Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with highschool

What could a high school chemistry teacher do with $5000? (besides buying computers)

chr1sb0y — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:44:22 -0800

What could a high school chemistry teacher do with a $5000 technology grant? (The grant restrictions state that it cannot be used to buy computer hardware or fund after-school programs or summer projects.) I am looking for project inspiration for the a Toshiba America Foundation 7-12 Science/Math Education Grant (PDF). Past winners are here, but few are chemistry-related. So far I am pondering biodiesel and also trying to come up with a way to mix up BASIC Stamps and chemistry, but any and all suggestions are welcome.

How do I start tutoring for reals?

Precision — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:33:58 -0800

How do I, a soon-to-be high school senior, go about tutoring math as a part-time job? I've been working a retail position (cashier at Target) for the past 18 months. Since I turned 16, or shortly after. Throughout my junior year I pulled 20-25 hours a week, topping 30 most of November/December, and working 37+ immediately prior to Christmas. I get a halfway-decent hourly rate, $7.70. Decent for a part-time high school job.

Now, however, I want to quit. Why? No reason, really. Most of my friends in school all graduated this year (I've been roughly a yeah ahead of my grade since freshman year. So I've taken nearly all my classes with the year ahead of me. I'm only taking 4 classes this year as a result.) and I feel the need to make some close(r) friends in my year. Thirty hour weeks cashiering is not how to do this.

My girlfriend currently tutors a 13-year old (soon to be 8th grader, I think) in math and english. She's Korean, and her (very) Asian mother set the job up for her, with the boy's (very) Asian mother. She gets $15 an hour for it, and I think she's been getting 6 hours a week during the summer, not sure how many she gets during the school year. She's also moving to Wisconsin September 1st. So, when we're done crying, I might steal her client.

Anyway, beyond this, what is a good way for a high-schooler to break into this? Ideally, I want to make $100 a week during the school year. Any rate from $10 to $15 per hour is fine with me.

I certainly know the subjects that I'd think about tutoring in (Math and English). I scored perfect 36's on both of those subjects on my ACT test. I'm ranked in the top 2% in my class. I have practice tutoring on the "amateur" level, or whatever. Meaning, I've spent countless hours helping people ranging from 5th graders trying to find the area of triangles to our class valedictorian's troubles with physics. I know how to explain things with clarity and I'm quite patient.

So how should I go about finding a couple of clients? Put an ad in the local paper? Our school district doesn't have any sort of tutor-student matchmaking game going on, so giving my name to middle school counselors will be pretty much worthless.

Ideally, I'd like to tutor students from 7th-10th grades. I feel quite comfortable tutoring maths from about seventh grade math to Geometry (generally 10th grade). I could tutor through high school trig, but I'd probably have to actively review/relearn some stuff as I go... so way too much work for me. English I figure I could competently tutor at very nearly any level.

200 Years of State History on $0.00 (in useful materials) a Day!

scaryblackdeath — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:58:58 -0800

I need lesson plan ideas for Washington State History. It's a summer school class with three weeks left, three hours per day... and a number of odd and annoying constraints. Suggestions? The kids are generally pretty good, but I have a mixed bag of age and ability. I have some chatty 8th graders who are being allowed to knock out a high school class early. The rest are high schoolers who need the credit.

The textbook is decent, but I have only 9 chapters left to go with three of the five weeks of class remaining.

I have a couple of random workbooks & textbooks from different editions for additional materials. Nothing really matches.

I can't do movies. I showed ONE, and the district assumed that was all I intended to do for the rest of the term. So movies are on a short list.

No field trips. Wanted to do Seattle Underground, was told it's just not in the cards.

The school library is closed. I'm trying to get into contact with the nearby public library to set up some research time.

The school's computer lab is occupied. I can work out time in the room, but not constantly, so sending kids in there for research projects is a little dodgy.

