tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16567748024033083292024-03-20T21:41:43.571-07:00Not Just A TeacherA Partner In LearningAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-32762872200556535212017-10-17T14:20:00.001-07:002017-10-18T09:45:55.816-07:00Everything Is Better in Tights!As a middle aged woman, I have never entertained the notion, or indeed considered the fact that everything is better in tights.However, today I was fortunate to be able to spend time with a middle aged man who made me believe that it is, in fact, true. Of course it is simply a travesty to refer to <a href="http://daveburgess.com/" target="_blank">Dave Burgess</a> merely as a middle aged man, when in fact he is a true powerhouse of passion, energy and talent.<br />
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Dave Burgess is the New York Times best selling author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Teach-Like-PIRATE-Engagement-Creativity/dp/0988217600/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1508275190&sr=8-1&keywords=teach+like+a+pirate+book" target="_blank">Teach Like a Pirate</a> and president of his own publishing company, which empowers innovative educators to share their transformative practice.I was an attendee today at his presentation to the <a href="http://galileoleadership.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Galileo Leadership 2017-19 Cohort</a> and I was absolutely captivated! At break neck speed he guided us through his pirate system and philosophy:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>P</b>assion</li>
<li><b>I</b>mmersion</li>
<li><b>R</b>apport</li>
<li><b>A</b>sk and Analyze</li>
<li><b>T</b>ransformation</li>
<li><b>E</b>nthusiasm</li>
</ul>
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Passion oozed from this guy as he shared his inspirational stories and he implored us all to intertwine the passions we have in our personal lives into our professional lives. He invited us to build rapport and relationships with our students and to be completely and utterly present in the moment when we teach.He shared many of the "hooks" he employs to engage his students,constantly pitching, promoting and selling his content to ignite a desire to learn. He repeatedly reminded us of the need to create a psychologically safe learning space for our students and to "create experiences, not assignments."</div>
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His sheer presence, drive and personality made for a powerful presentation and at one point I felt a little intimidated. How could I possibly recreate his success in my own building without actually being him? He addressed this very directly and assured each and every one of us that we too can be creative and remarkable.The key is to retrain our brains to ask the right questions, which in turn will lead us to making rich instructional and presentation decisions for the greater benefit of our students.He urged us to be relentless is our search for ideas pointing out that, "It's not supposed to be easy. It's supposed to be worth it."</div>
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If you have not yet embarked on a journey with Dave Burgess I highly recommend that you do soon.Check out the ever growing library of books that he has written, co-authored or published at http://daveburgess.com/ and join the Teach Like a Pirate Twitter chat #TLAP. Today's highly energetic and entertaining presentation has left me exhilarated and determined to be more intentional in my craft. I want to braver, take more risks and tap into the power of music, set design and costumes both in and out of my classroom. Like the man said: Everything is better in tights!!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-37236558698004528622017-02-07T18:31:00.000-08:002017-02-08T11:41:39.370-08:00Let's Get Better!<br />
Dylan William shared the results of three generations of school effectiveness research last week at Oakland schools. The results indicated that it doesn’t matter very much which school you go to, but it matters very much which classroom you are in. In the United States, variability at the classroom level is at least four times that at school level. He called upon educational leaders to focus on improving teachers instead of measuring them. But what are we meant to get better at? Wiliam made an excellent case for focusing all of our efforts on helping teachers to get better at formative assessment.<br />
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“Formative assessment is a planned process in which assessment-elicited evidence of students’ status is used by teachers to adjust their ongoing instructional procedures or by students to adjust their current learning tactics.” (Popham, 2008.)<br />
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There is consistent and substantial evidence of the impact that feedback and formative assessment have on learning. According to Wiliam, the most effective teachers:<br />
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Establish where the students are in their learning<br />
Identify the learning destination<br />
Carefully plan a route<br />
Begin the learning journey<br />
Make regular checks on progress on the way<br />
Makes adjustments to the course as conditions dictate<br />
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I found the analogy of formative assessment as a journey made so much sense to me. Before we decide where to go, we need to know where we are. Figuring out where students are in their learning first is crucial, but identifying the destination is also critical. Frequently our lowest achievers simply do not know where they are supposed to be going. By sharing our learning intentions were are leveling the playing ground. <br />
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As teachers we can’t do our jobs without finding out what is happening in kids’ heads-we need to gather evidence. According to Wiliam, “Self reports cannot be trusted. Ninety percent of American car drivers think they are better than average.” We need to get better at engineering effective discussions, activities, and classroom tasks that elicit evidence of learning. We must then use that evidence to provide feedback that moves learners forward. <br />
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In order for feedback to be effective we must create a classroom culture where feedback is welcome. The secret is knowing your students-when to push and when to back off. Teachers who embrace formative assessment don't listen for the “right” answer; they listen because they are interested in what their students think. Students need to know that you love them and have their best interests at heart, it’s all about relationships.<br />
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Wiliam provided several examples that clearly demonstrate how feedback, rather than grading, has a powerful impact on learning. “Our students are grade junkies, we are pushers and parents are co-dependents,” he said. “We have to reduce our students’ obsession with grades; grading gets in the way of learning.” These ideas may be challenging for some teachers so how do we help them make powerful changes in their instruction? As Wiliam pointed out, “Changing your teaching while teaching is like engine repair in-flight.” He recommended that we build teacher learning communities.<br />
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He asked school leaders for a commitment to engineer effective learning environments for teachers by:<br />
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Creating expectations for continually improving practice<br />
Keeping the focus on the things that make a difference to students<br />
Providing the time, space, dispensation, and support for innovation<br />
Supporting risk-taking<br />
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He asked that we as teachers commit to continual improvement and to focus rigorously on the things that make a difference to students, even when they’re hard to do. “Formative assessment is about making students’ voices louder,” he said. “And teachers listening better.” Let’s get better together!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-9434874006252378052016-03-18T17:35:00.005-07:002016-03-18T20:04:50.816-07:00Powerful Professional LearningI consider myself to be incredibly fortunate to be participating in the Galileo Leadership Consortium, a two year learning opportunity focused on developing teacher leadership. Teacher leadership is the process by which teachers influence their colleagues, principals, and other members of the school community to improve teaching and learning practices with the aim of increased student learning and achievement. It is truly my most powerful professional learning experience to date. And I’ve been around for a long time!<br />
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We are frequently asked to explore our core beliefs and reflect upon our impact on others, primarily by examining <a href="https://books.google.com/books/about/The_7_Habits_of_Highly_Effective_People.html?id=sm4TAgAAQBAJ&source=kp_cover" target="_blank">Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People</a>. With passionate and dynamic facilitation by <a href="https://twitter.com/galileoleaders?lang=en" target="_blank">Joyce Fouts</a> we are able to see how Covey’s habits can unlock the door to increased productivity both personally and professionally and I am constantly inspired to become a more compassionate, effective teacher leader.<br />
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Today we revisited Habit 4: Think Win-Win, the habit of mutual benefit. Common practices we see in this area include comparing, competing, and people feeling threatened by others’ success. Being insensitive to the needs of others, considering only your own needs and expecting to win or lose are consequences of a belief in the paradigm that there is only so much, and the more you get, the less there is for me. In contrast, a highly effective paradigm leads to the belief that there is plenty out there for everyone, and more to spare. This leads to an abundance mentality, the ability to balance courage and consideration, considering other people’s wins as well as your own and creating Win-Win agreements.<br />
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This abundance mentality is clearly effective according to the findings of <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/magazine/what-google-learned-from-its-quest-to-build-the-perfect-team.html?_r=0" target="_blank">Project Aristotle</a>, a three year study by Google to examine why some teams are more successful than others. It was discovered that two group norms were shared by virtually all of Google’s most effective teams:<br />
<ul>
<li>Equal air time – In highly effective teams, members participated approximately the same amount during meetings. “As long as everyone got a chance to talk, the team did well,” said Google researcher Anita Woolley. “But if only one person or a small group spoke all the time, the collective intelligence declined.” </li>
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<li>Interpersonal sensitivity – Effective team members were able to intuit how colleagues felt by their tone of voice, facial expressions, and other nonverbal cues. The members of less-effective teams were less tuned in to their teammates’ feelings.</li>
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Apparently these critical team traits help to create “psychological safety” – a team culture in which individuals have “a sense of confidence that the team will not embarrass, reject, or punish someone for speaking up,” says Amy Edmondson, a Harvard Business School professor who has studied high-functioning groups. “It describes a team climate characterized by interpersonal trust and mutual respect in which people are comfortable being themselves.”<br />
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For an educator, this is valuable information to help address the <a href="https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Narcissism_Epidemic.html?id=m3YndShMSUUC&source=kp_cover" target="_blank">Narcissism Epidemic</a>. Living and working in the age of entitlement we are witnessing:<br />
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<li>Inflated feelings of superiority</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Vanity</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> Materialism</li>
</ul>
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<li>Lack of empathy</li>
</ul>
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<li>Relationship problems</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> Egotism</li>
</ul>
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<li>Higher propensity for anger and bullying</li>
</ul>
More than ever before, we need to focus on helping our learning communities succeed through compassion. By becoming profoundly “other focused” we can develop empathy, find purpose, and feel happier and more fulfilled. Building a compassion culture not only boosts health and inspires loyalty, it also leads to emotional well being, effective collaboration and high productivity.<br />
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This post captures my learning from just a couple of hours at the Galileo Leadership Academy. My goal for the time I have remaining in this cadre is to soak up as much knowledge as I can about the skills, and dispositions of teacher leaders including servant leadership, collaboration, facilitation, best practices, action research, and systems thinking. I know it’s going to be an incredible learning journey!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-86437842811811677512015-12-03T20:46:00.002-08:002015-12-03T21:01:39.166-08:00The Power of StorytellingToday was one of those crazy hectic days when I felt like I chased my tail from dawn until dusk, but it was also a day full of unexpected connections and wonderful surprises. Most importantly, today I was reminded of the power of storytelling.<br />
