In a clash with teacher unions, New York City Mayor Bloomberg has announced that student test scores will factor into whether teachers received tenured status or not.  Wow, I can sense the uproar and debate all the way out here on the West coast!

What do you think of this policy?  Should teachers' careers be held up by student test results?  What factors should go into deciding whether a teacher is awarded tenure or not?

The latest trend in test preparation?  Helping three and four year olds get ready for kindergarten admissions tests!  And it's not just for private school admissions.  Many preschool aged children are studying in order to get into public gifted and talented programs.

Do you think this is harmless or excessive?  In my opinion, testing has gotten out of control in our education system.  We should allow children to develop and evolve with less structure and pressure.

In light of the U.S. Education Secretary's recent push for tougher teacher training standards, many teachers are a bit defensive about being under an even sharper microscope.  For example, commenter Stuart candidly said:

"The last thing I need is for a know-nothing administrator lurking in my classroom and leaving comments about petty things that have absolutely nothing to do with teaching especially when many of these schmendricks have been out of the classroom for eons.

I have been teaching for 41 years and I do not need some one who was being toilet trained when I started teaching telling me my business."

While Stuart's viewpoint might have been expressed bluntly, I'm sure it echoes the concerns of many classroom teachers.  Do you think teachers need more rigorous standards to enter the profession and closer observation once on the job?  Would you welcome the scrutiny or resent it?

Everyone's feeling the economic pinch nowadays.  As teachers, we're used to having to make every dollar count.  Budgeting skills and a frugal nature are practically job requirements!

These money-saving tips for teachers offer practical ways that you can give your students the best opportunities to learn without having to dip too much into your own wallet.

I believe that effective teaching doesn't require fancy gadgets or prizes for good behavior.  How do you stretch your classroom budget?

There's a new trend in town: teachers selling their lesson plans online for cash.  It's controversial because one of the hallmarks of the teaching profession has always been the open sharing and collaboration between colleagues.  But proponents argue, "Why shouldn't I profit from the lessons I create?"  Many teachers use the funds they earn to buy much-needed supplies for their classrooms.

Would you consider selling your lessons for money?  What do you think of teachers who cash in on their intellectual property rather than share it freely with other educators?

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love how it's family-oriented, food-centric, and heavy on the gratitude for our individual and collective blessings. That's my kind of holiday!

So it comes naturally to me to bring my Thanksgiving enthusiasm into the classroom. My top way to spread the November cheer is through a variety of Thanksgiving writing activities:

• Thanksgiving Math Word Problems
• Thanksgiving Acrostic Poem Lesson
• Thanksgiving Writing Prompts
• A Thanksgiving Word Bank (for use with any Thanksgiving writing lesson)

Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving lesson? I'd love to add to my November repertoire.

So, we're a few months into the school year and let's face it - your classroom may be starting to look a little less than fresh, particularly when it comes to untidy student desks. Take this messy matter into your own hands with these proactive tips for helping your students straighten up their desks:

• Basic Strategies for Cleaning Up Student Desks
• A Hardcore Plan for Students with Extremely Messy Desks





What are your most effective tips and tricks for keep student desks tidy?

Education Secretary Arne Duncan recently called for a sweeping overhaul in how America's teachers are recruited and trained.  Some of the recommended changes are:

• creating education programs at more prestigious institutions
• making programs more selective (minimum 3.5 GPA and a more exhaustive application process)
• offering teacher education programs for no-cost to the students
• giving a stipend to new teachers during the first three years of teaching
• performing an increased number of formal observations in classroom settings
• having students watch more videos of themselves teaching
• offering incentives to schools to hire newly trained teachers in groups of seven or more (for increased support and consistency in order to reduce attrition)

Wow, those are sweeping reforms!  What do you think of these ideas?  Anything else you would want to throw into the mix?

Veterans Day (November 11th)  is more than just a day off school.

Teach your students the true meaning of honor, sacrifice, and love for one's country through these Veterans Day Teaching Ideas.  It's actually fun and easy to integrate an appreciation for our nation's veterans into almost every subject in the curriculum.

New data shows that education is the sector where the most jobs were saved from elimination due to the federal economic stimulus package. In fact, over 50% of all saved jobs were in education.

This resonates with me because I know of several teachers whose positions were saved from budget cuts at the last minute due to new access to funding.  Of course, the education system is still strapped for cash and many problems remain.  But isn't it good to know that education was somehow prioritized by the federal government's stimulus spending?