Malcolm MacCannell, age 61, passed away on September 27, 2011 and on goes the obituary. It tells the usual things about Malcolm, how he is survived by a mother, seven brothers and sisters (one is a twin sister). His father was Dr. Bruce MacCannell. The obituary even included his membership at First United Methodist Church and his traveling on mission trips (No Greater Love to New. Orleans for street ministry). The obituary did not mention that I considered him a close friend or that he taught Rich Schurter about patience, love, kindness, gentleness and meekness.
Malcolm and I went through Emmaus together and shared a room for the weekend. Wow, could he ever snore. It was during that weekend that Joe, Malcolm and I became friends. From that time on Malcolm and I shared life. He would keep me posted on how his medications were going (or not going) and how his new job at Taco Bell was treating him. I learned that a job is not what defines us, Jesus Christ does that, a job is a means to an end. That end being to share the love of Christ with a world that desperately needs that love. Malcolm had to cut down on his hours at Taco Bell because he was unable to deal with the stress and he needed to make the Mardi Gras trip with No Greater Love Ministries. Malcolm always asked me how teaching was going and he could read in my eyes the growing stress of these past few years. "Your students are lucky to have you," he frequently would state and then, as an after-thought he would add, "Don't let the stress outside your classroom mess up who you are in the classroom." We would hug and continue on our way.
Malcolm McCannell understood life in a way that I'll only dream about. He challenged me to live for Christ in ways that other, more famous or more sophisticated people could never do. He lived life, he loved people, and most importantly, he loved the Lord. I can't imagine a life without having met Malcolm. I thank God for his influence upon me and the friendship we shared. I won't get to hug Malcolm again in this life but I look forward to the day when we will again share life and share it eternally.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Hugh Glass, early western explorer.
You think you're tough? Listen to this story. We were camped at nearby Shadehill Recreation Area. Great place for fishing and boating activities. Located just south of Lemmon, S.D.
Lemmon is also home to an interesting petrified wood display, enough said, you must stop and see it to believe it. Also, be sure to eat breakfast at the Alaska Cafe. You don't have many choices so it's easy to find.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Coffee
One nice benefit of visiting children in Portland is the nearby coffee "shop." It is right on the way to the Max station, serving GrindHouse Coffee, the original sexy coffee. They also serve breakfast sandwiches (very good) and SCONES! Traveling to Portland? Pull your car up to the little stand at 1934 c n. Rosa Parks Way, Portland, OR. (503) 459.4148. Superb coffee, food and friendly people. It would be difficult to have to walk past this spot each morning which motivates our son to ride the bike.....hard to drink coffee while riding a bike in morning traffic even if it is bike-friendly Portland.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Home
Which of these would you prefer? High ceilings, mobility or thick walls, sense of security? I thought these images from South Dakota really demonstrate the contrasting philosophies of the Native American with the "sod-buster." Conflict was probably unavoidable due to the totally different mindsets about "home." Where is home?
Vacation Food Memories
Friday, July 15, 2011
Lake Shetek, Minnesota
Friday, July 8, 2011
Food
One of the nice things about travel is eating at local establishments. My wife and I make a commitment to avoid chains when possible during our journey's. One very specific joy in doing this is when you run across a place like The Main Street Bistro in Lewistown, Montana. Located at 122 West Main, Chef David Pallett has put together a wonderful menu. Setting is cozy and quiet. Service was good and the food amazing. We allowed Chef Pallett to pick for us and this worked out very well. If you are traveling in this part of Montana we highly recommend you stop.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Insurance
Anyone living in Illinois and reading about issues other than our former governor must be aware of the current insurance mess for State of Illinois employees. My wife has had to resubmit her request twice and probably should have a third time but she decided that if her current provider loses their court case she would have to reapply a fourth time and ......they wear you down. All because, I suspect, some group made a large campaign contribution to get their friends companies added to the list while dropping long time insurance companies from the list. Now it's in court.
I'm reading a book of editorials written by a country doctor from Cuba, Illinois and they are very interesting. His editorial from 1994 about the Canadian health care system is particularly eye-opening since this is the comparison held up by all who think our government should be involved in the health care business. I quote:
"We agreed that the present medical system (1994) needs drastic reform but that we shouldn't burn down the house to fix the front door.
