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Question of the Week Archives

Each week TeachersFirst asks its users for their thoughts on a topical question involving teaching or education. Our interest is in letting teaches share experiences, frustrations, and successes. We hope this exchange of ideas will be useful both to our users and to others who may read them. If you would like to read and respond to this week's question, click here.

Below is a list of the questions we have asked. Select a question to see your colleagues' responses.

Turn obstacles into opportunities. That is what we tell our students (and even ourselves). What teaching obstacle have you turned into an opportunity, and how did you do it?

Would you rather spend a rainy day curled up with a book, at your computer, or in a bookstore? Why?

Toys have become more and more sophisticated and often are marketed to parents as ways to improve their child's academic achievement. If you were to recommend ONE toy that will really help a child learn now and later in school, what would you choose -- and for what age(s) would you recommend it? Secondary teachers should weigh in, too!

A recently released study of U.S. teachers' views of their profession finds that teachers naturally cluster into three "sensibilities": the Idealists, the Contented, and the Disheartened. Which of these categories best describes the way you look at teaching today? (Can't decide? See a brief summary of the categories here).

If your school decided to eliminate text books entirely, what would you do to teach your curriculum?

A full year has passed since the economy officially took a dive. Do you find the economic downturn to be having a greater,lesser, or similar effect on your school and your students this year compared to last year? What are some specific signs that you see?

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has suggested that schools plan alternative ways to continue lessons in the event of an H1N1 epidemic. What will you do to help your students continue learning if they are absent due to H1N1 or if school actually closes?

Many people include a quote as part of their standard email signature these days. What quote do you use (or would you like to use) at the end of your emails? What is the best educator-email signature quote you have seen?

Imagine "Most Meaningful Day," a day when you, as the teacher, select the topic(s) your one class of students will learn about for one full, most meaningful day. No mandates, no testing, no approvals, just what YOU think is important. What would you select as the topic(s) for that day and how would you facilitate the learning? (Be sure to tell us how old the students are, too!)

President Obama's recent decision to address U.S. school students raised controversy in some schools and among some members of the public. How did your school handle the recent speech? Under what circumstances or conditions do you believe the president should have access to address classrooms across the U.S.?

Teachers are often accused of being fussy "grammar police." This article tells of a British gentleman who takes grammar quite seriously. If he were to "vandalize" by correcting grammar in your community, would you use it as a lesson in civil disobedience, a challenge for students to search for public grammar mistakes, or a focus for a different lesson (what)?

Are you on Facebook? If so, do you limit your Facebook presence to a professional or personal side? How do you prevent or handle potential crossover?

As a teacher, what kind of feelings do you have the evening before a new school year starts -- and what do you do?

A recent report suggests that increasing teacher pay for achieving a Master's degree is a poor use of schools' limited funds. How important do you think teacher graduate credits are in improving teacher quality and student achievement? Is compensating teachers for achieving graduate credits the best use of public funds?

Technology moves so fast that we end up throwing out "old" devices sooner and sooner. What are the "oldest" and "newest" technologies you still use regularly in your classroom? For humorous reminders of what is "old," see this blog post on "100 Things Your Kids May Never Know About."

Summer is a great time to catch up on reading. What books have made it to the top of your summer reading list this year?

Back to School time can be expensive. What do you plan to do as a teacher (or as a parent) to keep Back To School costs down this year?

In July we celebrate Independence Day in the U.S. What skills of independence do you wish your students had? How do you promote independence in your classes?

We have just celebrated Independence Day in the U.S. What skills of independence do you wish your students had? How do you promote independence in your classes?

We are surrounded by new technology gadgets every day. What technology gadget or web site could you never live without...and what tech toy or web tool have you seen or hear about that simply does not appeal or make sense to you? Tell us your "must have" and "could care less" tech choices. Technology can include ANYTHING that turns on, uses power or batteries, or has buttons.

Teachers know more about local and neighboring schools than many data-reporting agencies. If you were selecting a house to buy in a new community, what would you ask about the schools? What kind of advice would you give to friends looking to buy a home where you teach?

Nearly all the U.S. governors and state departments of education have agreed to work together to generate a single set of national standards for reading and math. What impact do you believe such standards will have on teaching and learning in your school and your classroom? What do you see as the pros and cons of this effort?

Teachers, especially those with some experience, can observe pendulum swings and trends in the way parents view their role in their children's lives. What do you see today's parents doing differently -- and perhaps better -- than they did even a few years ago?

Many teachers use summer as a chance to take graduate course work. If you could take a graduate course and have the tuition paid for, what would you like to study so you could continue to grow as a teacher? What is your "dream class"?

To many Americans, Memorial Day weekend is the signal that summer has begun. Swimming pools open and the "summer lifestyle" begins. Other than the last day of school, what signals to you that summer has begun? Do you have a special "start of summer" ritual?