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My day began with a one hundred and sixty mile drive to Kalamazoo to present at the <a href="http://www.memspa.org/" target="_blank">Middle Elementary and Middle School Principals Association</a> (MEMPSA) annual conference. I was invited by my principal, <a href="https://learnleadlove.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Mark Morawski</a>, to co-present a breakout session focused on project based learning. I’m always happy to talk about the amazing work our students do, so the drive flew by.<br />
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Upon arrival I was, however, disappointed to discover that I had missed the keynote by <a href="http://georgecouros.ca/blog/" target="_blank">George Couros</a> but I was lucky enough to be able to catch the last ten minutes of one of his breakout sessions. George shared a personal story about a time when he was very vulnerable and flustered in front of an audience. It was so refreshing to know that even my educational heroes have those moments too! In that moment George Couros became more fallible, more human and more approachable to me. I was so pleased that he chose to share it because the ultimate message was powerful: We need to make the positives so loud, that the negatives are almost impossible to hear. In just ten minutes I had my greatest take away from the conference!<br />
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Shortly after our session ended I jumped back in the car to make the three hour drive back to Detroit to attend an <a href="http://www.teacher2teacher.education/" target="_blank">Engag(ed) Exchange</a> event centered around design thinking and empathy within the education space. I was so happy to reconnect with some amazing educators that I haven’t seen in a while and also thrilled to make some new connections. The evening was launched with an amazing performance of Lost Voices by two students from the EMU Poetry Society. <a href="https://twitter.com/thenerdyteacher" target="_blank">Nicholas Provenzano</a> was the master of ceremonies and introduced us to Deborah Parizek of the Henry Ford Learning Institute, Shelley Danner of Challenge Detroit and Cornetta Lane from One Detroit Credit Union. Each presenter shared their stories about design thinking and I was most inspired by Daniel B, a student of the College for Creative Studies who even shared his grandma with us!<br />
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I heard so many stories today that inspired, uplifted and fascinated me. They reminded me of the need for us to share our own stories. We need to share our stories with our students to remind them we are human too. By sharing snippets from our daily lives, our fears, our failings our frustrations we are telling our students that we trust them, that we are fallible, that we are approachable. It’s also important for us to share our stories with our peers and colleagues. We need to share our successes, our epic fails, our struggles and our ambitions, for it is in the sharing that we build empathy and meaningful relationships.<br />
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I was also reminded of the need to LISTEN to stories. Our students are very adept at revealing only the parts of themselves that they want us to see, and sometimes they do not reveal their best selves. But if we begin to truly tune into their stories, not just the assignments they write but the snippets of their pain points or happy places that they consciously or inadvertently share with us, then we can begin to see their best selves. The courageous kid, the hardworking kid, the persistent kid will be revealed and we can come to know them. Knowing fosters appreciation, appreciation fosters relationships, relationships foster trust and trust fosters connection. When we connect, we learn and grow together.<br />
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My crazy hectic wonderful day is coming to an end but my commitment to share stories and hear stories is refreshed. What stories did you share today? What stories did you hear today?<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-5374565518993238732015-06-27T09:37:00.002-07:002015-06-27T10:57:28.626-07:00It's Been A Long Year Without You My Friend<div class="MsoNormal">
"Grief is a journey, often perilous and without clear
direction, that must be taken. The experience of grieving cannot be ordered or
categorized, hurried or controlled, pushed aside or ignored indefinitely. It is
inevitable as breathing, as change, as love. It may be postponed, but it will
not be denied."<br />
Molly Fumia<o:p></o:p></div>
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As a teacher, I spend about the same amount of time with my
colleagues as I do with my family. For thirteen wonderful years I have been a
member of the 5/6 team at Birmingham Covington School. We formed, stormed,
normed and were performing like a well-oiled machine. The machine broke in
January with the death of one of our core members.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fitz was not only a teacher at BCS, she was also a former student
and she was the heart of our crew. She was a passionate educator who strived to
help her students find joy in reading and writing. She brought the same energy
to our team and inspired us to work harder, push further and demand more of
ourselves and our students each and every day. Most importantly she made us laugh.
Oh, she made us laugh!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fitz,your passing rocked our entire community. You touched the
lives of so many parents, students and colleagues in countless ways and your
impact is immeasurable. The 5/6 team shattered, so heartbroken at losing you so
young, so devastated for your daughters to whom you were devoted and whose
lives will never be the same. But as educators we knew we had to help our
students first. We have wiped away tears, listened to students tell their
favorite stories about you, understood when they lost focus, struggled to
concentrate or just felt anxious or sad. In nurturing the youngest members of
our community through this difficult time we have postponed our own grief and
battled on to make it the end of the year. But summer is here, the pace has
slowed, responsibilities have eased and now it is time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I miss you. I miss you bouncing into school in your
ridiculous spring heeled shoes with a twinkle in your eye. I miss your enthusiasm,
your happiness, your capacity for mischief. I miss our rituals, our daily
lunches where we shared all of the ups and downs of life; the struggles, the
joys. I miss sharing books with you and spending hours on the phone discussing
the themes and plot twists, the characters and how they made us laugh or tore
at our heart strings. I miss your honesty and vulnerability which you were
always prepared to share. I miss your courage and your fearlessness in standing
up for what you believed to be best for kids. I miss your wit, your fire, your
vivacity, voraciousness and vim. I miss your aches and pains, your smiles and giggles.
I miss my friend and I always will, but now I am ready.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m ready to come out from under the cloud and start
thinking and writing again. I’m ready to embrace a world without you and face
the challenges it brings. I know when we return to school in the fall I will be
slapped with reminders of you everywhere and there will be sudden impulses to
cry as the realization of your loss sweeps over me again. But my sadness will
be eased with the support and love of my 5/6 team, my work family, your work
family. We will continue to work hard and be the best educators we can, forever
inspired and forever changed for having known and loved you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-32449770881927163842014-12-04T18:41:00.000-08:002014-12-04T18:45:47.472-08:00Trust, Respect and Relationships.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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was offered the chance to visit <a href="http://www.kentinnovationhigh.org/theschool/" target="_blank">Kent Innovation High (KIH)</a> this morning I
jumped at the opportunity. KIH is a relatively young school, opened in 2011,
and it has a unique project-based learning focus. Students spend the first part
of their day there studying English, Math, Science and Social Studies in an interdisciplinary
setting before returning to their home schools for a more traditional
experience in electives and extra-curricular activities.<br />
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Upon entering I was immediately struck by learning space
envy. Classrooms are huge light and airy spaces with glass walls. Because of
the interdisciplinary approach, each room can hold fifty students and two
teachers and there are multiple big screens around the room. Hallways serve as
collaborative learning spaces with couches, booths and tables fitted with
screens the students can hook up their laptops to. My meeting room had four
tables, each with their own big screen and it was a joy for me to be able to
fully participate in the presentation without having to strain my old and tired
eyes to see a screen at the front of the room.<br />
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After a quick introduction to the school by American Studies
teacher Mike Kaechele we were divided into small groups and handed over to
students for a tour. Each student confidently shook our hands and introduced themselves
with full eye contact, and while that seems like a small thing, I knew by this
first interaction that I was in a special place. My guides Megan and Katie
immediately engaged us in conversation as we walked, telling us what the school
was about, what each space was for and how classes were organized. They
assuredly answered all of our questions and I thought they must have been hand-picked
to impress visitors. As we went from room to room however, I began to think
that any of the 400 students in the building could have conducted the tour just
as well. In every classroom students greeted us naturally and informally and
were happy to tell us what they were doing. I never felt like we were interrupting
as there was a learning buzz and relaxed atmosphere in every room , with
students and teachers engaged in independent, group and class activities.</div>
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My learning space envy grew as we visited classrooms with tall
whiteboard walls, high café tables, stools, and couches alongside regular tables.
In the third classroom we visited I realized that I hadn’t seen a teacher’s
desk anywhere. Megan showed me where the teachers’ desks where-all located in
one room alongside each other. Later in the day teacher Jeff Bush told me that he
felt this alternative version of a teachers lounge was one of the most
important factors in the success of the building. It facilitates deep and
meaningful communication between the staff as well as encouraging collaboration
and sharing. Another thing that was notably absent was lockers. Open cubbies could
be found outside classrooms stuffed with coats, instruments and backpacks and
when I asked Megan about that her response was: It’s all about trust here. We
are a family.</div>
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This sentiment was repeated several times during the final portion
of my visit when we sat with a panel of students. I was so impressed with how
articulate these young men and women were as they shared their own learning
journeys. Colin told us how he had repeated the same math class at his more
traditional home school, despite knowing the content, because he struggled to turn
in homework assignments. He reported that he is flourishing at KIH because of
the positive mindset of his facilitators (teachers) and the fact that he doesn’t
get homework. He gets told what he needs to do and he is trusted to do it when
he chooses to do it. Other students enthused about the constant feedback they got
from their facilitators because that meant they knew how to improve their
assignments and work towards mastery , a stark contrast to their more
traditional home schools, where they fail but aren’t quite sure why. And the
feedback isn’t a one way street. Reese explained that students provide constant
feedback to their facilitators so that they too can learn and grow.</div>
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All students were completely aware of the standards they
were working towards and appreciated the variety of assessments methods used by
their teachers such as oral tests, written responses and one to one interviews,
made possible with two teachers in every classroom. While rigor was evident,
the most striking aspect of this school was the significance placed upon
relationships. When asked what was challenging about being a student at KIH Colin
told us the first two weeks were challenging because you have to flip your
mindset. You have to learn how to work with others, how to be responsible how
to focus on learning about each other. Every single hour of every single day
begins with students sharing good news, every student knows each others name and
this simple five minute sharing allows them to get to know each other. Keeley
shared this with us:</div>
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I’m in love with this school. The facilitators are alive and
alert and love what they do. They raise us to be like a family, we are
comfortable with each other, we trust each other, we value each other. They
want to engage us, to learn about our home lives and what is happening with us.