He (Dr. Edward Kendall, Mayo Clinic) spoke of the numbers of Canadians coming to Mayo Clinic for the medical care they can't get in Canada. What will happen, we wondered if the vote-hungry politicians saddle us with the miserable Canadian scheme of socialized medicine? Where will the Canadians go then? Where will Americans go? I thought of Senator Paul Tsongas, that best of all Democratic presidential candidates, who opposes the Canadian socialist scheme and says he would have died in it when he was so ill."
Interesting thoughts from 1994 (Hillary Clinton was advocating national health insurance at the time). As we look around the world at one debt riddled country after another we need to focus our efforts on reform. The "haves" will always receive their medical care because they can pay, the "have nots" will suffer. I have watched the people in Altamira, Brasil line up a day early so they can see the nationalized doctor or dentist when they come to town. They miss work to be sure they are toward the front of the line and what happens, they don't show up. Now the people have have to miss work another day and stand in line for the cheap, nationalized care. In four trips to Altamira I have never seen middle class or upper class people standing in line, only the poor.
I'm reading a book of editorials written by a country doctor from Cuba, Illinois and they are very interesting. His editorial from 1994 about the Canadian health care system is particularly eye-opening since this is the comparison held up by all who think our government should be involved in the health care business. I quote:
"We agreed that the present medical system (1994) needs drastic reform but that we shouldn't burn down the house to fix the front door.
He (Dr. Edward Kendall, Mayo Clinic) spoke of the numbers of Canadians coming to Mayo Clinic for the medical care they can't get in Canada. What will happen, we wondered if the vote-hungry politicians saddle us with the miserable Canadian scheme of socialized medicine? Where will the Canadians go then? Where will Americans go? I thought of Senator Paul Tsongas, that best of all Democratic presidential candidates, who opposes the Canadian socialist scheme and says he would have died in it when he was so ill."
Interesting thoughts from 1994 (Hillary Clinton was advocating national health insurance at the time). As we look around the world at one debt riddled country after another we need to focus our efforts on reform. The "haves" will always receive their medical care because they can pay, the "have nots" will suffer. I have watched the people in Altamira, Brasil line up a day early so they can see the nationalized doctor or dentist when they come to town. They miss work to be sure they are toward the front of the line and what happens, they don't show up. Now the people have have to miss work another day and stand in line for the cheap, nationalized care. In four trips to Altamira I have never seen middle class or upper class people standing in line, only the poor.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Old Dog.....New Tricks
I have been reading, highlighting, rereading, underlining and tabbing the book, Readicide. It is amazing how the author is able to clearly explain why students don't want to read anything. We, as teachers, have taken all the joy of reading away. My focus over the summer is finding engaging readings for U.S. History and allow students to read them without a twenty question study guide. I will provide a "big picture" question for discussion that will hopefully encourage the student to connect the past and present.
Do I have the will to pull it off?
Do I have the will to pull it off?
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Must Reading for Educators
Remember, Teaching As A Subversive Activity, is one of my all-time favorite education books. Focus and Readicide (not finished yet) are two, "must read" books for educators. "For those educators who resist the political in favor of the authentic" is the inside jacket quote. My desire is to be that educator. "Readicide is the systematic killing of the love of reading, ofter exacerbated by the inane, mind-numbing practices found in schools, (Gallagher, 2009, p. 2). Amen!
Any teacher who is teaching in a failing school (according to NCLB) understands this process very well. We have instituted well-meaning programs to try and jump start skills that students coming out of middle schools are sorely lacking. We beg, we bribe, and we even punish to try and ramp up skills of those students who, for one reason or another, have not learned to read fast enough, close enough, do math, write, or read science. Middle school teachers in Illinois, your day is coming, no more stop everything and teach the ISAT for two or three weeks and then thump your chests because your students met or exceeded. In a short few years you will also be struggling with mandated tests that are now based on ACT college and career skills. These are skills that build not skills that can be committed to short-term memory.