The last month of the school year is always a flurry of special events. What is the most meaningful special/culminating event you have with your classes and how did it come to be?

The swine flu outbreak has been in the media quite a bit lately. From your perspective as a teacher, has the media coverage of swine flu (H1N1) been appropriate, too much, or not enough?

Mothers Day is approaching. If you had unlimited funds and/or a magic wand, what would you like to give to the mothers of your students this Mothers Day? What do you wish your students would give to their moms?

Which month of the school year is your favorite time to teach? Do you prefer the late spring, when students are familiar with class routine and rigor? Or perhaps you like the freshness of the new school year? Tell us your favorite month to teach -- and why.

Earth Day is this week. What, if anything, will you do in your classes/school in conjunction with this annual observance?

According a report by the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future, over the next four years more than a third of the nation’s 3.2 million teachers could retire, due to a large demographic age bubble. How will you decide when it is time for you to retire from teaching? Would you continue teaching in a more flexible or part-time role, if you could?

When asked what makes their job so challenging or special, many teachers respond, "Walk in my shoes for a day." What do you think is most difficult for the public to understand about your job as a teacher?

April Fools Day can be an annoyance or a pleasant break from classroom routine. What is the best trick have you ever done to "fool" your students on this silliest of days?

Everyone seems to be jockeying for position to gain some of the federal stimulus money. If you were allocating the stimulus money for education in YOUR school, how would you spend it to generate the best "bang for the buck" in terms of student learning?

Students everywhere need recognition for their accomplishments and victories over tough challenges. Some teachers send emails or notes home or make an unprompted phone call. Others invite a wider audience to offer accolades to deserving student work. What special recognition -- however small -- do you give to students, either publicly or privately, when they deserve a special pat on the back?

Research tells us that healthy bodies make healthy minds. What efforts does your school make to encourage fitness and activity, especially as students face long days of testing? What have you done to sharpen minds by invigorating bodies?

There are many new policy suggestions being considered to make college more affordable for all. When you think of your college experience what aspects of the college experience do you consider important to preserve, even in an era of cost-cutting? Are there other portions of a college education that you feel could be eliminated or changed in the interest of lowering costs?

Technology is both a blessing and a curse. Email, Blackberries, texting, even online grading programs all have revolutionized how we work and communicate. But each has its downsides. What is your "pet technology peeve"? Email forwards? Pop-ups? Spyware? SPAM? There are so many options...

A recent article in the New York Times highlights the problem of "middle" students getting "lost in the shuffle." Which group do you think deserves more attention than they are currently receiving in your school: the low, the middle, or the high-achieving students? Is your school doing anything to address this problem?

"Going green" and environmental awareness are on the minds of many of us, especially as we try to conserve energy AND save money. What measures have you or your school taken to model conservation and/or save money? (Ex. turn down thermostats, cover or replace windows, install motion-activated lights, change the school schedule, etc.)

Schools schedule conferences at widely-varying times during the school year. Some hold conferences twice a year in fall and spring, while others hold them just after the midpoint of the school year. If you were in charge of the calendar for your school, when would you schedule parent conferences and which parents(or all)would you ask to attend and why? Be sure to tell us what grade level(s) you teach.

Nearly every newscast tells of budget cuts. What impact have budget cuts had on your classroom, and what creative solutions, if any, have you found so you are able to teach within the limitations? Please help your fellow teachers by sharing your successes!

A news article this past week about a scientific breakthrough from a California sixth grader's science fair project underscores the value of real research done by students. But science fairs and other major "outside of school" projects often draw criticism because of the potential for parents to complete work FOR their students. Do you believe in assigning major outside projects? If so, how do you assure that students do their own work, or is this not a problem?

This year begins with many important events: international political, military and financial crises, a major Lincoln anniversary, a ground-breaking inauguration, and more. Which, if any, current or upcoming events will prompt you to depart from your usual curriculum and spend class time to help your students gain meaningful perspective on today's world? How will you help them make the connections?

Today's students (and adults) enjoy watching videos on sharing sites such as YouTube, TeacherTube, and SchoolTube. Many visit video sharing sites as their first source to find "How To" videos and information, including academic help. Do you think teachers and students should be watching and/or creating online videos to share academic content? What advantages and disadvantages do you see to such a tool?

Email is a valuable means of communication between teachers and parents, but answering emails can take a large amount of teacher time. What goal do you set for yourself (or does your school administration set for you) as a reasonable time frame to respond to parent emails?

No matter the season, our lessons must continue student progress in mastering required curriculum. What, if anything, do you do to bring the spirit of the holiday season into your classroom activities while continuing to work toward curriculum goals?

Many web sites have both valuable content for the classroom and small amounts of unfortunate, inappropriate content, as well. This is especially true with the many sites where the public can contribute their own content, such as videos. As a teacher, do you completely avoid sites which have a small amount of "bad" content or try to devise ways to use only the good portions of these sites with your students?

