Online Resources | Teach USA

Giving Yourself All the Good Things in This Life

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People who have the ability to help someone learn a specific subject are teachers. These special people have what it takes to teach children and adults different things; however, teaching can be a stressful career. If you want to enjoy the good things in life, incorporate some of the following suggestions into your job.

Be a mentor. A mentor takes teaching to a different level. Instead of just supplying information to students, you will actually be able to connect with them on a more intimate level. When you become a mentor, you’ll often stay in touch with your students long after they move to a different teacher. This will allow you to see how your work influenced students throughout their lives.

Continue your education through online courses. Most schools encourage continued education, and many will increase your pay for each new certification you add. Having a Master’s Degree in Education or in a specific topic can increase your pay several thousand dollars, depending on your school district.

Enjoy time off. Not all jobs allow you to take off every weekend and major holiday. When you teach, you’ll have time to enjoy whatever things you want to pursue. Start a hobby, travel during your breaks or volunteer for a cause you support.

Few careers are as rewarding as teaching. If you really want to be able to enjoy the good things in life, consider a career as a teacher. This will allow you the chance to enjoy life while helping future generations learn the skills they need to be successful in life.

Filed Under: Lesson Plans, Online Resources · Tagged With: Education, Student, Teacher

Four Online Courses That Help The Disabled

When you first hear that your child is disabled, no matter what the disability, you may feel that the world has come crashing down around you. Physical, emotional, sensory or mental disabilities can and will change every aspect of your life. By providing your disabled child with access to education geared towards their issue, you can help them overcome their disability. There are four great classes that can help prepare disabled children for the future and help them know the statement “earn my degree” will apply to them too.

College Prep Online: Having disabled children take a college prep course is the best way to say “yes” to “earn my degree”. The online class will cover study skills, time management, and the difference between high school and college.
Speed Reading: One of the biggest problems facing all college age children is the sheer amount of reading material. Enroll your child in an online speed reading course to help them prepare.
Grammar: You want your child to have all the tools they need, and a basic grammar class will help them be successful in every class they take.
Internet Research: Internet research is becoming the bedrock for research at the college level. When your problem child tells you that he wants to “earn my degree” be sure to have them take an Internet Research course.

You may also want to consider working with a teacher or counselor familiar with your child’s specific disability for other online course suggestions to better prepare them for the college world.

Filed Under: Education, Online Resources, Teaching Methods · Tagged With: Disabled, Internet Research, Online Courses

Pros and Cons of Taking Teaching Courses Online

A lot of educational systems have surfaced online. Among the schools include earnmydegree.com, a web-based school that offers convenience, quick learning and even flexible financial options. But are these schools worth it?

There are pros and cons to taking courses online for a teaching degree. When considering this option you may want to sit down and really go over the pros and cons before making your decision. Although the particular pros and cons of this decision will be individualized to your specific situation, there are a few obvious ones we can look at together.

Pros: Taking courses online towards your teaching degree allows you the flexibility and convenience to continue working elsewhere while you are in school. You are able to take the time you personally need to complete assignments without interruption or lengthy lectures. You are able to learn at the pace and in the way that is best suited to your learning style. Although some people learn better audibly and need to be in a physical classroom with verbal instruction, others learn best in a quiet atmosphere where they can read, research, and absorb the information themselves without outside interference.

Cons: Taking courses online can be a lonely way to learn. Some people much prefer a brick-and-mortar school for their instruction which allows them the personal interaction with others. Learning in a traditional classroom allows for classroom discussions, instructor interaction and immediate responses to questions. In an online classroom you are not always able to interact with others at the time you are online and therefore may have to wait for answers to questions. Although most online schools offer chat rooms there may not always be good interaction between other students or instructors, therefore leaving you without a social network to help you through your schoolwork on your own. If you are more of a hands-on learner you may find you have difficulty learning by yourself online and that you need the learning experience of a traditional classroom. Some people just learn better when they are able to physically be in the presence of the instructor and have the information verbally presented to them.

Filed Under: Education, Online Resources · Tagged With: E-learning, Learning

Being Taught While Teaching

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If you’re a teacher, you probably already have a degree. That doesn’t mean that you don’t want to continue your education, though, because having more education can help you get better jobs, raises, and promotions. It can also just give you more self-confidence, so there are all kinds of reasons you should be interested in getting more education. You don’t have to stop teaching to go back to school, either, because there are online schools you can attend. If you teach during the day and go to school at night and/or on the weekends, you’ll be able to get more education without taking time away from doing what you love.