What am I doing? For next year.....more reading, deeper (close) reading, more writing, and more discussion. Increased current events WITH map activities so a student actually knows that Vietnam is not an island when they are a junior in high school. Vanishing will be my best friend for the past twenty plus years, the scan-tron test. Increased formative assessments and fewer, more thoughtful summative assessments. Participation will be evaluated as to level of understanding, empathy, respect for others, and thoughtfulness (formative in nature). Our culture has lost the ability to hold a civil discourse and I will not go into all the reasons for that loss. Suffice to say that one political party is not the sole cause. We have a great opportunity before us and even though it is the end of the year I am optimistic about the future.
Any teacher who is teaching in a failing school (according to NCLB) understands this process very well. We have instituted well-meaning programs to try and jump start skills that students coming out of middle schools are sorely lacking. We beg, we bribe, and we even punish to try and ramp up skills of those students who, for one reason or another, have not learned to read fast enough, close enough, do math, write, or read science. Middle school teachers in Illinois, your day is coming, no more stop everything and teach the ISAT for two or three weeks and then thump your chests because your students met or exceeded. In a short few years you will also be struggling with mandated tests that are now based on ACT college and career skills. These are skills that build not skills that can be committed to short-term memory.
What am I doing? For next year.....more reading, deeper (close) reading, more writing, and more discussion. Increased current events WITH map activities so a student actually knows that Vietnam is not an island when they are a junior in high school. Vanishing will be my best friend for the past twenty plus years, the scan-tron test. Increased formative assessments and fewer, more thoughtful summative assessments. Participation will be evaluated as to level of understanding, empathy, respect for others, and thoughtfulness (formative in nature). Our culture has lost the ability to hold a civil discourse and I will not go into all the reasons for that loss. Suffice to say that one political party is not the sole cause. We have a great opportunity before us and even though it is the end of the year I am optimistic about the future.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The "Right" Thing
A reply to my last post got me thinking, what is the "right" thing for education? Educators have, for too long, allowed the larger culture to make the profession of teaching seem to be a position that anyone who can't do anything else can do. It isn't true. If you follow the running commentary about what will fix our schools and then you go back twenty years you will find a similar lament. Go back thirty, same thing. Maybe the fundamental issue is that schools need a fundamental overhaul. For consideration:
1. Hire a financial person to deal with the dollars and cents, true educators don't really get all excited about budgets, salaries, m & r, etc.
2. Hire one business leader (chief executive officer) to guide educator teams in return on investment, technology use and misuse, public relations, liaison with supporting corporations, universities or local businesses who have a vested interest in the quality of product being produced.
3. End the agricultural model school year. Planting and harvesting have not influenced most students lives in forty years. Adopt a school year that best suits the local student needs (I always want to study the year around model of 9 weeks on 3 weeks off with remedial opportunities during two of the three weeks).
4. Consider ending the five day school week for most subjects; Social Studies and English classes would meet three days face to face with technology being used to keep contact the other days. Science, Math, and Vocational classes would meet at least four days. All students are required to take a basic vocational program. Fifth day, grading the increased writing that all would perform, committees, parent conferences, tutoring those who are struggling, the list for this is endless.
5. Teacher teams would run the day to day school operations. Service in every capacity of school governance would be shared. Compensation would come in a reduced teaching load during their 2-3 year rotation of "school leadership." Membership on the leadership teams would not be allowed until a teacher had demonstrated outstanding skills in teaching and leadership. Graduate level coursework in education and business would be mandated. Minimum of ten years classroom experience. NO permanently leaving the classroom. All those making any decisions about the school must be serving in the classroom. Simply put, you quickly forget what the day to day struggle of teaching can do to your energy. No more leaving the classroom, you wanted to teach....teach.....you may be a skilled leader.....opportunities will come to do both. This is where I always return to my good friend, Sean O'Laughlin. He was one of the best teachers I have observed and now he is a building principal. He will be outstanding but he should still be teaching one class of U.S. History each and every semester. Those twenty-five to thirty students would forever be grateful.
6. Outstanding teachers would be rotated in and out of local teacher prep universities. They would handle all instruction pertaining to lessons, discipline, and the art of instruction. To give a clue as to this problem, I was just asked by the local teaching university to place two student teachers in my department for next year. Both students had D's in their major. We are not in a day and age where any student should be entering education where D's are a part of their grades let alone where D's are a part of their major.
Okay, parts 1-6 are roughed out. Tear it up.