We strive to succeed, to be the best we can be, to be diverse and honest; and
the facilitators want us to succeed too.</div>
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So much about this school was impressive: the physical
space, the technology integration, the 1:1 laptop program, the level of student
voice, the interdisciplinary approach, the ping pong table, and the
project-based focus. But for me personally, what really makes it a special place
is the omnipresent emphasis on trust, respect and relationships. I had the
opportunity to chat briefly with some staff members over lunch, but I’m hoping
that I get to spend more time learning from them at the <a href="http://novanowgr.org/" target="_blank">NovaNow </a>conference in
February. If you get offered the chance to attend this event, jump at it!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8W48uJk0Zi74F-coljLBrsN19YzZF8UA1Pvz25v0vziC2srOoKSD0gbnYru4TDsIK8kewmiPsmlhCYwxpwdBEe8hkHdy5Yb5yM4QTpvW416eorS0bWh62aPgTc7YlgXo4AgHZ5lW1uas/s1600/bathroom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8W48uJk0Zi74F-coljLBrsN19YzZF8UA1Pvz25v0vziC2srOoKSD0gbnYru4TDsIK8kewmiPsmlhCYwxpwdBEe8hkHdy5Yb5yM4QTpvW416eorS0bWh62aPgTc7YlgXo4AgHZ5lW1uas/s1600/bathroom.JPG" height="184" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inspirational pin-board in student bathroom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-88855417360970468442014-11-20T21:17:00.000-08:002014-11-20T21:50:42.981-08:00Pauline and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad DayLast night I got home closer to 9pm than I wanted for the
second night in a row, knowing I wouldn’t be home until the same time tonight
because of parent/teacher conferences. Utterly drained, I went straight to bed,
safe in the knowledge that I would get up at 5:30 am with plenty of time to
wake my kids, feed them, prepare lunches, iron clothes, drop them off at kids
club and arrive at school for my 7:30 am meeting. Today began with my husband shaking
me awake with the news that the alarm had failed to go off and it was 7:10 am.
And so began my Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad day.<br />
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In utter panic I jumped up, dragged my son out of bed and
while toasting his frozen pancakes I texted a colleague to alert her to the
fact that I wasn’t going to make my meeting and asked her to look out for a
student who I had invited to join us. Her reply was: No worries! Scouring the
clean laundry pile and pantry I threw together outfits and lunches, splashed my
face with cold water and dragged my boy towards the car while shoving him into
his coat. I don’t recall whether or not I brushed my hair!</div>
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As soon as I opened the garage I knew I was in danger of not
making it in time for my first class of the day let alone my meeting. Of course
it was snowing and the roads were a disaster. After twenty minutes I had traveled
a total of two miles, experienced inertia first hand as my car resisted the
brakes and drifted into oncoming traffic, and realized that I was utterly decaffeinated.
Time to call for back up! Blearily negotiating the roads I called two of my 5/6
colleagues for assistance. Both were stuck in traffic but assured me that they
would arrive ahead of me, organize my kids and get my first class up and
running. I got to my son’s school relieved that my first class was covered but
still rushed down the hallway to drop him safely at Kids Club. That’s when I epically
wiped out. Both feet went up in the air and I landed flat on my back. Since my
hip has been bothering me for the last two weeks this wasn’t the greatest thing
that could have happened. In extreme pain I assured my kid I was okay and once
he verified the fact that we were alone in the hallway, I took a moment to
remain prostrate, lament my fortune and gather my thoughts about my scattered
life.</div>
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I signed him in with a kiss goodbye and limped back to my
car. I entered my class three minutes after the bell rang and my teaching
partner Rick Joseph was there, with both of our classes, taking attendance and
getting them set for the day. We arranged our special schedule, raided the
fridge in the teacher lounge for a breakfast consisting of leftovers from the
PTSA conference dinner the night before and had a great morning of learning. I
introduced a cartoon activity I thought the students would be excited about and
when one of them asked if he could do a Powerpoint version instead, I felt good
about the fact that my kids feel comfortable negotiating with me about how they
demonstrate their learning.</div>
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During lunch I prepared guest teacher plans for
tomorrow when I will continue conferences for my math students, and my 5/6 science
partner Tammy Brown brought me back a much needed, heartwarming soup lunch!Conferences began at 1pm and at 3pm my partner had to head
for the airport to present at the NCTE conference in Washington D.C. Happy for
him to go and learn and grow, I was also sad to complete the evening without him
as it’s always good to have my other half to bounce off during conferences. A wonderful
dinner was provided for us by my principal and vice principal and I headed back
to the final three hours of conferences reenergized, albeit nervous about the
continuing snow fall, the state of the roads, and the fact I had no snowbrush
with me to clean up my car. </div>
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At 6pm a parent arrived late for her conference and was completely
understanding of the fact that the full schedule meant I couldn’t fit her in
without inconveniencing all my other appointments for the night. She left happy
to reschedule and, I suspect, unaware of how truly appreciative I was of her flexibility.
Throughout the rest of the night I was glad to share the successes and future goals
of my students, and receive well wishes for my transition into my new role as
instructional specialist. One of my last students of the night arrived with a
cake he had made for me, and I headed for the
car park ready to deal with my inevitably snow buried car.To my amazement I found my truck free and clear of snow, in
stark contrast to it’s neighbors. I can only imagine that someone had blessed
me with a random act of kindness and cleared my car for me. It was such a
relief at the end of a long day and permitted me to concentrate on getting home
in time to kiss my own children goodnight.</div>
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I guess the point I’m trying to make is that when you work
at <a href="http://www.bcsonline.info/" target="_blank">Birmingham Covington School</a> there really is no such thing as a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad day. I am so lucky to work with an amazing team of educators
who I can turn to in times of trauma and I know they have my back, no questions
asked. They nurture and support me and I cannot express my gratitude for them
enough. My students are total troopers and have the skills and maturity to bend
and adapt to the flow of an unusual day. Their parents have the unique ability to
make me feel like a super star and I am honored to know and serve them. My bucket
overflows tonight as I check my alarm is set, and prepare to do it all again
tomorrow.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-16114046966606439682014-11-04T19:56:00.001-08:002014-11-04T20:17:26.323-08:00Walking With Giants-Literally!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]-->This weekend I was honored to walk with giants around Washington DC. The giants were thirty of my past and present students who were invited to present at the<a href="http://www.character.org/conference/" target="_blank"> 2014 National Forum on Character Education. </a><br />
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The journey began last Thursday as we piled on to the bus at 5:30am. I was expecting a few moans and groans about the early take off, but was only met with eager and enthusiastic comments as we loaded suitcases, pillows, blankets and jewelry making equipment. The ten hour travel time flew by as we watched movies, chatted and played games and I was amazed since I’ve been on much shorter bus rides with students that seemed to last for eons!<br />
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Our first stop was the Air Force Memorial which seemed so fitting as the purpose is to show pride in our past and faith in our future. The monument itself soars 270 feet high and I was so moved to be there in the presence of students who have learned how to soar themselves. Etched on granite walls are the three core values of the Air Force.: Integrity first, Service before self, and Excellence in all we do. I read aloud the following quote on the wall: The future is always decided by those who put their imagination to work, who challenge the unknown, and who are not afraid to risk failure.An eighth grade student standing next to me said, “That’s us Mrs. Roberts isn’t it?” That was the first of many teary moments I had in the presence of these giants over the next few days.<br />
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Walking into the conference hotel at 7am on Saturday morning heading a group of thirty children caused quite a stir. As people stopped and stared at us I saw my students shoulders go back and their chins go up. They realized for the first time the true significance of their presence there and they immediately adopted a demeanor that they maintained throughout the remainder of the trip. They were proud to be invited, to share their incredible story, promote their project and to represent their school, which they did impeccably. They set up their booth with no adult direction or assistance and began to engage passing adults and making jewelry to sell. As each team rotated through their booth shift I was amazed at how well they articulated their passion and commitment.<br />
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I hope this Halloween stands out in their memories as much as it will stand out in mine. Dressed in their costumes we embarked on a nighttime tour of the war memorials and the Lincoln memorial and they managed to remain respectful, deferential and deeply interested in what the tour guide was telling us. So many of them during that tour thanked me for the opportunity and told me how glad they were that they gave up their usual trick or treating routine to be there.<br />
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The next day, despite being tired they were outstanding during their presentation. They so eloquently demonstrated to other teachers what is possible when teachers get out of the way and let students explore their passions and curiosities and allow them to fail forward. Feedback from attendees included: <br />
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"Empower and trust the students! Fail Forward! Outstanding, Meaningful, and all around Inspiring!" <br />
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"Each of you did a great job presenting. I'm inspired to listen to my students and step back to follow their lead." <br />
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"I want to make our service learning more meaningful. You guys are awesome!"<br />
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<br />
The students' own reflections included:<br />
<br />
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<![endif]-->"In Washington
I learned that our project is not only raising money for Chilipula, but showing
the world that no project is too big for kids." Vivian, 6th grader.<br />
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<![endif]--><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">" </span>I learned what can
happen when a group comes together for a good cause. I learned that sometimes
kids can do things that adults can't, and we should all step up to that." Helen, 7th grader.<br />
<br />
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<![endif]-->"If you give students a voice
through a meaningful project they will each become a leader in their own
way." Jake, 6th grader.
