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Using a second language to land the job
Stefano Tromba EducationAs the economy continues to slowly improve and unemployment levels drop, more and more job seekers are finding the task of getting hired less daunting. The unemployment rate in the United States was down to 5.5 percent in May — nearly half of what it was five years ago at 9.6 percent in May of 2010. This trend signals a slow, yet steadily growing confidence in the economy and a positive future outlook from many companies.
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Quest for quiet: Considering noise control as an accommodation
Pamela Hill EducationWhen educators plan Individual Educational Programs for students with learning disabilities, they use several key considerations for possible instructional and test accommodations to help students improve their individualized learning.
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To test or not to test? That is the growing question
Brian Stack EducationEarlier this month, New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan took a bold step in the debate over whether students can opt out of standardized testing. She vetoed a bill that would have allowed students to do so.
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The customer is not always right: A case for teacher autonomy in the classroom
Debra Josephson Abrams EducationAccording to both Immigration and Customs Enforcement and English Language Program requirements, students are supposed to be "active learners." In reality, many come and go at will. There may be all sorts of reasons behind their behavior: Perhaps, because their countries or parents are sponsoring them, the "students" have no vested interest in their education. Perhaps, as is the case where I worked until recently, it is because administrators equate students with customers who are to be served, and as businessman Harry Selfridge asserted, "the customer is always right."
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A look at summer MOOCs for K-12 students
Bambi Majumdar EducationThere was once a time when K-12 students had a huge list of summer homework handed over to them on the last day of school. Today, parents get an exhaustive list of websites for their children to visit over summer to continue learning from. The concepts of flipped classrooms and digitized lessons have brought Massive Online Open Courses into the mainstream. MOOCs are increasingly replacing summer school and bridge programs through platforms that students can easily manage and parents can monitor simultaneously.
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Engage all learners: Make students think visually
Savanna Flakes EducationOne way to increase student engagement and facilitate deeper learning is to frequently check for student understanding throughout a lesson. Practitioners find many benefits in using frequent assessment techniques to simultaneously check all students' level of understanding. My three favorite technology tools increase student engagement and quickly get students thinking visually so teachers can adjust and differentiate instruction on the spot. All three technology tools are free, teacher-friendly, and the student data can be saved and graphed to facilitate data charts.
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ELL writing skills: The exercises
Douglas Magrath EducationWriting is essential for communication. Note the following from the ACTFL Standards: "Communication is at the heart of second-language study, whether the communication takes place face-to-face, in writing, or across centuries through the reading of literature."
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Coming soon to a school near you: The new SAT
Brian Stack EducationThe introduction of the Common Core has caused many high schools and colleges to move toward proficiency and competency-based assessment systems in recent years. The focus in the educational community has now turned to one of the rites of passages that many high school juniors and seniors still face: college entrance exams like the SAT.
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Summertime for special educators: Learn something new
Pamela Hill EducationIf you are a special educator and have reached the last day of school, congratulations! Another school year is complete! At some time during this month all schools that follow a traditional calendar will provide a summer break of several weeks. Schools who follow year-round calendars will also have break, typically in August. In all situations, the special educator will have an extended time to have a break from teaching.
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Should schools schedule more field trips for students?
Bambi Majumdar EducationThe importance of field trips has never been felt more. As rising debates about changes in education policies and methods rage all over the country, more school districts are exploring their field trip calendars to incorporate interactive and innovative learning programs.
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