Teachers are among the many casualties of this faltering economy, especially young, motivated teachers. So many promising educators –who have chosen a career path of little financial reward because they want to help growing young minds — are waiting in the wings, wondering when they’ll get their opportunity.  Those new teachers now must compete with […]
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Posted inClassroom Management, Opinion, Parents
Educating the Uneducated: 10 Things I Wish Every Parent Knew
I’ve been on both sides of the fence: the educator side and the parent side. I’m sure most of you have been there also. We’ve all had the families come through our classroom doors that we cannot wait to develop relationships with. You know the ones: they fill out every line on the volunteer form then add […]
Posted inFeatured, Opinion, The Unemployed Teacher
The Unemployed Teacher: Why Do We Become Teachers?
This is my second school year (and 16th month) without a permanent teaching position. Like thousands of other out-of-work teachers, I spend many hours a week looking and applying for jobs. The world of unemployment is filled with extremely relentless efforts that produce very regular rejections. Sometimes you hit a job opening at just the […]
Posted inOpinion, The Unemployed Teacher
The Journey of An Unemployed Teacher: A Shock to the System!
I mentioned last week that there have been over 350,000 teaching job losses since 2009. Usually the story of education job cuts stops there. But what really happens once the decision to cut is made? Every state in the union has districts that have experienced a massive shock to their system through a Reduction […]
Posted inUncategorized
The Problem? Teachers! The Solution? Anything But Teachers!
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] This week’s focus on education by NBC and its many family of channels during its “Education Nation” episodes has provoked some interesting conversation and even more predictable suggestions for “reform.” […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, High School, Middle School, Opinion, The Unemployed Teacher
The Unemployed Teacher: A School Year Begins…Without Us
I took it for granted. I took for granted that once I found my passion and had seven years experience under my belt with it, I was safe. My passion is teaching Social Studies – I especially love Civics and Sociology, but have taught everything from Global Studies to US History. I had developed and […]
Posted inFrom the Front Lines, The New Teacher Chronicles, Uncategorized
Pulling Back the Curtain: You Can't Save Them All…
By: Eric Pederson In my previous article I recapped a bit of my history in education, but mainly I drew attention to the fact that educators as a whole leave college largely unprepared for what truly lies ahead of them. With the articles that are to follow in this column, I hope to bring to […]
Posted inOpinion, Principals' Corner
When Teachers Feel Appreciated, Schools Thrive
Last week, I had to reapply for my job as a classroom teacher (along with hundreds of other educators) despite me having stellar job reviews and even after recently being voted Teacher of the Year at my school.  No, I did not get caught up in some school level scandal but instead, the district cited “budgetary […]