If you get a more specialized degree and increase your skills, not only will you see better promotional chances but you’ll be a better teacher, and that will help out your students. Whether you’re teaching kindergarteners or college students – or anything in between – there are still plenty of opportunities to see promotion. You want to find the right school, though, and you should check out several before you make a decision. If you visit a site like elearners.com, you’ll have the opportunity to find out about many schools so you can make the right choice for yourself.

An online service like that is easy and convenient, and it doesn’t cost you a lot of money or time. That’s good news for someone who’s already busy – and teachers typically don’t make a lot of money to throw around. There are all kinds of great reasons to work as a teacher, though, so don’t assume that you shouldn’t pursue it and take it to its fullest potential by getting more education. You’ll enjoy your work more, your students will learn more from you, and when that promotion comes along you’ll be well qualified for it.

Filed Under: Education, Lesson Plans, Online Resources · Tagged With: Education, Educators, Employment, General Certificate of Secondary Education, K through 12, Michael Gove, Teacher, United States

Continuing Education For Teachers Online

In the teaching profession it is mandatory to complete continuing education courses to keep your teaching credentials current. Although, when you are teaching full-time it may be difficult to find the time to get the training and/or certification that you need. With today’s technology and the use of the internet, teachers are now able to complete their certification online. Many people prefer to get their continuing education online to allow them the flexibility to get their education how, when, and where it is most convenient for them. This allows the teacher to continue focusing on their lesson plans, schedules, and to continue doing what they do best…teach!

Online courses and programs for teachers are not just for continuing education certification, though. It is also possible to obtain your initial teaching degree, work on higher teaching degrees online, receive licensure, work on language development, and more. Some of the top schools offering courses for teachers include DeVry University, University of Phoenix, Strayer University, and Kaplan University. All of these Universities offer Associates, Bachelors, and Masters degrees; although, University of Phoenix also offers Doctoral degrees. Furthermore, Kaplan and Strayer Universities offer certification programs in addition to the above-mentioned degrees. Most local colleges and universities also offer online courses that can be used to qualify for continuing education certification or to work on a higher level teaching degree.

In addition to online colleges and universities there are many other resources available for teachers to access online for continuing education and teaching support. Some of these resources include websites offering online Webinars, professional development and keynote speakers, recommended authors, recommended links, teaching helps, and support groups. All of these resources are helpful for teachers to not only obtain their continuing education certification but to also continue to learn and have the support they need to be better teachers.

Filed Under: Education, Online Resources · Tagged With: E-learning, University of Phoenix

Respect in the Classroom

One thing that all teachers want in the classroom is respect. Sometimes, this is an easy thing to maintain, while at other times, it can be very difficult. For example, if you have a student in your class, or some times it may be a group of students, who are rowdy, loud, and a little obnoxious, you may find it hard to keep control of the classroom, and therefor the respect that you expect and deserve from your students.

Keeping the relationships and respect well balanced in the classroom starts from the first day of class, and extends through the end of the semester, or at whatever point the class is completed. Many times, the biggest problem that a teacher will have with keeping the respect of their students is that they don’t worry about it too much at the beginning. On the other hand, some teachers push for respect a little harder than they probably should. In this case, many of the students find that they want to fight back, to gain a little bit of independence.

So, what is the best way to go about getting the respect that you feel you deserve in the classroom? First, set out clear rules. Everyone has different rules for what is and is not allowed in the classroom. The point of this, though, is not how strict your rules are or are not. Instead, it is making sure that the students understand that there are rules, and exactly what those rules are. Providing a clear understanding of what will happen if the rules are broken is just as important.

Respect your students. If someone does not feel that they are being respected, they find it much more difficult to respect in turn. Listen to what your students have to say, don’t be rude to them, and just all around give them respect, just as you expect them to give it to you.

Filed Under: Education, Online Resources · Tagged With: Classroom, Education, Student, Teacher

Curriculum Center vs Student Based Learning

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Imagine you have a class that is very curriculum based. You go by the book, and everyone knows what is coming next. Your class is very structured, but you are also able to make it fun for everyone. Now, add into this thought a student, or even a few students who are struggling, or failing, to keep up with your curriculum. What do you do?

On the other hand, imagine that your class goes by the needs of the students. You never let anyone get behind, and take extra time in class to explain things that these students need help with. Unfortunately, this means that the students that grasp the concepts and understand the lessons may feel like they are being held back. Is this situation any better than the first?

No matter which way your lessons and class tends to be – curriculum based or more student centric – it can be taken too far. The best thing that many teachers have found is a balance between the two. Though this may sound obvious, it may end up being more difficult than you think.

