplines and not as fragments of a whole. When students are tutored using this approach, they can use it as building blocks to add to their knowledge base, consolidating the connection between it and what they are in the process of learning. This inter-collaborative teaching establishes a level of thinking that is far superior and much needed for greater success in life.

Cross curricular instruction is a high-strung way of teaching, which calls for teachers to have special skills and imagination. The trick is to bring the various branches of learning under one umbrella, yet keeping the pupils from feeling lost or uncomfortable. Increased thrust is given to the field of learning while taking maximum advantage of diverse viewpoints. With the elimination of elements of isolated, water-tight teaching, students actually begin to enjoy and come up with fresh ideas themselves. The curriculum is thus enriched. There are a number of benefits of cross curricular instruction, and they include the following:

· Since inter-disciplinary teaching consists of a conscious attempt to invoke the knowledge, values and principles of more than one academic subject, it reinforces them all. Students gain greater depth of understanding of all that are encompassed within each of such session. Their horizons are widened, while their educational base becomes broader and stronger.

· Breaking down the dividing barrier, students begin to "play while they learn", treating the entire learning process as one large experience and not broken up into isolated periods of fixed time span. They can spend longer hours at whatever they are being drilled or experimenting with, without feeling mentally exhausted.

· Cognitive learning dons a different nature as students interact, collaborate, co-operate in small groups making erstwhile learning seem quite outdated. This cross curricular instruction practice lends increased viability, authenticity, contextualization and relevance to what students imbibe.

· Another one of the benefits of cross curricular instruction is that students are offered a vaster scope to select topics they want to learn in accordance with their capabilities, needs and interest. This aspect is a catalyst for learners who put in greater efforts to achieve better at school.

· It becomes simpler to take students where they ought to be through gentle guidance. They can use what they already know to learn what they must learn. The unified system of transference of knowledge leaves an indelible mark on their minds. Students are able to amalgamate the theory and practical knowledge.

· The problem solving approach leaves the periodic testing in the hands of the teachers and students. Thus students become even more alert and responsible.

· The teachers too tend to become more cooperative, just as the students do.

The adaptable and flexible system of coaching is specially suited to social studies where the various branches of study are closely interlinked.

Transformational Leadership in Education

Transformational leadership is no longer used exclusively in corporations and companies all over the world. It is now being used in educational contexts, too. Teachers and school administrators are now looking for ways to use this type of leadership in their settings.

Transformational leaders in education are constantly looking for new ways of doing things toward accomplishing the vision of the school. The primary purpose of the school, of course, is to educate young people and turn them into productive members of the society. Leadership is needed to address the problems and challenges that learners, students and teachers encounter in the schools.

Leaders are also looking for ways to change how their context is viewed. One of the characteristics of good leaders is to turn things upside down and view them from different lenses. This will yield a new way of looking at their context. New insights will then turn into new ways of doing things, which is badly needed if education were to improve and serve the needs of the world in the twenty first century.

Teachers and school administrators also need to hold the schools accountable for the attainment of its vision and the pursuit of its mission. Without a vision and mission, a school merely exists without meaning. It is there but it becomes content with mediocrity. That is to be avoided at all costs.

They also need to make the organization unique, different and excellent. There are a lot of schools out there. But how do they differ from each other? Good administrators need to look for ways to differentiate from countless others. Competition is raging and without a differentiating quality, an organization fades into the background of other equally great organizations.

They also need to work toward making schools responsive to the problems and challenges of the contemporary world. The recent recession in the United States taught the world that changes can happen in a short period of time. Technology and change continue to be the buzzword of this new decade. As such, transformational leadership in education must be responsive to these challenges and look for ways to make schools prepare students and teachers for these trends.

How can teachers, administrators and leaders then address these contemporary trends and changes?

For one, they will need to look at their roles in developing the skills of young minds. Given the highly competitive nature of the world economy, students need to be prepared really well. True enough, the education sector does not pay well. But they perform an important function, which can never be undermined. This is why transformational leadership in education is very much needed.

