Jane Ching Fung, NBCT, teaches first grade at Dr. Theodore T. Alexander Science Center School in urban Los Angeles. Her 28 years of teaching experience includes multiage (Preschool-2nd), Reading Recovery, and teacher credentialing classes at California State University, Northridge and the District Intern Program for LAUSD. Jane serves as a guiding teacher for the University of Southern California and has facilitated professional development in early literacy at the school, district and state levels. She has served on the boards of the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future and Larchmont Charter School in Los Angeles, and was a past member of PBS Teachers Advisory Group and Teachers Network Leadership Institute. Jane is a Milken Educator, National Board Certified in Early Childhood Education, and holds a master's in curriculum and instruction. An active member of the Center for Teaching Quality (CTQ) and Accomplished California Teachers (ACT), she has written and published articles on education policy and classroom instruction for The Teaching Channel and Education Week online. Her research with Teachers Network Leadership Institute on new teacher collaboration is included in the book, Taking Action with Teacher Research. Follow Jane on Twitter @teechrk12.
Leading From Inside the Classroom
August 4, 2015
Editor’s Note: Jane Fung, NBCT, is a first-grade teacher in Los Angeles. The views expressed in this blog are her own. Several years ago I met a university supervisor working with my school’s cohort of student teachers. I don’t remember her visiting my classroom, observing my student teachers, or ever discussing classroom instruction. What I do remember was her underlying message to the student teachers that being a classroom teacher should be temporary. She told them to be a success in the teaching profession, you need to move out of the classroom as soon as possible, and to stay longer…
Read MoreLearning Never Stops for a Teacher Nerd
June 2, 2015
Editor’s Note: Jane Fung, NBCT, is a first-grade teacher in Los Angeles. The views expressed in this blog are her own. “Hello teachers! Just wanted to share the news that the district has posted summer trainings for the new math program and spaces are filling up fast.” This was the text sent out by one of my colleagues last night. Within minutes several of us had signed up for the training too. With only two weeks of school left, you would assume that teachers would be talking about vacation plans rather than learning opportunities, but you would be wrong. It’s…
Read MoreWanted: Creative and Smart People
April 21, 2015
Editor’s Note: Jane Fung, NBCT, is a first-grade teacher in Los Angeles. The views expressed in this blog are her own. “If you’re a creative, smart young person, I don’t think this is the time to go into teaching unless an independent school would suit you.” When award-winning educator Nancie Atwell recently uttered these words, the press was quick to interpret her words as, don’t go into teaching right now. She went on to explain, “It’s an intellectual enterprise, and that’s been stripped from it by the current climate.” Well, I beg to differ. Although teaching is hard and…
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