Importance of Religious Education in the U.S. Religious Schools

..we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

This is Ephesians 2:10 from the Holy Bible. This should give you a food for thought, how beautiful can words make a thought, a life and a people. This should all begin with children, even better at school. Considering how religion can improve the way a student should look at human beings, animals and the society and give his or her best, it is important that schools count in religious education in school.
The concept of ‘Learning from Religion’ will introduce world religions to children aged 4 to 11 years. What will such sections comprise? Students may be asked to read a passage of Holy Scripture or shown a statue or a picture arousing the interest in children about the gifts it might offer children. This kind of study not only challenges the imagination of students, but also emphasizes their value system with a typical consciousness for identification and empathy for people. This kind of religious education is being taught at schools in the USA full-fledged. Both primary and public schools are placing religious education as one of the primary bases for student development. Let us see how catholic schools deliver valuable religious education to their students:

Creation and Evolution: The catholic school way of teaching
Catholics preach that God has created all things, both visible and invisible. Catholic schools do not seem to follow the theological truths mentioned in the first books of Genesis. These truths are also genuinely based on science and historic accounts of the staring of the existence of the world. Catholic schools do not teach how and when everything in this world was created by God.
Catholic schools offering religious education amplify the richness of the faith in Catholicism, preach about uniting with Christ in his Church. Catholic schools tend to varied sets of learners and considering this context, the Religious Education Curriculum Directory makes the goals of Religious Education clear, which are:

• Offering appealing and an all-engaging content as a torch lighting the knowledge and comprehension of the Catholic faith;
• Facilitating constant deepening of understanding in the religious and theological Catholic beliefs in students and assisting them in   connecting with the same and communicate it effectively;
• Displaying a genuine vision of the Church related to its moral and social philosophies so that students can make an assessment of the fundamental trends in this contemporary social atmosphere;
• Nurturing students’ consciousness of the Catholic faith as well as awareness of the traditions of other religious communities so that they can respect them too;
• Portraying the practical abilities of students which they can use for relating their Catholic faith to their day-to-day lives;
• Inspiring the imagination in students to arouse a yearning for inner meaning as displayed by the preaching of the Catholic faith;
• Empowering students to apply the knowledge achieved from Religious Education to their comprehension of other subjects in their syllabus;
• Clarifying the connection of life and faith, and faith and culture.

Religious Education results in young pupils becoming literate the religious way and more comprehensible, understanding and skilled, complimenting their age and abilities – to act and react morally, and think virtuously and religiously.

Written By: Jennifer Einstein
Written For: K12 Lists

For marketing professionals and education marketers

We at K12 Lists support exclusive business communication and correspondence between you and the Religious Schools in the U.S. through the Religious Schools Mailing Database.

Contact us for Religious School Email List at 855-354-7835 or write in at info@K12-lists.com

Sources: catholiceducation.org.uk; irishtimes.com; edutopia.org; whatchristianswanttoknow.com; gtigazette.com

U.S. High Schools Tending to Student Obesity Issues

Students' Food Supervision

High schools in the USA permit students aged between 14 - 18 years for grades 9th to the 12th. While academics, students mental health and physical health can be taken care of by such schools, most of them earn a bad name due to their inadequate food provisions. In such cases, teenagers complain of being overweight and obese. There are many risks related to teen-age obesity like diet-based noncontagious diseases. In Advances in preventive Medicine, published in 2015, a survey was done on 431 school adolescents, and the result was 12.3% overweight prevalence while obesity being 4.4%.

In such serious conditions, USA high schools need to become more strict about their students’ food intake. Most schools have already begun taking major steps in this regard.

School Health Program for physical activity and nutrition 
A Coordinated School Health Program incorporates eight elements of the school community that is directed towards providing student health. Those are:

• physical education,
• health education,
• nutrition services,
• health services,
• psychological counseling, 
• social services,
• healthy school atmosphere,
• family and community co-operation

Through this program a orderly approach to nourishing student health can be taken.  This approach requires systematic assessment of data on students’ health records, sound science and understanding of loopholes and repetitiveness in school health programs, and then decision-making. In 2004, 23 state educational institutes were  funded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to set up state-level base to execute Coordinated School Health Programs.

