Saving money with a different font

According to Education Week online, a Wisconsin school figured out a way to save money. They changed the font in e-mails from Arial to Century Gothic. If you are thinking what I am thinking, that sounds like a very minimal thing. When I first start reading this article I did not really see how that could save anyone money. After reading the article a little further, students save money by printing less pages. With the font not being as large, the students are not having to print as many pages off, saving them money, it might be a minimal amount, but it does add up over time. The school's director of computing says the the font change saves about 30% less ink than the previous font did.

To prove how minimal this change in font really isn't, these savings will truly have an impact. Did you know that the cost of ink per gallon works out to be about $10,000. WOW! When you think of ink from that aspect, the change in font could make a drastic difference in costs used for printing.

This decision made by school is part of a 5 year plan to "go green". I love seeing all of the different efforts made by so many different people, companies, colleges, etc. I would love to have a classroom one day that was "green". Although I have not thought out all of the kinks of how I will do it, I am few things in mind that I would like to try and bring into my classroom. That is something that I want to look more into. Hopefully I will be able to get different ideas from current teachers on how they make their classrooms green.

To read the entire article, visit: http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/03/25/341611usoddcheaperemailfont_ap.html.



"Education Week: Login." Education Week American Education News Site of Record. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2010. .

No Television on School nights

In response to the question, "What can parents do to help foster learning?", President Obama suggested not allowing your children watch television on school nights. He said that both of his daughters are expected to begin their homework as soon as they get home from school. If they finish early (before dinner) they are expected to read after dinner until they go to bed.

Another way that President Obama suggests parents to do to help foster learning is for parents to stay in touch with their children's teachers. He claims that he has not missed a single parent-teacher conference. It is significant for parents and teachers to collaborate together to provide the best opportunity and to assist them in the best way possible for education.

"Very early on, we set expectations for Malia and Sasha in terms of them taking responsibility for their own education," Obama said. They got alarm clocks at age 4 to begin waking themselves up, making their own beds and getting themselves ready to get to school on time. (Education) Personally, I couldn't imagine having an alarm clock at the age of four. I might have had one growing up that I used as a clock, but I never really used an alarm clock until I was in college. I always had my mom wake me up everyday for school. I think having the children use their alarm clocks and wake up each day on their own also teaches responsibility. To read the article in it's entirety, visit: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2011097346_apusobamaeducation.html.

I believe that President Obama has very good ideals for how to foster learning for kids. Even though that was not how I was raised, I believe that it is a wonderful way to foster education. I know that I would be a much better reader today and probably more motivated in school if my parents would have ran my household that way. Reading is something that is becoming less favorable by kids. Now that there are so many different technological devices for children to play with, it's rare to find a child who would rather read than play with their Gameboy, video game, or computer. Having children dive into good books will make them better readers, as well as have them enjoy reading, rather than dread it.

My favorite part of this article was when President Obama was explaining how he realized that him and the first lady had a multitude of resources and help that most families do not have. He said, "But I don't care how poor you are - you can turn off the television set during the week." (Education) That really touched home because that is so true. No matter what resources one may or may not have, turning off the television does not cost you any extra, no excuses.

"Education | Obama: No weeknight television for Malia, Sasha | Seattle Times Newspaper." The Seattle Times | Seattle Times Newspaper. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2010. .

"No TV Please - Tír Na Saor - Freemen of Ireland." Tír Na Saor - Freemen of Ireland - Calling all Freemen... It's time to get organized!. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2010. .

States Push to Pay Teachers Based on Performance

According to Education Week online, some states are trying to pass laws/incentives that will pay teachers based on the performance of their students. Although the incentives are out there, only few states have are actually taking part in these new strategies. In some states, the idea of this is practically illegal.

Although this may be illegal in some states, many of the states are changing their minds in response to the billions of dollars that the federal government is pumping into grants in order to lure states in. Some research has shown that student achievement improves when teachers are given performance bonuses. Other research has found no correlation.

Most school district's calculate the bonus amounts based on seniority and level of education (i.e. teachers who have a master's degree will get more pay). "In Georgia, Gov. Sonny Perdue is pushing for a law requiring teacher salaries to be based on student test scores and other academic factors rather than years of experience and education." (Education World)

To read the complete article, visit http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/04/08/345123usteachermeritpay_ap.html?r=28039582.

In my opinion, I would like to eventually teach in one of the states where this is not being practiced. My plan for my future would include me moving back to my hometown and getting a teaching job locally. My hometown is not located in a rugged or a rough area, it is a rural community where you know most everyone that lives there. I feel that this incentive would be harder for teachers in more urban, "rough" areas. Students that come from troubled homes and troubled areas are more likely to struggle with excelling in their performance than students from families of higher economic status. The home lives and economic status of the students should not be reflected upon the teacher's performance. Even for teachers who do not teach in underprivileged areas, they will have students who have struggles. "Your mother and father just got a divorce, your grandfather died, your boyfriend broke up with you: those kinds of life-altering events have an effect on how you do in class that day, through no fault of the teacher whatsoever," said Gunter, echoing the position espoused by major teacher unions." (Education Week) I do not believe that the performance of the student's should depict bonuses given to teachers, considering that circumstances are not always fair for everyone. Although, I do not support it, the idea of making up to $2,000 extra a year seems very appealing.

"Education Week: Login." Education Week American Education News Site of Record. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Mar. 2010. .

Student suspended for Facebook page

As everyone knows, social media is becoming more and more dominant in the lives of students. Such social networks as Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter are the center of many students social lives. They find out a great deal of their gossip there, while discussing gossip of their own on them. In Miami, there is a student who is suing her principal for spending her for creating a Facebook page against her teacher. School officials suspended her for three days for "cyberbullying" her teacher. The student, Katherine Evans, is suing the principal for her suspension to be removed off of her disciplinary record, a "nominal fee" for her First Amendment rights being violated, and all of her legal fees. The principal attempted to get the judge to dismiss the case but the judge decided the "protection of First Amendment rights to online writings of a nonthreatening manner" was significant enough to let the case go on. To read the entire article, go to: http://www.educationnews.org/educationnewstoday/53607.html.

My thoughts and opinions on this as a student are that I can think of plenty of times where I have had teachers that I just don't like. I have also seen pages created by my fellow students on Facebook against teachers (none were threatening). This was nothing new for me to see when I read this article. What was surprising to me in the article was that the girl was suspended for it. As a student, I think this is crazy. I can think of so many pages against my teachers and principal that were created on Facebook. I can't imagine my fellow classmates being punished by the school for them though.

Now, as a future teacher, I will give my personal thoughts. I am not expecting every student to like me or my class. I know that I will have students that I will butt heads with and that they may not like. As much as I wish we all got along and that they all liked me, that is not reality. Being an early childhood education teacher, I doubt I will ever face this situation. Speaking just a general teacher though, I still do not see reasoning for suspending the student for creating the Facebook page. The first thing that came to mind as I read this article was the saying, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Whether it is verbally, passed on a note in class, or written on a Facebook page, I know that students will saying negative things about me. In my opinion, as long as the things be said or written about me are not threatening, then I say take it as a grain of salt. I am a professional that should expect both positive and negative things to be said about me. How much one lets it get to them is when it becomes an issue.

GENTILE, CARMEN. "EducationNews.org - Student Suspended for Facebook Page Can Sue." EducationNews.org . N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2010. .