E-books in the Classroom

E-books in the classroom. Just think about it. I think district dollars would be better spent if schools forgo textbooks and invest in computers or smart phones and then purchase the apps for these devices. This way, digital textbooks are frequently updated and customized. Obviously it takes money to purchase and install this technology, but at some point, our society needs to step up to the plate and realize that technology is not a luxury but a necessity to advancing our children in an ever changing world.

Second Life

This past week we had to find internet resources as to how you would incorporate Second Life in the classroom.  I’ve watched some videos and read some articles on it, but I’m still unsure how to incorporate it. Just wondering if anyone has had any first-hand experience using it, how‘s it going, and if you could provide any pointers.

A Different Perspective on Teacher Salaries

Edutopia recently published an article by Eric Brunsell on the Collective Bargaining situation in Wisconsin. It a good article worth reading. Here’s a little article on teacher’s salaries and how we are overpaid. You will enjoy it. Take a read: Are you sick of high paid teacher? Teachers’ hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or 10 months a year! It’s time we put things in perspective and them for what they do – baby sit! We can get that for less than minimum wage. That’s right. Let’s give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked; not any of that silly planning time, or any time they spend before or after school. That would be $19.50 a day (7:45 to 3:00 PM with 45 min. off for lunch and plan — that equals 6 1/2 hours). Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children. Now how many do they teach in day…maybe 30? So that’s $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day. However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! I am not going to pay them for any vacations. LET’S SEE…. That’s $585 X 180= $105,300 per year. (Hold on! My calculator needs new batteries). What about those special education teachers and the ones with Master’s degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage ($7.75), and just to be fair, round it off to $8.00 an hour. That would be $8 X 6 1/2 hours X 30 children X 180 days = $280,800 per year. Wait a minute — there’s something wrong here! There sure is! The average teacher’s salary (nation-wide) is $50,000. $50,000/180 days = $277.77/per day/30 students=$9.25/6.5 hours = $1.42 per hour per student–a very inexpensive baby-sitter and they even EDUCATE your kids!)