Classroom Management - Motivating the Reluctant Learner

Every child wants to succeed. I know this is true. If you want to be successful at motivating the reluctant learner, you will need to believe this as well. In my experience working with students from many different backgrounds, up-bringing, family situations and home lives, every student thrives when he or she feels a sense of accomplishment.

Sure, sometimes this accomplishment is getting the teacher to lose her temper or hitting a friend in the head with a well-aimed spitball. Our jobs, then, become refocusing that student's goal away from those negative accomplishments towards the positive accomplishments - those that equate to success in school and, ideally, in life.

Sounds easy, right? You and I both know, though, that bad habits are hard to break, and students with a habit of looking for success in ways that undermine what you're doing as a teacher can often have the hardest time changing their habits.

When I start a school year, I quickly recognize those students who are struggling to share the same measure of success I've set for my students. While many teachers try to ignore the disruptive behaviors in the hopes that they will just go away, often times it leads to more disruptive behaviors as that students looks for other ways to successfully get your teaching off-task.

Instead of ignoring that disruptive student, addressing that reluctant learner as early in the year (or day or even lesson for that matter) will help you successfully guide the student towards a new standard of success. What do I mean?

Here's an example I'm sure most of us can relate to:

You see little Johnny throw a broken pencil at another student. What do you do? Ignore it? Yell at Johnny? Tell him to go to the office? Assign detention?

How about this response?

"Johnny, please don't throw anything in my class ever. Do you understand?" stated in a very calm voice.

"But he threw it at me first!"

"Johnny, do you understand what I told you?"

Grumbling, "Yeah."

"Good."

The rest of class passes without Johnny throwing any more pencils. On his way out of the classroom, you mention to him, "Johnny, I appreciate you not throwing anything in my class. Nicely done." You say this with all sincerity, but not making too big a deal out of it. Johnny doesn't reply but just shuffles off to his next class.

The next day, Johnny comes into class as usual. For the first five minutes, Johnny doesn't throw anything at anyone. You casually move near him and say very quietly to him, "You're having a good day today, aren't you?" Johnny doesn't respond, but he refrains from throwing anything for the entire class. Again, at the end of class, you mention to Johnny, "Nice work today."

And today, Johnny smiles.

This sounds like a simple example, and you're right! It is incredibly simple to bring students over to "your side" in the battle, to stop fighting with your students and start helping them fight their own battles against their anti-social and disruptive impulses. By helping the student understand that your role isn't to always highlight their disruptive behavior but instead is to help them achieve a more productive model of success, the disruptive student often becomes a key ally in your classroom.

Your work isn't done with this tiny victory. Once you've broken the initial bad habit of disruptive behavior, you will then need to help your students understand how "success" is defined in your class. Questions like "Are you being successful?" and "When you do that are you being successful?" and "How does that help you be successful?" all work to help the student understand that part of your job is to help him or her be successful.

Each day, I write on the board my measure of success for that day. It's usually something like, "I will have at least 15 note cards completed for my research paper." or "I will understand why the main character decided to go to the lake." or something like that. When a student is off-task, it's a simple matter for me to approach him or her and say, "Are you being successful? How can I help you be successful?" Done with the right tone and approach, these two questions can truly transform the way you and your students interact.

Once your reluctant learners (and everyone else for that matter!) realize that you are really there to help them be successful, that you want them to do well in school and build the skills they need to be successful in life, their reluctance to learn gradually disappears in favor of a new motivation to succeed, a measure of success based more closely on positive productive goals rather than disruptive negative goals.

Student Teacher? Learn How to Survive in Education and Be a Great Asset to Your School