A well-respected professional organization is using the theme "How Teachers Learn" for its annual convention this year. How would you describe or explain the way YOU learn?

Helping struggling learners is both exciting and frustrating for teachers. What tried-and-true technique or resource brings the biggest smile of success to the faces of struggling students in your classes?

If your students come to school the morning after election day sluggish and sleepy from watching election results well into the night, what will you say to them?

Many schools have moved toward having students "present" their parent conference instead of having parents and teacher talk without the student in the room. Would you rather have parent conferences with the student involved or not involved? Why?

As many schools near the end of the first marking/report period, teachers try to help students understand where their report card grades "come from." Does your school use an online grade reporting system so parents and students can access grades any time throughout the marking period? If so, do you think it has improved student accountability? If you do not have such an online system, do you wish your school had one?

As teachers we see a snapshot of ordinary people in our classrooms every day. We see the state of our communities and families through our students’ words and deeds. Now, as we learn daily of new economic turmoil, what signs do you see in your students, showing how your community and families are handling the crisis?

Do you hope to achieve National Board Certification as a teacher? Have you started the official NBC process (or completed it)? Why or why not? (You may check the box to keep your response anonymous, if you wish).

September 11 has come and gone for another year. While many adults may still recall it as if it were yesterday, today's students may not have any memory of that day at all. What, if anything, did you do to heighten your students' awareness of this anniversary? What do they say and think about Sept. 11? SHOULD we mention it in our classrooms?

Most teachers have a memory trick or consistent technique to help them learn the names of their 20-150+ new students each year. How do YOU learn those names quickly so students know you care about them as individuals?

Grandparents sometimes provide the stability in our students’ lives. Has a grandparent made the difference between success and failure for one of your students? How did he/she help?

Would you rather have a new class whom you know nothing about or a group that comes with warnings from last year’s teachers? Why?

The first week of school is a time to establish routines and get to know each other. What is the most important "routine" you like to establish in your classroom?

This question garnered some powerful responses as school approached last year, so we are asking it again: What kind of feelings do you have as each new school year approaches -- and what do you do about them?

The Olympics start this week, bringing the Olympic spirit to nearly every corner of the earth while we share in the celebration of human endeavor: Swifter, Higher, Stonger. If you could launch an Olympic competition for LEARNING, what would it entail? Competitors need not be winners or losers...you make the rules!

While many teachers are on break, so we are repeating last week's question to give everyone a chance to respond: Schools in many parts of the world are on vacation during July, and students are thinking about anything BUT school. If you could be a pop-up on students' television, game, or computer screens, what message or reminder would you like to send to your students (or their parents) while they are away from school?

Schools in many parts of the world are on vacation during July, and students are thinking about anything BUT school. If you could be a pop-up on students' television, game, or computer screens, what message or reminder would you like to send to your students (or their parents) while they are away from school?

We are repeating this quesiton for another week because of the eloquent responses we have received. Share YOUR answer! Teachers deserve a great vacation. If you had the choice of an all-expense-paid vacation, which of following would you choose, and why? Your choices: a seven day cruise, a week in a mountain cabin, or a week in a luxury hotel in a big city of your choice.

Teachers deserve a great vacation. If you had the choice of an all-expense-paid vacation, which of following would you choose, and why? Your choices: a seven day cruise, a week in a mountain cabin, or a week in a luxury hotel in a big city of your choice.

Summer is a favorite time for teachers. Which do you look forward to most about summer: the change in routine, the time for personal learning, the time with your own family, or something else?

Your students today have had more exposure to computers than those at any time in the past. Does this level of student experience make it harder or easier for you to conduct classes where students are using computers? Why?

The Internet adds many options for professional development on you "own time." Have you ever taken a professional development course or workshop online? Would you recommend this option to your teacher friends? Why or why not?

Teachers know the value of eliciting input and response from parents to keep them involved in supporting their children's education. Which have you found most helpful at generating valuable responses and information from parents to help in the educational process: email, telephone, blog comments, in-person conversations, or something else?

This week we celebrate Mothers Day in the U.S. What role, if any, did your mother play in your decision to become a teacher?

Some teachers create their own MySpace and FaceBook accounts. Some have personal blogs. A recent article in the Washington Post details indescretions by teachers in such public spaces. If a teacher wants to have a personal web presence, what guidelines or advice would you give to him or her about what should/should not be shared online for the world to see, and why?

Teachers never have enough time. If your fairy godmother granted all the teachers in your school a surprise holiday from students so teachers could "catch up and grow," how would you use the day? What would you have at the end of the day to show skeptics that you had used the time wisely?

Recent cell phone videos, taken secretly inside classrooms, reveal abuses and shameful actions by both teachers and students as they appear on video sharing sites. Do you believe such videos should be shown on the web?