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I can honestly say I have never been prouder as an educator! Despite the fact that this group consisted of 3-8 graders, some of whom had never really met before, they bonded together in their dedication to <a href="http://projectcope.wikis.birmingham.k12.mi.us/" target="_blank">Project Cope</a>. For me personally, it was a joy to bring together past and present students and be able to see how much they have learned and grown. Their true character was reflected in the way they interacted with each other and the attendees of the conference. There were too many examples of kindness, perseverance, integrity, honesty and responsibility for me to mention but I will treasure every one. <br />
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This trip would not have been possible without the support of the BCS PTSA and the<a href="http://supportbef.org/" target="_blank"> Birmingham Education Foundation (BEF)</a>. Their financial support made it possible for all our students to participate in this incredible learning experience. When <a href="http://character.org/">character.org</a> asked for our students to present at the national forum they never imagined we would bring 30! <br />
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A special thanks to the parents and staff members who chaperoned this trip. The logistics involved in navigating a group of 30 middle schoolers through a two day national conference was overwhelming but their willingness to do whatever it takes and ability to support one another is what makes BCS such a great place to be. <br />
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I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Tamra Nast our school counselor who worked tirelessly with Cindy Balicki to make this opportunity a reality for our students. Principal Mark Morawski thank you for supporting the trip and Linda Stone , and Mat Brown thank you for joining us and being amazing colleagues that I am lucky to work with every day. <br />
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The theme of the conference was inspiring greatness. These giants, these students, inspire me every day. Who inspires you? More importantly, how do you inspire others?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEX8kDXrc3Qc5r0K5O6bgkwuAlv66BR7pzbAimHc3dLEpzGMAYWHyvB43efSzdjk3Zz63bzXOdNLfesmT9GpzunwwQeg2MT-A1G-d3Zmf3h0QJrpRs4vD5XshfBVDmsjGW7sOCDXZdf0Y/s1600/inspire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEX8kDXrc3Qc5r0K5O6bgkwuAlv66BR7pzbAimHc3dLEpzGMAYWHyvB43efSzdjk3Zz63bzXOdNLfesmT9GpzunwwQeg2MT-A1G-d3Zmf3h0QJrpRs4vD5XshfBVDmsjGW7sOCDXZdf0Y/s1600/inspire.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-39207650206780065442014-10-19T16:14:00.000-07:002014-10-19T16:16:21.719-07:00Walking With GiantsSeveral weeks ago I posted this on Facebook:<br />
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As the first hectic week of school comes to a close I am
reminded once again that I am so fortunate to walk with giants every day. Not
giants in stature, but giants in terms of the size of their hearts, the
strength of their spirit, and the depths of their understanding and humanity. I'm
humbled by both students and colleagues, who uplift and inspire me beyond
words. Look for the giants that surround you-they are often disguised by
humility.</div>
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It occurred to me that I should share their stories as they
are key characters in my own story. This is the first of a series of posts
about the giants in my life. I hope they inspire you as they have inspired me.</div>
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On Friday morning I opened an email with the following
attachment:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGKBBspzQUuJ_E5hDLO2Fw1va6IfISSSPePfO0VUc9pSx6SkdaFiCaNvWVXJEdAHFFc1GW9IIFlOE7Prx2vmOjRTAalA1mIYZzurSgz8ERONkRmspzDD1TNvUiqe7pNJFadNuna9-9SA4/s1600/Project+Cope+Raising+Hope.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGKBBspzQUuJ_E5hDLO2Fw1va6IfISSSPePfO0VUc9pSx6SkdaFiCaNvWVXJEdAHFFc1GW9IIFlOE7Prx2vmOjRTAalA1mIYZzurSgz8ERONkRmspzDD1TNvUiqe7pNJFadNuna9-9SA4/s1600/Project+Cope+Raising+Hope.JPG" height="320" width="245" /></a></div>
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This is the culmination of months of collaboration between
one of my students and Grant Anderson and his mother, Julie Anderson. Grant and
his mom came to visit my school last year as part of a disability workshop.
Grant shared with my students the story of how he suffered a traumatic brain
injury several years earlier in a car accident. Two hundred and twenty students
sat enthralled as he shared images and movies of his grueling recovery process.
His message was clear: work hard, persevere, and remain positive. One of Grant’s
passions is music and before long he had all of us singing along to one of his
own compositions. He touched every single person in the room that day, but he especially
inspired one student in particular.</div>
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She had written lyrics for a song about our school
partnership with <a href="http://projectcope.wikis.birmingham.k12.mi.us/" target="_blank">Project Cope</a>, a non-profit organization working to eliminate
poverty in rural Zambia in a single generation. Having no composition
experience, the song and melody was trapped inside her head, but in Grant she
recognized an opportunity. We asked Grant and his mom if they could help and
over the next few months they visited school several times to work on the song
with my student. Seeing the product of their efforts on Friday reduced me to
tears. </div>
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I am humbled and honored to know people like Grant and his mom, giving
so generously of their time not only to support a good cause, but to help a
little girl realize a dream. They truly are giants, teaching both myself and my
students much more than any written curriculum could. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are looking for a guest speaker to
inspire your students I cannot recommend Grant highly enough. Click on the image
below to learn more about Grant’s story, as he was deservedly recognized as
someone who makes a difference on The Heart of Detroit. Who are the giants who
make a difference in the lives of you and your students?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-26993340202536813112014-07-01T19:07:00.002-07:002014-07-01T19:07:57.562-07:00#ISTE2014 Where Were You?It was my privilege to attend and present at the <a href="https://www.isteconference.org/2014/" target="_blank">ISTE</a> conference in Atlanta this weekend. Eighteen thousand educators, education leaders and corporate entities gathered to share, learn and explore the many amazing resources and initiatives that are happening all around the world. The major challenge for most attendees is being able to be everywhere and see everything!<br /><br />I spent a long time in a long line to see Ashley Judd’s opening keynote. I expected to learn more about her global advocacy work but instead was surprised to hear the story of her troubled childhood. She poignantly shared with us her memories of abuse, abandonment, and depression and how she more often than not dealt with these issues alone. She often repeated the phrase, “Where were you?” not in an accusatory context, but to remind us that as educators we have a huge responsibility to know our students. “The most important thing you can do is believe the child who comes to you. It is incumbent on us to see, to ask questions,” she said. She highlighted teachers and educators who saved her life by giving simple words of encouragement, by demonstrating faith her in abilities, by showing that they cared. It was a powerful start to my conference experience.<br /><br />The next two days were spent running around trying to learn more about the maker movement, S.T.E.A.M, augmented reality, genius hour and so much more. The Expo alone would have taken days to explore and the whole place was fairly buzzing with excitement, exhilaration and passion. In the hours leading up to my own presentation about teaching kids to harness the power of technology to solve global problems I experienced many moments of abject terror. What could I possibly have to say that would be original or inspiring or worthy? But the lovely <a href="http://venspired.com/" target="_blank">Krissy Venosdale</a> calmed my nerves with her constant encouragement to all teachers to share, share, share! And ultimately it’s that sharing, connecting, and engaging with peers that makes ISTE such a significant event.<br /><br />I was so fortunate to be able to spend quality time with outstanding educators like <a href="http://firstclasslearning.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Kelli Etheredge</a> whose knowledge, compassion and commitment to students inspires me every day. <a href="http://fearlessclassroom.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Joli Barker</a>, fearless educator and author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Fearless-Classroom-Experiential-Environments/dp/1138802867" target="_blank">The Fearless Classroom</a> rejuvenates my joy and motivates me to dream big. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=57647933&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=5HCi&locale=en_US&srchid=646415711404266739917&srchindex=1&srchtotal=65&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A646415711404266739917%2CVSRPtargetId%3A57647933%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary" target="_blank">Adina Popa</a> ,School Improvement and Accountability Specialist at<a href="http://www.loudoun.k12.va.us/site/default.aspx?PageID=1" target="_blank"> Loudoun County Public Schools</a> strives for excellence and encourages me to unleash student potential through innovation and transformation. At the birds of a feather session hosted by <a href="https://www.edutopia.org/users/suzie-boss" target="_blank">Suzie Boss</a> I was able to make new connections with educators from all over the nation who share my love of project-based learning and I look forward to the new learning journeys we will embark on together. I left the conference energized and uplifted but my bubble was burst when I got to the airport.<br /><br />While sitting at the gate I received tragic news about a former student and I've spent the last twenty four hours scouring my memories of the time I was lucky enough to spend with her. ISTE is a truly amazing event and learning about new products and services and tech integration strategies was invaluable. But I have to remain mindful of the fact that the tools and the toys must not distract me from my primary responsibility-the kids. Ashley Judd’s keynote has left an indelible mark on me and I take away from #ISTE2014 three simple words: Where were you?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-37817344610393420262014-06-18T07:27:00.001-07:002014-06-22T09:27:04.957-07:00Umbrellas!I’m weary this morning after listening to storms rage through the night. Rain always reminds me of home and at some point in the small hours I found myself thinking of my lovely St. Anne’s in England and a wonderful guest teacher we had.<br />
