Education can’t keep up

There are so many thoughts running through my head. 

First, there is the THANKS for the support from my post yesterday.
Second, there is the TEACHER-THAT-NEEDS-TO-SET-HERSELF-FREE thoughts…

I feel like a first year teacher.  I feel like I’ve never been in the classroom before.  Our world is changing so fast and we as educators can’t seem to keep up.

No cell phones in classrooms, but everyone uses cell phones everywhere else.

No cheating on tests but in the workforce we call that maximizing your potential or collaboration.

Students must LEARN all this knowledge … but unless you are a surgeon, when are people EVER on the spot so much that they can’t look something up?

What if? What if? What if?  These are the things that circle my mind today. 

We went back to work yesterday, and I could feel myself getting ENERGIZED to teach.

But how?  Every couple of years, it seems my educational philosophy shifts… just enough to cause … a complete overhaul in my classroom.

I’m doing it all differently.  I’m thrilled.  I’m scared.  I feel like a first year
teacher.  And I love it. (And secretly hate it.)

I’m re-creating the stage for the ultimate Apprentice reality series.  Only – I am in charge – and you have to pass to get “hired!”

I’ve changed the layout of my room. 

Imagine this:

• Students will now be in 3 man pods.
• One person will be designated as the leader for the task and they will rotate jobs within their groups.
• They will grade each other.
• I will also grade them.
• They will be given a list of “tasks” – (a video / a PowerPoint / a paper / a portfolio / etc.)  that must be completed by the end of the marking period.
• They can choose, as a group, which task they would like to complete for each unit of study. 

It will be:
Skills Based
Research Oriented
Technology Rich
Student Led
Learning.

They must collaborate.  They will rotate groups and rotate leaders within their groups.  They must motivate.  The group leader will have extra responsibilities, have a different assessment rubric to rate the performance of the group, and will receive extra “credit” for how the group performs.  Like. In. Real. Life. 

So few of us actually work independently anymore.  And even if you do work alone, you still need to develop good people skills.  Besides that, I have the benefit of access to technology and I believe students need to have the ABILITY to understand a map or political cartoon or information found on the internet. 

So, students come in … collaborate together… pick their “mode” of assessment … and then answer an “over reaching” question using that medium.  All the while, I’m watching and guiding what they are doing – and they are holding each other responsible and accountable for work.  AWESOMENESS.

It is a complete re-vamp of my teaching style.  In one weekend.  Complete with lesson plans.  Ready. Set. Go.

I have to write rubrics, create classroom expectations, create posters, create teacher rubrics, narrow down my thoughts into how questions could possibly be answered in these mediums, design lessons to teach the essential skills needed to use the mediums, and …. look like I’m an old pro at it.  Because one slight pause – and students will sense indecisiveness… In order to make sure high standards are met, I have to make sure the entire package seems professional.  Have I said, “Ready. Set. Go.” yet? 

I’m so excited.  Without crushing my spirit – What do you think? Would you like to come learn in that classroom?  Have I mentioned how excited I am?


Ps. Don't forget - Bloggy friends - Tomorrow I am starting Friday's Confession Booth.  Just so you know - my confession is something funny and small - nothing deep like my past few posts.  It can be anything ... just post and link up! I'll be posting at 7am EST. and the link will be open then! 


pps. I was looking for motivational videos.. and found this. God is Good.. He knew just what we all needed.


ppps. I'm testing the "timed" posting now that I'm back at school... hopefully this works!  
Picture is from HERE

The Overexposure of Blogging…

I have this friend, in – real – life, who is also an amazing writer / blogger.  Her blog is one of those inspire me – make me look outside the box – and have a different perspective blogs.  She went through some life changes and decided to take down her blog for awhile.  I asked her the other day when I would be able to read her thoughts on life again – and her response was something totally unexpected.  “I don’t know.” 