• Join all Teacher Forums on the internet. You will learn many things from the thousands of teachers who are members. Start with the Times Education Supplement Forum.
• Listen to senior teachers with many years service. They are survivors. Get yourself a role model
• Be assertive, firm and always, always respectful.
• Important. Stress causes negative emotions, short tempers and loss of control. You MUST follow a daily De-Stressing Fitness Regime. Yoga. Dance. Running. Personal Trainer.
• Learn how to be a great communicator. Study (NLP) Neuro Linguistic Programming, non-verbal body language as it accounts for 93% of your communication. Learn VAK - visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning and teaching styles. This will allow you to teach more effectively.
• Inspire and motivate your students with role models, stories of achievement and success.
• Make your subject come alive. Teach it with conviction, creativity and passion.
• Manage your emotions by dissociating or stepping outside yourself and observing how you speak and act.
• Be philosophical. You will have bad days. It is how you will deal with them that makes you a survivor.
• Use appropriate punishment for challenging behaviour, but also empathise to get to the root cause of the behaviour.
• Show you are in control of yourself and your class by using relaxed, non-emotional body language and gestures.
• Be consistent in your discipline. Don't have favourites and treat everyone equal.
• Focus on the behaviour not the student.
• Tell them how their behaviour makes you feel.
• Create a list of Do's and Don'ts.
• Do not show dislike for any student. See Pygmalion Effect for teachers. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmalion_effect.html
• Be big enough to apologise if you have made a mistake with a student.
• Build a positive attitude in yourself and your students.
• Introduce yourself to all teachers. Even those who might seem a bit distant. They can be a real help in the first weeks.
• Plan and prepare. Get it right and don't have students laughing at your mistakes.
• Learn as many different teaching techniques as you can. These and your personality are what makes your subject interesting.
• Create a comfortable, friendly environment. Use posters quotations, students' work, colours, shapes, music, textures.
• Be aware of and limit distractions such as windows with no blinds, noises, students walking by, etc.
• Seat students who either need extra help or have challenging attitudes close to you. If possible seat them and yourself in a circle.
• Use your students names often and in a positive way.
• Be different. Be unique.
• Let students help in setting rules and expectations. If they own them they are more likely to adhere to them.
• Emphasise individual student effort, behaviour and reward with praise, positive calls to parents, awards/certificates, lollipops!
• Begin class with a daily "warm-up" activity. Try our Lateral Thinking Problems.
• Check for understanding and review during every lesson.
• Always remember the best discipline is preventative discipline.
• Learn classroom management techniques from the 'veterans'.
• Watch inspirational films especially those about Teachers. Pay it Forward. Dead Poets Society. To Sir With Love. Dangerous Minds.
• Create your own student teacher survival guide. Grow it over the years.
• Floss and smile.

Trigger Moments - What Are They/How Can I Teach More Effectively?

As anyone can imagine, the teaching profession is full of constant change. One day is not always going to have the same pattern of events or sequence as the previous one. A possible way a teacher can be more prepared for change is to anticipate the "trigger moments." These moments happen on a regular basis because a situation presented itself as a reaction moment for a student. If a trigger moment is noted at its beginning stages, it can be drastically reduced.

For example, if a student dislikes being late for something, a teacher should always try and keep to a consistent schedule, inform students of any possible schedule changes before they occur, and remind students how their responsible actions affect the timing of the school day. (Students talking in line = Less recess time for those students)

Also, while some change might be seen as a positive one (a snow day for students) some students have a "trigger moment" when they become rushed and hurried after a school day of snow. Teachers can again remain consistent as well as flexible with assignment/project due dates. This way, the trigger of lateness has a less effect on a student than dislikes being late.

With constant change, it is important that teachers act as dependably as possible. The teachers that succeed are able to totally immerse themselves with teaching yet detach themselves and not take situations personally. Then, the proper teacher will be able to effectively emerge and tackle the teaching profession for all it is worth.

Encouraging Educators To Get A Masters In Education

Teachers that are currently working in the school systems are being faced with challenges and obstacles every day. With the advent of new challenges coming, we are offering the chance for educators to expand their knowledge and increase their abilities by reaching for the next level in their education.

Now, teachers can earn a masters of education degree online. The opportunity has come for potential degree seekers to take courses at their convenience and still live their everyday lives. Continue to work in the education field while advancing yourself to the Masters degree level in only a few years.

Contribute to Young Student's Literacy

Literacy is the foundation for all learning. Assist young students with forming a solid foundation based on skills in literacy. Literacy helps determine academic aptitude. Contribute to the academic and intellectual growth of students when they need it the most.