1. Hire a financial person to deal with the dollars and cents, true educators don't really get all excited about budgets, salaries, m & r, etc.
2. Hire one business leader (chief executive officer) to guide educator teams in return on investment, technology use and misuse, public relations, liaison with supporting corporations, universities or local businesses who have a vested interest in the quality of product being produced.
3. End the agricultural model school year. Planting and harvesting have not influenced most students lives in forty years. Adopt a school year that best suits the local student needs (I always want to study the year around model of 9 weeks on 3 weeks off with remedial opportunities during two of the three weeks).
4. Consider ending the five day school week for most subjects; Social Studies and English classes would meet three days face to face with technology being used to keep contact the other days. Science, Math, and Vocational classes would meet at least four days. All students are required to take a basic vocational program. Fifth day, grading the increased writing that all would perform, committees, parent conferences, tutoring those who are struggling, the list for this is endless.
5. Teacher teams would run the day to day school operations. Service in every capacity of school governance would be shared. Compensation would come in a reduced teaching load during their 2-3 year rotation of "school leadership." Membership on the leadership teams would not be allowed until a teacher had demonstrated outstanding skills in teaching and leadership. Graduate level coursework in education and business would be mandated. Minimum of ten years classroom experience. NO permanently leaving the classroom. All those making any decisions about the school must be serving in the classroom. Simply put, you quickly forget what the day to day struggle of teaching can do to your energy. No more leaving the classroom, you wanted to teach....teach.....you may be a skilled leader.....opportunities will come to do both. This is where I always return to my good friend, Sean O'Laughlin. He was one of the best teachers I have observed and now he is a building principal. He will be outstanding but he should still be teaching one class of U.S. History each and every semester. Those twenty-five to thirty students would forever be grateful.
6. Outstanding teachers would be rotated in and out of local teacher prep universities. They would handle all instruction pertaining to lessons, discipline, and the art of instruction. To give a clue as to this problem, I was just asked by the local teaching university to place two student teachers in my department for next year. Both students had D's in their major. We are not in a day and age where any student should be entering education where D's are a part of their grades let alone where D's are a part of their major.
Okay, parts 1-6 are roughed out. Tear it up.
Monday, April 25, 2011
A Framework for Teaching
Our education system is a mess. That does not take genius to conclude. The hidden agenda of privatizing education is becoming less hidden each month. Typically, statistics are misrepresented to provide the information that one system is broke and the other system works very well.
Please, remember who is selling you the system that works very well. I usually see politicians, former heads of large corporations and businessmen, most of whom did not attend the type of schools they are attacking as failed. I have never had any of these people volunteer to teach my classes for one month. I have invited but, alas, never received a reply. I once begged President Bush to come to my school to help me with the child who wanted to be left behind but, alas, he never acknowledged my contacts.
I believe that Illinois may be moving in a decent direction. I have dug out my Charlotte Danielson and am preparing to review the "frameworks" for effective teaching. She at least understood that no matter what new technology comes along the basic practices encouraged by Madeline Hunter work very well. Doesn't matter if it is 1980 or 2011. Good instructional practice is good practice. Now, how will we get parents to understand that not all children are above average?
Please, remember who is selling you the system that works very well. I usually see politicians, former heads of large corporations and businessmen, most of whom did not attend the type of schools they are attacking as failed. I have never had any of these people volunteer to teach my classes for one month. I have invited but, alas, never received a reply. I once begged President Bush to come to my school to help me with the child who wanted to be left behind but, alas, he never acknowledged my contacts.
I believe that Illinois may be moving in a decent direction. I have dug out my Charlotte Danielson and am preparing to review the "frameworks" for effective teaching. She at least understood that no matter what new technology comes along the basic practices encouraged by Madeline Hunter work very well. Doesn't matter if it is 1980 or 2011. Good instructional practice is good practice. Now, how will we get parents to understand that not all children are above average?
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Afternoon Hike on Trail Ridge Road, RMNP
Just back from a late afternoon hike on Trail Ridge Road. We drove to where the road is closed, put on wind pants, snowshoes, and took off. The corners provide great views of Sheep Meadow, Lawn Lake flood area, and off in the distance you can see Mary's Lake. By leaving late afternoon we only shared the "road" with two other people. One guy was just returning from hiking up to see the view, he was pumped and sure enough he climbed into the SUV where the son sat in the backseat with ear buds in playing a game on his phone. The young man couldn't get even get out to take a short hike that really gives you an idea of your significance in the big scheme of life. We truly are a culture where the only the thing that counts is me.