What do you mean you don’t know?  You have this incredible gift! You need to write! So I can read it! You can’t stop! When I finally paused for air, she quietly explained her moral dilemma she was wrestling with.  You see, she and I are cut from the same cloth.  My actions are my own.  I claim them.  When I embarrass myself – I embarrass myself.  When I am sad, it is ok.  When I am happy… that is awesome.  If you are doing something you are ashamed of, then you should stop doing it.  Her concern was for her children.
“What if they grow up to be private people?”  “What if they resent all that I have shared about their lives?”  “Maybe I should start over and not use their real names.”  “Maybe I should stop.”


I was left utterly speechless.  Not only was my sister in crime bringing up some really valid points, they were things I honestly had never really thought about!  Yes, Ray is private, and we have had to come to some agreement about the blog.  Yes, truth be told… he is still not 100% sold on it.  He told me today I should just switch to a diary.  But, I never really thought about the idea the kids might not love the blog when they are older…. crap.  Now I’ve got to mull this over.

One of the first things I did was check other blogs.  How did they deal with these potential problems.  Some bloggers had rules where they didn’t talk about their kids.  (Well… that’s not going to work) Some bloggers had pretend or nicknames for their children. (Oops… Should’ve thought about this about 7 months ago.)  Some bloggers had rules against talking about their kids medical conditions. (Um… that’s the whole reason I ever started blogging… *sigh*)  I read and read – everyone had their own boundaries.  And I realized that their rules didn’t have to be my rules.  I read back over my blog…. what were the underlying things that might upset my children?  Through the eyes of someone who might become a private person… what might they not like?  I realized 2 things.

1.  Throughout the blog… no one could ever deny my love for my children.  Almost everyone I know likes to look at pictures from their childhood.  I really believe the kids will like to read about their adventures through our eyes as we live them.

2.  I write as if Alexander will never actually read this blog.  I know.  Those words are harsh.  It took a lot of soul searching to realize the truth in those words.  In the back of my  mind… that 15.32 is always there.  Sometimes influencing me in ways that I don’t even realize.  I believe in my heart that you will walk and eat, I pray that you will talk, and I know that you will understand words that are spoken to you.  But, as I read over these entries, I realize that I was writing as if it would someday be read to Alexander, not by him.  If he reads it himself, he would get the unedited version.  The fears, hopes, … the everything.  If he gets it read to him, it can be edited as it is spoken, so that he can feel the love and not the worries. (I guess you learn something new everyday.)

I will remain prayerful about the content placed here.  For the time being, I feel comfortable with what is written.  There are many many people who post pictures and stories about life on the internet.  I receive daily e-mails come from people who are connecting with the blog and … the selfish part of me still needs that.  To know that my feelings are not mine alone.  To know that my worries are not mine alone, and to know that our triumphs can be celebrated by others as well.  But – I will now re-read my posts with from a different perspective before I post it.  Will this cause my children to need therapy?
 
Last night was a late one.  As I prayed, I wrote… and wrote, and wrote.  I wrote letters – to Alexander, to Addison, to Andrew.  I wrote thoughts about work.  I wrote my prayerful heart out.  Over the next several days, I’m going to post them and link them back to this… where it all began.  So feel free to check in and read the words God placed in my heart and the explanations to my children about my love for them and this blog.  *Oh… and …. the (hopefully final) end to the go back to work saga. **
My Personal Confessions - HERE
Letter to Alexander - HERE

Check out the new layout / design

So.. what do you think? Here are some things I need to know:

1.  What is your first impression? Do you like it?

2.  Is it easy to read?  IF you don't think it is not easy to read..... then how can I change it to be better? (I mean... the point is for people to be able to read it.)

3. Suggestions???? I'm totally open to some constructive criticism - from everyone.  I would like to stand out. I'm getting a lot of hits, but I don't know how many of those people think my blog stands out.  Does it? Is it "user friendly"?  How can I make the look / feel of it better?

Thanks!!!!!! That's all I've got for today. Things here are crazy busy. Planning a first birthday party is starting to stress me out a bit. Also - our church message is a little stressful now. I want everything to be perfect, and while I know that expectation is too much pressure... I can't seem to put that hope away.

