In full disclosure, I was blessed at my last school with having a great Principal, Assistant Principal and department chair who developed a team which had no ego just thought about what is best for kids. This group worked as a team as nobody really made decisions without consulting each other and at least getting feedback from the team. While, the teachers on the team, realized that we were not final decision makers we always felt valued and an important part of the decision making process.
That being said, I was terribly spoiled by this great leadership who cared passionately about student success in the classroom. That leads me to this present situation in which our administration scheduled a 5K race to raise money for cancer and our schools fitness race, the day before our AP exams. I realize that you need a spring or fall day to do this race but it leaves a lot of Sundays available. So why would they schedule it that day? Why would they not ask the AP teachers what they felt about scheduling the race on that day? Why would they at least when it was pointed out to them say "sorry we will not do that next year" Why were they so defensive about the entire situation?
While most students will be fine if they run the race, help out during the race etc, is it worth it if it causes one student to possibly fail the exam. For some students this is an exam that they have worked hard for all year and now they are faced with helping the school or studying for themselves? Is this fair of our school to do this to the students? Should we putting more pressure on them or taking the stress off of them?
Monday, March 25, 2013
Saturday, March 23, 2013
The Perfect Storm
The other day I went to do a psych review at Western High School. I was very excited since there are a couple of people at the school who I have worked with and have great respect for. Still I had the touch of nervousness, as I always have on the first day of school.
Once the review started however, it seemed that I had been teaching these kids for years. They had great knowledge of the subject which is a tribute to their regular teacher. It was great to see how focused they were on the subject, how they participated in class, and how they took down notes on important points. When you see a class work like that you know that the teacher has done a great job instilling good habits in them.
One of the things that we are trying to do with Western is Skype our reviews and review on chat boards. This allows two schools to collaborate to make each other better which is very exciting. This is when technology can really be useful as students from two different schools combine to make each other better.
Now, what to do with my classes when I was at Western. We have an activity called graphing weds. in economics which we practice the key graphs of the year. It is neat in that we compete against each other as teams to make sure that we have mastered the graphs.
Once a month, our department chair comes in to observe our classes. I suggested to him that my observation this month should be on graphing weds when I am not in the class. I think the fact that I actually suggested this shows how much faith I have in both my department chair and in my students. My department chair is not the type of person looking to catch bad things, a matter of fact quite the opposite.
When I came back from my visit to Western I ran into one of my economics students. The first words out of her mouth was wow, the student in charge was amazing, she knew everything. So a new idea came into my head to allow a different student each week to be in charge of graphing weds. It would force them to master the material and give them a great experience in front of the class.
A great day of education. I learned a better way to teach, saw a teacher whose class had mastered many skills, and connected with old friends.
Once the review started however, it seemed that I had been teaching these kids for years. They had great knowledge of the subject which is a tribute to their regular teacher. It was great to see how focused they were on the subject, how they participated in class, and how they took down notes on important points. When you see a class work like that you know that the teacher has done a great job instilling good habits in them.
One of the things that we are trying to do with Western is Skype our reviews and review on chat boards. This allows two schools to collaborate to make each other better which is very exciting. This is when technology can really be useful as students from two different schools combine to make each other better.
Now, what to do with my classes when I was at Western. We have an activity called graphing weds. in economics which we practice the key graphs of the year. It is neat in that we compete against each other as teams to make sure that we have mastered the graphs.
Once a month, our department chair comes in to observe our classes. I suggested to him that my observation this month should be on graphing weds when I am not in the class. I think the fact that I actually suggested this shows how much faith I have in both my department chair and in my students. My department chair is not the type of person looking to catch bad things, a matter of fact quite the opposite.
When I came back from my visit to Western I ran into one of my economics students. The first words out of her mouth was wow, the student in charge was amazing, she knew everything. So a new idea came into my head to allow a different student each week to be in charge of graphing weds. It would force them to master the material and give them a great experience in front of the class.
A great day of education. I learned a better way to teach, saw a teacher whose class had mastered many skills, and connected with old friends.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Why we need our best and brightest
Lately, I have been asking many of our brightest students to consider teaching as a career. It has become evident to me that people like myself are not the ones that are going to change education. The truth is that anyone who has been in the profession for a while is part of the problem. It is hard for any of us, most with the best intentions, to admit that we need to re-examine the way we are doing things.
When I look across the room at many of my students I am convinced that if they were educators that they would make our system better. They have the creativity, energy, and leadership ability to bring major change to this profession. They are the type of people who have the proper combination of big heart and big ideas.
If you get by money, one of the biggest obstacles they face is that they do not think that they have the patience to deal with kids. The lack of patience might be a good thing. Maybe this would produce more teachers who would demand excellence from their students. Maybe it would create teachers with less patience from their bosses? Maybe it would develop teachers with less patience for mediocrity.
