TAS

Visited some friends in Taiwan this past week and also had the chance to stop by a school in Taipei called Taipei American School. I was given a tour by the Associate Principal of the Upper School (high school) and it is a really nice school. They just hired a lot of new teachers in the math department, but they never know when they will need more. They are also expecting to expand the school to add more classrooms. So there may be an opportunity there in the future.

They have a very different schedule, which provides the students with a great deal of support. The middle school teachers teach a total of 2 classes per day, either in the morning or afternoon, then have the rest of the day for a group meeting with the other teachers at that grade level to discuss the changes necessary and how to adapt the teaching methodologies for each student. Pretty much, they sit and discuss strategies for improving student success and what they can do to help each student.

Its a very different approach, but it works very well according to the teachers. Not only do the students have an opportunity for extra help and more attention, but the teachers have a light load as far as teaching is concerned. It does have one draw back and that is the financial aspect of hiring more teachers for the school. The parents pay for extra help through the tuition cost of the school.

From my short visit, it looks like a really nice place to work. I also spoke to the HR department and dropped of my resume and other information. Hopefully things will work out, meaning they have a math position available when I am available and I can fit in. We'll see how it goes.

Summer school starts in a week. Not sure exactly how this will go, but can only wait and find out.

Aaron