Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not limited to the men and women who have been exposed to the horrors of war through military service. Children who are exposed to traumatic and life-threatening events, such as school shootings, physical and sexual abuse, and community violence, also can suffer from PTSD. This article explores the causes,…

What are acute poverty challenges for culturally disadvantaged school communities across the United States? How do practicing teacher-researchers, pursuing advanced degrees, view this issue and the 21st century skills and dispositions classroom teachers need to foster change? Curious about this topic from the viewpoints of teachers who are…

Within today's changing society, teachers must meet the needs of culturally diverse students. Beyond cultural awareness, teachers must identify cultural implications and modify instructional approaches to address both the students' academic and cultural needs. To do so will create culturally responsive classrooms and promote student success.…

Among a number of lessons, this commentary suggests that oftentimes the grade a student receives in a class is not truly reflective of what that student learned. Certainly, assigning grades--at least for those who take their role as educators seriously--is one of the toughest tasks confronting the classroom teacher. Again and again, one reflects…

As an advocate for all students, educators have a legal, moral, and ethical responsibility for identifying and reporting child abuse. One of the most difficult tasks a teacher may face is also one of the most important a teacher can do. If a teacher knows what to look for and what to do, he or she can help a child heal physically and emotionally.…

If the abuse of a child were at the hands of a schoolyard bully or lurking pedophile, parents most likely would applaud intervention. However, precisely because most cases involve an abusive parent, intervention is almost automatically deemed a dicey proposition. The law, however, now requires teachers to report cases of suspected child abuse or…

In this article, the author offers suggestions, based on the insightful article "The Three Rs of Professionalism" by Patricia H. Phelps ("Record" Winter 2006), for beginning teachers as they prepare for successful secondary classroom careers. As a professor of general secondary methods, the author emphasizes and has modeled the importance of six…

While working to comply with standards for academic skills prescribed by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), educators must not lose sight of their equally important responsibility to teach social skills. A set of appropriate social skills is one of the most critical elements for well-rounded individuals capable of full participation in a…

Professionalism is measured by the best and the highest standards. When teachers use excellence as a critical criterion for judging their actions and attitudes, their professionalism is enhanced. This author contends that three primary indicators constitute the meaning of professionalism: responsibility, respect, and risk taking; and that when…

Today's classrooms are a reflection of today?s society; and more than anything else, they can be characterized as diverse. Every day, new students arrive at school who speak a language unknown in the community, who are recent immigrants to the United States, who are struggling to learn because of stresses in their lives outside of school, or who…

In the general classroom setting, informed teachers can deliver necessary and appropriate services to students with special needs, while at the same time work toward successful outcomes for those children, their peers, and their parents. IDEA '97 clearly defines educators' responsibilities with regard to children with disabilities, including…

The major goal of this article is to provide teachers with a set of clear and concise recommendations as well as a model for developing effective instruments that will promote powerful learning opportunities for their students, and at the same time, improve their own teaching skills. Based on the author's experience, some of the most problematic…

In today's societal landscape, "adoption," the legal process by which a child becomes a full and permanent member of a new family, is becoming commonplace. Even though most people have had a personal experience with adoption in some capacity, those most closely associated with adoption (birth parents, adoptees, and adoptive parents) continue to be…

Describes one secondary educator's experiences teaching in Belfast, Northern Ireland, noting differences in education practice between Northern Ireland and the United States. The article highlights the pastoral system (in which teachers monitor students' welfare), the national curriculum, and changing schools (schools are beginning to try an…

Describes math anxiety, explaining roadblocks to mathematics success; discussing strategies for overcoming anxiety (e.g., parent involvement, teacher sensitivity, and peer tutoring); and examining the influence of learning styles on mathematics achievement and attitudes. Mathematics teachers must identify students' problems in mathematics, work…