Wild Basin via Snow Shoes
Sun was shining, truly a great day to be outside. Cold and a strong wind as we headed toward Copeland Falls. Only one couple on the trail and they passed us as put on wind pants. We moved at a steady pace for two hours, found the falls...they were just beginning to melt through to the surface. Headed back and ran into several people enjoying the day in Rocky Mountain National Park. Opening picture of the mini-movie is of Long's Peak.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Morning Drive
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Spring
Middle image is of the old Havana watertower. We spent some time walking the river front. This little town is doing an amazing job of building up their park along the river. Beautiful day spent with my wife.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Emiquon
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Leadership
"I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man. And keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn, so that the Lord may carry out His promise which he spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your sons are careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.' (I Kings 2: 2-4)
1. show yourself a man
2. walk in the ways of the Lord
3. keep the commandments of the Lord
4. keep His ordinances
5. keep His testimonies
6. base these items off His Word and success will follow.
I watch the events unfold in Wisconsin and around the world and pray for leaders who will focus on these six characteristics of leadership. Leaders must focus with unwavering concentration on each of these and then, move forward with ideas that demonstrate the fiscal restraint necessary but that also demonstrate compassion toward those who will suffer the consequences.
It is interesting how the Greeks failed to set up accountability in the democratic process and then the Romans followed suit as they moved to a republic. Ultimately the voter is to blame, I guess, though in this age of incumbent advantage they are difficult to defeat. Finding truth in our day and age is also nearly impossible. It is, once again, time for the term limit discussion or the idea of a lottery. The possibility that all high school graduates, free of criminal records, would be eligible to serve as a legislator for a two year term and then they are done. No consulting, no living in the vicinity of the seat of government, no contact whatsoever. Serve, vote, and leave. Whatever their salary was, that is what they get paid for the two years. A rotation system would be set up so one group leaves on even number years and the other leaves on odd.
They don't understand government? They don't know Roberts Rules of Order? Good, that has not helped us much. Failure to rule wisely results in a fine. Failure to "be a man" in times of crisis (are you paying attention Mr. President) and submitting a fiscally irresponsible budget, failing to make one hard decision all because you fear getting thrown out of office after one term. Amazing. What a total disappointment to those who voted for you, who believed you had a plan. I am unable to find one of the six characteristics in our leaders, what does that mean for our future?
Slow and steady progress toward fiscal responsibility must guide all decisions. Do I believe taxes must go up? I believe taxes on those people earning $500,000 per year and up must be raised. Minimum tax of 45%. The percentage goes up 5% per additional $500,000 to a maximum of 70%. Bill Gates would have lived just fine on 30% of his income. This is based upon gross and not net income. No shuffling of money, no funky accounting, its a return to JFK era income tax. The rich will pay and the middle class will grow again. Spare me the whining about the richest already paying most of the income tax, everyone earning above $20,000 will pay something.
The Social Security surplus could never be touched except for Social Security purposes. Federal funding would be frozen (wages included) for five years, budget increases would only be allowed based upon cpi. The increased tax revenue, by federal statute would go toward balancing the budget first and paying down debt second (they are entirely different). Those with retirement incomes of over $100,000 would not receive any Social Security increases and in Illinois, would pay state income tax. Retirement income would be based upon gross and not net. Every program added must be accompanied by an equal spending cut. Every law passed has a seven year sunset, no time to build a bureaucracy around it so that you can't get rid or it or even discuss it (think war on drugs). Leadership, the time for someone to step forward is now.
1. show yourself a man
2. walk in the ways of the Lord
3. keep the commandments of the Lord
4. keep His ordinances
5. keep His testimonies
6. base these items off His Word and success will follow.
I watch the events unfold in Wisconsin and around the world and pray for leaders who will focus on these six characteristics of leadership. Leaders must focus with unwavering concentration on each of these and then, move forward with ideas that demonstrate the fiscal restraint necessary but that also demonstrate compassion toward those who will suffer the consequences.