Help improve literacy rates in your school district and overcome the challenges that are seen from low literacy rates. Learn to steer children K-12 in the right direction and eliminate boundaries that could form if poor skills are developed. Preempt these issues by starting off the right way. Our masters in education degree program can teach you skills to raise literacy in learners.

Manageable Course Loads

Even though our online masters degree program is accelerated, we offer the requisite courses in a manageable load that busy working students can accommodate. Our academic calendar makes it that much easier for students to enroll when the time is right for them. The calendar has six start dates for prospective students. They are: January, March, May, June, September, and November. Students are able to coordinate their work schedules to determine their enrollment date. This masters of education distance learning program blends learning mediums and makes it easy to start on continuing education courses.

Dual Online Programs

Students who apply and are accepted into both the Masters Science of Education Program and the Certificates of Advanced Graduate Study program are required to meet some standards. They differ according to the program.

Masters in Education Program

Bachelors Degree

Already Teaching

Transcripts

1 Year Teaching Experience

Personal Letter Stating Ambition

Online Application

Certification of Advanced Study Program

Masters Degree

Teaching Certification

Working as a Teacher

3 Years Teaching Experience

Online Application

3 Letters of Recommendation

We welcome interested students based on these requirements. Please view the complete list and application fee requirements online.

To ask about enrollment please contact an admissions specialist and they'll be glad to help you start your application. Our students are allowed to make their own schedule and will be assisted in determining the right time to start the distance learning for the masters of education degree.

Future students should ask all questions in regards to the programs offered to better understand how the program works and how their academics will be affected. Students need leaders that understand the dynamic of the current school systems. Take your education to the next level and start to positively influence the communities around you.

Work around your daily schedule and still warn a masters in education. You'll have all the time you need to prepare and advance to the masters level in your personal academic growth.

Teachers Gifts - Simple Yet Thoughtful Ways to Show Your Appreciation

Educators are role models because they give so much to other people. Each person on the planet is a result of a teacher's hard work. Everything we know is because of what they know. So if you want to give back, find really good teachers gifts.

Although saying "thank you" should be enough, it would mean a lot if you go the extra mile and get them something they can use.

Here are some very good ideas for teachers gifts:

Personalized cards. Send them cards during special occasions. Design these cards yourself. Your teacher will appreciate it more because they know you've spent a lot of effort in doing it.
Gift cards. These are probably one of the best teachers gifts you can give. Most teachers would appreciate it. Get them GCs from local coffee shops or department stores.
Gift baskets. These are still very interesting gifts because you can put anything you like in there. Just remember, when making gift baskets, to have a theme so that the stuff you put in there won't look like they were picked randomly.
Donations or charities under their names. Educators are passionate people who believe in certain causes. Making a donation in their name is among the best teachers gifts anyone can make. Your teachers will love it, for sure.
Home-made muffins or cupcakes. These are sweet (no pun intended) gestures teachers would appreciate because you've exerted effort in making them.
Desk accessories. Get your teachers something they can bring to work. It can be a stylish pen holder, a thick, leather-bound notebook, or paperweight. Just think of something they will be able to use for work.
The best teachers gifts, as always, would come from the heart. A sincere "thank you" should be enough, but it would be better to give them something tangible.

Teachers - Social Media and Your Professional Life May Not Mix

Younger teachers have always had email and are comfortable with social media sites. This can cause problems in your professional life because you are used to saying and doing what you like on your own sites. However, there are a growing number of cases of teachers being fired for unwise or inappropriate material on their sites. In some cases they have been fired for completely unjustifiable reasons. If they sue, they may eventually get their jobs back or at least get restitution. Even if this happens, however, several years of income can be lost and the publicity may keep them from ever teaching again. It's best to avoid getting into a mess like this in the first place.

The advent of Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and YouTube have changed our perceptions of privacy and private life vs. public life. I am astounded at the things people will write about themselves for the entire world to see. Many of these are things they would never admit to people in person.Teachers need to think twice before posting.