How much advanced planning and arranging must you do so you can share a web site or web-based activity with your entire class at once? Do you have a projector in your room? Your school? Where must you go to borrow one or use an interactive whiteboard? Please tell us what steps you must take, if any, and how much time and advanced notice is required.

If you could ask one education-related question of the presidential candidates at a hypothetical education-only debate, what would you ask all of them to answer?

What specific hands-on or "real world" learning activity/unit has had the greatest positive effect in making your students active, independent learners? Be sure to tell us what grade level and curriculum topic(s) they were studying.

If you had a choice of 1.) a classroom with all the print resources you ask for (books, magazines, maps, etc.) but no computers/Internet or 2.)a classroom with no print materials but with computers and Internet for every student and an Interactive whiteboard, which would you choose? Why?

Teachers perform many additional tasks besides working directly with students, often in non-instructional capacities (bus duty, recess supervision, filing student records, etc). If you could "give back" one such task in order to free more time to spend with students, what task would you give away first?

Many teachers have "moonlighting" jobs to supplement their income. Do you earn income apart from your teaching job? When and where do you work (during the school year, summers only, weekends, tutoring, landscaping, etc.)? Remember to check "anonymous," if you wish.

As a teacher, would you rather stay late/come in early to complete all your school work (grading, planning, etc.) while physically at school or carry work home with you? Why?

Much research has been done on the variety of roles that mothers and fathers play in the lives of children and teens. Which do you find has more impact on student learning: getting mothers or fathers involved? Do you see any difference in the roles each can play?

Imagine the technology fairy godmother is paying you a visit. Which would you rather have for your classroom: an interactive whiteboard or an additional Internet-connected computer that students could use? Or is there something else you dream about as a tool for your students to learn?

"Clickers" (audience response systems) have taken some schools by storm, giving students a way to record individual responses to questions. Have you used "clickers" in your school or in a workshop? What are the pros and cons of clickers?

A recent South Carolina survey of students participating in single-gender education reveals an increase in students' self-reported self-confidence, among other interesting results. Do you have experience teaching or learning in single-gender classrooms? What pros/cons do you see in single-gender education (at any age)?

What questions would you suggest candidates ask when they are being interviewed for a teaching job?

Teachers know that students who enjoy libraries are more likely to be good readers. How many of your students regularly visit a library, at school or elsewhere? Do they do so voluntarily or as an assignment? Are there any ways in which the libraries could better lure your students and their families to visit? For an interesting article on libraries and Internet use, see this from the New York Times.

A recent study on teacher burnout (see the article here) cites new reasons for teacher stress. What do you feel is the greatest contributor to teacher stress and burnout?

The New Year brings resolutions and new ambitions. What was the best New Year's resolution you ever actually kept?

Our students are very busy and seem to get busier every year. Yet we hope they somehow learn about current events. What is your students' main source for current events information?

What is on YOUR holiday "wish list" this year?

Do you change your expectations for student homework and projects as the holiday season approaches? Why?

Computer or Dictionary: Which do you suggest to your students when they ask about a word? Why?

Where are they now? Tell us a story of a student you taught and then unexpectedly rediscovered years later. What had he/she become? Were you surprised?

Educators and policy makers continually work to determine which school age assessments, accomplishments, and/or environmental factors best predict successful, productive adulthood. What do you believe are the best predictors of your students' future as adults?

MRSA infections have been in the news lately, especially as schools have responded to cases within their own walls. How have you and your school responded to the concerns over MRSA?

When choosing a web site for your students to use in class, which is(are) most important to you: reputation of the site's creators, appearance of the site, quality of the information, ease of use, or other factor(s)? Why?

Some people say teaching is "in the genes," perhaps because many teachers have family members who are also teachers. Did/do you have other family members who are/were teachers? Why do you think teaching does or does not "run in the family"?

Many experts are advocating that schools in the U.S. add more instructional time. Would you rather have a longer school day or a longer school year(or neither)? Why?

Every teacher welcomes “real world” connections to curriculum to improve student learning. Would you rather take your class on a field trip or invite a guest speaker into your classroom? Why?

Most teachers assign projects of some kind, no matter what age and subject(s)they teach. Would you rather assign student projects that use computers and various technology tools (web sites, digital cameras, programs, etc) or using paper, pencil, and traditional "supplies"? Why?

What percentage of your students' parents/guardians usually attend back-to-school or open house events at the start of the school year? What, if anything, do you do to encourage attendance?

Professional development experts say that "professional learning communities" are the most effective way for teachers to collaborate and grow to be better teachers. What helps you learn the most as a teacher? What kinds of experiences have had the greatest impact on your professional growth? (You may keep your response anonymous, if you wish).

The press reports that many schools have shifted their scheduling since the start of NCLB to provide longer blocks for reading and math. How has your school changed its schedule, and what impact have you seen from the changes?