The lure of money sometimes is what keeps people from becoming a teacher. However, when you get that letter, e-mail or eventually tweet that tells you that you have made a difference in their life, you are hooked forever. You can not put a price tag on that feeling or what you have done for an individual.
So, even when I am extremely frustrated, i always realize that teaching is the only job that I want. There is no other job I would want at this stage of my life.
So these past couple of years I have been blessed to teach students who I know will make a difference in the world. They are the type of kids that will make the world a better place. My hopes however is that they decide to make the world a better place by fixing our education system.. That might be our biggest strategic advantage a great education system
When I look across the room at many of my students I am convinced that if they were educators that they would make our system better. They have the creativity, energy, and leadership ability to bring major change to this profession. They are the type of people who have the proper combination of big heart and big ideas.
If you get by money, one of the biggest obstacles they face is that they do not think that they have the patience to deal with kids. The lack of patience might be a good thing. Maybe this would produce more teachers who would demand excellence from their students. Maybe it would create teachers with less patience from their bosses? Maybe it would develop teachers with less patience for mediocrity.
The lure of money sometimes is what keeps people from becoming a teacher. However, when you get that letter, e-mail or eventually tweet that tells you that you have made a difference in their life, you are hooked forever. You can not put a price tag on that feeling or what you have done for an individual.
So, even when I am extremely frustrated, i always realize that teaching is the only job that I want. There is no other job I would want at this stage of my life.
So these past couple of years I have been blessed to teach students who I know will make a difference in the world. They are the type of kids that will make the world a better place. My hopes however is that they decide to make the world a better place by fixing our education system.. That might be our biggest strategic advantage a great education system
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Is technology the answer
I have not blogged for a while since I have been so frustrated with the educational system. My school has made me feel like a really old man who is totally out of touch with students needs and wants. I hope that we will have some students reply honestly to this blog so that I can get a better understanding of how they feel about technology.
One of the things that our administration does not seem to understand is that for every second you spend doing something that does not impact the class room it is a second you are not helping students in the classroom. This seemed to come to mind the other day when I found at we had a Twitter for our school. It seemed to me like a waste of time to tweet things about our school on Twitter.
So as a totally old fashioned person I use e-mail to communicate with my students. I was told that if I used Twitter it would make the communication with the students much better and more students would read my announcements. So trying not to be an angry old man I asked a couple of my classes how many students did not have a twitter account. To my total surprise about half my students did not have twitter. So this great communication tool that some of us were raving about does not connect to half the class. Am I missing something here?
As an older person I remember how TV (yes TV) was going to save education, then VCR's, computers etc. I have had students evaluate me for the last ten years and while they have offered very valuable information on how to get me better nobody has ever told me to use more technology. I think of our math teacher who is by one of the best teacher in the school and she does not use any thrills or technology. She just works harder than most to make sure that her students understand the information. There is not a student who has her who every walks away thinking anything but she is the most caring individual.
So I ask, what do students want from teachers? Do they want teachers who use the coolest technology? Or do they want teachers who worked their hardest to deliver the material in a way that students can learn. Do they want teachers who are open to suggestions or teachers who hide behind technology? Do they want teachers who care about them and support them?
I am listening and hoping I get honest feedback. What do students want?
One of the things that our administration does not seem to understand is that for every second you spend doing something that does not impact the class room it is a second you are not helping students in the classroom. This seemed to come to mind the other day when I found at we had a Twitter for our school. It seemed to me like a waste of time to tweet things about our school on Twitter.
So as a totally old fashioned person I use e-mail to communicate with my students. I was told that if I used Twitter it would make the communication with the students much better and more students would read my announcements. So trying not to be an angry old man I asked a couple of my classes how many students did not have a twitter account. To my total surprise about half my students did not have twitter. So this great communication tool that some of us were raving about does not connect to half the class. Am I missing something here?
As an older person I remember how TV (yes TV) was going to save education, then VCR's, computers etc. I have had students evaluate me for the last ten years and while they have offered very valuable information on how to get me better nobody has ever told me to use more technology. I think of our math teacher who is by one of the best teacher in the school and she does not use any thrills or technology. She just works harder than most to make sure that her students understand the information. There is not a student who has her who every walks away thinking anything but she is the most caring individual.
So I ask, what do students want from teachers? Do they want teachers who use the coolest technology? Or do they want teachers who worked their hardest to deliver the material in a way that students can learn. Do they want teachers who are open to suggestions or teachers who hide behind technology? Do they want teachers who care about them and support them?
I am listening and hoping I get honest feedback. What do students want?
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