Preparing Students for the Future … Not the Past

In October, David Warlick will be speaking at a dinner series about Engaging Digital Learners that will be happening in our district this year.  So, when I came across this video tweeted by @Smacclintic I was interested and intrigued. In it, there are some powerful messages about the future of education.

David Warlick ends the video talking about the best case scenarios and the worst case scenarios when it come to the future of education and technology.  He states that,

“The worst case scenario is that ten years from now we’re still graduating kids who are perfectly prepared for the 1950’s.”

When I first heard David say this, I chuckled to myself.  Then, I had to replay his words over and over and over again.  They really hit home for me.  We are responsible for preparing our students for the future and that includes having them use technology (heck – they need that NOW).  Many classrooms today are doing exactly what David Warlick states – preparing students for the 1950’s.  This is not what we want for our learners, is it?

We must make a difference for our students.  We must open the doors for them and their future.  We must not be afraid.  We need to take risks, so they can be prepared for their future – not for the past. To do this, we, as educational leaders, must model this for our staff – especially those who may have difficulty in this area.  We must be there to support, educate, and encourage every learner in our school.  In order to do this, we must learn ourselves.

Thanks to George Couros for first blogging about this video (here).

Here it is. Watch it for yourself. What are your thoughts?

I look forward to hearing David speak at our dinner series!  What a great opportunity our Helping Teachers have planned for our district!

It’s All Coming Together

It has been almost 2 weeks since writing in my blog.  I went from writing in my blog about my learning every day to writing twice in the last month!  It’s not that I haven’t been learning, because I definitely have!  It’s all about time and balance.  I’ve been so busy with work (and my family) that writing in my blog has landed near the bottom of the heap, unfortunately.

So, what have I learned during the last month or so…

  • Relationships are still my priority at work and at home.  You can’t inspire, motivate, reach anyone if you don’t first develop a trusting relationship.  That being said, trusting relationships take time and must be built during times of stress, learning, and growth.  This isn’t always easy, and often a real challenge, but it is worth the time and effort to establish.
  • There are not problems – just opportunities to learn and find solutions.  This year we are learning to do things differently.  It is imperative not to get frustrated, but look at the challenges that are presenting themselves as opportunities to learn – about all education stakeholders, as well as learn about ourselves.
  • While I am an optimistic person who doesn’t get bogged down with negativity, I have learned just how important this is with the challenges that are being presented in the province in education right now.
  • The beginning of the school year can be demanding and challenging – especially in a high-needs inner-city school.  But, things are coming together: Continue reading “It’s All Coming Together”

Opportunities Abound

I have had my first week at my new school, filled with students, teachers, support staff, and parents.  It was a very busy week, full of drama and excitement.  I put in some very long hours this week and I don’t think I even sat down for more than 20 minutes the entire week.  I am exhausted. But, it was good. It is clear to me that the teachers are caring, energetic, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and extremely dedicated and passionate about their chosen career.  They truly care about kids and do what they can to make a real difference for kids and their families.

Dedicated teachers, like we have at our school, are struggling though with something this fall: job action.  They are having some inner struggles about what job action is, why they must comply, and how to do it together – instead of dividing the staff.  This is a difficult, but very important decision, for sure.

I recall some people commenting to me that it is going to be really difficult for me to start at a new school – right when job-action was going to start.  I don’t see it as difficult at all.  I see it as filled with opportunities:Continue reading “Opportunities Abound”

Exciting Times

I’ve been at my new school for over a week now – organizing, working on schedules, planning, and participating in professional development, and, most importantly, I’ve been getting to know, and building relationships with people in my new school.

In the past week, I’ve started to get to know the principal with whom I will be working. She seems like such a wonderful, genuine, gentle, knowledgeable, and caring person.  Everyone I see mentions what a wonderful person she is to work with. I am truly fortunate to have this opportunity to work with her. It is strange though, at least to me, because it seems we are a lot alike. We have similar thoughts on many issues.  We seem to be on the same page already. This is so nice!  I wonder if she feels the same? I know we will have a great year leading together!

I have also started getting to know a few of the teachers.  They have all demonstrated themselves to be caring, dedicated, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and interested in ongoing learning.

One of the primary teachers came asked me for some assistance in organizing her room (she knew of my experience teaching the same grade she now teaches).  What fun that was!  We talked about her classroom, the kids, and how she could organize her space. She already had many very good ideas about the organization.  I provided her with a couple small suggestions.  What I loved most about our visit was our talking about her program, and how she taught language arts.  I am so excited to be able to, hopefully, provide her with some mentoring this year in this regard. It will be so lovely to be able to go into her classroom to work with her and her students and model some lessons.

I am so excited about what this year holds.

I am so excited to get back into the classrooms some more and work with the kids. In many ways, I really do miss having my own classroom.

I’ve already sent her an email with a bunch of links I gathered from Twitter about the Daily Five and The Cafe Book. Next, I will go through my external hard drive to find some other helpful items for her.

What fun!