It is interesting how the Greeks failed to set up accountability in the democratic process and then the Romans followed suit as they moved to a republic. Ultimately the voter is to blame, I guess, though in this age of incumbent advantage they are difficult to defeat. Finding truth in our day and age is also nearly impossible. It is, once again, time for the term limit discussion or the idea of a lottery. The possibility that all high school graduates, free of criminal records, would be eligible to serve as a legislator for a two year term and then they are done. No consulting, no living in the vicinity of the seat of government, no contact whatsoever. Serve, vote, and leave. Whatever their salary was, that is what they get paid for the two years. A rotation system would be set up so one group leaves on even number years and the other leaves on odd.
They don't understand government? They don't know Roberts Rules of Order? Good, that has not helped us much. Failure to rule wisely results in a fine. Failure to "be a man" in times of crisis (are you paying attention Mr. President) and submitting a fiscally irresponsible budget, failing to make one hard decision all because you fear getting thrown out of office after one term. Amazing. What a total disappointment to those who voted for you, who believed you had a plan. I am unable to find one of the six characteristics in our leaders, what does that mean for our future?
Slow and steady progress toward fiscal responsibility must guide all decisions. Do I believe taxes must go up? I believe taxes on those people earning $500,000 per year and up must be raised. Minimum tax of 45%. The percentage goes up 5% per additional $500,000 to a maximum of 70%. Bill Gates would have lived just fine on 30% of his income. This is based upon gross and not net income. No shuffling of money, no funky accounting, its a return to JFK era income tax. The rich will pay and the middle class will grow again. Spare me the whining about the richest already paying most of the income tax, everyone earning above $20,000 will pay something.
The Social Security surplus could never be touched except for Social Security purposes. Federal funding would be frozen (wages included) for five years, budget increases would only be allowed based upon cpi. The increased tax revenue, by federal statute would go toward balancing the budget first and paying down debt second (they are entirely different). Those with retirement incomes of over $100,000 would not receive any Social Security increases and in Illinois, would pay state income tax. Retirement income would be based upon gross and not net. Every program added must be accompanied by an equal spending cut. Every law passed has a seven year sunset, no time to build a bureaucracy around it so that you can't get rid or it or even discuss it (think war on drugs). Leadership, the time for someone to step forward is now.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Bike Ride
Over 40 and sun was shining. Truly a great day to get out on the bike. Spotted another rider as I was going over I 155 and being the person I am. . . the chase is on. Doesn't matter that I have not been out riding consistently; it's someone to try and catch. I forget I'm not 50 any more and this is only my sixth day of riding this year. I don't like the rider to know I'm chasing them and this particular rider made sure they stayed three bikes ahead but it was still great motivation.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Main Street looking north
Short video of the snow. View is looking north on main-street in Tremont. We missed three days of school due to a 15" snowfall. Our power was out for just about twenty-four hours. Previous video shows Vicki and I eating a backpacking meal cooked on our camping stove. The adventures continue.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Focus
Just started reading Focus, Elevating the Essentials to Radically Improve Student Learning by Mike Schmoker. Tomorrow is a department meeting and I need to apologize for wasting five months of the school year on initiatives that will not impact student success. I knew this in August but didn't have any "data" to support my thoughts. The further into the school year the more apparent it was that we had too many initiatives and no focus. I fell into line attempting to be the good employee and department leader. I knew we were heading in the wrong direction but didn't have the courage to lead in what my "gut" told me was the proper direction.
At our meeting tomorrow we will discuss a "new" direction. We can begin to discuss change that will impact students. What amazes me is that it isn't new, it is information most educators know but don't have time to practice. The hint is in the title of this post. "What" we teach and "how" we teach are the bottom line essentials. We can study data all day (and data is important) but at the end of the day, what we are teaching and how we are teaching it will make the real impact. Too many teachers are totally distracted by the latest technology initiative (that was probably implemented without a long-range plan or goal), whether to move to CCS (common core standards) now or wait, or following up on a group of students (in addition to my current classes) to make sure they are doing what they are supposed to do in their classes.
At the end of the day it boils down to what is taught and how it is taught that will engage our students and prepare them for their future. This is where the "bang for the invested buck" will be found.
