Tatjana,

Hello from Tennessee in the USA!  I teach Kindergarten and I am currently working toward my graduate degree during our summer break.  I am looking for a teacher that I can talk to about the differences and similarities in educational practices.  I have SO many questions!  I need to learn about how your curriculum is developed, how does your culture and community view the role of "teacher", your daily routine, and your administrative structure.  Since I am an early childhood teacher, I use so much music and movement in my classroom!  I would love to share.  Your teenagers might just have fun while they are learning.  I know my kids do!

I hope to hear from you

Tina Sain

May L

I am a teacher in the USA.  I live in Tennessee, which is in the southeastern part of the country.  I am taking a graduate class and am in need of a teacher from another country to discuss alternative cultural education policies and practice in a different country.  Would you be interested in developing a trade of experiences?  I would love to discuss the differences in teaching methods, curriculum development, school discipline and administrative structures.  I would love to hear from you!

Tina Sain

Hi Cristy!

I have recently joined epals and I am very excited. I am a middle school science teacher. I have a Masters in Instruction and Curriculum Learning, and I am one class away from completing another Masters in Reading.  I think that it is very important to show the students how their subjects relates to other subjects and things around them. A good way to do this would be to integrate as much technology as possible into the classroom activities. I use www.brainpop.com  a website that shows 3 to 5 minute movies on a topic of your choice and afterwards there is a ten question quiz. I also use www.unitedstreaming.com. This website has so many different things to offer. This site has short movies, long movies, movie clips, quick writes, and more. You can also create powerpoints that will allow you to present the information in a more interesting way. There is a website that i have found called www.worldofteaching.com  that has many different powerpoints available in many different topics. Lastly, you may want to use webquests that enforce the concepts that you are teaching. For instance right now, I am teaching summer school to high school students. I am teaching physical science and biology to older kids, however, the same concepts still work for them like it does with my middle school students during the regular school year! Oh I also wanted to share that I use many different types of graphic organizers to help the children learn and process the information better. I hope that some of this helps.

Mikka

Hi Karen,

I am a teacher from Iowa, and just joined ePals.  The idea of listening in and participating in teacher conversations from around the world is intriguing.  I teach 6th graders (ages 11-13) integrated language arts.  This means I have them for a two block period, (80 minutes) and guide them through lessons in English grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and reading comprehension.  I'm working on my Master's degree in literacy and technology, and have vowed to involve myself more in technology, so this is a positive step for me! 

To all the other teachers who have responded, what are ways that you use technology in your classrooms?

Cristy

Hello! I'm also a history/humanities teacher at an international school in Suzhou, China (near Shanghai, canals everywhere, mountains and hills, etc). I have been developing curriculum for years 7-11 here which is a challenge as I only taught years 6-8 in the United States! :D Would love to talk to another teacher with a like subject. Do you have many students from outside of Britain? Do you have trouble with bias in your course content or readings? That is probably one of my biggest challenges with such a mixed group. I am constantly trying to find something that will be appropriate or valuable for the majority. We are currently doing WWII and I have Aussies, Germans, Japanese, Koreans, a Norwegian, and a random Mexican (that one is unusual here). Makes for some interesting discussions!

Glenda

sure I like to communicate with you

nourrm@epals.com

Hi Karen! This is absolutely a great idea. I'm a Chinese, teaching non-English majors oral English in college. At the same time, I'm studying linguistics as part of my MA program. In my college, teachers of the same subject will meet once a week to discuss teaching syllabus, and evaluate teaching effectiveness based on the grades of students' homework, quizzes and presentations. Students benefit from collaborative learning, and teachers need cooperations too. If the teaching syllabus is not confidential I think maybe a teacher can post a piece of his/her teaching plan for one point. It could be as specific as how to spell a single word, or as abstract as giving a definition to culture. Then the plan is followed by the results of the teaching: effectivenss or problems. At last, provide other variables, like the age, gender and other individual differences. It could help us to evaluate our teaching method and possibly shed a light on future teachings especially in how to motivate students. Does anybody agree? =)

Am Lizzy, a teacher in Kenya, Africa. Would love to get in touch.

Lizzy

Hello! I'm an English teacher in Russia. I have students of different ages. I would like to know modern methods of teaching in different countries. Let's share our ideas!

May L:

 I am a teacher .  I'm new here. Nice to meet you.  I hope to share my teaching experience here.

Hello May L .I´m spanish teacher in colombia. My name is Clara .What are you interested?

I would like ask teachers around the world, what would they like to read to their students about Colombia and why?

I hope  hear from you soon.

Hello Karen .I¨m interested.

What do you teach?

I´m spanish teacher my name si clara

Hi,there,

This is a good idea. Let's invite more teachers to join in this writing project.

Don ( from Liuzhou,China )

Hi, my name is Alison and I have been teaching between 6-8 years.  I currently work in a small school in a very low socio-economic area.  There is a lot or poverty, crime, domestic violence and blended families.  I am very interested to hear from other teachers who use specific or created programs that teach resiience and social skills to children aged between 5-9 years.  We have a school wide behaviour management program and a very supportive school staff.  I am a support teacher on a Prep/Grade 1 class and basically I team teach.  This means that there are 2 teachers in the room for 21 students, 2 of which have special needs- one student is teacher aide funded. 

I am interested in what happens in schools in the USA regarding these issues.  If you would like to correspond on any issues or queries, it would be great to make email contact.

kind regards,  Alison

Hi May,

I am a teacher of English in a town in the centre of Italy. I have been teaching for 12 years in secondary school ( students aged11-14). I love my job.I would like to know about your country and its school system and to tell you more about mine.

Best regards,

Annamaria

P.S.

My son, that is now with me near the computer, would like to know some Chinese words. Could you write to me some examples, please?

Errol - High school teacher - hostory and politics are my areas nof interest - I am Head of Deparment - Social Science Would llike to communicate with other teachers about all things great and small