About Elementary Education: "The Teachers' Unions Last Stand"

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Elementary Education Elementary Education Lesson Plans Teaching 101 Student Discipline From Beth Lewis, your Guide to Elementary Education The topic of teachers' unions is often controversial. In fact, it seems to be getting more and more controversial each year. If you're passionate about the topic one way or the other, we'd love to hear your opinions through the blog. ~Beth "The Teachers' Unions Last Stand" Should teachers be held accountable (to the point of even being fired) if they don't prove their job performance adequately through student standardized test scores? There's a lot of talk about this issue lately. But how would it work? Teachers belong to unions, and unions disallow such actions. This weekend, there's an extensive article in the New York Times that examines the pull and push between momentum for education reform and how unions fit into the evolving framework. What do you think? Are unions antiquated and on their way out? Should unions be modernized for the new millennium? How are unions helping teachers, students, education reform, and the country? Big questions, I know. But I thought I would throw it out there for discussion.... Read more Teaching Jobs Flooded With Applicants; How Can You Stand Out? I hate reading headlines like this: "Teaching Candidates Aplenty, but the Jobs Are Few." What's a classroom-seeking teacher to do? May I recommend the Teaching Job Hunt Headquarters. One of my favorite resources is the Top Interview Questions for Prospective Teachers. I sincerely wish all educators the best of luck in finding a position. We need motivated, intelligent teachers in our society. Be persistent, put your best foot forward, and keep the faith!... Read more Using the Summer for Self-Reflection To paraphrase a well-known saying, the unexamined teaching career is not worth continuing. I think that avoiding honest self-reflection is one of the surest ways for a teacher to become stagnant and ineffective. Even after a relatively good school year, the summer is the perfect time to self-reflect - which means thinking about what went well, what could have gone better, and how you can improve in the future. Use these tips to guide you through the self-reflection process. After all, aren't there always ways we can improve as educators?... Read more Professional Growth Tools Professional Development resources that help you be your best professionally. The best teachers are reflective, always striving to better themselves and their practices. Here's what you need to know to take your teaching to the next level! Elementary Education Ads Elementary School School Letters Parent and School Survey Parents Parents Tutoring Featured Articles Becoming an Elementary School Teacher Assessment and Testing Education Glossary Core Teaching Strategies Lesson Plans and Activities Student Discipline Tips   More from About.com Great Stuff Kids Love From the hottest tunes and best online videos to favorite books and classic toys, here are our top picks for the kids in your life. More > Join About.com's User Panel! Share your opinions and help us make About.com more relevant, informative and enjoyable to use. More> This newsletter is written by: Beth Lewis Elementary Education Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Elementary Education newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2010 About.com   Must Reads How to Hold Class Meetings 3 Powerful Story Starters Banning Words for Creative Writing Scaffolding Techniques for Good Teaching Blank Lesson Plan Template Advertisement