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Careers: Teaching/Questions Answered by Expert Bonnie Shimmin
| Subject | Date Asked |
| teaching | 9/6/2011 |
| Q: what are top colleges for a teaching degree? How many years of college do you need for a teaching ... A: 1) I would assume Harvard School of Education would be top. I went there for summer classes for ... | |
| Curriculum help | 7/31/2011 |
| Q: I am currently a student who is thinking about becoming a teacher. I really love history and think ... A: I have been thinking about your question and really do not see how you could design your own history ... | |
| Considering making a career change | 7/5/2011 |
| Q: I'm considering making a career change and getting into education. At my former job I applied to ... A: I Googled Alabama teacher credential and found some good information about how to obtain a ... | |
| College Professor | 6/28/2011 |
| Q: and I see some of my professors are only 23 and 24 years old, but I thought you need to had a ph.d ... A: You can get a job in many fields with a BA in English Literature - not just teaching. My daughter ... | |
| College Professor | 6/28/2011 |
| Q: and I see some of my professors are only 23 and 24 years old, but I thought you need to had a ph.d ... A: I guess there are no hard and fast rules for college teaching - especially in private colleges. I ... | |
| College Professor | 6/27/2011 |
| Q: and I see some of my professors are only 23 and 24 years old, but I thought you need to had a ph.d ... A: I can't imagine a professor who doesn't at least have a master's degree in the subject being taught. ... | |
| Teaching in the US | 4/23/2011 |
| Q: I am an English BA and teaching degree graduate, with 2 yrs experience. I want to know what I would ... A: All of my education experience has been in California. Each state in the U.S. has different ... | |
| what type if job my gf can do? | 4/11/2011 |
| Q: What type of job my Gf can do? With respect, well, my gf lives in fremont, nebraska, usa. she is so ... A: Since I have spent my life in public education, I always go for an education-oriented answer. Your ... | |
| Financial rankings | 3/26/2011 |
| Q: Bonnie, I'm hoping that you can help me find some information on the net. I have so far been ... A: California school districts are funded in two ways: 1) by allocations from the state based on ... | |
| Not sure how to handle | 1/15/2011 |
| Q: I am hoping you can advise me on career strategy. I have been hired on as a seasonal employee at a ... A: The manner in which you've crafted your letter tells me that you are intelligent and logical. I can ... | |
| Science Unit on Water- Culminating Activity | 12/2/2010 |
| Q: I am a student teacher and I am going to teach a unit on water to a grade 2 class. Some of the ... A: I think your ideas for instruction are sound and will yield good results. For your culminating ... | |
| Volunteering at schools | 9/28/2010 |
| Q: Why do teachers get the ability to volunteer and I don't? I know I am considered a non-exempt ... A: I didn't understand that you were already employed by the district. That wasn't made clear in your ... | |
| Volunteering at schools | 9/27/2010 |
| Q: Why do teachers get the ability to volunteer and I don't? I know I am considered a non-exempt ... A: Principals probably want to employ teachers rather than volunteers because they are already employed ... | |
| Road to becoming a school administrator | 8/3/2010 |
| Q: Also living in California, I thought that we would be a good match together. I also wanted to become ... A: It sounds as if you are a very busy student right now. It's really wonderful that you have plans so ... | |
| Career | 7/30/2010 |
| Q: I am a 22 year old male who is pursing a career in Elementary Education. I currently am in my second ... A: Congratulations on choosing a very honorable career. I enjoyed teaching thoroughly and hope you do ... | |
| degree | 5/18/2010 |
| Q: Does it matter what college you get your Teaching degree ? When you get considered for a job do they ... A: The most important part of a college (in relation to becoming a teacher) is whether it is ... | |
| Advice on getting some experience. | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: I am wanting to enroll in a program at the university that I want to transfer to that will lead to ... A: You probably won't get to see the principal right away, due to the incredible time constraints that ... | |
| Advice on getting some experience. | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: I am wanting to enroll in a program at the university that I want to transfer to that will lead to ... A: This is a very good question and one that I've heard many times. In order to get a job, one must ... | |
| Physical Education:Catch a student being good | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: What would be an example of "Catch a student being good" in terms of teaching gym/physical ... A: Usually the phrase, "catching a student being good" doesn't refer to academic or physical abilities ... | |
| Unit Plan before teaching | 3/27/2010 |
| Q: Why is it crucial or important to develop a unit plan before you begin to teach the unit? Thanks ... A: If you don't plan the unit, how will you know what you want the students to learn during the ... | |
| Cheating in the classroom | 3/11/2010 |
| Q: I have a question about cheating in the classroom especially in elementary school and grade 6. As a ... A: I don't remember having a lot of experience with cheating children as a classroom teacher. The ... | |
| Informal Formative Assessment | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: My name is Anna and I have a question about informal formative assessment, My question is, what can ... A: I've been asked this question many times recently, and the writers always wanted the answers to be ... | |
| Differentiated Instruction | 2/13/2010 |