Tried loading up "Oregon Trail II" in the computer lab, but apparently my copies aren't all that good. Maybe it's just my CD burner? I have two original copies of the game (purchased), but I'd need like 12 to go around even if I paired everyone up.

My building admin has been generally supportive & understanding, but I think they keep getting a new constraint loaded on them from "upstairs" every other day...

Any thoughts, Mefites?

How do I become a teacher?

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:13:49 -0800

I have several general (and some specific) questions about teaching high school in the U.S. My situation: I graduated university in the U.S. in the early 90s with a degree in English, with a minor in German. I worked in customer service/tech-ish jobs out of college, and since 2002, I've been living and working in Japan teaching English. I've taught at private schools, mostly teaching adults, and for the past 3 years I've been teaching English at a few rather exclusive Tokyo high schools.

I'm planning on moving back to the United States and teaching at a high school, but there are some (probably painfully ignorant) questions I have:

1) Do I need to get a Masters in Education or Teaching Certification to be qualified to teach at a high school in the U.S.? Are they the same thing? Is it possible to be hired without a Teaching Certification? Where/how is a good route to get a T.C.?

2) I have eclectic interests and would feel comfortable teaching a number of subjects--English literature, history, languages such as German and Japanese. Do some schools "take a chance" on a new teacher teaching a subject that he/she is knowledgeable of, but one that doesn't necessarily show up on resumes or college transcripts? Do some schools allow teachers to teach more than one subject, a sort of switch-hitter?

3) I would like to move to a nice area of the country, perhaps Washington State, and probably the West Coast. What state has a good reputation for progressive schools, competitive teacher salaries, etc.?

I know it seems weird this is anonymous, but there's a good reason for it I won't bore you with--prying eyes, and all that. I've set up a throwaway email at teacherinwaiting@gmail.com for those generous enough to ask followup questions and comments. Thanks to all in advance.

Biology Teacher Certification in Minneapolis-St. Paul

OlderThanTOS — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:58:26 -0800

Want to become a high school biology teacher in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul). The problem seems to be that no school offers this certification. In my mid-forties, I am looking to become a high school biology teacher in Minnesota (I have undergrad and grad degrees in biology). The only program I've found so far is at the U of Minn and runs on a cohort scheme, meaning I can't even start until Fall 2009. Life's too short, I'm too old and too broke.

So far, every other school in the area has proven to be highly christian and highly averse to certifications that might lead to teaching evolution, i.e. no biology.

Are there any sane, rotating admission programs to obtain a high school biology teaching certificate within 100 miles of the Twin Cities? I'm particularly interested in anyone's personal experience with these programs.

What's a good high school prom venue in NYC?

bah213 — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:44:57 -0800

Can anyone suggest a good venue for a high school senior prom in New York City? I've just been selected as next year's Senior Advisor, and I've been advised to book the prom location before the school year starts. We're a fairly large (3000-3500 students total) public high school, and I think we could expect 150-250 people to attend prom. Tickets should probably be in the $100-$200 per student range. Ideas floated so far include the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, Russo's on the Bay, and Tavern on the Green (they all look a little too expensive to me, but I hear we did Tavern a few years back -- I really have no idea what to expect anything to cost).

If you've planned or attended a prom in the city (Brooklyn or Manhattan), I'm especially interested in your input -- thanks!

How can I increase my chances at an 800 SAT Math?

Precision — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:34:06 -0800

I've studied for weeks (20 hours per week these past three weeks), I've paid attention in math class for years, and I've taken dozens of practice tests. But how to go from 780 to 800? I just finished my Junior year of high school, and I'm taking my SAT Is for a second time tomorrow. I've been focusing on my math lately, because I scored high enough (for me) on the reading last time. I've managed to bring my math score up a, quite respectable, 110 points from 670 since my last real SAT. I've always been good at math, but I never did any prep for my first SAT. At all.

