Instructify

BY BILL FERRIS

This week’s MBTN features the art of persuasion, common literary references, and $125,000-a-year teachers. More after the jump.

Next Test: Value of $125,000-a-Year Teachers
The New York Times reports a new charter school in Washington Heights, NYC is paying its eight teachers $125,000 per year. Each. They’ve attracted some high-profile folks, too — a pair of Ivy Leaguers, a violin virtuoso, and Kobe Bryant’s former strength coach. The idea behind the school: “excellent teachers — and not revolutionary technology, talented principals or small class size — are the critical ingredient for success.” While they get some hefty pay and bonuses for student success, they don’t get benefits, and can be fired at any time. What say you, Instructify readers? Revolutionary idea, or a dangerous use of public money? Add your two cents in the comments.

10 Skills You Need to Succeed at Almost Anything
Call these a list of basic skills to be a functional citizen. Stepcase Lifehack presents these skills your students should know, including public speaking, networking, reading, writing and ‘rithmetic, plus others. Most lists of this type are couched as “the things you actually need to know that your school didn’t teach you.” Almost all of these abilities, however, are taught in public schools, so make sure your students are up to speed.

How to Persuade More Effectively (Without Changing a Word) - 9 Nonverbal Strategies That Work
Speaking of public speaking, persuasive speaking is a valuable skill. Any good teacher will tell you, though, that nonverbal communication is just as important. StudentHacks.org has a list of nine ways to use body language to win people over, including smiling, mirroring, eye contact, mind control devices, and leaning forward.

11 Literary References People Make Without Realizing It
From “Big Brother is watching” to “Catch 22,” 1 Spog Blot presents this list of everyday phrases with literary origins. Key quote from the article: “Anytime there’s any Shakespeare quote about blood, it’s probably from Macbeth. That play was blood CRAZY, man. It’s like Shakespeare’s Saw 2.”

Photo credit: misocrazy on Flickr.