It is said that first impressions are lasting impressions. Students carefully plan what they will wear for the first day of school, even by personalizing uniforms within permissible limits. Are you deliberate in what you wear for the first day you meet your new students? What do you choose--and why?

There is much discussion about reforming education to better prepare students for the "flat world" of the 21st century. In fact, the rapid spread of what started out as a PowerPoint inservice presentation a year ago by Colorado educator Karl Fisch ("Did You Know/Shift Happens") demonstrates the speed with which information and ideas travel in this flat world. What do you think schools and education policymakers should change to better prepare our students for the 21st century?

This week's question is drawn from a suggestion by Susan, a TeachersFirst user: Even veteran teachers can feel really anxious about the start of school, sometimes causing bad dreams or feelings of "burn out." What kind of feelings do you have as each new school year approaches -- and what do you do about them?

Every teacher dreams of all students being able to have the materials they need to be organized and successful in school. If all of your students had a reasonable allotment of funds for such supplies, what would be on your recommended back-to-school supply list for students this year? What would every classroom have?

News stories tell us about "helicopter parents" who hover over their children and never allow them to them to grow up or stand on their own. Have you experienced "helicopter parents" in your school? If so, how do you handle them?

Everyone wants the best relaxation when they go on vacation, especially teachers. If you could take along just one book, one CD, and one DVD to your vacation hideaway (assuming you had players for them!), which ones would you take?

Summer is a time of childhood games, both indoors on rainy days and outdoors until the sky grows dark. What were your favorite childhood games? Do you see children playing them today?

There have been recent news stories that some schools are paying students or awarding valuable prizes to those who score well on high-stakes tests. What do you think of this idea?

A recent report from a group of state teachers-of-the-year advocates a new approach to revising teacher compensation using TEACHERS at the center of the process to design systems that reward teacher leaders and those who go far above and beyond to continue their professional development and team with others for the benefit of student learning. (You might want to read the executive summary of their report to learn more about their ideas). Do you think a system of performance pay can work-- IF teachers are involved in designing the system, and it is customized to fit each school's circumstances? Are you in favor of it?

A large number of U.S. schools now have diverse populations and students who are English language learners. What has been your most effective way of helping these students succeed in your classroom?

Sometimes having a "real" expert from outside the school helps students connect classroom content with authentic applications in life. If you could have any expert or professional available for your students--willing to talk in person or via email-- what kind(s) of person/people would you like to have? If you ever been fortunate enough to bring such a person into your classes, please tell us what happened.

As summer approaches, most teachers have a "to do" list waiting for their summer days. Yours might include several books to read or household projects to complete between planning for next year, extra income jobs, grad classes, and summer inservice days. What are the top three items on YOUR summer to-do list?

In some public schools, mentioning "character education" strikes fear the school could be dictating "values." Yet some schools have programs to help students learn how to express their values and respect the opinions of others without sounding like volatile talk-TV. How does your school help students develop these skills? Do you have a formal program or rely on teacher/parent modelng to teach civility? Do you think your school's approach is working?

Technology may grow from genius, but it also can enable ingenious ways to beat the system. News stories tell of students using cell phones to text message answers to tests and iPods to "hear" the answers surreptitiously. What do you and your school do to prevent students from using technology for the wrong purposes: cheating, unethical copying, buying papers online, etc. Have some technologies been avoided, abandoned, or prohibited because of these concerns?

One of the key terms in NCLB is "highly qualified teacher." If you were in Congress, how would you write the definition/qualifications for a teacher to be designated "highly qualified"?

As teachers, we often see into our students' thoughts through their writings. What do you do when you come across student writing that is alarming, or even disturbed? Do you feel there is a proper support network in place for these situations? What do you wish would happen when you report these issues?

The recent events at Virginia Tech have once again raised concerns about safety at schools and college campuses. Advocates both pro and con on gun control have expressed strong views on the usefulness of implementing new regulations. How do you feel about gun control and school violence? Do you have any ideas for preventing such tragedies?

Earth Day is upon us once more. In these times when global climate change is so much in the news, what special plans do you or your school have to encourage environmental awareness and conservation?

Luckily, April Fool's Day fell on a weekend this year. What is the best April Fool's joke you have ever played on your students or teaching peers (or that they have ever played on you)?

Which would you rather teach: a class made up entirely of students of limited ability or a class that includes a full range: from low ability to highly gifted? Why?

There are many "signs" that spring is finally reaching the northern hemisphere. We all know the traditional signs: flowers, warmer days, etc. But there are also typical "signs" we see in our life at school. What are the "signs of spring" in your classroom and among your students this year?

Teachers have been portrayed many ways in books, television, and movies. What is your favorite portrayal of a teacher -- fiction or non-fiction -- in a film, book, or television show, past or present?

