If you teach English as a Second Language (ESL) there are a plethora of resources on the Internet for curriculum development, job seeking, and connecting with other educators. One of the most popular web resources, by and large, is Dave's ESL Cafe, a free resource for ESL and EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers all over the world.
Started in 1995 by Los Angeles multimedia consultant Dave Sperling, the site attracts millions of hits monthly. Having spent almost a decade teaching in Thailand and Japan before becoming a published author and multimedia consultant, Sperling strives to connect both teachers and students all over the globe. His site offers job postings, lesson-planning materials and discussion forums, among other resources. Here are some ways in which educators can take advantage of this useful site:
A Word or Two…About Writing
This blog was originally published on Finding Common Ground at Education Week by Peter DeWitt on December 30, 2012 9:35 A.M.
Every now and then we pick up books that help us find our way out of the box we have been living in. Some people read all year long. Others read in pockets of time throughout the year.
Which kind of reader are you?
I read mostly articles and blogs but I am always looking for a good book. As much as we may go searching for them, some of the best books find us. Over the holidays I was pre…
More Elementary Schools Offering Foreign Languages
While foreign language instruction has been around for decades as part of public school curriculums, it has predominantly been taught at the secondary school levels. According to Education Week, 91 percent of public schools offer foreign language instruction at the high school level, with only about 58 percent of middle schools and 25 percent of elementary schools offering foreign language instruction. But recently, more public schools have been striving to offer foreign language instruction, especially in the …
U.S. Improving in Math and Science, According to New Reports
New test score findings have indicated that the United States does not lag as far behind in math, science, and reading as earlier reports had suggested. According to Education Week, the United States scored “above average” in comparison to the 63 countries tested in fourth- and eighth-grade science, mathematics and reading. These scores contrasted significantly with the PISA, or Program for the International Student…
December 14, 2012: A Tragic Day
This blog was originally published on Finding Common Ground at Education Week by Peter DeWitt on December 15, 2012 9:15 A.M.
On Friday, every educator and administrator who is fortunate enough to work with students, regardless of whether they are in a primary or secondary school, had a piece of themselves taken away.
Every day in an elementary school is a good day. However, the month of December in an elementary school is filled with magic and excitement.
In their spare time students draw pictures of Santa and…
High-Needs Schools to Lengthen School Day and Academic Year
The National Center on Time and Learning and the Ford Foundation recently announced their plans to help high-needs schools catch up on standardized test scores, as well as reap the advantages of electives and enrichment activities rarely offered to their students. The idea? With the aid of grant money, schools will lengthen the school day and year by approximately 300 hours. The anticipated start for the plan is the 2013-14 school year.
The Plan
National Holiday Drives
Our friends at Operation: Social Santa have made tremendous strides in ensuring that every child has a joyful holiday season. Since their inception in 2010, they have raised over 7,000 toys, operating in 38 cities and organizing far-reaching social media campaigns to rouse communities to action.
Operation: Social Santa is one of many nationwide holiday drives, and each plays an important role in meeting the needs of underprivileged families across America. People choose to give to different places for different reasons: some chose based on location, others chose because an organization works for a cause that is close to their hearts, an…