To Teach Analog Or Not… That is the Question

I attended a Professional Development session at my school today. There were about 16-20 staff members present (there is another Professional Development session tomorrow which the others will likely attend). Part of the professional development session, which is planned by teachers, focused on Math curriculum and how it is aligned and sequenced with respect to the grades below and the grades above.  Being new to the school, I did a lot of listening, but did ask a few questions here and there.

There was some interesting discussions focusing on curriculum and what each grade level focuses most on with their students.  There was also a great deal of discussion about which curriculum used to be included in the math curriculum for each grade and which prescribed learning outcomes were changed when the math curriculum was redone in 2007 and, thus, not expected to be taught by teachers any longer.

One of the areas that was discussed was “Telling Time”.  Many of the teachers talked about the fact that many of their students do not know how to tell time on an analog clock. Time and passage of time used to be a focus in the curriculum for students as young as Kindergarten/Grade 1, but was taken out of the British Columbia math curriculum in 2007 (for every grade except for Grades 3 & 4).  Teaching students how to tell time on digital and analog clocks is only in the Grade 4 math curriculum.Continue reading “To Teach Analog Or Not… That is the Question”

My Messages

Photo by Flickr member: marc falardeau

Here I sit, pondering the first time I will meet my teachers and my students at my new school.  While I have met some of the teachers in passing, I have not yet met the students I will be teaching – Grade 5 Health and Career Education and Grade 6 – Physical Education.

What is it that I want my first message to be to each of these groups?  You know, like when you meet your students for the first time. You are standing in front of the room with all 60 eyes looking at you.  It is at this moment that I need to make a few very important things known to the students.

So, what do I want for my message to them? What do I want them to be left thinking about after our 50 minutes together (that’s how long the prep. classes will be)?

In no particular order, here are some of the things I want them to know:Continue reading “My Messages”

Book Study Recommendations

I am very excited to have the opportunity to lead a book study Study Group for 8 of my fellow administrators. After looking over a number of great books which focus on 21st Century learning and leading, I have narrowed our Book Study to two choices.

So, I am sending it out to you, my PLN, to help us determine which book may be the best for our year-long study.  If you have read or had experience with either of these books, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

The first book is Leading 21st Century Schools: Harnessing Technology for Engagement and Achievement by Lynne Schrum and Barbara B. Levin.

My second choice is Personal Learning Networks: Using the Power of Connections to Transform Education by Will Richardson and rob Mancabelli.

Also, I’d love to get your feedback in the following poll:

If you have an even better book suggestion than the two books indicated here, please post the title of the book(s) you are recommending in my comment section.

Thanks everyone! I look forward to your responses.

 

Ask for Directions Already!

According to the online Free Mirriam-Webster dictionary, networking is, “the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically : the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business”. I would say though that networking is so much more than that. In fact, opportunities to network are everywhere.

Take, for instance, times where you may have been driving in a car and not necessarily know your directions somewhere. Perhaps you are somewhat lost. Totally hypothetical, of course. 😉

What are some of the possible consequences for refusing to ask someone to help you find your way (asking for directions).

Possible Negative Consequences:

– it will take longer to reach your final location

– it will take longer to reach your final location
– there may be some anxiety/tension associated with being lost and not asking for directions (from others in the car and the hypothetical driver)

Possible Positive Consequences:
– sense of satisfaction when you’ve reached your final destination on your ownContinue reading “Ask for Directions Already!”

Teacher Survival Kit

There is only a week and a half before I start back to work. I need to go shopping for items to include in our Welcome Back package for staff.

My principal and I are making these Teacher Survival Kits for our staff as a Welcome Back gifty.  All items are purchased/gathered then put into a see-through grab bag (like a goodie bag you would make for your child’s birthday).  We will put a nice ribbon around the top of each.

I may change it to “Staff” Survival Kit  or “Back to School Survival Kit” because we will be giving it to all staff, not just the teachers. They always turn out cute.  I hope they like them.

Take a look.

If you’d like to download a copy, use it, change it, make it your own, feel free.

 

Welcome Back Survival Kit

 

 

Relationships are Key

Since I started on Twitter a month ago, I have found so many wonderful people to add to my PLN.  They have posted articles blogs, research and, more importantly, they have been inspiring.  Their enthusiasm, their love for learning, their passion and their generosity have been infectious.

I have been very fortunate to build very strong relationships with some of the teachers from my previous schools – both personally and professionally. And, by strong, I mean that we trust each other.  We can take risks together and share what happened without the fear of being judged.  We know we are there to support each other.  We know each others passions; we know our strengths; and we know areas that we may want to work to improve.  We can talk about things, share ideas, and inspire each other.  We get excited about learning and sharing what we’ve learned.

Me being an “administrator” is not a hinderance to our relationship.  Some people may feel administrators are trying to “push” things on them when things are suggested or things are shared.  Because of the relationship we have formed, the teachers know that I am not “pushing” anything, but merely sharing exciting learning ideas and opportunities. They trust me.  They trust that I am just sharing and there is no ulterior motive at all.  And, I trust that they aren’t going to think I’m crazy for being so excited about learning.Continue reading “Relationships are Key”