Wikipedia has made quite a sensation as a collaboratively-written online encyclopedia. It comes up as one of the first Google results on almost any search, yet its authors are ordinary people (even our 10-year-old neighbor?). One study showed that wikipedia is 99% as accurate as Encyclopedia Britannica, though no one knows the authorship of the entries. Do you allow your students to use wikipedia as a research source? Do you recommend it? Do you personally use it? What questions do YOU have about it?

As the spring high-stakes testing season approaches (or is aready upon us in some places), what do you do to give your students appropriate motivation without stressing them too much about the "big test." How do you share these pre-test suggestions with students and their families?

This week everyone is thinking of Valentine's Day. Imagine your school has a "secret admirer," actually a rich philanthropist. Imagine that this admirer will give each teacher in the school $1000 to purchase anything for your classes (consumable or permanent) in order to support continued LOVE of learning. How would you spend the money?

Every teacher has certain topics in the curriculum that are difficult for students to master. What ONE topic do you teach each year that seems the most challenging for your students? Do you have any special "tricks" you use to help them through this difficulty?

Every day we read about another high school student who has been killed in a car accident. As teachers, we often deal with the emotional devastation following such accidents. Many states(and countries)have tightened their driving laws in an effort to reduce the number of tragic accidents. What do you think is the best age and set of circumstances for teenagers to be able to drive?

Imagine that the Internet is unavailable in your school and at home for a full week (heaven forbid!). This means no email and no web at all. How would this change life in your classroom for you and your students?

Most teachers repeat some activities from year to year. Those outside the profession sometimes criticize this practice. Do you repeat the same activities? How much? Do you think the repetition improves or detracts from your teaching? Why?

A recently released report, "Touch Choices or Tough Times: The Report of the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce," states that students will "have to be comfortable with ideas and abstractions, good at both analysis and synthesis, creative and innovative, self-disciplined and well organized, able to learn very quickly and work well as a member of a team..." in order to succeed in the 21st Century. What teaching choices do you make to help assure that your students have these skills? Are there specific ways that you structure the learning environment in your classes to support such growth?

A new year brings new opportunities for you, your school, and your students. What resolutions do you wish for yourself, your school, your students, and/or their families as we begin 2007?

Teachers receive many gifts each year: coffee cups, homemade cookies, and desktop doo-dads. What is the most meaningful or moving gift you have ever received as a teacher?

Many veteran teachers (and organized new ones) have figured out tricks to help juggle the holiday season at home with their teaching responsibilities at school. What neat trick do you have to keep yourself sane and healthy during this busy time of year?

Everyone needs a humor break, and it is always healthy to be able to laugh at yourself. What is the funniest thing you ever did as a teacher? Is there one incident that your students and fellow teachers will always recall about you, even if you did not intend it to be funny at the time?

Big changes are ahead in Washington and in capitals and city halls across the U.S. as a result of this past week's elections. If you had the opportunity to address one issue about education with a government official of your choice(including those outide the U.S.), to whom would you wish to speak, and what would you say?

The Department of Education has recently loosened regulations regarding single-sex classes in the public schools, citing some research indicating positive impact of such classes in some situations. Do you think there is a place for single-sex classes in the public schools? Why or why not?

There has been a great deal of news coverage about social networking sites such as MySpace. Similar sites designed for children as young as 7 years old have launched, as well. The sites for younger children require parental permission. Under what circumstances, if any, would you allow your own children (or nieces and nephews)to use a social networking site?

Many schools have changed their everyday priorities to help meet accountability requirements: more minutes on this, fewer on that, different ways of scheduling subjects, more time for tutoring etc. What day-to-day or week-to-week changes have you seen in your school and what positive/ negative effects have you seen as a result of these practical details? If you are a new teacher, what has changed since you left K-12 education and how do you perceive the effects?

More and more teachers have their own web sites for students and parents to access both during the school day and from home. TeachersFirst would like to share some of the ways these sites are made and used. Does your school provide a way for you to make a website? Do you have school policies for teacher web pages? What kind of information do you put on your web page? Has it been a positive addition? If you do not have one yet, would you like to -- and why?

School violence is a terrifying prospect that most of us will never experience, fortunately. What does your school do to make you and your students safe, and what do you say to your students when they show concern about the news stories?

A recent, well-publicized and well-researched report condemns the teacher education programs at most U.S. colleges and universities as woefully inadequate to downright terrible. Do you believe you were well-prepared? Do you feel that colleges and universities should change their teacher ed programs? If you were in charge, what would you do to bring well-prepared, effective teachers into the classroom next to yours?

A recent report from NCES tells us that there is, indeed, a "digital divide" between students who have Internet access at home and those who do not, even though 100 per cent of schools now have access. How do you, as a teacher, handle the issue of assigning work that requires use of the Internet? Does your school make computer labs available for members of the community outside school hours to help with this problem?