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<br />The first time George came to our school we were in a period of unrest. Our principal was on long term medical leave due to stress, an OFSTED inspection was looming and our staff, consisting of six ladies from the ages of twenty two to fifty two, was feeling the strain. George was older, retired and completely awesome. He knew what he was doing, needed little direction, he was wonderful with the kids, and more importantly he was wonderful with us. He was the consummate gentleman, ensuring each of us had hot steaming cups of tea waiting for us in the staffroom, and once we were all settled in he would entertain us with tales from his long career in education. He quickly became a favorite and was a regular visitor; he somehow brought stability during that uncertain time.<br /><br />During one lunch break I asked George why he had retired as he obviously had a lot more to give as an educator. “I couldn’t hold up my umbrella anymore,” he replied quietly. I was obviously confused so he explained that when he retired he was a principal. He expected his teachers to be like umbrellas to students, shielding them from educational storms and reforms, protecting them from scary unknowns so that under their care, children could learn and grow safely and happily. He perceived his own role as an umbrella for his teachers, shielding them from similar storms so that they as educators could learn and grow safely to better serve their students. The school board was his umbrella; theirs was the local education authority and theirs the legislators. Each umbrella protecting those below so that at all layers of education people could feel secure enough within their realm to take risks, fail forward and ultimately do their best to ensure quality learning was happening.<br /><br />“At some point,” he said, “the umbrellas above me began to collapse. The storm became too strong for me to withstand and when I couldn’t hold up my umbrella and protect and shield my teachers, I had to leave.” I don’t think I ever saw him look so sad and then understood why we were all so drawn to him; he had made us feel safe. I also felt the true weight of my own responsibilities as a teacher, seeing clearly for the first time that a classroom simply has to be a safe and happy place for students to realize their true potential.<br /><br />Summer is a time for educators to mend holes in their umbrellas; to recover from the storms of the previous year, to reflect on their effectiveness, to follow their own learning journeys, to restore their sense of self. When we take time to re-evaluate and care for ourselves over the summer, we can ensure that as umbrellas, we return to school robust enough to weather another year. I hope the umbrellas above me are taking the time to do the same.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-89343129364993227402014-06-12T17:33:00.000-07:002014-06-22T09:26:40.097-07:00Flip Your Mindset!Several weeks ago classroom conversations included ways we could finish the year strong. One of my students asked if we could have a party if every student achieved an A Grade by the end of the quarter. I told him no, but said that we could push the boat out if my gradebook showed no missing assignments, as that would indicate to me that everyone was engaged and invested in their learning journey-and that would be something I would be more than happy to celebrate!<br /><br />While I thought I was offering a much better deal, several students groaned and eye rolled. When I asked why, they insisted that it was an impossible task because there were always some kids who didn’t complete their work. Sensing defeat before we had even started I asked the class why they thought that was the case. I invited them to question why assignments did not get completed. The responses were diverse and enlightening:<br /><br />I forget to finish assignments<br /><br />I sometimes don’t know what I’m supposed to do<br /><br />I don’t want to do homework<br /><br />I have no access to technology at home<br /><br />I can’t get organized and lose papers<br /><br />I have so many after school activities I’m overwhelmed<br /><br />I don’t know when assignments are due<br /><br />I need help but don’t like to ask<br /><br />I need help but have nobody to ask<br /><br />The list goes on but as we recorded responses on the board I began to see some of my kid’s faces reflect surprise and revelation. One student summed it up perfectly when he said, “Wow! I just thought people were slackers!” Now that we had gained some insight, I charged the students to generate solutions to these barriers and they have astounded me with their commitment to help each other through these final weeks of the school year. They have been calling and Skyping one other at home to pass on reminders and guidance. Students have asked for sherpas and many a lunch period has been foregone in the quest to support their peers. They have been tweeting, emailing, taking photos and I was thrilled when a parent told me she was pleased to see her child engaged in conversations and conferences about assignments with kids in the class he had never mentioned before.<br /><br />I reached a landmark today, closing my gradebook for the first time with every single assignment turned in and accounted for. My students not only finished strong but engaged in some of the most important learning of the year. When we put aside our own assumptions, when we flip our mindset and actively listen to each other, we can generate successful, user centered solutions. Tomorrow I will be sad to say goodbye to my sixth graders, but look forward to my fifth graders returning next year, armed with some powerful tools to help them embrace our new team members with empathy and compassion.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-80371963406613395672014-03-20T18:56:00.000-07:002014-03-20T19:15:35.704-07:00Barcelona and Beyond!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I a</span>m incredibly fortunate to have experienced my third <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/education/ww/solutions/Pages/Global-Forum.aspx" target="_blank">Microsoft in Education Global Forum</a> event in Barcelona, Spain, last week. Being able to gather with peers, education policy leaders and innovative school leaders from around the world has a direct impact not only on me but also on my students.<br /><br />There are so many outstanding moments and learning experiences crammed into this amazing event that it is difficult to articulate succinctly the full effect it has on me as an educator. One of the most challenging aspects of the conference for me was the Learn-a-thon activity. I was teamed with three other teachers from Spain, the Czech Republic and Costa Rica. We were charged with developing a learning experience for our students with a central focus of poverty, gender equality or sustainability. <br /><br />The process required me to employ the same 21st Century skills that I demand of my students daily: communication, collaboration, perseverance, flexibility and productivity. Initially we were excited to get to know each other’s strengths and interests and learn about our respective roles at school, but as we tried to reach consensus about the direction and content of our project, frustration levels grew due to language barriers.<br /><br />It was a fantastic opportunity for me to walk in my students shoes and be reminded of the difficulties they face every day working in teams, and implement the strategies I teach them to overcome barriers and be successful. And ultimately we were successful because we found common ground: we were all passionate and invested in the project, we appreciated and utilized the diverse talents we brought to the table and we were motivated to do the best job we could. There were moments of struggle and tussle, and moments of joy and laughter and in the end we walked away feeling good about our work. More importantly we walked away as friends.<br /><br />Therein lays the key to what makes the Microsoft Global Forum so powerful. It’s about bringing like-minded people together to talk and share and learn from and with each other. My personal learning network grows exponentially and I return to school supercharged with energy and ideas and the knowledge that I have a web of colleagues who I can turn to for advice and support, encouragement and inspiration. It’s about connecting and empowering people who want to make a difference in the lives of their students.<br /><br />My only wish is that my students could be there with me. They also deserve to experience the exhilaration of being around like-minded peers, to share and learn and grow from collaborative learning experiences with students from all over the globe. They need to be uplifted by expert presenters and gain sustenance from building meaningful, authentic global relationships. My desire to somehow make this happen has filled me with a new sense of purpose, and I am thrilled that I can immediately start making progress towards achieving my new goal.<br /><br />I am beyond excited that my students have been invited to Skype into the <a href="http://www.weday.com/" target="_blank">We Day</a> event in Seattle tomorrow. We Day brings together students from around the nation who aspire to make a positive change in the world. Participation is earned through service and my students will be sharing the work they have done this year with <a href="http://projectcope.wikis.birmingham.k12.mi.us/" target="_blank">Project Cope</a>. Every time I watch the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gDvDs5hxzg" target="_blank">We Day video</a> I am overwhelmed with emotion as the purpose is to empower students to redefine what is possible.<br /><br /> I am hopeful that the experience tomorrow will prove to my students that by working together, they can make the world a better place.</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'Sans Serif', Arial; font-size: 10.909090995788574px;"> </span><span style="color: #073763;"> </span><span style="color: #073763;"> I am hopeful that Skyping into the event is the first step towards my students attending the event in person next year so that they too can experience for themselves the power of gathering with peers, leaders and policy makers. I am determined to provide them with the opportunity to experience their own Barcelona!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"> Image Courtesy of <a href="http://www.pil-network.com/" target="_blank">Partners in Learning Network</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-33528608228416174402014-01-18T16:17:00.000-08:002014-01-18T16:59:02.563-08:00Family<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: #0b5394;">I was so
excited today when my sister called to let me know that she has booked an
apartment for us to share in Barcelona, Spain, in March. It’s been a long time
since I got to visit with my sister, nephew and brother-in-law and it’s so
important for not only me, but my own children to spend time with family: the
people who love and support you, laugh and cry with you, inspire you to be the
best version of yourself, and ultimately let you know that you matter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I am
fortunate enough to be visiting Barcelona at the invitation of Microsoft. As a
member of the <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/education/ww/partners-in-learning/Pages/Educators.aspx" target="_blank">Microsoft Expert Educator Program</a> I will be attending the <a href="http://www.pil-network.com/Forums" target="_blank">Education Global Forum </a>event.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
Microsoft in Education Global Forum recognizes and celebrates the achievements
of educators who are preparing students for life in the 21st century. Each
year, the Microsoft in Education Global Forum brings together participants from
more than 700 of the world’s most innovative educators, school leaders, and
education leaders from 75 countries. Unbelievably, this will be my third time attending
and I cannot express my gratitude enough.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The
event provides me with the opportunity to participate in cutting edge
professional development activities, learn about new and up and coming
technologies, hear lectures from industry experts from around the globe, and study
schools that are developing sustainable models for system change. Most
importantly, it provides me with the opportunity to share and learn from my
peers from every corner of the earth. Over the last three years I have
developed relationships with teachers who inspire and teach me every day. They
have become my family: the people who love and support me, laugh and cry with
me, inspire me to be the best version of myself, and ultimately let me know that
I matter. Being a member of the Partners in Learning family has not only
transformed my teaching but also helped my students gain a deeper understanding
of their role as global citizens.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Before I
joined the <a href="http://www.pil-network.com/" target="_blank">PIL Network</a>, it was difficult to find a classroom to reach out and
connect with. Now, when my students need help or support, have questions or are
curious to learn a new perspective, it is easy for me to look to my PIL family
and find a classroom to visit. The world has been opened up to my students and
we are able to Skype with classrooms in my PIL family on a weekly basis.
