2 Interesting Articles - Parenting

Both of these articles are very interesting, as a parent and an educator. We try to stress creating self-reliant citizens before we send them to High School. Sadly, and all too often, our greatest challenges are working with some parents. I hope you can take a few minutes and read these.

The Growing Backlash Against Over-Parenting
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1940395,00.html

Do Parents Matter? (this article was referenced in Time's article)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2005-05-03-parents-edit_x.htm

I did think the quote from the Freakonomics Authors really hit home: "So it isn't that parents don't matter. Clearly, they matter an awful lot. It's just that by the time most parents pick up a book on parenting technique, it's too late. Many of the things that matter most were decided long ago — what kind of education a parent got, how hard he worked to build a career, what kind of spouse he wound up with and how long they waited to have children."

I will be reading Freakonomics very soon!

Hot, Flat and Crowded

Thomas Friedman's follow-up to the World is Flat is another thoughtful look at our current condition and our future. Of course what interested me the most were the sections on education. Particularly the efforts of many parts of the planet to not only catch-up but to move ahead. Our current k-12 educational model is remarkably similar to what we did over 100 years ago. The hard part is figuring out how to teach more curriculum in the same amount of time. What I keep coming back to as an educator and a citizen is trying to figure out how to have more time. I think the most damaging thing we do to our students in the current system is give students 11 weeks off every summer! It is not as if they are helping on the farm or the ranch! What is even more damaging is when we think about students that are behind their peers in reading, writing and math.

I don't know what the answer is, but I do know solutions must be globally designed including the federal and state governments, mayors, local communities etc. It is not a problem that can be solved by one local school district.

It is an interesting book, if you have not read The World is lat, this is a great place to start as we think about the future.

Fertilizers, Pills, and Magnetic Strips

I just read this book over the weekend. A very thought provoking read that does not offer solutions to the current problems in education, but explores how we got here. If you are curious about why things are the way they are I highly suggest reading this book. Public education is a reflection of our society and when we really think about the dramatic changes we have undergone in the last hundred years it is amazing we are doing the job we are doing (which by the way is pretty good). The section on international test data comparisons is worth your time alone.

What interested me the most was the transformation of how we pick and choose schools for our children. We are in a very competitive environment whether it is open enrollment, charter schools, private schools, or nearby districts accepting our students. I like this environment, but it does impact how we go about the business of educating all students that walk through our doors.

I didn't agree with Professor Glass' views on testing, as I think we must have neutral system of accountability. My own thoughts are both ends of the political spectrum use testing for their own political purposes - which are not always in the best interests regarding student learning and success.

Give it a read if you have the time.

Fertilizers, Pills, and Magnetic Strips

Interesting Headline!

Student "Learning Styles" Theory Is Bunk

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/daniel-willingham/the-big-idea-behind-learning.html

This article caught my eye for a number of reasons. Altona has received some criticism regarding our unwavering focus on literacy and numeracy. Our students spend half of their day not just attaining proficiency, but hopefully mastering these key concepts that are the foundation of their education for the rest of their lives. Although differentiation has some place in a school, and most good teachers use it in one form or another, my own philosophy is don't contrive to create lesson plans that meet the needs of all of the different types of learners. Focus on "hard" skills that students must have, regardless of their own particular learning style... if such styles exist and if they are all equally important in the 21st century.

Where have the last 3 weeks gone?

The year is off and running. Our staff has learned, processed and implemented an incredible amount of new systems as our school district moves forward with some real positive changes. Out of everything, I'm most excited about our Virtual Campus application. Looking at some of the teacher's links I'm really impressed with how we are keeping families and students informed on the daily activities. We are really using technology to bridge the gap between what happens in the class and letting parents have much more than a glimpse into their student's day.

To visit: http://classes.stvrain.k12.co.us/ scroll down to Altona!

PST - END

The end is near. One of the comment threads discussed meetings, well that is going to change significantly... with the help of the Leadership Team. I will get my first big email out this weekend, with numerous attachments.

We will have 2 hours of Core Articulation Time on the 17th, for CSAP discussion and syllabus discussion. I will also have presents for all of you...

If you could have your reflection by the 17th, I will get our PST paperwork turned into the PD office ASAP.

Great PST

PST 5 & 6

I have been a bit remiss in my postings, I'm sorry. Our final PST is on 8/6. We will devote some of the time to reviewing the Faculty handbook with the new "unwritten rules" section. The rest of the time is cranking out course syllabi, particularly course descriptions.

Course descriptions will begin: The student will learn the following skills/concepts this year/semester...

Think of this as the big picture view, which will be the kernel of our curriculum maps. Understanding By Design by Wiggins and McTighe will be our PD focus for the 09/10 school year.

My learnings during this PST have really convinced me that our standards-based foundation is just a tad shaky, but that must drive everything we do. What is the end in mind?

My question for you this week:

How do we keep our eye on the big picture at all times, and refuse to let the daily administrivia provide us with excuses for why we are unable to do the things that we know we should be doing?

Great PST, see you in a few weeks.

PST - 4

The June 18th meeting is cancelled! I apologize for the late notice but something came up that I must deal with. I think we have enough to digest for the next few weeks as it is.

After reading the comments let me make a suggestion. A handbook that comes up with every possible contingency in black and white is not feasible. At Adaptive Schools, during the managing meeting session, it is suggested that mundane things (like the handbook) are fine in an email. True, but only if people read the darn thing. The other option is to hold a 6 hour meeting where we go through each section - good for some... horrible for most of us. Another handbook dilemma: we are in the people business and that requires more gray ares than most of us would probably like. Now, with that said a revision is in order... but ultimately situations will arise that require flexibility! Let's continue the dialogue about the Altona Way.