Now, however, I want an 800. I consistently score 780/800's on my practice tests (the official ones from the blue book). Out of the 8 in the book, I think 2 were 800's and 6 were 780's (missed one).

My question is, how do I increase my chances of not missing one? I really want this 800, if not just for applying to schools, but for personal pride.

I heard someone say one time, in reference to SAT prep, we can pull anyone from 600 to 700 in three weeks, guaranteed, but we can't pull anyone from 700-800 in thirty with the same guarantee. I can tell that the last points are the hardest, at least for smart kids, but how can I increase my odds?

I've done all 8 official tests, 12 in the Kaplan practice test book, 3 in a different book, 500 assorted SAT Math sample problems from another book, and however many came in the Princeton Review book (already forgot).

I've practiced all I can for this, is there anything more I can do? Any advice any of you have?

Looking for articles on a particular philosophy of education

tzikeh — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 14:25:54 -0800

I'm writing a monstrous paper on the "cross-curricular" teaching method for middle school and high school. I have searched ERIC, JSTOR, and psycINFO with all kinds of keyword combos, and I'm still not coming up with decent theoretical or empirical articles. I really need the help of the Collective BrainFilter. I'll explain further inside... This philosophy of this method suggests that relating the subject matter you teach (math, history, etc.) to other subjects that the students are studying (literature, science, etc.) and to the "real world" (current events, local news) is a smarter way of teaching than simply concentrating on your subject and your subject alone I can't find anything that explains *why* this theory is a good one; it feels like common sense, but I need to back that up with articles. It's a theory discussed and practiced in many schools, but as far as I can find, there's no data on why we should teach this way -- why it's positive, why it's better than not, etc. I'm looking for both empirical, peer-reviewed studies, and/or articles on the theory itself ("theory suggests that..."). I'm at a loss. Why did I think grad school was a good idea, again?

What makes a good booth at a high school career fair?

SuperSquirrel — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:51:25 -0800

I'm representing my college department at a large high school's career day, and I need some ideas! This is the computer science department at the local junior college. We offer the usual range of beginning programming, web design and desktop publishing classes, plus game design, administrative assistant and medical coding programs.

What can I do to make our plain boring table a little bit more enticing to the average high schooler? We'll have a regular banquet-size table and we have a three-sided table-top display. We generally have stacks of handouts explaining the various programs and classes. We'd like to play up the game design program a little, but the other programs need to be represented too.

This is the first time I'm doing one of these solo, so any advice is welcome!

Does cost/benefit compute?

Xurando — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:10:14 -0800

What, if anything, are the advantages of attending an expensive private prep school over a local public high school. Help me justify the $31,000 tuition cost of prep school. My 14 yr. old daughter has applied and been admitted, as a day student, to a top 50 prep school. My wife who works at the local high school says nothing can justify the cost (we have been granted significant financial aid.) Is this true? What would she get out of this experience that she might not get from a public school education?

Curious, indeed.

Evstar — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 06:39:36 -0800

In Ontario, are high schools supposed to charge a fee when they issue student transcripts? I've asked the guidance office of my old school for two transcripts. One is for a post-secondary application. The other is for myself. Is the guidance secretary just trying to screw me outta $20 so she can fix her nose-candy at lunch?

Films conceived by High Schoolers

np312 — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:10:31 -0800

What popular movies were conceived of and/or written by the screenwriter when he or she were still in high school? I'm going to be teaching a high school screenwriting workshop and I'd like to give them some encouraging examples of films that were conceived when the creators were in the 15-18 year range.

I know that Luc Besson started writing "The Fifth Element" when he was in high school. Can you give me any other examples that might appeal to American high school kids? Thanks a lot!

Should I Facebook friend my high school bully?