The following are potential danger spots:

YouTube: This is one that you have little control over. Teacher baiting has become a great game for kids. Kids will intentionally get a teacher worked up and then video the teacher responding. Substitutes are often the victims but it can be regular teachers as well. All it takes is a couple of kids who don't like you, or who are just bored. Don't believe me? Go to YouTube and type in "angry teachers." The best solution is to make sure that students don't have cell phones out. But because they are so small this is difficult to police. Yet another good reason to keep moving around in the room.
Your Facebook page: Teachers have been fired because of the content on their Facebook pages, even when those pages are not accessible to students or parents.
Flickr or other photo sites: If you post a photo that your school deems inappropriate you may be fired. Tops in this list include pictures of you drunk, in disarray, kissing someone, doing anything illegal.
Blogs: In blogs if you say negative things about your school, district or students you may be fired. Yes, this is probably illegal, but it is happening. As far as the world is concerned you love your job and want to work there forever. Keep complaints to friends, and never write them down.
Private Behavior: Yes, outside the school building you have a right to behave as you wish, within the law. But understand that if students, parents, fellow teachers or administrators see you vomiting outside a bar on Friday night it can cause big problems for you. Use your head!
Doing controversial things in class: Clear it with your administrator first. This often happens with social studies teachers who are trying to re-enact a particular time period. There are some terrific activities that kids can learn a great deal from. But none of them are worth losing your job over. Do something else.
Showing all or parts of R-rated movies. There are many R-rated movies that are excellent teaching tools. The beginning segment of Saving Private Ryan is a good example. However, no matter how valid your reason for showing it, no administrator is going to support you if a parent comes unglued about it. I did show portions of R-rated films on occasion, but I certainly would not do it in our current anti-public school environment. Find another way to get your point across. It's simply not worth taking the risk of losing your job.
Remember that teachers are considered to be public figures and are open to public scrutiny. Most teacher contracts still contain a morals clause. While it may grate on you, it's best to keep your personal activities off line. Teachers are under enough fire and criticism as it is. Don't allow yourself to be caught up in a situation you could have avoided.

For additional protection I recommended joining your teachers' association. You will be provided legal counsel if something does happen.

Creating an Effective Classroom

Classroom management becomes truly effective when the teacher is able to effectively communicate to their classes that they mean business.

Easier said than done, right? It actually is quite easy, although there is a subtle art to it. However, even if you are a teacher who is struggling right now with class management issues, you can go into your classroom tomorrow and send the message immediately that you mean business by doing one simple thing right now.

Make up your mind that you will take ownership of the management issues in your class and that you will be the one to deal effectively with them. Understand that effective classroom management begins and ends with you. Put away the detention slips, and use them only for serious offenses. Remind yourself that this is your classroom, and you have been empowered by the school district to manage it professionally and effectively. Then, sit down and write a list of the class management issues that you are experiencing which are making it almost impossible for you to teach your class.

Put the curriculum on hold for a week. Don't worry, once you get the class working effectively, you can catch up. They are probably not learning much now anyway, so focus like a laser beam on your list.

Examine your list. Ask yourself: what can I do to decrease the problems I am having, and increase my on task teaching time? Try to think like one of your students. What really motivates them? Why do they act the way they act? Why do they do these things in my class but not in other classes?

Then, prepare lessons which deal with every problem on your list. Talk about them openly with your class. Try to get them involved and engaged with the problems in class. Be clear and precise with them, and discuss the importance of the issues in your lessons. Be firm, but understanding. Try not to yell, but do not plead either. Show them you are in control of yourself and your emotions, and that from now on, things are going to be different in this classroom.

Set behavior goals with the class which can be measured and if met, they can receive a reward. Link them to the problems on your list. Show your students you appreciate their cooperation, but do not overdo it, otherwise they will think you are trying to manipulate them. Remember that your goal is to decrease problems and increase on task teaching time. Chart your progress towards that goal, and cross off your list the issues you effectively have been able to conquer.

Lastly, understand that effective classroom management is never going to be perfect. Some days will be good, and others not so good. However, if you decide to take control today, you will have more good days than bad. Guaranteed.

