Posts Tagged ‘u.s. history’
What do employers want from a letter of reference?
My master teachers submitted two very different letters, perhaps owing to their two very different perspectives on teaching. One master teacher wrote mostly about my abilities and techniques in the classroom. He even threw in a specific example, bless his heart.
My other master teacher wrote on some of that, too, but also stuck in these grafs.
Benjamin has a journalism degree and experience including currently serving as a copy editor for his college paper. This has enriched his teaching perspective and the students have benefited greatly. He is also working with our journalism teacher to present some instruction and work with her students as he is able. He also has 10 years of band experience and particularly enjoys marching bands. …
Benjamin has the 9th grade English clearance and is completing his English credential in addition to Social Studies. Because of his own background in AP classes he hopes to eventually teach AP US History. He would do well in Academic Decathalon or Mock UN.
Isn’t this background stuff I should touch on during the interview? Or does she include these details in case I forget them during the interview?
Given that this is in the recommendation letter, what should I put in the cover letter that some districts insist on? What is interview etiquette on this measure?
Moreover, will the inclusion of AP U.S. History brand me as one of those elitists? If that’s the case, I’ll never be able to run for president.
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Proving the importance of a social science education, FoxNews ran a piece about the Lincoln-Douglass Debates. This is not a typo.
Here’s a video, via Ari.
… and though while the FoxNews interns’ lazy use of Google Image Search would lead first to mere and slight embarrassment, it was only the first in a long string of Election 2008 debacles that would lead to the collapse of the Murdoch-inspired news networks.
I propose a toast, that this future might meet us. At the expense of channeling the late, great Spiro Agnew — and I say that sarcastically — I really hate television news.
I never had any doubt about how I wanted to teach the 50 U.S. states and their capitals. My high school juniors will sing along with Wakko and the Animaniacs.
Likewise, any world history or geography class I teach will have to follow along with the song with every country in the entire world except Kosovo.
Where did I get this inspiration? My 5th grade teacher.
When I teach AP U.S. history, my students will do flashcards, and the tests will be composed of actual though retired Advanced Placement questions.
If I’m stuck doing it chronologically, my students will do chapter summaries in PERSIA format — sorting period events out into political, economic, religious, social, intellectual and artistic categories.
Where did I get this inspiration? My 11th grade AP U.S. history teacher.
My journalism students will have weekly current events quizzes.
They will also write two stories a week. They will receive credit based on how poorly they do not write. Any story which misspells a name receives an automatic zero.
Students who want to improve their grade are allowed to seek me out in advance of the due date. Whenever I see it, I will mercilessly edit every story in front of me.
Where did I get this inspiration? My journalism professor.
Moral of the story? There’s a pattern here, somewhere, but I just can’t place my finger on it.