Through these interactions they are learning to build creative, intuitive,
trusting and collaborative relationships with others. Their communication and
collaboration skills are growing exponentially and they are becoming more
caring and thoughtful citizens, inspired to change the world. They are growing
in their own global family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The trip
to Barcelona will be inspirational and restorative for me both personally and
professionally. The time I spend with my families will sustain and uplift me
for the following year, enabling me to be a better parent and teacher. I
encourage all educators to join the Partners in Learning Network, to connect
with people who will enrich both yours and your students’ lives. In doing so,
you will become a member of very special global family.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-1512282866074030742014-01-14T18:01:00.000-08:002014-04-08T11:36:27.230-07:00Empathy<span style="color: #0b5394;">There is much educational “noise” about learning for the 21st century and the need for U.S. schools to prepare our students to compete on an international level. Talk of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is predominant, along with project/passion based learning and innovative teaching design. Many educators are making great strides in these areas but in order for them to achieve optimum success, to truly forge the global citizens we hope our students will become, it is critical that we include empathy on the list of key 21st century skills.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Empathy enables us to stand in somebody else’s shoes and see the world through their eyes. Educators are increasingly challenging students to identify real world problems and develop creative solutions to those problems but how can they do that effectively if they have no empathy for the end user? Unless we help students build creative, intuitive, trusting and collaborative relationships with others, their solutions will based upon their own perceptions of what the end user needs, not what they actually do need. Empathy enables students to integrate other people's perspectives with their own. It is the ability to identify with others; it forms bonds, develops leadership, and brings about a level of self-awareness that helps us find meaning and purpose in our lives.<br /><br />So where do we begin? With active listening. Active listening is where you make a conscious effort to hear not only the words that another person is saying, but more importantly, try to understand the complete message being sent. If we can learn to actively listen we leave little room for assumption, interpretation or doubt. If we can learn to remove distractions and fully focus on the speaker we will be more able to listen to content and match the verbal and non-verbal clues to understand both the content and the emotion of the person’s message. We can suspend our own frame of reference, avoid judgment and let the speaker know that they are being heard and understood. <br /><br />I am fortunate enough to have a school counselor who was willing to come and teach my students and me a lesson on active listening. We all learned so much, particularly about how to create an atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding. We witnessed first-hand how a speaker is more likely to be open and honest with you if he knows he is speaking to an empathetic, active listener. And that’s powerful.<br /><br />I believe my job as an educator is about helping young people to become effective human beings and rounded individuals, able to make a positive contribution throughout their lives. It is about preparing them for their role in society, to be able to know and manage themselves. But doesn't that begin with me? To help my students make the necessary leap of imagination needed to walk in someone else’s shoes I need to learn how to do it too. Building empathy is my own personal goal this year, it’s the goal I have for my students, and it is my wish for everyone.<br /><br />If we could all develop empathy for each other, for our students and colleagues, family and friends and for those we have yet to meet, wouldn't our world to be a happier, loving and more unified place? Empathy helps us to see and understand how others may be struggling. This can inspire us to develop solutions or a commitment to help. We are more likely to become more caring and thoughtful citizens, and this is how we change the world.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-55178638367668639982013-12-20T17:51:00.000-08:002013-12-20T17:53:07.671-08:00I Own my Own Brain Again!<span style="color: #073763;">I owe the title of this post to <a href="http://teachinghumans.com/">Sean Wheeler</a> who wrote this on his Facebook Page. I love blogging, it helps me process and it bothers me that it has been so long since I've written a post. I have started at least ten pieces since October but never been able to complete them and Sean totally nailed why not-I haven’t owned my own brain for months.<br /><br />I think that is the one notion that non educators often fail to understand or grasp. When you spend all day with kids, kids who you love and encourage to be innovative and creative you lose yourself in the process of helping them find themselves. I am by nature an introvert, I love to read, to write, to watch a good movie and noise distracts me. Yet I spend my days amidst crazy awesome noise and I love it, I encourage it, I wallow in it. I hear stories; sad stories, funny stories, inspiring stories, stories that tell me so much about the lives of my kids and help me better understand and serve them. I hear ideas; ideas about how we can learn, about what we can learn, about how we can change the world together. I hear curiosity, anxiety, enthusiasm, frustration, pride, disappointment, joy, grief, nonsense, genius! I hear questions about…everything. The cacophony batters and sustains me.<br /><br />When somebody asks me during the day why I haven’t read or responded to an email it’s a clear indication to me that they have no clue what I do. I don’t sit in a quiet office, I don’t meet in a calm conference room with peers, I don’t eat lunch sitting down and I don’t go to the bathroom when the need arises. I swim in a turbulent sea of sound and between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm I am trained and employed to listen to it, hear it, feel it, and respond to it. <br /><br />I received the most wonderful gift today, a beautiful hand knitted blanket and a message that restores my faith in the fact that some people truly do understand what we do: This blanket represents what you have given our children for the last four years; Love ,Warmth and Kindness.<br /><br />Tonight the noise has subsided; I can own my own brain for the next two weeks. I’m looking forward to spending time making noise with my own family, snuggling up in my new blanket and relishing in my own thoughts so that I can be rested and prepared to embrace the thoughts of my amazing students in 2014.Happy Holidays everyone!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-39050200100776269052013-10-30T17:27:00.001-07:002013-10-30T17:28:19.898-07:00Digital Citizenship<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />As technology becomes ubiquitous in many classrooms, teachers are utilizing their tools to inspire students to become engaged learners and responsible, inspiring citizens. Having access to resources from around the globe, our students can connect, communicate and collaborate with peers, experts and leaders from across the globe. These are indeed exciting times for educators, but with these new opportunities comes the added responsibility of teaching our students about digital citizenship. <br /><br />As soon as students log in in to the internet, open an email account, download an application, they have become digital citizens and we shouldn't assume that our digital natives have all the necessary skills and knowledge about how to behave online. In order to get the best out of the internet we need to teach our students how to become secure ethical users, capable of making appropriate decisions that empower them to make a positive contribution. Fortunately, there is a growing collection of resources available to guide us.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.digitalcitizenship.nsw.edu.au/" target="_blank">Digital Citizen</a> website provides students, parents and teachers with a variety of excellent games, videos and activities to promote online safety. An infographic on the<a href="http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/04/awesome-digital-citizenship-graphic-for.html" target="_blank"> Educational Technology and Mobile Learning </a>site would stimulate a great discussion with students about the components of digital citizenship. For more videos and articles to help kids make the most of social media visit <a href="http://www.commonsensemedia.org/advice-for-parents/digital-citizenship" target="_blank">Common Sense Media</a>. Teacher favorites include<a href="http://www.brainpop.com/technology/digitalcitizenship/" target="_blank"> Brainpop</a>, <a href="http://www.edudemic.com/?s=digital+citizenship" target="_blank">Edudemic</a>, <a href="http://www.teachthought.com/?s=digital+citizenship" target="_blank">TeachThought</a> and <a href="http://www.edutopia.org/search/apachesolr_search/digital%20citizenship" target="_blank">Edutopia</a>. But I believe the best resources can be found in our own classrooms.<br /><br />Kids will make mistakes; it’s a fact. No educator ever wants to hear the words, “The Secret Service would like to interview you right now.” I have. Being a resident alien I immediately assumed I had unwittingly committed some awful crime against the state and quaked in my boots as I headed for my interrogation…I mean…interview. Instead, it was in regard to one of my students who had made a poor choice online. As mistakes go, it was truly a doozy. It could have been dealt with surreptitiously, it could have been swept quietly under the carpet but it provided too much of a powerful learning opportunity. By sharing the mistakes they have made with their peers, and the lessons they have subsequently learned, students become the ultimate teachers of digital citizenship.<br /><br />As educators, students and parents we are all exploring unfamiliar territory. We have new collective responsibilities as we experience the excitement of being a part of a global online community. Teaching digital citizenship is critical. Take the time to talk to your students about their online activities, explore the many resources available to you, and most importantly embrace mistakes and turn them into significant teachable moments.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-58488864487794125072013-10-02T19:58:00.001-07:002013-10-02T20:02:00.916-07:00Goosebumps!<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br />I noticed today that I have a totally involuntary body reaction to a very specific situation. I literally get goose bumps when I am in the presence of somebody who lets their genius out! That happened at least twenty times today during my Sciracy class.<br /><br />Sciracy class aims to promote scientific literacy, or the knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and processes required for personal decision making, participation in civic and cultural affairs, and economic productivity. Sciracy is a neologism created by my students because it rhymes with piracy- and they like pirates! Students learn to ask, find, or determine answers to questions derived from curiosity about everyday experiences, and to describe, explain, and articulate their thoughts about the world around them. During Sciracy, I want students to synthesize their learning and challenge them to generate creative solutions to real world problems.<br /><br />Our current focus in Sciracy is <a href="http://projectcope.wikis.birmingham.k12.mi.us/">Project Cope</a>, a lofty mission they have embarked on to eradicate poverty in rural Zambia, and boy did they let their genius out today! An untrained eye would see chaos, commotion and tumult if they were to peek into this class. A trained eye would see project based learning in full flow. Students are on iPhones, iTouches desktops, laptops and tablets. Hammers are swinging, debates are raging, kids are on the phone, on tables, on the floor, but most importantly they on task. Having decided to take up the challenge to raise $12,000 for a two wheel tractor, they were on fire today generating ideas for fundraising. Students were making jewelry from used gift cards they have collected from local businesses. Others were calling the organizers of an upcoming local event to secure a table, some were busy writing an E-book they plan to publish and sell. Flyers and brochures were being made, letters calling for sponsorship from local businesses were being written, video interviews were being uploaded to the You Tube Channel the kids created, and genius was spilling out all over the room.<br /><br />“Can I ask my pen pal in Japan to get her school to do a fundraiser?”<br /><br />“Can we contact the organizer of the Birmingham Halloween Parade to see if we can join in?”<br /><br />“Can we research how to make Project Cope tax exempt?”<br /><br />“Can we set up a Project Cope Instagram account?”<br /><br />“Can we Tweet about Project Cope?”<br /><br />“Can I create a Project Cope App?”<br /><br />And it goes on: Idea after idea after idea. The energy and enthusiasm is exhausting; my head spins and I can barely breathe, let alone keep up. So why do I do it? Because it makes my flesh bump!<br /><br />While I often think this might just be the class that kills me, it’s also the class the makes me feel most alive. It’s the class that makes me believe I am fulfilling my calling to be a teacher. Project based learning can be hairy and scary. It requires a teacher to relinquish control, to go with the creative flow, to not know all the answers, to become a partner in learning. It’s organic and messy and so worthwhile because it empowers our kids to let their genius out.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"> If the thought of embarking on PBL is too daunting, dip your toe in; invite your students to get involved in <a href="http://projectcope.wikis.birmingham.k12.mi.us/">Project Cope</a>. Ask them how they could contribute, how they would solve this problem, how they can make a difference. Then just sit back and listen and be prepared to get your goosebump on!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-3171172064746535142013-09-03T19:55:00.000-07:002013-09-03T19:55:00.142-07:00I'm Grateful<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d;">As a teacher mom the first day of school can be cause for