At our meeting tomorrow we will discuss a "new" direction. We can begin to discuss change that will impact students. What amazes me is that it isn't new, it is information most educators know but don't have time to practice. The hint is in the title of this post. "What" we teach and "how" we teach are the bottom line essentials. We can study data all day (and data is important) but at the end of the day, what we are teaching and how we are teaching it will make the real impact. Too many teachers are totally distracted by the latest technology initiative (that was probably implemented without a long-range plan or goal), whether to move to CCS (common core standards) now or wait, or following up on a group of students (in addition to my current classes) to make sure they are doing what they are supposed to do in their classes.
At the end of the day it boils down to what is taught and how it is taught that will engage our students and prepare them for their future. This is where the "bang for the invested buck" will be found.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Thoreau
Just completing my third snow day in a row. We received 13" of snow Tuesday night. I was working on-line when suddenly..................... Twenty-four hours of feeding a generator to power two space heaters, lighting a lot of candles, finding our campstove, cooking a backpacking gourmet meal (can dried food be gourmet?), calling the power company, hiking back and forth to the gas station for more fuel and assisting neighbors with plowing our driveways. Thoreau had nothing on my wife and I.
I did notice a curious item, why do people blow the snow from their driveways into the street making the street impassible? Why not blow the snow into their own front yards? Our neighbor did get yelled at for plugging up the street so out he went to clear the street. I did get almost get caught up today. Sun was out and it was beautiful.
I did notice a curious item, why do people blow the snow from their driveways into the street making the street impassible? Why not blow the snow into their own front yards? Our neighbor did get yelled at for plugging up the street so out he went to clear the street. I did get almost get caught up today. Sun was out and it was beautiful.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Curiosity
I am three weeks into an on-line U.S. History class for high school juniors. It is a pilot class, randomly selected students and provides an opportunity for students to pick up a seventh class. Enough review. I started with thirty students but never had contact with one student and still have not but that will give me twenty-nine. I sent over five hundred e-mails (group and individual) in these first three weeks and, as of Friday (Jan. 21st) have logged over sixty hours of time for a "one period class." If, like me, you are math challenged, that would would transfer to 100 hour work weeks if I were attempting to handle five classes. As the software trainer kept repeating last fall, "next year will get easier."
Observations about the class:
1. most students do not like to work independently
2. many students are not curious about technology (how it works, how can I make it easier)
3. only one student made a suggestion for better organizing material, I adapted it and received numerous positive comments (until a student came in yesterday to drop and told me I was just too unorganized, amazing, they had never looked that the big folder is titled "assignments for chapter 20!" )
4. repeat of number 2, our youngest son (now 28), was forced to purchase his own computer at an early age because he kept breaking into the programs on our Apple IIE and later, our early IBM and altering the program to suit his young needs, today, we want everything done for us, I have a small group of students who are into everything (we can track them) and a large group who are into nothing
5. I had failed to understand how little I actually prepared my face to face students to be independent thinkers, researchers, or workers
6. I had failed to act on my failures to teach at a higher level, over the years I had allowed the students to wear me down
7. I had failed to act on what I knew needed to be changed (NCLB doesn't help this), now most students are simply test score data to be manipulated (apologies, teachers are to use interventions) so that test scores go up, why? (another whole post)
8. to end on a positive, students who are doing their work, communicating regularly with me, reading my responses to their discussion threads......they are doing great, number of insightful responses is growing daily and I will continue to modify what I am doing (oh, getting rid of textbooks for e-books will take time, I put the textbook on-line, most stopped and wanted a print version, some listen to the audio version while getting ready for school, some listen while working out
Any suggestions from on-line teachers of high school students please send me an e-mail.