The Internet As an Educational Tool? Not Until We Can Control Plagiarism

Teachers have recognized the educational potential of the internet from the very beginning, both for the educators and for students. Unfortunately, there are three areas in which the "Sleaze Factor" is ruining the internet as the powerful educational tool it should be: (1) massive amounts of plagiarism, (2) the growing number of safety and ethical issues, and (3) pornography. Until we find a way to remove these very important areas of concern, allowing children under 18 open access to the internet could actually be considered negligence. This article will deal the issue of plagiarism.

Because the majority of articles I write deal in some way specifically with mathematics, I generally start will reviewing necessary prerequisite information and the definition of terms. I decided I should check to see if "sleaze factor" needed to be defined. What do you think I found? You are correct! No definition is necessary. Whether it was husbands who go out on their wives, marketing tactics, or characteristics of certain female dates, I found many references about "sleaze factor."

What is especially sad and frustrating about this topic is that in the 3 areas I just mentioned, the people involved and possibly hurt are adults. However, when discussing educational issues, the people involved are children. We as a society should simply not be allowing these issues to even exist.

Plagiarism: A "Sleaze Factor" Ruining The Educational Value Of The Internet"

Plagiarism is becoming rampant on the internet. This has been a recent topic of conversation within an active group of ezine article writers. It is happening to me as we speak. Someone using a fake name, although I don't believe she actually exists, has stolen at least one of my articles, changed the title, put her name on it and now it is appearing on many sites and is being downloaded and emailed by people who don't know what she has done. The fact that she stole an article that is the first in a series I was announcing as well as the fact I mentioned another series I write makes me wonder if she intends to steal them all.

Because I am new to the writing field, I am finding this to be beyond belief. I brought up the issue to fellow authors, and discovered that this is happening to many, if not all, of them. It is just as troubling to them as it is to me. This problem is incredibly widespread. It is also very important! It is almost as if people don't know it is illegal. I don't know what happened to decency and honesty; and this is certainly increasing my cynicism about materials I find on the internet.

While I may be very frustrated about this for myself, I want to be very clear about why this is such an important issue for our school children. As our junior high students and high school students and even college students are doing research for a paper, just what is going to tell them that the information they are reading is plagiarized? When they turn in their research paper, it will have the name of a thief cited as the original author, which is a lie and can be verified. Students can fail for using plagiarized material.

The internet is becoming a breeding ground for "bottom feeders" because there are no controls nor punishments for the illegal things they do. If sites cannot be trusted to furnish factual non-plagiarized material, our children may just need to return to encyclopedias. They are safer in many ways.

The Internet As an Educational Tool? Not While The "Sleaze Factor" of Pornography Is Uncontrolle

There is no doubt that the internet provides enormous educational potential. Teachers have known this from the very beginning. Unfortunately, the "bottom feeders" of the internet have been equally aware of the potential for wealth from the "Sleaze Factors" of (1) plagiarism, (2) unethical and unsafe issues, and (3) pornography. Until there is a way to eliminate, or at least control these issues, allowing open access to the internet for anyone under the age of 18 should be considered negligence; and schools simply will not be able to use the internet to its full educational potential. I dealt with the first two "Sleaze Factors" in other articles. This article will concentrate on the pornography issue.

I discussed this issue a little bit is another article, but pornography is such a serious issue for schools that it can't be discussed too often. Obviously there is a great deal of money to be made in pornography, because pornographers spend so much time, money, and effort in creating sites for people to stumble upon. It isn't sufficient for the thousands of interested people to go to published sites for their pleasures. Instead, these site owners also have to trick other people into going to their sites as well. This should be a crime!

As soon as schools could afford to do so, they started creating computer labs and adding internet access to those labs and classroom computers for the benefit of students and teachers alike. For a short time, the ability to find educationally sound websites was, indeed, wonderful. We had a new resource at our fingertips that would revolutionize education. Some people were predicting the end to schools and elimination of the need for teachers within a very few years. These predictions never take into account the "bottom feeders" of the world, who, for whatever reason, must destroy everything good.