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 20:32:46 -0800

My high school bully Facebook-friended me. Do I accept? My bully was pretty mean - she alternatively beat me up and pretended to be my friend. (Girls do this, I suppose.) Haven't seen her in 10 years. I've moved on, gotten a PhD, become successful, etc. She, according to Facebook, has been in the Navy, married, had 2 kids, and found Jesus big time. I am NOT her friend. Do I accept her Facebook friendship to rub her nose in my "success"? Also, the other 12 people from my high school graduating class of 120 (it wasn't a very good high school) are already friends with her on Facebook and may notice that I didn't "friend" her and may say something.

Youth overseas volunteer opportunities?

luser — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 09:26:37 -0800

My daughter is researching overseas volunteering opportunities, like this one. She would be saving up to do this her senior year of high school (she's 15 now). The idea is to live, learn, and serve within another culture. She's thinking she'd like to go with her mom. Anybody know anything about these kinds of packages? Any tips or recommendations or thoughts about her plans? If she's going to spend several thousand dollars, I really want her to have an educational, safe, life-changing experience.

I know a lot of churches sponsor these, and we haven't really investigated that option yet, but will. Any thoughts on that type of experience welcome also.

College sans high school?

trokair — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 07:42:57 -0800

Is it possible to go to college without a high school diploma or GED? The thought just came to me the other day, and I was curious. I know you can get into most community colleges without those credentials, but is it possible to get into a four-year college sans diploma or equivalent?

I shortchanged myself in education

Tuwa — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 07:55:20 -0800

How do you get the education you should have gotten in high school and college? I'm just now coming out of a 20-year depression in which I typically ignored most of the world and did the least amount possible to fulfill various obligations, including education. I shortchanged myself in a lot of ways, don't have the education my degrees represent, and want to correct that somehow. I don't know where or how to start.

I have a number of questions related to wanting to get the education I should already have.

Is there a list somewhere of U.S. states' educational requirements for a high school degree? Most stringent? Least stringent? Most common (the things every high school graduate should know, regardless of field)? What is the most efficient and least costly way to go about learning all of that--I imagine the library will play a part here, but which books would give the most bang for the buck, so to speak? Low-cost or free programs to serve as a refresher course? Most of what I learned in high school is long forgotten, sometimes as soon as the test was turned in.

What about college requirements? As a former English major, I'm shamefully ignorant of Shakespeare, but there are also broader areas I missed or skimped on: history, religion, politics, science....

What are the things that every college graduate should know? Is there a list somewhere, maybe resulting from a study, or some general overview from one commission or another addressing minimum expectations and best-case scenarios?

And again, short of returning to college, what would be the most efficient way to gain this knowledge? I've thought of test preps, but those typically cover English, math, and sometimes logic. Those would be a good start, but what other resources are available, and which are the best investment for time spent?

Any suggestions or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Magnetic Flux passing through an area?

PuGZ — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:46:18 -0800

Physicsfilter: Is the magnetic flux passing through an area Φ = BA or is it Φ = nBA*cos(θ)? I just sat a Physics exam and my friend and I are not too sure which is the correct answer. He asked some teachers, but the answers (at the time of writing) aren't very satisfactory. Physicists and electrical engineers: what is it?!

The AP US History "Packet"

stewiethegreat — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:56:36 -0800

Did you use "The Packet" in your AP US History course in high school? Do you remember what that was called, who wrote it, and how I could get it again? 10 years ago when I was a junior in high school, we had a regular course textbook, and then an optional (we had to pay some nominal fee for it) distilled 150 page "packet" of bullet point information of all US history. I didn't realize it at the time, but this packet was absolutely brilliant. And I want to get it back.

The teacher has since retired, and I'd rather not go tracking him down, so I thought I'd give AskMeFi a shot:

It was about 150 2x sided pages, and looked like something someone printed out on their dot matrix printer in the early 90s. Incredibly pithy and concise, sometimes used full sentences, sometimes did not. Lots and lots of numbered lists and bullet points though.

Does anyone recognize it? Does anyone have it, or information on it?

I'd LOVE to get this thing back.

Thanks!