much anxiety. Not being able to walk my own children into their classrooms on
their first day I worry that I have prepared them well and that they are
confident and happy entering school. Being on the other end of that equation
for 54 students I worry that they all leave school on the first day feeling
confident and happy to return the next day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;">Today the mom in me was particularly anxious as my daughter
was starting in a new district in a new school knowing absolutely nobody. She
has always attended school in my district and the decision to leave and return
to home district has been a tortuous one because she has had such a good
academic experience there. The tipping point for my 6th grade daughter was ultimately a social one. She has missed out on many after school play dates and forming those close relationships that are so important at this stage in her development. I am so proud of her for being able to articulate her thoughts and feelings and for being courageous enough to make the ultimate leap. It didn't stop me being worried sick about her today! While she put on a brave face I knew she was anxious and our parting this morning included an extra tight and lingering hug.<br /><br />My little guy was oblivious to my concerns for him until we actually reached school this morning. After an unusually quite drive to school with no bickering due to the absence of his sister he began to realize for the first time that things were going to be different this year. As we approached Kids Club he told me he felt strange and nervous. The lack of big sister’s presence to guide and reassure him suddenly dawned. He didn't know where his new classroom was, he was going to be left alone to face his first day and once again, I was so proud of my child’s ability to deal with change. We checked out his classroom, shared the burden of his school supplies and walked a little slower to his destination. I was somewhat reassured that he was okay when he refused to hug me, but still my heart ached as I left.<br /><br />Shifting gears into teacher mode didn't distract me as much as it usually does today. As an anxious mom I became acutely aware of the enormity of my role in welcoming and settling in my own students. Every greeting, every direction, every word was given through the lens of my own children’s eyes and anxieties. Seeing both sides of the coin I think is one of the greatest advantages of being a teacher mom.<br /><br />I couldn't wait to reconnect with my own two kids at the end of the day and was thrilled to be met with bubbling tales of a great day. This evening was spent listening to every detail and, awash with relief, thank you notes were penned to both of their teachers. Tonight I feel so proud that my own two kids are growing independent and strong, and tremendously grateful that they have spent the day with amazing educators who have made them feel welcome and safe and excited to learn. I can only hope that my students are as enthusiastic about day two</span>.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-19836759752574472013-08-28T17:55:00.002-07:002013-08-28T18:16:39.652-07:00My Friend, My Mentor.<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />There is always something special about the first...of anything. Yesterday I was tagged in my first class photo as a teacher, twenty some years ago at St. Anne’s Primary School. I barely recognized myself in the photo but boy, I recognized and could name every kid on the photo, because they were my first students, and as such, they were, and will always remain, special. Being tagged allowed me to connect with some of those students after all this time and the last twenty four hours have been simply wonderful, chatting, catching up and learning that now, their children attend St. Anne’s. As I prepare for my twenty fourth first day of school as a teacher, I have been consumed with thoughts of my first one, all those years ago.<br /><br />I thought I had hit the jackpot when I got hired at St. Anne’s, a small, single form entry elementary school in a leafy suburb of Liverpool. I couldn't wait to get into the building and start setting up my classroom. I was greeted by the principal, a formidable force of nature: a spinster, a forty year veteran dedicated educator who commanded respect and frankly, scared the life out of me. As we walked she described upcoming renovation plans and we stopped in a space that was basically a corridor connecting the infant department to the junior department. She explained that this was to be my “classroom” and left me alone to ponder how on earth I was to create a safe, secure learning environment from this strange, desolate place.<br /><br />And then I met Diane, who very quickly became my first friend, mentor and savior at St. Anne’s. Diane recognized the fact that I was reeling and immediately offered her help and advice. Together we scavenged tables, chairs, bookshelves and resources from around the building. She spent hours with me dragging furniture into one position after another as we tried to craft a classroom. Over the next few days she helped me cover the walls with welcoming displays, stock the shelves with engaging books and transform the space into a “room” that ultimately became the place where I began to learn my chosen profession.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HZKSHvPUEsv8byQm8JdexJWtftCHU0M7Sbk94qPxtsVoV0OkpUk257vOvm2RZh5dE6ngnooK6W9hKStcGAfM2Ql-p4jcYrfxeBA8XSq3Wg2jIuWEmSVp40UABrA0KXhljWJdJYN0S4aL/s1600/St.+Anne's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75;"></span></a><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /> During that first year Diane was my go to person whenever I needed anything and she never let me down. When I needed another pair of hands she volunteered hers, when I needed a sympathetic ear she listened, when I floundered she reassured me, and when I despaired she made me laugh. Oh, she made me laugh. I believe she was one of the most important factors in getting me through that first year intact and over the course of the next ten years I spent there, her role in my life, both professionally and personally only grew in significance. Two years in, my colleagues, despite my objections, decided I was ready to host my first whole school assembly and tried to trick me into being left alone with all of the children. When I caught wind of their scheme in panic I ran to Diane and she locked me in a cupboard to keep me safe! Some of my fondest memories of St. Anne’s stem from weekends we spent away with the kids at an outdoor activity camp. These treasured weekends were only possible because Diane offered to be a chaperone and together with kids we canoed, zip lined, rock climbed, sang our hearts out, built character and made indelible memories.<br /><br />Diane was the school custodian. She taught me one of the most important lessons I have ever learned, that the education of our children is a community affair. She loved that school and those kids and they loved her. She made sure that every square inch of that school was spotless for them every day, she took pride in her work, and she demonstrated unwavering perseverance, kindness and dedication. She submerged herself in every aspect of school life and was just as much an integral part of educating the students as I was. Indeed, she educated me. She was also one of very few people who ever spoke to our formidable principal candidly and I was in awe of her. She was my hero!<br /><br />Today I learned that Diane passed away last week.The timing of connecting with my first students yesterday and hearing this sad news about my first friend and mentor today simply must be significant. My advice to first year teachers as they embark on this incredible journey is to know that preparing goes beyond your classroom. Make a determined effort to get out of the room, explore every hallway, office and corridor. Introduce yourself to every member of your learning community and start to build connections with the people who are going to guide and help you through your first year. Be open, ask for help and it will come, you are not alone. Most importantly embrace every second of this, your first year. Learn from mistakes, laugh often and care deeply, because twenty years from now a kid is going to contact you and let you know that you were their favorite teacher ever!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-17071310167680541942013-07-28T18:29:00.000-07:002013-07-28T18:42:44.783-07:00Caught Between Innovation and Legislation<span style="color: #0b5394;">As I start thinking about the 2013-2014 school year I find myself caught between two powerful forces in education: innovation and legislation.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />My passion is providing my students with authentic, rich learning experiences. I have seen how captivating project based learning can be and how technology integration enhances the level of student engagement. I have seen my students grow exponentially when I focus on teaching key 21st Century skills like collaboration, communication, critical and creative thinking. Deeper learning takes place when I team teach with colleagues from different disciplines and when I provide time for my students to follow their curiosity, they go to places on their own learning journeys that I could never have imagined. This kind of teaching is organic and exciting and often messy. Failure and frustration litter the path but are critical components of wisdom acquisition. I find myself wondering how I will combine this style of teaching with the adoption of Common Core Standards and whether or not they are even compatible.<br /><br />Like many educators, schools and districts I am still grappling with the new standards, trying to figure out how they will impact pedagogy and methodology. The new standards come with great promise of a focus on developing critical thinking skills and collaborative, reflective learning, but with any standardized testing there always lurks the fear that we are fostering standardized students. I am sure that there will be much professional development time devoted to the roll-out of this latest reform wave, aimed at helping teachers serve their students well. But is it possible to teach to a set of mandated, static standards while still fostering a dynamic culture of learning? I guess that’s up to me.<br /><br />Ultimately, I will do what the only thing I really know how to do. I will focus on learning about my students, their needs, their passions, their learning styles and try to accommodate them as best I can. Despite innovate teaching practices and “new” standards, after 23 years of teaching my charge remains the same: foster meaningful relationships with my students, nurture them, let them know they matter, empower them and try to ensure that every child has a rock star experience every day in my classroom. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-21783647568076480792013-07-09T20:47:00.002-07:002013-07-09T20:48:36.362-07:00Windows 8 and Skylanders<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">All my 7 year old son wanted for his birthday was the <a href="http://www.skylanders.com/" target="_blank">Skylanders</a> portal for his <a href="http://www.xbox.com/en-US/" target="_blank">Xbox</a>. He could barely contain himself in the car on the way home from the store. As we pulled onto the driveway I hung back to answer a call and by the time I entered the house the floor was littered with wrappings and paper, leads and wires and various pieces of equipment. Sighing, I settled into to wait for the inevitable call for help but it never came!<br /><br />Fascinated, I watched him from a distance while he transferred his limited digital knowledge, failing, persevering and eventually getting the game up and running within twenty minutes. I knew that his motivation to play the game was a powerful driving force, but what I discovered while watching him, was that for him, the “playing” began the moment he opened the box.<br /><br />My latest “toy” was a <a href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/meet" target="_blank">Windows 8 </a>tablet that I was asked to pilot at school. Just like my son, I was highly motivated to learn how it worked, but my whole approach was so different. The tablet sat in its box untouched for days while I sent out a request to friends for any useful resources they knew about, and then settled down late at night to watch online tutorials and read up on my new device. When I eventually opened the box the tablet didn’t seem quite so intimidating and I felt confident enough to begin playing. I have to wonder why I didn’t rip open the box like Jack and immerse myself in independently figuring it out.<br /><br />My best guess would be time. The thought of sitting and “playing” with it seemed like an inefficient use of time to me so I prepared myself in order to avoid unnecessary frustration. After reading the following post by <a href="http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/04/03/27barnoski.h32.html" target="_blank">Laurie Barnoski</a> I would assume that many teachers are reluctant to adopt new technologies for the same reason:<br /><br /><i>I recently emailed a former colleague, a highly respected math teacher, to ask her to list the programs she was supposed to consider implementing in her classroom. Here goes: standards-based grading and instruction; common-core standards; common grading; end-of-course assessment, or EOC; conversation, help, activity, movement, participation, and success, or CHAMPS; creating independence through student-owned strategies, or CRISS; love and logic; pyramid to intervention; response to intervention; learning targets; data walks; teacher-principal evaluation project, or TPEP; school improvement plans, or SIP; academic collaboration time, or ACT; positive behavioral intervention and supports, or PBIS; and a new whisper in the halls, Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium and PARCC.