What Makes a Good Teacher?

I came across this article this morning and it had some really useful advice about what makes a "good teacher." Remember Edna Krabappel from the Simpsons? The entirely jaded but once optimistic educator who burnt out because of the flawed education system? Sure she has her own Wikipedia page, but that is because she is the only teacher on TV who smokes heavily, especially during school hours. I think we all had a Krabapple growing up. I think we all have the potential to become Krabapples.

Unfortunately there is no hotline to call when helicopter parents, crunching budgets, standardized testing, and children with behavioral issues seem like too much to continue on teaching. All you have as an educator is your determination to succeed and come through the journey of teaching knowing that you did help someone, if only in a very small way. So put down those cigarettes and brush the leaves out of your hair-- being a Krabapple is not for you.

Then pour yourself a nice cup of coffee and read this article.

Heather

TRO Events

TRO Spring 2009 Events and Programming:

• FTA/Teacher Cadet Conference – March 6,7^th
• Calling Campaigns for Admitted Students – March 15 – April 15th
• Accepted Student Day – March 20^th and April 10th
• Avid Conference Day – March 25^th
• “Exploring Worlds, Building Bridges” Dinner – April 8^th
• Roadtrip2Teach Event – March 18^th – 19^th
• University Open House – April 25^th

UNCA Academic Calendar

Spring 2009 Academic Calendar

January

14	Wednesday	Classes begin Late registration
16	Friday	Last day drop/add Term I Last day register Term I
19	Monday	Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No classes
21	Wednesday	Last day drop/add Full Semester Last day register Full Semester
22	Thursday	Late-Add with Instructor Permission begins Withdrawal period with W grade begins
28	Wednesday	Last day to Late-Add with Instructor Permission

February

18

Wednesday

Last day to withdraw Term I Classes

March

6	Friday	Term I classes end
9	Monday	Spring Break begins
16	Monday	Classes resume Classes begin Term II Term I grades due Advising Begins for Summer & Fall 2009
18	Wednesday	Last day to drop/add Term II Last day to register for Term II
25	Wednesday	Last Day to Withdraw Full Semester Course
27	Friday	Annual Spring Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creativity - No classes

April

6	Monday	Early Registration begins for Summer & Fall 2009
10	Friday	Incomplete grades due from Fall
17	Friday	Last day to withdraw Term II courses
19	Sunday	Early Registration ends

May

1	Friday	Competencies due for May graduates
4	Monday	Classes end
5	Tuesday	Grades for graduating seniors due by noon
6	Wednesday	Finals begin
12	Tuesday	Finals end
16	Saturday	Commencement
18	Monday	Final grades due by noon

Scholarships Available to Prospective Teachers 2009-2010

Scholarships for Education Licensure Candidates 2009-2010

For more information on these scholarships visit: http://www.unca.edu/education/grants/index.htm

Dr. Linda C. Winner Scholarship: Awarded to Outstanding academic full-time students in the licensure program demonstrating financial need. Students are nominated by the faculty of the Department of Education. Candidates must be a resident of the state and must teach a minimum of one year in a public school in North Carolina upon receipt of the license. Amount to be awarded: up to $1,000.

J.W. and Rose Byers Scholarship Fund: Awarded to a candidate who is working towards teacher licensure. Amount to be awarded: up to $3,000.

Don & Marjorie Locke Scholarship: Provides opportunities for students in education and to enhance diversity at the University. Amount to be awarded: up to $500.

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Scholars Program (for science and math majors seeking teacher licensure): Qualifying juniors and seniors seeking math or science secondary licensure will receive up to two-year scholarships of $6,500. Licensure completers will teach in a NC public school in math/science for one year to repay the loan/scholarship. In addition they qualify for a five-year $5,000 annual salary supplement in their teaching position. Scholars will work within a learning community that provides unique support services for students as they complete their program of study. An international experience will be designed for scholars between their first and second year of employment as a teacher. Fifteen scholarships will be awarded in 2009-2010.


NC Teaching Fellows Program-This program was adopted and funded by the 1986 North Carolina General Assembly as part of a ten point teacher recruitment plan proposed by the Public School Forum of North Carolina. The first recipients of North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarships were named in 1987. Applicants must be North Carolina residents currently enrolled as high school seniors. http://www.teachingfellows.org/

Scholarship-Loan Programs Available through the College Foundation of NC
PTSL—Prospective Teacher Scholarship-Loan Program: merit-based scholarship-loan program for students pursuing teaching as a career. $2,500 for freshmen and sophomores; $4,000 per year for juniors and seniors. The recipient agrees to work full-time as a teacher in North Carolina’s public schools one year for every year of funding received. (Visit CFNC.org/PTSL)

Future Teachers of North Carolina Scholarship-Loan Program: college juniors and seniors seeking licensure to teach math, science, special education, or English as a second language in North Carolina’s public schools are eligible for this scholarship-loan. Recipients agree to teach full-time in a qualifying subject area for three years. The annual award is $6,500 per year for students enrolled full-time. Visit CFNC.org/FTNC)

Inauguration and Snow

Hello! I’m Heather and I am new to the TRO. This is my first blog for the spring semester so I suppose I will discuss a little about my unexpected day off.



Today UNCA functioned on a delay because of snow. However, because I commute I could not master driving over the glacier that surrounded my house and opted to stay home and perform a celebratory inauguration/snow dance in my PJs.
Today finished the final chapter of my first presidential election as a legal adult—my first time researching a candidate, voting, and finally watching the inauguration. It would have been nice to have watched it on the big screen at school with snacks but I won’t be picky.
I expected a larger than normal turn out for the inauguration of President Obama but the estimated 1.5 million people than came truly shocked me.



It’s amazing to see how one person could stir up so many people around the world—including the kindergarten class I worked with last semester that would burst into Obama chants when the teacher would count down the days until Election Day.
Despite the excitement, I am pretty sure those people were freezing. I’m glad I was at home in my PJs.

Heather

Photo credit to these links:
Obama, Geoeye