Good Advice from the Good Doctor

Great advice for students, teachers, and administrators alike.  

Yet more evidence that "children's books" are not just for kids.

Click on the photo to enlarge.

Have You Praised Your Principal Today?

One teacher's perspective...

Principals Need Love Too

I’m in a unique position as an educator.  During my 7 years teaching at my current school, I’ve had 5 principals.  It isn’t that the position is cursed, but that our principals go on to do even greater things.  However, going through these frequent changes has turned me into a skeptic and a pessimist.  That is something that needs to change.  I realized that though this year has been UBER tough for me, it must be just as hard (maybe even harder) for my newest principal.  I came across this post on a blog archive for principals and administrators.  It talks about three things that need to be reciprocated in order for the working environment to remain positive.  I was quick to blame administration when reading the first one but by the time I got to the last word, I had to point the finger at me.

The word that hit me the most was: Praise.  I don’t think I’ve ever doled out the gold stars for anything my principal has done.  BUT here’s the thing, I don’t think any other previous principal cared about students as much as my current principal does.  He honestly wants the school to be a GREAT place to learn, grow and belong.  He has so much passion for improving Deaf education.  He puts so much time and effort into establishing practices that will have long-term impact.  He’s excellent at getting other administrators to see his viewpoint and he spends a ridiculous amount of time having important conversations with the heads above to ensure that our department is not forgotten.  He’s often at school before I am and sometimes still there when I leave.  I have even gotten an email or two way into the midnight hours; I’m sure he spends those hours, after his kids go to bed, trying to catch up on e-mails.  He knows what it’s like to be a student in those halls and he knows that he has teachers who are able to rise to the occasion.   But I wonder if he’s ever heard a word of praise from us (and not just on administrator’s day).

Being a principal or administrator is not an easy job.  In fact, I don’t ever want the position.  There are a wide variety of personalities to manage.  There’s the push and pull between what the district administrators want and what teachers are able to do.  There are parents who want what’s best for their individual student, while my principal has to keep the entire student body at heart.  There is an ever changing list of legal mandates that interfere with expanding our vision. There is a community that constantly needs to be taught what it is we do at our school.  The list is endless.  I tip my hat off to our principal who manages to do the unimaginable with grace and humility.

It’s time my principal knew that though we may have developed a quiet tension between us, I honestly do believe we have a mutual respect for each other.   There may be times we don’t agree but standing with my hands on my hips will not sway the mountain.  I think if we can succeed at praise, then trust is not far behind.

21st Century Schools or 21st Century Learning?

 A distinction with an important difference.  Written by George Couros, via Edutopia.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

A Tale of Two Classrooms: Compare & Contrast Image Credit: Krissy Venosdale

Just let me start off by saying that the term "21st Century Learning" still drives me crazy. If you think about it, in the last ten years have we progressed in our thoughts about what learning should look like and could be? What about in the next 50 years? Will "21st Century Learning" be the same, or will we still promote the same skills? Who knows? But I am sure that our world will continue to change significantly.

With that being said, for the sake of discussion, I will call it "21st Century Learning."

Devices Without Direction?

I had a great discussion with some educators the other day about the idea of "21st Century Schools vs. 21st Century Learning." In the last month, I have seen so many schools with AMAZING spaces that make it look as if great learning opportunities are happening, but I am not sure if the learning has changed. If a school has these fantastic spaces (such as a library which many now refer to as a media center or commons) while we are still telling kids to be quiet and having them sit alone (but on comfortable couches!), do we really have 21st Century Learning? Or do we just have something that looks good to our stakeholders? I know that amazing learning doesn't happen just because we make amazing spaces for it, but what are the goals that we are moving toward?

This has really been weighing on my mind since I started seeing a lot of iPads in schools in a 1:1 environment. I asked a group of students at one school how they were using their devices, and they told me that they now had their textbooks on the iPad. They also told me that they didn't like having the iPads because there were so many other things to do on the device that they couldn't stay focused.

Pretty crazy since they'd been given an online textbook to keep them entertained!

The mass purchase of devices for schools is happening way too often without conversations with educators about what learning should be happening in the classroom. This is actually frustrating many teachers that I have spoken with; it just becomes another thing being dumped on educators, not something that is going to make learning better. There is definitely some value in playing with a device and figuring out the wonderful things it can do, but should we really buy these en masse for that purpose? Shouldn't we try to figure out what the learning looks like and then discuss the device? It seems sometimes that we are doing the exact opposite.

Visions for Learning

In the Parkland School Division, we have focused a lot on where we would like to go, and our Digital Portfolio Project discusses the learning that we'd like to see. In fact, with all of the content included in the document, the iPad is not even discussed. The focus is on the learning, as it should be. Once that is somewhat clear to all (because learning continuously evolves), then we can take the next steps. Too many schools are doing it in reverse.

A question that I often ask many educators is this: can you tell me your school's vision for learning? I am worried that this is not something many schools have even talked about, let alone articulated with each other.

I really believe that some amazing learning is possible in schools stuck with the "traditional four walls" if we focus on what the learning should look like. Scroll up and take a look at the image above, via Krissy Venosdale

Could this be the way to start a discussion with staff? What is imperative? What is great? What is missing?

Let's continue to focus on the learning but really focus our time when we get together to figure out what it should look like. We can figure out the devices later.

Improving Relationships Within the Schoolhouse

Roland Barth is, by far, my favorite writer about school leadership.  I find his observations insightful and timeless. (It's funny how the people you agree with are always the smartest folks as well.)  I, like Mr. Barth, believe that many of the answers we seek in education can be found within the walls of our schools.  He and I also share the belief that the adult relationships are critical to the success of any school... whether it is a pre-K, elementary, middle level, high school, undergraduate, or graduate level program.  Some of his ideas are encapsulated in an article published in 2006 in Education Leadership.  You can read the article by clicking here.

Amen General

Colin Powell talks about how kids still need structure in this day and age.  I cannot agree more.  Freedom without structure is meaningless chaos... structure without freedom means mindless training.

Watch this excellent TEDtalk by clicking here.

Ten Big Ideas of School Leadership

I am typically very suspicious of what I call "list logic"... you know... follow these steps and you cannot fail. But I found this article very interesting.  Definitely worth the few minutes it takes to read this wisdom from a veteran middle school principal in Maine, who was a finalist for national principal of the year.  It is certainly thought-provoking, even if you may not agree with each of the ten points on the list.  You can go to the article in Edutopia by clicking here.

Max De Pree

This video gives a quick overview of Max De Pree's legacy and philosophy.  Mr De Pree authored Leadership is an Art and Leadership Jazz.