If you are finishing your undergraduate degree or wrapping up your first few years in the classroom, you may be starting to think about what is next in your professional life. Should you go to graduate school? Many states now mandate either the completion of a master's degree in education or additional training for teacher licensure in addition to…

Learners who have struggled along the way can provide many lessons for everyone and for schools that are supposed to help all students learn. Based on interviews with hundreds of "great learners," the author identifies seven characteristics that describe what sets great learners apart from other learners. These are: (1) Great learners see learning…

Building a strong partnership with students' families will help the student succeed. At Parents for Public Schools, the author and her staff work to bring parents and guardians into a positive relationship with their children's teachers and schools, and they have gathered feedback from parents about how they think that can happen. This article…

Parents--whether they're biological parents, legal guardians, grandparents, or other family members who are primary caregivers--can be the most critical partners teachers have in their students' academic journeys. How can teachers build effective relationships that help students to succeed? This article provides ideas and methods that can help…

Parent-teacher conferences are an important component of ongoing home-school communication and family involvement in your classroom. Did you also know that home-school communication predicts positive outcomes for students and for schools? Although you may already be working hard to engage parents in their children's education, this tip sheet is…

As the tenth anniversary of NCLB has come and gone, both new and experienced educators continue to wrestle yearly with the standardized testing culture that has pervaded the educational experience of nearly every American child and teacher. Despite the requests for waivers to exempt certain states from NCLB, the majority of students and their…

Teaching is a difficult and time-consuming job, but the rewards teachers receive from their students are unquestionably worth it. The good news is that in every school, there are people that they work with who can help to make their daily life much easier--but they are not always the people that they would think to ask for help. New teachers often…

Cooperating teachers can help student teachers make the most of their student teaching experience. The author has served as an on-site supervisor for many practicum students and interns. She has also worked on the university side, supervising pre-student teachers and school psychology practicum students. Having served in all three of these…

Students know what good teaching looks like--but educators rarely ask them. See what these high school students, who are members of the Future Educators Association[R] and want to be teachers themselves, said. FEA is a part of the PDK family of education associations, which includes Pi Lambda Theta. Get insider advice on good teaching from some…

Today's classrooms are increasingly diverse, and some of the students may be learning English at the same time they're trying to learn math, science, and history. Many new teachers are left to decide on their own how best to address the variety of backgrounds, languages, and experiences their students bring to the classroom. For new teachers with…

Plenty of reports and research have documented the achievement gap between black males and other students. But few have acknowledged that current structures and practices have contributed to that gap. To address the low achievement of black males, schools must be willing to accept that there are ways of looking at the world, modes of…

Many Hollywood films show the struggles of students with disabilities. More often than not, the struggle involves a clash between family and school. Real life shows that the movies have some of it right. According to MetLife's 2005 Survey of the American Teacher, new teachers often consider working with parents to be their biggest challenge. Both…

Want to stand out? Be willing to take risks. Word gets around; kids compare notes. They learn who the fun teachers are and who does the most interesting stuff. In this article, the authors share strategies for managing the classroom, showcasing student work, dressing for success, and more.

Teacher education programs can't prepare educators for everything that they might encounter on the job. Regardless of where they earn their degree--and even if they have had solid student teaching experiences before they claim their credential--new teachers are bound to face unexpected, upsetting, occasionally funny, and sometimes awkward…

What makes the difference between a good teacher and a great one? Knowing one's content is important, but having strong leadership skills can tip the scales from mediocrity to excellence. The best time to begin practicing being a teacher leader is during the preservice years. By practicing leadership skills, one can begin to view oneself not only…