20th high school reunion. To go or not to go?

bondcliff — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 07:15:56 -0800

High school was traumatic and I had no friends. My 20th reunion is coming up. Is there any reason to go? I’m over all the trauma, no longer bitter, and totally happy with life and who I’ve become. I’m sure most of the rest have moved on as well. I wasn’t ready for the other reunions up until now. Now I’m ready but, other than a mild curiosity, I can’t think of any compelling reason to go. I’m happily married so I can’t even set the goal of scoring a divorced former cheerleader.

What the hell happens at these things? I picture a lot of people who were friends in high school sitting around in the same little cliques, hugging each other, talking about “the best years” of their lives.

Relevant: It’s local so other than getting a babysitter going won’t be a big inconvenience. Tickets are costly enough that it’ll be an expensive night to stand around talking to my wife.

I’m stressing about going because I don’t want those feelings of loneliness and rejection to resurface. I’m also stressing about not going for some reason.

Did you have a similar experience in high school (Mefites? No way!) and go to your reunion? What happened? I guess I’m mostly looking for reasons to go (or not to go) that I haven’t yet thought about.

suggest a topic for a model class

CrazyLemonade — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 22:28:31 -0800

Please suggest a topic for a 10-minute model class. I'm applying to be a high school teacher in a local bicultural highschool and I almost have the job secure but one of the last steps is that I have to give a 10 minute model class this week. I'd be giving the class to several faculty members, probably from the Integral Development Department (Human Relations, Ethics, Entrepreneurship, etc) The class is going to be in english (second language for me, but not really an issue), and can be any topic. Sounds easy enough, but my mind goes blank when I try to think of something to make a 10 minute class about.

I want it to be a topic easy enough to talk about, so I don't get nervous or forget what I prepared, but interesting enough that I don't bore my audience. Please help me think of something. Oh and, I'll probably have to make a Powerpoint presentation out of this.

(I know the front page of Metafilter is full of cool topics, but I don't know if most of them are something I wan't to show these people....or maybe I missed some good ones that I could use here.)

High School Reunion - Planning Advice!

thankyoumuchly — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:08:17 -0800

I'm planning a high school reunion for my class and the two classes that graduated after me. Am I overlooking any planning details? It will be our 4th, 5th and 6th year reunions all happening at the same venue.

What I've done:
1. Obtained the mailing address of all class members
2. Reserved a location.
3. Written a 1 page invitation with details.
4. Assigned 1 class member from each class to serve as a contact.

I've pasted the contents of my invitation below. Please let me know what I'm missing.

What details/planning items am I missing aside from items that should be in the invitation? Planning aspects, things to "watch out for", overlooked positive outcomes, overlooked negative outcomes…

Thanks!

...

!#---BeginPasteOfInvitation---#!

High School Reunion!
This is a reunion for THREE classes at the same time.

Details we are providing to you, the alumni:
1.When: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 from 9PM – 1AM.
2.Location: [venue name]
3.Cost: $45 per person. Must be at least 21 years of age or older.
4.What You Get: Open Bar, Appetizers and a Live DJ from 9PM – 1AM.
5.Please visit [www.website.com] for directions, transportation suggestions and a virtual tour of the establishment–OR–MapQuest the mailing address below.

Details we ask you to provide to us, the alumni reunion organizers:
1.Please cut off and fill out the below RSVP form and place in an envelope.
2.Please include $45 per person. Make payable to “[venue]”. Checks or money orders only.
3.No later than November 1st, 2007, please mail the completed RSVP form and $45 per person to the following mailing address:

[address]

If you have any questions, please contact the alumni reunion organizer for your class:
• [contacts]

------c-u-t--h-e-r-e----------RSVP FORM----------c-u-t--h-e-r-e--------

CLASS REUNION RSVP FORM

Your name: add $45 ___
Guest 1 name: add $45 ___
Guest 2 name: add $45 ___
Total = ___
Your Phone#:
Your Email:

!#---EndPastOfInvitation---#!

