iteachTEXAS Candidate Making Local News

Gilmer Elementary art teacher Lori Martin explains the difference between an acute and an obtuse angle, but she's not teaching math. Click here to read and view a video of Lori incorporating cross-curriculum instruction into her Art class.

"If they are doing a math problem and they think oh wait a minute I can draw that out and understand what I'm doing with it," said Martin. "That may help them in their TAKS scores or any problem they may see in the future."

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Are Teacher Colleges Turning out Mediocrity?

On Thursday, Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan went to Columbia University's Teachers College, the oldest teacher-training school in the nation, and delivered a speech blasting the education schools that have trained the majority of the 3.2 million teachers working in U.S. public schools today. "By almost any standard, many if not most of the nation's 1,450 schools, colleges and departments of education are doing a mediocre job of preparing teachers for the realities of the 21st century classroom," he said to an audience of teaching students who listened with more curiosity than ire — this was Columbia University after all, and they knew Duncan wasn't talking to them. It was a damning, but not unprecedented, assessment of teacher colleges, which have long been the stepchildren of the American university system and a frequent target of education reformers' scorn over the past quarter-century.

Are Teacher Colleges Turning out Mediocrity?

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Institutions Whose Degrees are Illegal to Use in Texas

Consonant with its responsibilities under Chapter 61 of the Texas Education Code and rules promulgated pursuant thereto, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is reviewing the current status of institutions included on this list.

"Fraudulent or substandard degree" means a degree conferred in Texas in violation of the Texas Education Code; conferred in another state in violation of that state's laws; conferred in another state by an institution that was not accredited by an accreditor recognized by the Coordinating Board and that has not been approved by the Coordinating Board for its degrees to be used in Texas; or conferred outside the United States by an institution that the Coordinating Board determines is not the equivalent of an accredited or authorized degree. (Texas Educational Code, Chapter 61, Section 61.302)

The Texas Penal Code (Section 32.52) prohibits the use of fraudulent or substandard degrees "in a written or oral advertisement or other promotion of a business; or with the intent to: obtain employment; obtain a license or certificate to practice a trade, profession, or occupation; obtain a promotion, a compensation or other benefit, or an increase in compensation or other benefit, in employment or in the practice of a trade, profession, or occupation; obtain admission to an educational program in this state; or gain a position in government with authority over another person, regardless of whether the actor receives compensation for the position." Violation of this law is a Class B misdemeanor.


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Teacher Contract Called Potential Model for Nation

Teacher Contract Called Potential Model for Nation:
The pact in New Haven, CT allows for changing work rules in "turnaround" schools, and revamping how teachers are evaluated and paid.


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New Interpretation/Guidance for Elementary School Teachers New to the Profession

Cory Green, TEA NCLB, recently spoke to certification programs and certification officers at the Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education (CSOTTE) in San Antonio.
During a monitoring visit this fall the Department of Education (DOE) cited the state for noncompliance in determining the Highly Qualified status of EC-6 teachers. While the state, with the full support of TEA Commissioner Robert Scott is seeking further clarification and requesting flexibility in the implementation of the new interpretation, the DOE contends that the new guidelines must be followed in the reporting of HQ for EC-6 teachers hired for the 2009-2010 school year. Click on the link below to access the TEA letter that will be sent to districts this week.

New Interpretation Letter

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Educational Philosophy

On the first day of school each year to open class and kick off the school year, I would preform a magic trick for my students. Well maybe not a magic trick, but a fun science lab. I enjoyed establishing class with a visual experiment to engage the students and hopefully, leave a lasting impact. I believe that the first day of class sets the tone for the entire year. I wanted to establish the way class would be structured from day one, with me providing instruction with the students actively listening and then participating in learning with their thoughts, ideas and actions.

For the magic trick/science experiment, the science class is set up with all students’ desk facing the front of the class and a large lab table on which to perform the experiment in the front center of the class. On the table in the front is a tall clear pitcher of water, one red plastic cup and one blue plastic cup. One student is ask to come up and put his hand in the water to prove it was indeed real, wet water. I would then take the clear pitcher of water and slowly pour the water into the red plastic cup. After waiting a moment, I would then take the red plastic cup and attempt to pour the water into the blue plastic cup. Instead of water pouring out from one cup into the other, no water would be transferred from one container to the other. At this point, most students were intrigued and wondered why the water would not pour from the red cup to the blue cup. I would ask the student to ponder and speculate what occurred. I liked this form of inquiry, not necessarily peer learning but I did want peer interaction and for the students to share their insight. What the students did not know was that I had a large sponge in the bottom of the red cup that absorbed all the water poured from the clear pitcher. After I let the minds of my 7^th grade students spin wild in wonderment, I would pull out the sponge and show them, not all things are, as they seem. The lesson being that students must think creativity about all possibilities. My strong desire is to instill higher level thinking skills to the students and allow them to think outside the box.

The magic trick does more than just get the students’ attention and set the tone of instruction, it details my educational philosophy. I believe that educating is our privilege. To impart knowledge, skills, insight, and beliefs all that we know into others is education. We cannot be as the sponge in the red cup and just simply absorb knowledge. If we are only concerned with filling our heads with facts, we inflate our egos but reduce our heart, and limit our ability to help others. The question that begs to be asked is why learning if one is not going to pass it on and influence the next generation? I believe that we must leave a meaningful impression with others. We do this by educating and pouring into children, students, peers, and elders. Another aspect of my educational philosophy is that I have learned sometimes we must be squeezed and pressed to instruct others. Giving of your time, resources, and energy is not always easy but our responsibilities cannot be neglected. We must put aside personal preferences for the betterment of society. We must learn that if we do not inform people and equip them to succeed in life, we do not love others, as we should. Ultimately the goal would be to impart wisdom and knowledge.

My educational philosophy encompasses who we should strive to be: giving of our time and teaching others, being diligent to instruct, and being a light to a dark world. How an individual goes about educating others will differ from one person to another, I am not sure there is the way to best educate. I do believe I have a way.

I believe that children can easily detect hypocrisy and if best practices are not modeled, the students will not follow your directions. The teacher should lead by example. I believe that all students can learn and should be pushed to reach their full potential. I believe that students need structure and the teacher, not their peers, should provide guidance. I believe that learning can take place anywhere and most all opportunities present a learning moment. I believe that through education we can produce citizens that are law abiding, seeking to better their personal situation, and motivated to achieve their goals.

Zach Rozell

The Leader in Educator Certification, iteachTEXAS

ETS Computer-Administered Testing (CAT) System Maintenance

ETS Computer-Administered Testing (CAT) System Maintenance

System maintenance is being performed on the ETS Computer-Administered Testing (CAT) System from approximately 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. (Central time) on Sunday, October 4, 2009. During this time, you will NOT be able to register, reschedule, or cancel any CAT exams administered at test centers with an APCN or APCU prefix (e.g., APCN 7711). All functions will continue to be available for test centers with an STN prefix (e.g., STN13089). Registrations for paper-based testing will not be affected.

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