SUBSCRIBE | SUBMIT
March 2009
Vol 6 No 3
BACK ISSUES

Current Issue » Cover Page Cover Story Harry & Rosemary Wong Columns Articles Features
Back Issues
Teachers.Net Gazette Vol.6 No.3 March 2009

Cover Story by Graysen Walles
Teachers are Brave
Somewhere in this country a drive-by was avoided, a robbery was reconsidered, or a suicide attempt was abandoned because a teacher was willing to show up and make a difference in the classroom, administrative office, after school activity, or at the home of a child.


Harry & Rosemary Wong: Effective Teaching
Assessing for Student Learning

Columns
»The 21st Century Teaching-Learning Environment - (Think Outside the Classroom Box)Hal Portner
»Why Do You Teach?Sue Gruber
»Educating Homeless ChildrenLeah Davies
»Old School Progress ReportsTodd R. Nelson
»Habit vs. Awareness for the 3 Practices and for the Hierarchy of Social DevelopmentMarvin Marshall
»The Busy Educator's Monthly FiveMarjan Glavac
»Dear Barbara - Advice for SubsBarbara Pressman
»Global Travel GuruJosette Bonafino
»Tool & ToysRick Morris

Articles
»Economic Relief for TeachersTeachers.Net
»Fifty Years of TeachingBill Page
»Strange SignsTim Newlin
»A Dozen Surefire Tips To Maximize Flexible Grouping and Small Group LearningSusan Fitzell
»Time to Reward YourselfAlan Haskvitz
»March 2009 Writing PromptsJames Wayne
»Using Photographs To Inspire Writing VHank Kellner
»What’s Wrong With Teacher Education In This Country?Howard Seeman
»“Slumdog Millionaire” Teaches About Education, TooDorothy Rich
»Teachers’ Role in Improving Students’ Thinking Skills: Moving beyond the ‘sage on the stage’Ambreen Ahmed

Features
»Apple Seeds: Inspiring QuotesBarb Stutesman
»Today Is... Daily CommemorationRon Victoria
»The Lighter Side of Teaching
»Teacher Blogs Showcase
»Liz Phillips' Printable Discipline Rubric
»Photo tour: 4th Grade Classroom
»Lessons, Resources and Theme Activities: March 2009
»Featured Lesson: Recognizing Bullying
»Modeling Guided Reading FAQ, Periodic Table of Videos – Fascinating Chemistry!, Carl Sagan - 4th Dimension Explanation, Parabolas in the Real World, Al Jolson sings - Brother Can You Spare a Dime?, Lovers’ Waltz - Casey Willis on violin, Meet Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
»Live on Teachers.Net: March 2009
»T-Netters Share Favorite Recipes
»Managing Hyperactive Students
»Newsdesk: Events & Opportunities for Teachers
»This Board’s For Me!


Advertisement

The Teachers.Net Gazette is a collaborative project
published by the Teachers.Net community
Editor in Chief: Kathleen Alape Carpenter
Layout Editor: Mary Miehl


Cover Story by Graysen Walles

Effective Teaching by Harry & Rosemary Wong

Contributors this month: Graysen Walles, Hal Portner, Sue Gruber, Leah Davies, Todd R. Nelson, Marvin Marshall, Marjan Glavac, Barbara Pressman, Josette Bonafino, Rick Morris, Bill Page, Tim Newlin, Susan Fitzell, Alan Haskvitz, James Wayne, Hank Kellner, Howard Seeman, Dorothy Rich, Ambreen Ahmed, Barb Stutesman, Ron Victoria, Liz Phillips, and YENDOR.

Submissions: click for Submission Guidelines

Advertising: contact Bob Reap


Subscribe for free home delivery


Alan Haskvitz

Archive | Biography | Resources | Discussion

Time to Reward Yourself

We have the job of moving America’s youth forward while inculcating values and providing a civilizing force for a society.
by National Hall of Fame Educator
Alan Haskvitz

www.reacheverychild.com/alan.html
Regular to the Gazette
March 1, 2009

For many, this is the time of year when a little cheer and appreciation is in order as state and district testing looms on the horizon, students with colds consume a year’s supply of tissue in a week, and a couple of nice days rekindle memories of summer…only to have rain and snow squelch it.