Appoint a school health coordinator to run a school health council
When it comes to handling and managing a school health program, a co-ordinator is required to keep every school health program, activity, policy and resources aligned. A school health council consists of members coming from various sectors of the school community, inclusive of school administrators, health care providers, teachers, students, social service activists, religious and civic bodies, and parents. The SHC guides school health coordinators and educational administrators to implement better school health activities and conduct mass meetings for school health workshops. A school health coordinator (SHC) assists the school in building a base for health activities as part of the primal goals of the school in concern and the school district. SHCs have improved school health and physical education curriculum and have aided schools and districts to bring about significant changes in school atmosphere. Few of these changes are:

• the introduction of highly effective nutrition standards, 
• Implementation of walking activities for students and staff, and 
• Keeping school facilities open for physical activity workshops post-school

United States and high school communities can, through their commendable health improving activities, exhibit that health obstacles like overweight and obesity can be subdued. Only if effective plan of action can be enforced and high schools can support such actions, students’ health concerns be taken care off and can be the mental and physical health of young lives can be improved through healthy eating habits.

Written By: Jennifer Einstein
Written For: K12 Lists

For marketing professionals and education marketers

We at K12 Lists support exclusive business communication and correspondence between you and the High School Principals in the U.S. K12 schools through the High School Principals Mailing Database.

Contact us for High School Email List at 855-354-7835 or write in at info@K12-lists.com

Sources: cdc.gov; hindawi.com; fooducate.com

K12 Schools in the U.S. Known For Innovation

K12 Schools

“Innovation with the right intention never loses its way but meets the right destination.”
Innovation, meaning bringing in novelty, unconventionality, dynamics, and separation from norms. In education it can bring technology-based teaching methods, field studies, community-based teachings, etc. Have you heard of the floating school? Lagos, Nigeria has one like that named Makoko Floating School. Better even to think of a school that is unbiased towards particular gender, like Egalia pre-school in Stockholm. So, what have K12 schools in the U.S. to offer to the  education sector in the coming times? We do not know, but what we know is progress is already begun on these lines, and we are yet to witness. For now, let us concentrate on the already talked about innovative American K12 schools:

E3 Civic High (San Diego, California)

San Diego Public Library has the best charter high school named e3 Civic high school. This school was founded in 2013. The school largely depends on its library for new innovations in education. E# considers the library its home that provides co-education to its students. So, if you hear about the number of books the students have access to, you will be impressed. Let us give you an estimate here: say bout 409 students are able to access to 1.2 million plus books in the library. Added to this,  reading rooms, art gallery and auditorium are within the students’ access all the time. Do you like the idea of motor or vehicle themed classrooms? So, there you have it all set in e3. The classrooms have furniture on wheels; and walls are meant for building on ideas, problem solving, etc., given the fact that 77% of its students are below poverty level. What do they offer as part of their education curriculum? Biotechnology, medical biology and Bio Engineering. Wonder if every school provides a MacBook Air computer; this school allows high schoolers to take it home.

STAR School (Flagstaff, Arizona)

Some charter schools are limited to the 8th grade. But that does not keep it from innovating new ways of grooming student development. STAR is a K-8 charter school that is environment inclined. So, how did begin? They opened in 2001, and provided power the school with 245 solar panels and two wind generators. The school holds Arizona’s largest Native American Reservation with 130 students as members of both the regional community and Navajo Nation. Environmental sustainability is integrated in the school curriculum. They conduct a program named "farm to school," which facilitated the supply of fresh fruits produces in the neighboring Navajo farms. These are included in school lunches. This process also included students’ tour to farms that help them to learn about agriculture and the local and neighboring community.