If you are the type that prefers structure, it can be very difficult to let go a little and focus a little more on those that are struggling. Breaking routine can feel very frustrating for many people. If you are the type to focus more on the students that are lagging behind, you may find it a very hard to occasionally move the lesson on, even if they don’t understand it.

One of the best things to do in this situation, many have found, is to spend a little extra time with the struggling student, outside of class time. This may be difficult, as well, but this way, they don’t get left behind, and others don’t get held back.

Filed Under: Education, Online Resources · Tagged With: Curriculum, Education, Student, Teacher

Why are Field Trips Important?

You will find that many times, field trips are necessary. Other times, they may be helpful to the lesson, but they are not needed. Field trips have been shown to be a great way to help students learn, and have fun while they are doing it. Of course, the school may have policies about field trips, or budget problems with taking them, so before you plan one, make sure that you get it ok’ed.

Why are field trips a great way for students to learn? There are many reasons. First, a field trip allows a student to get out of the classroom. This can help with any blocks that they may be having because of being bored in the classroom. Many times, students do get bored with the same day to day routines. Even something as simple as going and sitting outside for the lesson one day can make a big difference in how the students react.

If the students are learning about something specific, and there is a way to take them on a field trip centered around this, it is always a good idea. For example, if you are teaching about a specific part of history, and there is a museum nearby with an exhibit from that time period, you may want to look into the possibility of a field trip. Not only does this get the student out of the classroom, but it also can help show them what you are discussing. This is very beneficial for many. Everyone learns in different ways, and at different rates. Being able to get out and actually see an example of what you are talking about can help a large number of students grasp the concepts a little bit better.

Field trips can also be great for the teacher. Getting out of the classroom is a breath of fresh air, not only for the students!

Filed Under: Education, Online Resources · Tagged With: Classroom, Education, Field trip, Learning, Student

Changes to the Curriculum

Depending on your school district, the age level of your students, and what you are teaching, you may find that the curriculum that you are supposed to tech just doesn’t quite cut it all the time. In fact, you may find that at times, you need to deviate a little from what you are supposed to teach in the curriculum. Sometimes this is fine, and even a very good idea. Other times, you may find that you could get in trouble for this. So, if you are considering going off of the curriculum, what are some things that you should do?

First, understand your own reasoning for going off the curriculum. Do you not agree with it? Is there more information that needs to be presented to the students? Has something that you are supposed to teach been proven wrong, or inaccurate in some point? No matter the reason for deviating from the curriculum, you need to know your reasons before you can talk to anyone else about them.

If your school requires authorization before deviation from the curriculum, you will need to talk to the principle, and possibly even the school board. You will want to produce your reasoning in a well thought out manner. Even if you are supposed to teach something that you do not believe in, or do not agree with, you need to make it a logical argument.

Once a decision is made, continue your lessons. Keep in mind that you may not get your way with the deviation from the curriculum. If this is the case, you may still be required to teach the present material. In other cases, you may have won your argument, and get to change it up a little bit.

In many schools today, this is not necessarily something to worry about. Check into the policies before you worry too much about what you need to do to change something in the curriculum.

Filed Under: Education, Online Resources · Tagged With: Curriculum, Education, School district, Teach-in

Discipline in the Classroom

If there is one thing that no one seems to agree on in life, it is discipline. This is not only in the homes, but also in the classroom. Of course, it used to be that discipline was something that was harsh. We have all heard stories about knuckles being hit with rulers, and sitting in a corner with a dunce cap on. Today, though, these things are not acceptable, and in many cases can get you in a lot of trouble. So, something that many teachers are struggling with is discipline in the classroom. It can be very difficult to strike the right balance.

When considering discipline in the classroom, there are many considerations. For example, you have to think about what the problem is in the first place. What is the student being disciplined for? Are there different levels of punishment for different offences, or just for the frequency of them? These are things that need to be thought about before the school year starts.

On top of that, you have to decide what exactly the punishment is going to be. Are you going to make an unruly student write a paper? How long, and on what subject? Will you immediately send them to the principals office? Will you write a letter to the parents? Each of these things have their time and place, and it is important that you understand your own feelings on these punishments and more.

Some schools already have all of their discipline policies laid out, and you will have to abide by them. If this is the case, the choice of discipline is taken out of your hands. Other times, school districts will have guidelines that will allow you to make some of the decisions, but you will have to consider the specifics. Either way, making it clear early in the class what the punishments may be, and what they may be given for, is crucial.

Filed Under: Education, Online Resources · Tagged With: Classroom, Education