Before this process of creating computer labs with internet access was even complete, students started finding that if they misspelled the name of an educational site or accidentally made a wrong keystroke, porn sites appeared. Needless to say, parents were NOT happy! Schools immediately started installing filters on their systems that would not allow certain sites to be accessed. Then, all likely misspellings needed to be added to the list of "cannot be accessed." Then, frequently researched topics brought porn sites instead. So schools started adding seemingly harmless words to the "cannot be accessed" list.

I taught mathematics. Seems like a safe topic, doesn't it. Wrong! I know I am naive, but I really don't understand what these people get out of forcing word after word off the acceptable list. Schools have no choice but to continue this process. Our tax payers very much resent having schools providing porn to their children, and rightly so. Parents have also been forced to put filters on their home systems in order to protect their children. Now, we have schools starting to buy class sets of iPads--the newest technology, but again filters become an issue. It is all very sad!

With all of these "Sleaze Factors" at work at the same time, legitimate research sites are becoming few and far between, plagiarism is more of an issue than most students and parents even realize, and using unfiltered computers is just plain dangerous for our children.

There are no simple solutions in sight. Certainly First Amendment Rights are important and need to be considered, but the safety and educational importance for our children are at least equally important. As a society, we need to be making some very important decisions related to the hierarchy of importance of these concerns and we need to do this sooner rather than later.

The only positive thing about all of this is that schools and teachers are becoming more important than they ever were. Where else can you trust that the people involved have your child's best interests in mind? It certainly is NOT on the internet.

Why The Internet Will Not Eliminate Teachers or Schools As Some Have Predicted

Recently, I read a few articles about the future of education. In each case, the author was predicting that the massive collection of knowledge of the Internet would make traditional schools obsolete. Teachers and schools will become unnecessary. I don't claim to be any kind of visionary, but there are many reasons this prediction will not come true.

During my teaching career, I experienced the entire "technology in the classroom" movement from the first arguments over allowing use of small four-function calculators in the classroom, to the introduction of the first computers for classroom use, to graphing calculators, the developments of the internet and the World Wide Web, interactive white boards, iPhones, iPads, etc. I heard the predictions and I've watched what actually happened. Consistently, the reality falls far short of the prediction.

The Internet is by no means a new educational tool. The Internet has existed for many years and its benefits for teachers has been advanced for all of those years. In the early days, once school computer became prevalent enough to allow for 1 or 2 computer labs and schools could access the Internet, there actually was a short period of time when students and teachers frequently used this educational tool. There are many excellent educational sites that have provided wonderful lesson plan ideas and materials for classroom use.

It didn't, however, take very long for parents and schools to discover that there was a major problem developing with allowing open access to the Internet. Those of us who are naive and always see the good and the positive potential in people, and who expect the same from everyone, were caught off guard by the arrival and rapid increase in the amount of pornography on the Internet. Suddenly, we had students watching porn in our school libraries and computer labs!

You can argue First Amendment Rights all day long, but that won't change the fact that the majority, if not all, parents do not want their public--paid for with their tax dollars--schools allowing, even providing, porn to their children. The solution to the problem became and will continue to be the #1 reason that schools or any educational facility--even homes--will never be able to use the full educational potential of the Internet: FILTERS!

I wish I could make that word as big and flashy as it needs to be to convey the full impact this has made on the educational uses of the Internet. While parents demand tighter and tighter controls on what their children can access at school and are finding the need to do likewise at home (as witnessed by the rapid increase in the number of websites devoted to providing filters for home computers, iPods, iPads, etc.), the "Internet Bottom Feeders" keep developing ways to circumvent those same filters. (My growing cynicism is telling me that the people providing the filters are likely the same ones making the filters necessary.)

The list of valuable educational sites that have become unavailable continues to lengthen as porn sites appear with every possible mis-spelling or keystroke error a student might make. The length of the list of seemingly harmless words that now have to be filtered out would shock most of you.

Is the Internet set to eliminate teachers and schools? Certainly not anytime in the foreseeable future. With much of their internet access now heavily filtered, it has become very difficult for students to do any meaningful, valid research.