</i><br /><br />There are so many demands placed upon a teacher’s time that we really are in danger of losing the capacity to play and by extension, our sense of joy in the discovery. My own love for learning is what helped me to make the decision to become a professional educator, hoping that I could instill the same passion in my students. I can’t imagine it happening, but if I were to lose that joy, how can I possibly inspire students to learn?<br /><br />Initiatives like those employed by <a href="http://ericsheninger.com/esheninger" target="_blank">Eric Sheninger</a> will undoubtedly help his teachers to maintain their desire to learn. By adopting the 80/20 principle teachers at New Milford High School will now be able to follow their work related passions. <a href="http://www.centerdigitaled.com/training/Googles-8020-Principle-New-Jersey-School.html" target="_blank">"We really want teachers to be innovative and creative," Sheninger said. "For us to make that possible, we need to empower them to really pursue those areas that they're motivated by."</a> When teachers are so empowered, wouldn't it seem natural to empower their students in a similar way?<br /><br />As for me, I am thankful that yet again, my own child has been able to teach me an invaluable lesson. As we settle down in front of the Xbox together to enable him to begin my first lesson on Skylanders, I am grateful to have a teacher who has reminded me of the power of play.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-18330686380149665592013-06-27T17:35:00.000-07:002013-06-27T18:50:50.314-07:00What a Journey !<span style="color: #073763;">I wrote a thank you note in the dark this morning at 4 a.m. and left it on the bedside table of my friend who had happily let me crash in her hotel room last night before heading home from ISTE. I managed to sneak out without waking her and headed downstairs to catch the shuttle I had ordered for the airport. I didn't fret too much when it didn't show up and instead got in a taxi, confident that few people would be at the airport at 5 a.m. Boy, was I wrong!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"><br />The check in line took me thirty minutes to negotiate and the security lines were the length of the terminal. I joined the shortest one and tried to calm the disconcerting idea that I might miss my plane. After forty more minutes I could finally see the screening equipment but was mortified when the guy I had been chatting to noted his disgust at how slowly our line was moving for first class. I apologized for getting in the wrong line and started to head to the back of the terminal when the guy stopped me and assured me it was okay. It would have been very easy for him to be irate with me but he chose not to and truly I was thankful for that.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><br />I was the last person to get on the plane and when I got to my aisle seat it was taken by a mother with a baby and toddler. She explained that her son’s seat was the middle seat two rows away and asked if I minded swapping. Being a firm believer in Karma, I took the middle seat and in thanks the stewardess offered me a much needed coffee. I was feeling pretty good about myself until the lady next to me explained that she too had given up her first class seat for a serviceman. I was still processing how awesome that was when the pilot announced that we had a computer issue that they were working on, estimating a twenty minute delay. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;">An hour later we were still sitting there when my generous neighbor asked the stewardess for a glass of wine, explaining that she was becoming increasingly nervous about the flight. When it came, she split it with me and the guy to my left who was also a teacher returning from ISTE. I wouldn't normally drink wine at 8 a.m. but the three of us raised a toast and clashed our plastic glasses in celebration. We were far from celebrating take off, that was still two hours ahead of us, we were celebrating the fact that we were in good spirits, in spite of adversity, and enjoying each other’s company.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><br />What should have been a three hour journey became a six hour journey and I can honestly say it was a pleasure. I don’t recall hearing one person complain angrily, moan bitterly or pout childishly; even the children on board were fantastic. Everybody just played the cards they had been dealt and made the most of the situation. I myself thoroughly enjoyed the company of my travelling companions and engaged in some great conversations. It reminded me that the choices we make on our journey, be it from one place to another, or indeed through life, can have a significant impact on those around us.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><br />We are frequently travelling at such speed that we collide into the people around us and the collisions can have positive or negative consequences depending on the choices that we make. If I had been met with an angry response from the guy in the first class line I doubt I would have given up my seat so willingly. I would not have met my two new friends and I wouldn't have been inspired by their generosity and thoughtfulness. If we spent more time looking up, instead of down at our phones , looking out for, and embracing collisions with others there would be a lot less dents in the world and a whole lot more opportunities for connecting in meaningful ways.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><br />Being on the Expo floor at ISTE for the last few days I collided with a lot of people and I’ll be spending the next few days wondering if I made dents or opportunities. I am fortunate to be surrounded by many amazing people and I have the potential to increase the number exponentially if I just take more heed during my journey. Right now, opportunity knocks, and I’m going to collide with my family to make up for time lost.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-85951269408116993142013-06-22T20:03:00.002-07:002013-07-11T08:13:22.020-07:00Sailing Into Summer<br /><br />Wow! I'm amazed at how long it's been since I've written a post. That is truly a sign of how hectic the last few weeks have been. The pace at school becomes frenetic as I try to wrap up curriculum, conduct field trips, organize end of year celebrations, not to mention end of year testing .My own two children have had several concerts, recitals, sporting commitments and all in all I feel like I've been tossed and tumbled around on a ship in a storm, clinging on for dear life, praying for calmer waters.<br /> <br /> Now that summer is finally here I feel like the storm has subsided and I can begin to process and think thoughts that are my own again and blogging has always helped me with that. Picking up where I left off though has been more difficult than I expected. I feel rusty, struggling to find my voice, my words and stringing them together into something that makes sense is taking longer than it should. It's a good reminder for me that over the next few months our children are going to become academically rusty if we don't keep practicing the skills they have worked so hard to acquire during the last school year.<br /> <br /> I can see squalls on the horizon when I tell my kids what I have in store for them. My son considers himself somewhat of a math ninja so keeping math skills sharp will be easy. I am going to have to get creative with reading and writing however and somehow figure out how to incorporate Lego and Skylanders. My daughter will write song lyrics all summer and she will pout about math but we will go head to head about reading, which breaks my heart since I am an avid reader. I'm hoping that I have piqued her interest enough by withholding the Hunger Games trilogy and that she will happily sit and devour them on her tablet. We can live in hope right?<br /> <br /> I'm looking forward to launching into my own learning journey this summer too. I want to consciously go beyond my comfort zone for my own personal growth, but I'm not sure how yet. I’ll let the notion percolate and see what opportunities arise. I love that about summer, having the flexibility to change tack and go where the wind takes us. I attended and presented at The Learning Conference 2013 this week and it’s always fun to meet and engage in conversations with new people. I am very excited about attending ISTE for the first time next week and sharing some super aspects of Windows 8. I’m hoping that I will be able to absorb much too and get inspiration for next year. An added bonus will be catching up with some of my Partners in Learning network friends. These people serve as my compass and always steer me in the right direction.<br /><br />Congratulations all my educator friends for completing another school year and making a difference in the lives of your students. Relax, recuperate and regenerate this summer and may the wind fill your sails!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248520174993775165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1656774802403308329.post-25033886345907898192013-04-15T16:18:00.002-07:002013-04-15T16:25:49.253-07:00ART EDUCATION’S VITAL MISSION IN THE 21st CENTURY<br />
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with colleagues we never normally get the time to sit and talk to at length.
Last Friday I was fortunate to be able to spend the morning with Gerald Melton,
the school art teacher with nearly fifty years of experience under his belt. The
conversation began with a celebration of the resurgence of the importance of the
arts , highlighted by the <a href="http://stemtosteam.org/" target="_blank">STEM to STEAM</a> movement but moved on to Gerry’s
observation of a declining skill among a certain population of students that
may have a significant impact on the workforce of the future. I am thrilled to
introduce Gerry as my first guest blogger and invite you to join our
conversation:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell","serif";">With the
current proliferation of personal digital devices, boys are becoming
increasingly lacking in development of their fine motor skills outside the
school art class. During the last half of my 46 years of teaching art to
children of all ages, mainly elementary and middle school, I have noticed a
marked decline in boys’ choosing activities outside of school which require the
practice of fine motor development, or, manual dexterity. Boys, of course, will
continue running, biking, and playing on their own and participating in
organized sports. However, quiet time activities are tending to be spent more
with home computers and hand held electronic devices for entertainment than
with tactile, constructive activities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell","serif";">A major change
in boys’ dwindling choices of tactile project pastimes is the disappearing
hobby of model building. In the past, building plastic and wooden model planes,
cars, ships, etc. was practiced at some time in the life of the majority of
boys, along with assembling and painting other kinds of kits like soldiers, or board
game pieces. Scratch- building with scraps of wood and junk with a few hand
tools have also long been a part of growing up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell","serif";">Hobby shops
have almost disappeared along with their plastic models - a ubiquitous product
once regularly found in drugstores, hardware stores, and even grocery stores. In
my art room I have a list of free choice activities for students to do at lunchtime
or between assignments. Along with free
painting, scrap work, and other crafts, the direction to “Bring and construct a
plastic model…” results in the question, “What’s that?” Only one boy has assembled a plastic model
kit in my art room during the last twelve years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell","serif";">The closest
things to the traditional hobby shop are large stores like Lobby Hobby,
Michael’s and Jo-ann’s. The clientele is mostly female because areas of male
interests cover a relatively small niche in these stores which sell fabric,
scrapbooking, flower arranging supplies, and such.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell","serif";">Girls,
thankfully, continue to be interested in and practice fine motor skills with personal
activities like hair braiding, nail painting, and makeup application, as well
as with hobbies like drawing, painting, beading, and decorating almost any
surface.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell","serif";">With so much
emphasis on attaining academic excellence on standardized tests and the growing
use of electronic media in most subjects, opportunities for students to develop
fine motor, eye-hand coordination by manipulating craft materials outside the
art room are becoming fewer as teachers
of other subjects are pressed for time.
Additionally, lack of art supply money and/ or the avoidance of messes
made are other factors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell","serif";">Will it become
just a girl thing to practice small motor skills tasks in their formative years
so that the majority of American students who exit high school with capable
manual dexterity in the future will be predominately females? If so, then
surgery, electrical work, and baiting a hook will be mostly “girlie”
activities. Will Nano engineers and Nano
technicians become job categories for females only? How about female dentists only?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell","serif"; font-variant: small-caps;">something to think about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell","serif"; font-variant: small-caps;">gerald melton,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell","serif"; font-variant: small-caps;">art teacher.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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