Thanks again!

Oh STINK! I'm stayin' in School!!



This is Cindy.  She was my Best Student Ever.  My Grandma
made her... and I dusted her off for this picture. 
Strait "A's" - I tell you!

 And I have a TON of ideas!!!  First, I must tell you that I was born to be a teacher.  I was that kid.  The nerd who took home left over worksheets to teach my dolls.  The kid who asked for a red pen as part of every holiday gift giving occasion because I wanted to “grade” papers.  I even had “struggling” dolls – who ended up with very low grades and I had to remediate them.  I differentiated before differentiation was cool! 

Alexander grabbing his feet this afternoon. 
Happy Baby in the grass.

So, now I will confess.  I’ve been wondering if school was really the place for me.  I wasn’t sure if I was spreading myself too thin.  Was my family getting enough of my attention?  Should I be spending more time with the twins?  Was I being an effective teacher?  Were my students learning enough now that my attention was sometimes distracted by my family issues?  These are the thoughts that have consumed me the past few months.  It is worse when Alexander’s health is in jeopardy.  It is better/worse when the people I work with are so understanding.  On one hand, it is such a relief that I work with such amazing people – they tell me I can take time when I need it.  On the other hand, it is another reminder of what I have on my plate at this moment.  This has been the topic discussed around our dinner table for a while now.  I believe the topic has been decided.

I’m staying in school! I’ve been off work for a week… and I’m bored.  I miss school. I miss my students.  I miss my co-workers.  I miss adult conversation.  This past week from school was exactly what I needed.  Between Alexander’s 24 hour EEG, Easter vacation, and a conference today – it was just enough time for me to miss my professional life.  I’m going back next year, and I’m thrilled to death about it.

So I have some new ideas I’m excited to try.  I teach in a technology-based classroom, so I want to do something new next year.  I want to teach in a classroom without desks.  I want to get a big piece of carpet, a few couches, some bean bag chairs, and some big pillows and create the ultimate “coffee house” classroom.  I want to put a few big round tables in the classroom for those students who would still like to sit at a desk… but really – why do you need to sit at a desk to learn?  My students spend 99% of the class time doing one of two things.  They are either engaged in discussion with me or each other OR they are working on an activity on the laptops.  So – in either scenario – what does a desk have to do with anything?  Being excited to learn is over ½ the battle.  And – I’m going to bet money that my classroom without desks is going to be exciting to learn in.  Can you picture it?  Students sitting around in little groups discussing communism in China or the social implications of reality TV?

So Picture a Combination of these 3 ideas in a clasroom ~

Replace the kids doing nothing with students working!

Students working like this - in a room that feels like the first picture

You stil need some desks for collaboration.

The other idea I really want to persue is bringing one of my classrooms into a “college” setting.  Some schools are partnering with colleges and offering college classes in the high school.  I am SO the person to do this.  The only issue standing in my way (ok… there may be several issues standing in the way – but one I’m not sure can be overcome) is I do not have my master’s in this content area.  I do have a master’s degree – but not in this content.  Don’t worry – I’m willing to push down doors to see if I can find a crack to squeeze through.  I just cannot take on more coursework at this juncture in life. (I mean… I just decided I was going to emotionally be able to handle going back next year!)

Finally – I saw this really AMAZING idea where students partner with other students in another country to become e-mail pen pals.  I am definitely doing this next year.  I am so psyched to be able to offer this as a learning experience.  I mean… how amazing would it be to e-mail about the culture while we are discussing culture in our lives?!?!? 

So…. I don’t often talk about school.  It is a huge part of my life, but it is difficult to decide what is appropriate to put in a blog.  I certainly feel my dreams for crazy ideas in the classroom are ok to share.  I hope you can feel my passion for teaching because I am re-energized to try new things.  I am going back to work.  My life’s calling since before I can remember what I wanted to do.  I will plan to change the world 180 students at a time for now until I can become a professional blogger and change it a few million a post.