Thanks again!

High school team committing suicide?

daninnj — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 17:32:18 -0800

I need help finding news about a group of high school sports players committing suicide in the northeast US. I checked the blue for a FPP but I couldn't find anything going through tags or the search.

It was maybe a year or two ago where a high school teenager on a football team (maybe it was some other sport) committed suicide. He was something like the fifth boy on the team that did. I think the school was in Vermont or Maine or somewhere up there. Maybe he was out of high school, but I do remember it made news because of the unusual number or suicides plaguing the team.

Rural Students and Teaching About Antisemitism

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:09:54 -0800

A question on antisemitism and the instruction of rural school-kids, asked on behalf of my husband. Anon to keep our location confidential:

"I am noticing more antisemitism here at Rural School than I expected. There have been a few mild to moderately troubling things happening in the fringes of my classroom-- mostly talk-- so I want to break this into the open.

When we did The Holocaust at Urban School, the city kids really didn't understand why people hated Jews ("aren't they White?"), so I prefaced the unit with a handout I found online called The Roots of Antisemitism [he specifically asked that I not link to this elementary-level article as to not color answers. But it is just that-- elementary.]. I think I would like to include more info.

Would you ask anyone who may have input what they would suggest I include? Is there anything in particular I should make sure I mention? I have many of my own ideas, but I would like to get the Jewish perspective on reasons for modern forms of antisemitism, *specifically* to be presented to members of a small, rural community who may have little to no exposure to people of the Jewish faith and/or culture."

Anyone who does not wish to post here may send and email to anon.lessonplanner@yahoo.com.

Thanks!

Good high school plays?

HeroZero — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 18:26:35 -0800

What plays did you love performing when you were in your high school drama club? I'm a high school drama teacher in Chicago, feverishly looking for good material and suffering from "reader's block." We put up Moliere's Tartuffe last year, which was a great experience for the kids. This year, though, we'd love to do something more modern. We'd ideally like to do a play with a cast of approximately 12, and a length of somewhere between 1 and 2 hours. No musicals.

And yes, I've looked at this thread: http://ask.metafilter.com/32178/One-Act-Play

Thanks!

Ten years, now what?

hermitosis — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:55:40 -0800

What is a successful weirdo's best approach to a High School Reunion Questionnaire? My ten year reunion is in October. A work obligation will probably keep me from attending. I received the questionnaire, though, and as this may be the only contact I wind up having with my graduating class, I'd like to make a genuine effort. My questions:

1. Does anyone actually read these things?

2. Is "honesty" appreciated? I don't mean honesty about one's job and current life, a la Romy and Michele. I mean emotional honesty, when it comes to answering questions like, "Do you have a 'most embarrassing' moment from high school that you'd like to share?" and, "What have you been up to since graduation? Don't be shy. Tell us about any special experiences." And don't even get me started on, "Do you have a message you'd like to share with your fellow classmates?"

As a writer and storyteller, it is hard to fight the instinct to really knock it out of the park with these answers. While I'm not interested in telling off everyone who made my life miserable (that's what god invented MySpace for), I feel that there are things I could say now that would certainly clear the air regarding rumors and prejudices about me, both then and now.

This is a small graduating class in a small high school in a small town. They did not mean to produce the mighty pillar of flame you see before you today, in fact did what they could to stamp it out. Is it worth the effort to use a few well chosen words to illuminate the fact that I have found my place in the world despite all that and am not bitter? No really, I'm not.

I'm a pansexual philosopher-type living in pinko homo New York City. Even the most minimal candor on the most basic questions (such as "significant other") presents a challenge. If I'm going to be open at all, mightn't I just as well crack the sucker wide open, especially since I'm not planning on being there to follow up? Or is it just going to upset applecarts long since left by the roadside?

(If I do end up going, we should totally make a meetup out of it.)