Observations about the class:
1. most students do not like to work independently
2. many students are not curious about technology (how it works, how can I make it easier)
3. only one student made a suggestion for better organizing material, I adapted it and received numerous positive comments (until a student came in yesterday to drop and told me I was just too unorganized, amazing, they had never looked that the big folder is titled "assignments for chapter 20!" )
4. repeat of number 2, our youngest son (now 28), was forced to purchase his own computer at an early age because he kept breaking into the programs on our Apple IIE and later, our early IBM and altering the program to suit his young needs, today, we want everything done for us, I have a small group of students who are into everything (we can track them) and a large group who are into nothing
5. I had failed to understand how little I actually prepared my face to face students to be independent thinkers, researchers, or workers
6. I had failed to act on my failures to teach at a higher level, over the years I had allowed the students to wear me down
7. I had failed to act on what I knew needed to be changed (NCLB doesn't help this), now most students are simply test score data to be manipulated (apologies, teachers are to use interventions) so that test scores go up, why? (another whole post)
8. to end on a positive, students who are doing their work, communicating regularly with me, reading my responses to their discussion threads......they are doing great, number of insightful responses is growing daily and I will continue to modify what I am doing (oh, getting rid of textbooks for e-books will take time, I put the textbook on-line, most stopped and wanted a print version, some listen to the audio version while getting ready for school, some listen while working out
Any suggestions from on-line teachers of high school students please send me an e-mail.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
New Class
In a moment of something or other, I asked to pilot an on-line U.S. History class this semester. I like technology, have been thinking that brick and mortar schools are outdated, am always seeking a better way to connect with students, like a challenge, and really never have understood why we need to meet face to face with high school juniors five days a week.
I'm in day two and will check my e-mail right after posting this to see how many questions tonight. Oh, did I mention that now students hunt me from 7:00 a.m. until I shut down and quit checking e-mail (last night it was 9:00 p.m.). I never thought about the fact that I would be blending a traditional work day schedule with demands of students needing to talk (e-mail, text, etc) to me of an evening because that is when they work on an on-line class. I have an advanced degree with a few hours beyond so a thought occurred that this is a great way to extend my current work day from 6:00 a.m. (when I arrive) until 3:15 p.m. and then another 3 hours of an evening. Last night the additional time was 4 hours and it wasn't getting a chance to work ahead, it was problem solving for students new to on-line learning and new to not being walked step by step through every situation.
I may have gotten a bit short when one e-mail asked "Is there anything due tomorrow?" Uhhhh, nope, not answering that, look at the announcements, the calendar, and they will tell you. I can't get thirty e-mails every day asking if something is due because a student doesn't want to look for due dates. Oh well, it's going to be an interesting semester and the questions keep me sharp and learning new things. Oh, what system are we using? BlackBoard. No comment.
I'm in day two and will check my e-mail right after posting this to see how many questions tonight. Oh, did I mention that now students hunt me from 7:00 a.m. until I shut down and quit checking e-mail (last night it was 9:00 p.m.). I never thought about the fact that I would be blending a traditional work day schedule with demands of students needing to talk (e-mail, text, etc) to me of an evening because that is when they work on an on-line class. I have an advanced degree with a few hours beyond so a thought occurred that this is a great way to extend my current work day from 6:00 a.m. (when I arrive) until 3:15 p.m. and then another 3 hours of an evening. Last night the additional time was 4 hours and it wasn't getting a chance to work ahead, it was problem solving for students new to on-line learning and new to not being walked step by step through every situation.
I may have gotten a bit short when one e-mail asked "Is there anything due tomorrow?" Uhhhh, nope, not answering that, look at the announcements, the calendar, and they will tell you. I can't get thirty e-mails every day asking if something is due because a student doesn't want to look for due dates. Oh well, it's going to be an interesting semester and the questions keep me sharp and learning new things. Oh, what system are we using? BlackBoard. No comment.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Another New Year
Returned from an end of year trip to Minnesota. As you can see from the photos we were able to use our snowshoes again. We visited family which is a great way to close out another year.
We did get out for two days of snowshoeing at Baker Park. They have prepared trails that you share with people being pulled on skis by their dogs. Skijourning?? That looked like a lot of fun but I would need a big dog.
Our nephew is the final days of college decisions. Visits to Harvard and Dartmouth in January will determine where he goes. Dartmouth appears to have an inside track with access to broom ball and skiing in the off season. Oh, our nephew is 6'5" and 270 pounds, football is his sport, high ACT scores, high gpa draws interest of schools where education goes with sports. We pray that God would clearly show him where he should spend his next four years.
2010 was another blessing from God. Through all the seasons of life it has been nice to be able to visit various areas of the country and spend time with our family. We are blessed with family within 10 miles and family in Portland, OR. Vicki and I pray that 2011 brings the peace of Christ to each and everyone who finds their way to this post.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)