Alliance School (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

This charter high school happened in 2005, and is known for its anti-bullying mission. When the school witnessed 196 students experiencing harassment or bullying in their former schools, it took it into serious consideration to protect students of any class, ability and economic status from domineering situations. Other challenges that school faced was to help students about 76% of them from low-income families and 28% with disabilities to get involved in extracurricular activities that teach them about various societal norms, cultures, tastes. They were introduced to unexplored communities soas to increase their awareness against bullying. So, most students go back as messengers of anti-bullying.

There are various organizations associating with such schools to contribute to their development. If there is any difficulty, it is with ignorance, which if shed, a lot many positive changes will appear in the k12 schools.  

Written By: Jennifer Einstein

Written For: K12 Lists

For marketing professionals and education marketers

We at K12 Lists support exclusive business communication and correspondence between you and the School Principals in the U.S. K12 schools through the School Principals Mailing Database. 

Contact us for School Principals Email List at 855-354-7835 or write in at info@K12-lists.com

Sources: cnn.com; clipart

How School Administrators work in the USA

School Administrator

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”  – President John Quincy Adams
The education industry is growing fast and the decision makers leave no stones unturned when it comes to making schools well-equipped with the most recently introduced technology, books, food and educational facilities. As per the published 2013 data by BLS, Education Administrators in elementary, middle, and high schools earned a salary worth $90,670. 226,760 of such school educational administrators were employed across the USA.

Tests a School Administrator should take
It begins with earning a teaching certificate, so that the state will accept the applicants in the teaching position. Alongside, the states will also ask for a certificate that proves the passing of an administration exam so that the applicant can use it to apply for the school administrator position later. The Administration and Supervision exam for PRAXIS Educational Leadership is what most states will conduct and accept, while other states may have their specific examination.
Scores for all competency exams may differ from state to state, and sometimes even from district to district, so the cutoff scores may also differ as per the district the applicant decides to work in. This allows proper decision-making in setting the career base as a school administrator.

Educational Administrator’s job positions
What makes a school administrator an educational administrator? The answer is diligence and willingness to explore the uncertainties coming in the way. To become an inspirational leader, manager and educator at school, a school administrator must provide the adequate tools to students they need to develop their cognitive skills and understandings of the environment. It is very similar to functioning like a CEO at charge in a company. Education administrators have various roles to play in  preschools, schools and colleges. Let us run you through a few positions educational administrators may hold in schools:

• Preschool Director or Dean
• School Principal
• Vice or Assistant principal
• School Superintendent
• School District Administrator 
• College or University President
• Private School Dean 
• Admissions Director 

School Administrator Job Role

• To hire and supervise teachers
• To prepare and discuss balance budgets
• To make school rules and policies
• To plan calendars for academic events and school holidays
• To involve in public relations
• To supervise student recruitment and admissions
• To supervise school requirements like finances, infrastructure, extra-curricular activities for students, etc.

Schools have huge student counts and the responsibility of a school administrator increases with every student taking admission. So, it needs someone with a strategical bent of mind that amplifies his or her leadership and communication abilities. This position should be give to a person who can easily interact with school teachers, students and their parents and also collaborate with community members during different events. An organized mind patient enough to effectively juggle different day-to-day responsibilities can become a worthy education administrator at the school level. 

Written By: Jennifer Einstein
Written For: K12 Lists

For marketing professionals and education marketers
We at K12 Lists support exclusive business communication and correspondence between you and the School Administrators in the U.S. K12 schools through the School Administrators Email List.

Contact us for School Administrators Mailing Database at 855-354-7835 or write in at info@K12-lists.com

Sources: encyclopedia.com; teacher.org; bigfuture.collegeboard; thinkstrategicforschools.com
Image source: clipart

Teaching Pre-requisites in the United States

Public School Teachers in USA

Did you know America is accepting teachers from all parts of the word? Yes, and the best part is a particular certification is required for the same. With English-as-a-second-language certification,  teachers can easily get into public schools in the USA or into adult  English-as-a-second-language programs. There are regions with proven migrations of refugee communities. People from such communities send their children to public schools and so teachers teaching in such schools are in high demand. Mentioning a few of the places in America accepting English-as-a-second-language teachers are- Florida, California, Illinois, Texas, New York, and other countries. This includes urban as well as rural areas. ESL teaching and other education-based jobs in the USA are drafted under strict employment terms and conditions.

