Reading Time: 4 minutes Education schools often tilt from one useless fad to another with little practical use in actual classrooms
Author: Michael Zwaagstra
Michael Zwaagstra is a public high school teacher and author. He has extensive teaching experience at a variety of grade levels and currently teaches high school social studies in Manitoba. Michael received his Bachelor of Education, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Education and Master of Education degrees from the University of Manitoba where he won numerous academic awards including the A. W. Hogg Undergraduate Scholarship, the Klieforth Prize in American History and the Schoolmasters’ Wives Association Scholarship. He also holds a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Liberty University and graduated with high distinction.
Basic subject knowledge best way to improve reading skills
Reading Time: 3 minutes Reading is not just about decoding individual words. In order to read effectively, you must also understand what you’re reading
Teacher competence in the subject they teach critical to learning
Reading Time: 3 minutes Despite what trendy education gurus say, a teacher’s competence in their subject makes a noticeable difference to student achievement
Tests help improve student achievement
Reading Time: 3 minutes P.E.I. introduced standardized testing and student achievement substantially improved. Other provinces should take note
Unions can help teachers resist pointless education fads
Reading Time: 3 minutes Being on the front lines, teachers must implement the latest fads. Then they get blamed when the fads crash and burn
Market principles offer solutions to teacher shortage
Reading Time: 3 minutes One way to increase the applicants is to make the job more desirable, particularly by paying more
Reading comprehension depends on content knowledge
Reading Time: 3 minutes A student may be able to decode every single word in an article but still be clueless about the meaning since they know virtually nothing about the subject
Don’t judge historic figures without knowledge of our history
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canadian curriculums fail students when it comes to teaching the content necessary to have informed, intelligent debate
Breaching the fine line between teaching and brainwashing
Reading Time: 3 minutes Being a teacher means making sure your students are exposed to more than one perspective
Giving teachers a voice in crafting a better education system
Reading Time: 3 minutes Considering the emphasis placed on critical thinking in schools, it’s ironic that teacher development minimizes debate and emphasizes conformity