What is missing?
What needs clarified?
What do you think of other's suggestions?

PST - 3

This week's reading selections are directly related to one of our questions: how do we develop an atmosphere that holds all of us accountable to student achievement in a Standards-based environment? As you are reading the answer is building a true Professional Learning Community! I really believe using the Adaptive School's framework is essential to doing this on a sustained basis. If I can change practice we all can!

To paraphrase, the consensus was that backwards planning is perhaps the most crucial element in a true Standards-based system.

At our next PST, this Thursday we will dig into some specific areas so be prepared to begin thinking about syllabi.

2 questions for discussion next week:

1. What specific things would you like to see in the new Altona Student Handbook; The Altona Way?
2. What specific things would like to see in the annual Altona PST for new teachers (Resistance is Futile)?

PST-2

Greetings, this week the Leadership Team attended an excellent professional development class; Adaptive Schools. At our next meeting we will implement some of what we learned. Be mentally prepared for a shift in how we conduct all of our meetings Altona!

I have two questions for you regarding our readings, and we will also discuss the chapters at our meeting:

1. Can "withitness" be taught, and if so how?
2. Why should we "deprivatize" our practice at all levels of education?

See you this week.

PST - Week 1

Greetings Teachers! Here we go with this summer's PST Altona 2.0! Every Weekend I will have a new post with guiding questins that will relate to our three goals of the PST:
1. Horizontal and Vertical Alignment of Course Syllabi and other other areas of operation.
2. Develop a generic Curriculum Map.
3. Refine DSOAH procedures.

You may cmment on the questions or other's comments, but you must comment weekly! To enter a comment you must have a user account. When you try and enter said comment you will be directed how to obtain one!

During our first meeting we reviewed Standards-based Instruction, including relooping and grading in a Standards environment. We reviewed DSOAH and had a sneak peek at the new Grading Scale. You also received your first packet (if you were not at the first meeting packets are on my desk - see Pat and she'll get you one).

Your homework before our next meeting (June 9th) are selected readings from The Art and Science of Teaching and Result's Now.

This week's question:

What do we need to do as a staff to move beyond Standards Reference to a Standards Based system? What would be the most valuable work?

Planning for Next Year!

This clip is what this spring was all about, and what next year will be like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t39EAeE8ehc

Please visit Altona's website and check out our LEAD plans! Besides revamping our extracurricular activities, we will redesign homework club, implement a new student management system (Infinite Campus - which will replace SMS, Engrade, K12Planet, etc.), become a center school for Students with Significant Needs, adopt a new universal student data tool (Alpine Achievement), and continue to analyze our two new curriculums in Math and Science.

I'm really excited about where we are heading. This summer the majority of the Altona will participate in a Professional Study Team. Like last summer I'd like to invite you to stop by and check out our conversations in this blog.

Thanks for reading my blog, and your comments are always welcome.

Core Knowledge versus 21st Century Skills

Continuing with my previous post on the Colorado Achievement Plan...

Part of the CAP4Kids legislation and revising the Colorado standards center on defining work force readiness and post-secondary education preparedness. The CDE (Colorado Department of Education) and the CCHE (Colorado Commission of Higher Education) are at this very moment defining what skills a student should have to enter the workforce, college, community college, the military, etc., and be prepared. In this process the discussion is centered on 21st Century skills, or "soft skills" as many of us refer to abilities such as leadership, organization, teamwork, resiliency, etc.

The questions I have surrounding this debate are:

1. What are critical 21st Century skills?
2. How do we teach those skills in a consistent manner (because we are teaching those skills every day)?
3. How do we measure whether or not we achieved our goals?
4. Finally, if we assume education is a zero sum game (X amount of days multiplied by Y amount of minutes divided by what we teach equals ___) how do we decide what to teach and when to teach it?

Below is a thought provoking article. I agree with the 21st Century Skills concept, but I also E.D. Hirsch's philosophy concerning core knowledge.

Enjoy: http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-03-04-core-knowledge_N.htm

Thanks for reading my blog!

CSAP & Assessment in Colorado

Here we are! The CSAP brings up a whole host of emotions and opinions. I like the CSAP. The CSAP is the only objective measurement we have in the state of Colorado. When you think about a state with 170+ school districts and hundreds of thousands of students and thousands of teachers I'm thankful for the one measurement that cuts through the fog of the teaching - learning process. The future of assessment in Colorado is changing. Senate Bill 212, the Colorado Achievement Plan, or CAP4Kids, is coming. Right now the state is working on rewriting Colorado's standards with a very clear end product: Fewer, Clearer, and more Rigorous. For the first time the Colorado Department of Education and the Colorado Commission of Higher Education is working together. There is also much discussion centered on assessment and the future of CSAP, particularly at the high school level. You can follow the process by clicking below!

http://coloradostandardsreview.wetpaint.com/

Thanks for reading my blog, I'll be updating on a regular basis.

Technology Again

Well, over the break I added two pieces of technology that will result in a sea change for productivity and entertainment. The iPhone and the kindle. We all know about the iPhone and the hype may be understated. The seamless integration of email, calendar, contacts, Internet, mapping, etc. is amazing. I figured I have added at least 20-30 minutes to my productivity every day. Email may be a chain, but once one is freed from the tether of a computer it becomes the communication tool it was intended to be!

The Kindle, which is lesser know is an amazing digital reader from Amazon.com. I won't subject you to a sales pitch, but check it out.

For years those of us who are technophiles have really been waiting for technology to be true to its tantalizing promises of ease of use and increased productivity. I think... we might finally be close. If your student is carrying textbooks when they go to college I'd be dumbfounded! What we (educators) must keep trying to figure out is how to embrace these tools in the classroom and beyond.

Thanks for reading my Blog!