In case of Public Schools- From Pre K–12


As much as teaching is a good job in the USA, but there are ground rules for every benefiting job. In U.S. public schools, teaching positions need a teaching license, issued by the state they want to work in, from the applicant in subjects they prefer to teach. Most will refer to this license as a certificate or certification. But remember, this certificate is way different from certificates like  Trinity, CELTA and others, as they are not applicable for employment in USA public schools.So teachers looking forward to applying in public schools in the United States, should acquire this certificate as a licensure that through the Education Department in the state in which they plan to work. Every state has different academic requirements that the candidates need to meet. At least a Bachelor's degree in education is necessary for licensure, though Master’s degree is what of the states are looking forward to.

Licensure requirements 

About licensure requirements- every teacher needs to show that despite originating from a specific country in which they acquired their education. For those who receive degrees in TESOL or a degree in a related field in one of the United States, may have an plus-point in getting through a U.S. public school. So, if you need a licensure, apply for a university program in TESOL as it is designed in a way that fits best for the state licensure. But if you hold a degree in a field different from TESOL, you have to apply for a coursework in TESOL to be added as a supplement.  If the degree has been obtained outside the USA, you will have to furnish elaborate details of your coursework looking at which the state licensure authorities will evaluate the validity of your certification.

Adult and Higher Education

Adult educational programs offer certain ESL instructions, and these are provided local education institutes that build community-driven programs. The immigrants to the United States may want to learn speaking in English and understand the U.S. culture along side. Such programs are held during the day and during the evenings, and at time during weekends to fit in with the work schedule of adult learners. The majority of ESL teaching positions in adult education are part-time. To teach such learners, state certification is required along with a master's degree in TESOL or a similar field.

Written By: Jennifer Einstein
Written For: K12 Lists

For marketing professionals and education marketers
We at K12 Lists support exclusive business communication and correspondence between you and key decision makers in the U.S. K12 schools like teachers through the Teachers email list. 

Contact us for Teachers Mailing Database at 855-354-7835 or write in at info@K12-lists.com

Sources: tesol.org
Image source: clipart

4 Misconceptions about Catholic Schools

Right after hearing its name, some tiny fluffy clouds start wandering around our heads. Each of them has its own little mailbox full of “hush-hush” exclamations and whispering explanations about the strange world inside strict restrictive walls of catholic schools. The unending list of myths regarding their nature of providing academic training has always raised the eyebrows of the public schooling system followers. Let’s dig a bit deeper, shall we? Here we are going to discuss 4 major misconceptions about catholic schools, that has no foundation of accuracy beneath it.

Catholic School students in the USA

Only for rich kids
No, not at all!! This is one of the major misconceptions that people have about Catholic Schools. The average education cost of a student is between $6,000 to $8,000 in catholic schools, where in public schools the amount of expenditure ranges between $10,000 to $14,000 and in private school it is $15,000 to $25,000. Besides, you can always talk to the administrators about your family financial issues, they do cooperate. Usually, catholic schools offer school uniform resale every end of the year. Grabbing this opportunity will help you to save a certain amount of your expenditure. When it comes to the fees, again there is enough space for negotiation from your side- you just have to take the initiative.

Only priests and sisters can provide the ideal 'catholic school training'
The nuns and priests are teaching, right? No? Oh my God! What kind of “catholic school” is this?- Well, ladies and gentlemen, please try to draw a line between the mystic path of religion and the hardcore real world of academic learning- you need specialists for that, which means “the teachers”. The priests and sisters can monitor the classrooms and school students, but they can only take the role of “teachers” if they actually have real-life experience or knowledge of teaching.

Students do not learn how to face the "real world" outside
Again, this is wrong! Actually, they have a better understanding of the society and its various inner aspects. From the very beginning of their academic journey, catholic schools always prepare their students to face the obstacles of real outside world and fight with the social inequalities. Consequently, the students not only become able to develop a strong academic foundation standing on which they can confidently proceed their further journey, but also psychologically they become very strong that they can strongly hold their ground with the power of positivity and truthfulness no matter how harsh their surrounding environment becomes.