A recent book criticizing the use of homework in the schools has oiled the media machine just as teachers have started the school year with new assignments and expectations. What criteria do you use to plan effective homework assignments? Are you required to follow any specific guidelines? What do you believe (or have you been taught in teacher ed programs) is the value and purpose of homework?

"One-to-one" initiatives that put a laptop into the hands of every student have received a much press attention, both positive and negative. Have you been involved with such an initiative? How have teachers and students in your school handled having such a major infusion of technology? Even if you have not been involved in a one-to-one initiative, how do you feel about these efforts? Are they a worthwhile investment?

News reports this week announced the largest drop in SAT scores in 31 years. What factors do you believe contribute to the decline?

Over the summer, many schools purchase new technology hardware. What new gadgets have shown up in your school or classroom, and how do you plan to use them? Is there any new gadget that you wish you knew better how to use in your teaching?

Recent statistics about childhood obesity have triggered many new policies on food in classrooms. Are these new policies in place in your school? If so, how do you plan to change your classroom practices?

What do you plan to do/have you done on the first day of school to make every student in your classroom feel comfortable and welcome?

New tools, buzzwords, or tech "doo-dads" seem to appear in the vocabulary of the most techno-savvy every few months. Sometimes it is hard to even know what they are, exactly, but it is embarrassing to say so. Which new tech ideas or "doo-dads" are you curious to know more about, especially for their potential in the classroom? (We can show your answer anonymously, if you are embarrassed to say that you don't know about something).

As you prepare for a new school year, what step or small thing you do in preparation excites you most or really feels important to you?

If your choices were unlimited, what professional development experience would you most like to have this summer?

Should schools require community service by their students as a requirement for graduation?

This is the season of graduations. What advice or wisdom would you particularly want to pass on to graduating high school students this June?

What is the one thing you wish you had been able to do with your students this year that you weren't able to accomplish?

What is the best idea you have used or seen others use to inspire students' summer learning and/or skills retention?

The state of Florida is considering mandating a 9-week career education course for middle schoolers. (See Christian Science Monitor article at: http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0503/p03s02-legn.html What's the best way to encourage a diversity of studies in middle school and high school while making students aware of career options?

Apart from the obvious issues of salary and benefits, what can schools do to attract and retain truly talented teachers?

What's different about students who have experienced full-day Kindergarten? Do the entrance requirements for full-day need to differ from traditional programs? Do elementary students who have been through full-day programs become stronger students? Is there too much academic pressure on these youngest students? Your thoughts?

Many high schools are adding Chinese as a foreign language option. Given limits on faculty and instructional time, what is the best way for schools to include Chinese, Russian, or Arabic? How important are such efforts?

Is increasing pressure to improve reading and math performance hampering your ability to teach other subject areas? If so, how are you adjusting your teaching to meet this challenge?

What do you find is your best strategy for teaching tolerance of individual differences?

If you could take one year away from your classroom to try a different job or role (with guaranteed ability to return) in order to improve your perspective and abilities as a teacher, what job/role would you try and why?

Have you taught in a school with a year-round schedule? What are the benefits of these schedules? What problems did you encounter with the implementation of year-round schooling? What's the best way to make it work well?

Have you had experience teaching using block scheduling? What new opportunities does it unlock? What problems does it create? When is it most appropriate? Your comments, please.

What is the best way to attract, train, and retain the thousands of new math and science teachers whom President Bush has suggested the nation's schools need?

Do you think school uniforms have an effect on student learning?

If you were told to teach using a textbook that you felt was blatantly biased or academically unsound, how would you handle the situation?

If you could designate a month to be dedicated to a specific focus (such as Women's History Month or Black History Month), what new focus would you designate?

What type of technology-based teaching resource have you found most useful in your teaching? (Tell us what subject/grade level you teach!)

Research shows that students who can write clearly fare better in post-secondary education and employment, but writing assignments can be time-consuming. What ways have you found to integrate writing activities successfully into the classes you teach?

What is the one thing you wish your school had more of? What would you like to see less of?

What resources have you and your school used to help improve your interactions with students for whom English is not their "first language?"

The New York Times recently published an article about teacher training, and the current emphasis on the theoretical and technical, as opposed to the more traditional emphasis on practical experience and critical thinking skills. See http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/31/education/edlife/hartocollis31.html What has been your experience? Which type of training produces the teachers most likely to remain and thrive in the profession?

Economists and others have noted that inability of Americans to keep up with their international peers in science and math could threaten the United States' historic dominance in these fields. How could federal, state, and local entities assist K-12 schools in nurturing talented young scientists and mathematicians?

How (if at all) does your school attempt to control consumption of "junk food" by students - in the cafeteria, from vending machines, etc.? How succcessful has this effort been?

What is the single curriculum concept that you consistently find most difficult to teach to your students? (Please tell us what subject you teach and the grade level.)