We have the job of moving America’s youth forward while inculcating values and providing a civilizing force for a society. And yet education is used as the scapegoat for a myriad of problems and is the first place politicians look to cut budgets. A summer seldom passes when we are not told how lucky we are not to have to work, and bite our tongue so we don’t respond that we are off because we aren’t being paid.

On occasion we face parents who can’t face their children, and we are accused of all manner of obstructions to their child’s progress. And we go home, cross off another day from the school calendar, and spend another sleepless night wondering if we chose the right profession.

No doubt touching the future requires a your-reach-should-exceed-one’s-grasp mentality, and perhaps some of it is our fault. For as teachers, our greatest failing may well be the fact that we don’t share our successes with the general public. But the reality is that even though education is the queen of the sciences, it doesn’t seem to appeal to those seeking the limelight.

Ours is a profession of care givers, doers and lifelong learners who treasure letters from past students and spend countless hours shopping for things for the classroom, knowing full well they are not going to be repaid.

It is a profession for those who put others first, and would wish for nothing more than to have every student be successful.

For example, school promotions are designed to honor the students and parent while publically acknowledging the passing of a rite of passage. In reality it is a silent salute to all those teachers who have taught the diploma recipients until this goal was reached. Such great accomplishments for the educator should come with a great reward. The problem is that no one has really defined what reward. It certainly is not monetary and, sadly, in many communities it isn’t even status. For a teacher, rewards are more intrinsic: the joy of listening to an entire class burst out laughing at a joke or the small smile from a youngster when told, “good job." Teachers don’t put a price on that, but as the commercial says, these rewards are priceless.

So with the winter doldrums nearly behind us and the deadline for income tax filing weeks away, what better time is there to share some great stories about teachers that gently remind all of us why we made the sacrifices to become educators? And there are cartoon links, too.

Article continued on next page



» More Gazette articles...




About Alan Haskvitz...

Alan Haskvitz teaches at Suzanne Middle School in Walnut, Calif., and makes staff development presentations nationwide. In addition, he serves as an audio-visual evaluator and design consultant for his county department of education; a tutor to multi-cultural students in English and art; and an Internet consultant.

Haskvitz's career spans more than 20 years. He has taught every grade level and core subject, has been recognized repeatedly for innovative teaching and has received the following honors, among many:

  • USA Today All Star Teacher
  • 100 Most Influential Educators
  • Reader's Digest Hero in Education
  • Learning Magazine's Professional Best
  • National Middle Level Teacher of the Year
  • National Exemplary Teacher
  • Christa McAuliffe National Award
  • Robert Cherry International Award for Great Teachers
In addition, Haskvitz publishes articles on successful educational practices and speaks at conferences. He has served on seven national committees and boards.

Haskvitz maintains credentials and training in special and gifted education, history, administration, bilingual education, journalism, English, social studies, art, business, computers, museumology and Asian studies. He holds these credentials for Canada, New York and California. His experience also includes staff development, gifted curriculum design, administration, community relations and motivation. His background includes 10 years of university education.

As a teacher, Haskvitz's curriculum increased CAP/CLAS test scores from the 22nd percentile to the 94th percentile, the largest gain in California history. In addition, Haskvitz and his students work continuously to improve their school and community. His students' work is often selected for awards in competitions in several subject areas. For more details about Alan and his students' work, visit his page on the Educational Cyber Playground.

Haskvitz works tirelessly to improve and advance his profession, which is why he developed Reach Every Child. http://www.reacheverychild.com/


Alan Haskvitz Articles on Teachers.Net...
Related Resources & Discussions on Teachers.Net...

#