Just for Catholics
Again, my friend, this is completely wrong! Students from any family and faith background can join catholic schools for their education. It is completely wrong idea that you have to be a “catholic” to get admission into a catholic school.

So, please don’t get tangled in the web of misconceptions. When it comes to choosing an institution for the enriched academic education of your child- these schools will never be a disappointment.

Written by: Linda Martin
Written for: K12 Lists

For the marketers in education sector
If you are targeting the K12 schools in US education market, ignoring the vast market of catholic schools will not be a good idea. In order to build the bridge of communication with the decision makers, collect an authentic business database of Catholic School email addresses and leverage your business.

Contact us for Catholic Schools Email List at 855-354-7835 or write in at info@K12-lists.com


Sources: teamwhitaker.org/2016/02/5-myths-about-catholic-schools/;teamwhitaker.org/2014/01/making-catholic-school-affordable-yes-its-possible/;stfinnbarr.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=159530&type=d&pREC_ID=427759
Image source: az616578.vo.msecnd.net

6 Tools and Apps for every student in Secondary Schools for K12 Lists

What makes a secondary school worth studying in for a student? In most cases, what the school offers in terms of education tools or applications that kindle the interest in them to do better in their studies and understand technology even better. The role of classroom technology helps students understand the usage of a new tool that is designed to improve their learning. Education apps may increase in number, but secondary schools need to stick to certain apps and tools that adhere to the secondary school education pattern. Let us walk you through 6 most used education apps and tools in secondary schools:


iLearn

Are you inquisitive about an app which is all game and yet provides some learning? This app includes both game and learning modes; so they can get facts about anything related to their subjects. It can be installed on iPhone. Students can play games answering certain questions, related to the information they receive, against the clock. Thereby, they can score points.

Kahoot 

Want to create mind-blowing quizzes? This app has it all to help teachers with features that help them to create fun quizzes for classroom interaction. This app uses Google Forms, meaning it works online. It is free to install and helps teachers to custom-build quizzes for students as per their grades, for instance, secondary school students.


Spelling City 

Spell check students? Spelling City comes with 25 web-based spelling games. The words can be connected to make a sentence, and also add vocabulary to classroom content. This app also helps to share the class room spelling sessions with parents. Get the version free on iPhone or iPad.


Thinglink

Teachers, do you want your students to name the images they create or download from a source? Then why not help them with Thinglink? This app allows one to include text to images. Alternatively, a video or a website link can be added to the image. So, students, how about making your visual assignment efforts more likable by your teachers?

instaGrok

Student turned Google users can switch to instaGrok for all web related information on education. This search engine furnishes images, videos, and articles, etc. depending on every student’s inquiry, and thereby, develops research abilities. Your students’ research topic search will enhance and become more to-the-point with regular practice.


 Easel.ly

Infographic is the in thing in education now. So, what are you thinking students and teachers? Why not include Easel.ly in your to-use app for studies? This tool renders a set of themes to be used on any blank canvas. For instance, the USA map with statistics settings. Why would you not want to introduce it in your curriculum as part of classroom technology?

What is the prize of an effort if it is not challenged? So, teachers and students, challenge your skills with technology and groom your skill-set with the latest versions of educational tools and apps.

Written By: Jennifer Einstein

Written For: K12 Lists

For marketing professionals and education marketers, we at K12 Lists offer exclusive K-12 databases for business communication and correspondence with administrative heads in U.S. Secondary Schools.

Contact us for Secondary Schools Email List at 855-354-7835 or write in at info@K12-lists.com

Source:
kqed.org/mindshift/2015/07/29/teacher-recommended-50-favorite-teaching-apps/
kqed.org/mindshift/2013/07/08/13-free-web-tools-students-and-teachers-should-know-about/
collegeraptor.com/blog/tips-and-tools/10-free-online-study-tools/