Recent media reports have cited research showing that exposing student to music and the arts can help build their skills at other subjects such as math and science. Have you seen effects such as these in your teaching?

Recent media reports have cited research showing that exposing student to music and the arts can help build their skills at "hard" subjects like math and science. Have you seen effects such as these in your teaching?

How many students do you have in your classroom? Is this a manageable number? What's the "ideal" class size?

This week we'd your thoughts on topics and issues we should include in upcoming weekly questions. Got an issue that's important to you, or a problem about which you'd like ideas from colleagues? Please send us your suggestions. Thanks!

Have you had any experience in a school using block scheduling? What are the comparative advantages and disadvantages of block scheduling compared to a more traditional schedule?

What is the most valuable "teaching tip" you have ever received from a mentor, colleague, or instructor?

If somehow every child in grades K-8 could have instruction in music and art every day (without subtracting from other instructional time) what effect do you think it would have on them?

If you were provided an uninterrupted half hour with Margaret Spellings, the new federal Secretary of Education, what would you tell her? What would you ask her?

Does your state require that teachers earn continuing education credits to maintain their certificates? If so, what activities have you found rewarding as a way to earn these credits?

Most public schools depend on local governments for funding, with additional federal funds provided through the states. How would you change this funding system to ensure sufficient funding for locally-controlled education?

What is your reaction to President Bush's recent suggestion that the "rigorous testing" required by the No Child Left Behind act be extended to include high school students?

Is the No Child Left Behind law in need of revision? If so, what changes would you suggest?

Does your school ban cell phones and other types of communication technology (PDAs, etc)? Do you agree with the decision? Should students be able to use the latest technology in the classroom as they will in the workplace?

Should schools require community service by their students as a requirement for graduation?

In today's world of limited resources, do you think students should have to "pay to play"? Should those who wish to participate in extra curricular activities be required to pay a portion of the cost of participating?

What strategies do you use for handling a fussy or difficult parent?

What is your most effective/efficient method of communicating with parents? (i.e. Web page, newsletters, notes sent home with students, after school events, phone calls&.)

What kinds of things do you do to make Back to School Night a positive, welcoming experience for parents?

What would you like your students to tell their parents about the first day of school?

If you have had experience teaching in a single-sex school, how did it compare to teaching in a coeducational setting? Were students' attitudes/performace different?

If you could give a two sentence suggestion to the administrators in your school district on how they can help student achievement, what would you say?

If your faculty lounge could have a never-ending supply of one thing, what do you wish it could be (and why)?

What do you think would be the most effective "reward" a school could earn for improving test scores?

Each state requires a certain number of "inservice" days or hours for teachers. What inservice activities have been most useful for you? What inservice program ideas do you have that would actually make a difference for you as a teacher day-to-day?

How does your school handle "Take your child to work day" so it is a valid educational experience?

What would be the most useful (or most appreciated) item that your school district could put in each teachers' lounge?

If you could take a paid sabbatical, what would you do with the time to improve your teaching?

What do you do on a snow day? (If you don't have them, what would you do with a surprise day off?)

What sort of process should states use to certify teachers who have not completed traditional teacher training programs? Relatively speaking, should it be "easier" to become a 2nd career teacher or is it simply too important that teachers complete a full teacher-education degree?

What is the best motivational tool/trick you have ever used with your students?

What alternatives would you propose to high-stakes testing to be sure students are "progressing?"

What can teachers do to encourage students to enter the profession? What can others (school boards, politicians, teacher training institutions) do to encourage students to enter the profession?

Are surveillance cameras installed on school buses or in classrooms necessary or effective? Do you have any personal experience with these systems – positive or negative?

Do you use peer-to-peer learning in your class? Why or why not?

What is the most common misconception parents have about, school, teachers, or education?

What can/should public schools do to help develop "good character" in students?

How are you using technology in your classroom?

If the technology genie visited you, what would you say was your greatest wish regarding technology in your school?

If you have a teacher web site, how has the site helped your students/parents? Do you have any suggestions for other teachers starting their own sites?

How have computers changed your teaching style?

If you could give a two-sentence suggestion to a lawmaker about education in your state or the U.S., what would you say?

Other than homework assignments, how do you maintain regular communication with the parents of your students? How often? What topics do you cover? What responses do you get?

If you were in charge of curriculum at teacher training institutions, what courses would you add? What would you delete?

How much of your own money do you spend on school/classroom-related supplies each year? What everyday household item(s) have you creatively converted into a school/classroom-related object?

If you could give a two sentence suggestion to the administrators in your school district on how they can help student achievement, what would you say?

What advice would you give to a new teacher? What was the best advice you ever received from a veteran teacher?

How do you involve parents and guardians in their children's education?

If a TV network were planning a news magazine program about teaching and learning in US schools, what would you tell them should be the focus of their report?