There are many other reasons that the Internet is ceasing to be a viable educational tool for children. The Internet becomes more dangerous to our children every day, and the information found there is often false or plagiarized. Sources can no longer be trusted. These issues will be discussed in other articles; but for now, schools and teachers are more important than they have ever been for the trusted, truthful exchange of information.

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The Internet As an Educational Tool? Not Until The "Sleaze Factors" Of Unethical And Unsafe Are Gone

The "Sleaze Factors" of (1) plagiarism, (2) ethics and safety issues, and (3) pornography are quite literally eliminating the internet as an educational tool for schools. I dealt with plagiarism in a different article, and I will deal with pornography in another. This article will deal with the concerns schools and parents must face related to ethics and safety with respect to our students. The number of ways this is touching our children's lives is growing exponentially (maybe a future math lesson), and schools simply can't keep up.

Ethics And Safety Issues: A "Sleaze Factor" Ruining The Educational Value Of The Internet:

The safety issues surrounding the internet have been known and talked about for a very long time now. We all are pretty well-informed about on-line predators stalking our children; and this issue is usually more of a home issue than a school issue. Television networks have done show after show where they have "set-up" some of these online predators and we have seen over and over their typical mode of operation. These same programs have offered suggestions for ways to know what your kids are doing online and ways of knowing to whom they are speaking or texting.

There is a great deal of software available now to allow you to track your children, know who they are calling or texting, and see what pictures they are receiving and sending. (Teens tend to do these at school.) Many teens get livid about privacy issues, but as long as they are under your roof and you are responsible for everything they do, safety outweighs privacy. If you are having any problems in this area, notify your school and teachers. They may be able to help, and at the very least, it may help them understand what may have become behavioral issues at school.

A few things that experts keep suggesting, but too many parents are still not doing:

(1) Never allow a computer in a student's room--you cannot know what they are doing until after the fact. Prevention beats correction!

(2) Place the computer in a high traffic area, not a dark corner. Your goal is for your child to never know when someone will walk by. (Don't allow computer use until an adult is home.)

(3) Have the computer screen facing out at all times. Check on your child frequently. Know what sites they are visiting right now--not just on the report you read later.

There is much more information online about safety issues, so if you haven't already done so; educate yourself.

The ethical issues surrounding the internet are growing rapidly and in ways we never imagined:

(1) Cyber-bullying is not a new topic, but it is one that must be continually discussed. Even young children are posting questions like "Who is the cutest boy?" or "Who bothers you the most?" on school sites that teachers create just for their own classes so that the students will be safe. Certainly that teacher will remove these questions and any responses, but children must have reinforced for them every day--maybe several times a day--that these questions can lead to unwanted and serious complications.

We have young children committing suicide because of the mean things other children often say. It was bad enough when students were passing bad notes in class about someone, but now we have even worse things being said online. Young children do not understand that the internet is not private--it is not just between a few friends. They also do not realize that what they write is there forever. These concepts must be reinforced and reinforced and reinforced. They need to develop a "Do no harm" attitude.

(2) Ethical issues are becoming more of a problem every day. This may include plagiarism. (Does your child know what that means and that it is illegal?) It may include privacy issues--like posting someone else's picture without their permission. Worst of all, it may include issues of inappropriate personal issues. More and more students are posting pictures of themselves doing very inappropriate behaviors. Sometimes they are "just emailing to a friend" but the "friend" posts it to the internet. Regardless of who posted it, it is now there for the entire world to see and it is there forever! Children of all ages need help to understand that they have no control over the internet.

Sadly, there is a growing problem with ethical issues related to teens and teachers. This new generation of teachers that has grown up with the internet seem oblivious to the fact that if they post a picture of themselves drunk on the internet, they will likely be fired. They also believe their students will never see it. NOT TRUE! If you overhear your child discussing such a thing, report it to the school. Also be aware that teens are very fond of taking inappropriate pictures of themselves, or other students, or even teachers and posting them, again without permission. To all young teachers, pay attention to this!

The legal issues surrounding the internet are often vague--but not to schools. If is inappropriate, the involved people will be dealt with harshly. Faculty members fired, students suspended or expelled. These issues must be discussed and discussed frequently--by both parents and teachers!