| Q: How could you use Differentiated Instruction to help all students? Thanks Winsome A: In the past, differentiated instruction was what teachers were supposed to use for special ... | |
| Career change to teaching | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: I am an ex-teacher who went the normal route of getting my degree and certification through 4 years ... A: Your friend is going to have a hard time getting a teaching job in a public California middle or ... | |
| begin a lesson with a kick-off/gimmick? | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: I would like to know why is it important to begin a lesson with a kick-off/gimmick? Thanks Ursula A: What a good question. It may seem that having a hook (what I've always called the kick-off) to ... | |
| Teaching a Foreign Language-German | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: I live in the LA area and am looking to go back to school to earn my Master's in Education (I do not ... A: I think if you want to teach in California, it would be best to have an advanced degree from a ... | |
| Teaching as a career | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: Can you please advise me on how I can pursue a career in teaching? I am an Irish man married to an ... A: You don't say what you would like to teach or to whom. Are you thinking of college, high school, ... | |
| schooling | 12/27/2009 |
| Q: In what ways can the school & the home, work together for the betterment of the child. A: It's so important for teachers to keep parents advised as to what is happening in school and what ... | |
| Foreign language | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: I am foreign language instructor and cross-cultural coach. I am in California, I teach Greek and my ... A: What an interesting question. I've always wanted to be able to read Greek. Do you want to teach ... | |
| School Funding | 11/9/2009 |
| Q: my question is regarding school funding in schools. I am trying to find information on the web in ... A: This is a complicated question because not all school districts in any particular state are funded ... | |
| Becoming a teacher | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: I am thinking of a career change. Currently, I am working as an analyst in investment company and ... A: Even with a BA or BS, you still need to go to a college to get into a credential program, in order ... | |
| Becoming a teacher | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: I am thinking of a career change. Currently, I am working as an analyst in investment company and ... A: Congratulations in your decision to enter the teaching field. The first thing you need to do is ... | |
| jobs/careers | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: Due to impediments I had to stop the pursuit of a single subject credential in mathematics with the ... A: I substitute taught many years ago after my children were born. I signed up in several nearby ... | |
| jobs/careers | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: Due to impediments I had to stop the pursuit of a single subject credential in mathematics with the ... A: In California (and no doubt with the same sort of test in other states) you can take the CBEST test ... | |
| Teaching | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: my name is Lizbeth. I have a question, what is the difference between elementary teaching and early ... A: Early Childhood Education (ECE) is generally thought of as grades Kindergarten through grade 3. ... | |
| re-certification | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: I received my bachelor's degree in Elementary Education in 1989. I did not formally teach with my ... A: Many people go into teaching after a gap for children or other jobs. As a principal, I always ... | |
| what to do ?? | 9/6/2009 |
| Q: I'm an Egyptian teacher.recently i got my Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language certificate.Also, I ... A: Usually school districts want to see people face-to-face when hiring a new teacher. When you were ... | |
| job seeking | 9/3/2009 |
| Q: My fiance graduated in Dec. of 07'with com laud in high school social studies teaching and was ... A: You are right, as long as there are children, there will be teachers. But as you've noticed, this ... | |
| Hiring Process | 9/3/2009 |
| Q: I am 40 years old and I am considering going back to school to be a teacher in Michigan but I am ... A: As a principal I have hired many people who were over 40 - some who were over 50. Sometimes it's ... | |
Careers: Teaching
Answers by Expert:
Bonnie Shimmin
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer questions about teaching and learning in grades K-8, having taught all those grades. As a former principal I can discuss techniques and responsibilities in administration of public schools. I am especially familiar with California laws and educational history. I have no personal knowledge or experience with home schooling or private schools.
Experience
Public School Teacher in grades K-8: All grade levels - specializing in English and Social Sciences.
Specialist in Gifted and Talented Education.
Specialist in Categorical Program Evaluation.
Administrator (Principal or Assistant Principal) in elementary (K-6) and middle schools (6-8).
Organizations
Retired Principals Association
UCLA Alumni Association
Publications
"What if...?" In-frequently Asked Questions by Principals
"My Brain Makes Learning Fun: Gifted Students Speak Out" Vols 1 and 2
Yearly Categorical Program Evaluation Reports
Education/Credentials
B.A. from UCLA in English with a minor in Social Sciences.
M.A. from California Polytechnic University in Education, specializing in Instructional Technology and Media
CA Elementary Credential - Life
CA Secondary Credential - Life (English & Social Sciences)
CA Administrative Credential
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