Final reflection - "Ain't No Stopping Us Now"

Like the Soul Train coming down the tracks....gotta love the '70s.

One of the hardest lessons I teach in Language Arts is the point of no return in a story (the climax). They have a hard time seeing the whole of the story and deciding on an event that changed the ending. They want to talk about something exciting or dramatic. Usually, it is a character's decision that has been building during the whole book.

We have reached that point (some of us week ago).We have made a decision to move forward to change the ending. What happens in the future for our students is altered. For each of us in class the moment could have been very different. Some of us could have experienced it as a flash of understanding. For others, it could have been a moment in class where an idea that you were unsure of goes crazy (in a good way).For others it could be an avalanche of evidence that could not be ignored. Anyway, we made the decision.

Who knows what is coming? Will it be amazing? Difficult? Frustrating? Exhilarating? Exhausting? A joy? A window into the future? The answer to all is "yes".

Yesterday, I stood in front of the "Robert Frost House" at PSU. And I thought of the road less traveled and the difference it can make. We are taking the same steps down that road, but unlike Frost we are not alone. We have our colleagues and PLNs.  We can teach, learn, and grow together. What a comfort. I wonder if Mr. Frost would have taken it if he knew we were going to be coming up behind him.

Strangely, the lyrics to this disco classic are appropriate and inspiring.

So let's put on our best dancing clothes and boogie on down the road less traveled...

Week 9 - Chapter 5 - Couldn't we be that professional?

I know - the title is snarky.
Really, our district has loosened up and trusted the teachers to be more professional about our growth as teachers. We have more options and can pursue a wide range of paths to get to an array of goals.
Go with me here...I'm on a roll

Our district is already on MLP for professional development. Maybe there is a part of MLP that hosts portfolios. If not, Google docs or some other web 2.0 tool could be used. All the evidence of our growth could be displayed and organized there. I have bad memories of binders filled with forms and lesson plans and certificates and more, all neatly separated by tabs. And you needed to make copies of everything, just in case.
       Maybe you want to research methods of classroom management as part of your three year plan. You could share the videos  and webinars that you watched. You could still show the classes you took or the conferences you went to with either a link or scanned documents.
      Blogging could add so much. You could join a support group of people working on the same goals, either in the district or in another hemisphere. There could be required posts, maybe once  a month. The administration could monitor your activity, ask questions, redirect you, and generally stay involved.
      I could see this organically growing into an authentic PLN. Wouldn't that solve so many problems with staff development? Teachers would be able to pursue their interests with guidance from their administrators and support from engaged and enthusiastic colleagues. If you became part of a network, would you be inspired or, at least, embarrassed to participate. I can see amazing collaboration and learning result.
      I'm an old timer and have seen initiatives come and fade. But most of the teachers in the district are younger than me now. Most live a good part of their lives online. Isn't it time to take this next step into the future?

Week 9 - PNL - My Kind of People

Another great idea hiding in plain sight - well, most savvy people knew it was there. I just hadn't connected the dots.
I have a Twitter, but I mostly use it for sports and news.
I have a wiki, but I have  only used it for teaching and this class.
I have an RSS, but mostly use it for soccer stories and am not connecting with the other feeds (except for our classroom blogs, of course).
I have a diigo, but haven't scratched the surface of its potential.
I have a little understanding of Google docs, but haven't tried anything with students.

I want to go the speed of the video above, but, realistically, two things jump out at me.
First, time is always an issue. I would love to spend all waking hours putting this puzzle together (not really), but there are other things in life. We can't deprive the professional athletes of an audience, can we?
Second, it's never going to be done! There will always be another piece to add, another connection to make.


So enough with the analogies. Time to get to work...would you like to be in my PLN?

Week 8 - Common Core Webinar

Three things -

First - The idea of a webinar is great! Having access to so much is a great resource. I can see myself learning so much just by clicking and adjusting the  volume. And archives! Holy cow - talk about tailoring things to your own interest! Of course, you have to search a little and suffer through some klunkers, but in general, you could learn and use a lot.

Second - This webinar was about Common Core Standards. The history and progress of it was a little interesting. How soon its coming and how contentious it is, is alarming. The Smarter Balance test is coming to a classroom near you very soon. The problem is (again) politicians. They take good intentions and make it a power struggle - but I digress - maybe in another post...The presenters did a good job with some dry subject matter. Once again - 15 minutes of material crammed into an hour.

Third - Ok the kids are gone and I'm alone in my quiet classroom. Just as the webinar was about to start a parent walks in and asks if her club can use our room for a final meeting/celebration. What could I say? They are great kids and have every right to celebrate and needed a place. I thought it would be fine. Well, let's just say - the more you are able to focus, the better the experience will be.

November IRPs using Technology

Some students chose technology to show their learning with this IRP. Pretty talented kids here:


Prezis

Vincent - http://prezi.com/ejfsi_es5vru/masters-of-disaster/

Rachael - http://prezi.com/lidjqxqdqig-/closed-for-the-season/

Jessie - http://prezi.com/6lz8cjcclq5o/the-old-willis-place/

Noah - http://prezi.com/jhii97tzyupe/babe-and-me/

Websites

Jake B - http://jakesirp.webs.com/

Calvin -http://freerpage.webs.com/

Sam - http://mattimeo.webs.com/

Wiki Pages

River - http://zoostory.wikispaces.com/

H - http://people-of-sparks.wikispaces.com/

Eimile - http://irpbms.wikispaces.com/Eimile%27s+Page

November IRPs - Posters, models, and Amazing Students!

Week 8 - Blog 2

        Brian Crosby has really broken out of the 20th century.The kids in his class come with all the common excuses we teachers use for not getting them to grow and produce. His style seems to be close to over flowing energy and a killer sense of humor. He knows what he is up against, but still holds high expectations. He makes it easy on himself, though. He seems connected and thoroughly prepared. He has the vision and knowledge to put it all together.    

          I have usually underestimated vision when it comes to leadership. Think about following someone with and someone else without vision. What was your reaction?

         You can get through a week preparing day-today. But it can be really stressful. It is much easier to have a whole unit or year well thought out with the "table set". Wouldn't you just love to sit and talk planning with Mr. Crosby? Is he UbD? Is he parts to whole? What is his method? As Linda wrote about, he must have built them up over the years.

       Ok - one obvious help to move forward would for every kid to have a laptop/device. But will we be ready to make the most of it when it happens? It is a matter of time. What will be our excuses then?

Week 8 - Herding Caffeinated Cats

Below is a post from a student of mine. It shows many of my hopes and fears when I jumped into blogging with my classes...

iPod touchNovember 6, 2011 @ 3:00 PM 2 Comments     
I am blogging from my IPod touch. Yay. I am so happy that I can do this. To: Chris. U need to blog to us still and skype us. Good bye chris. When u leave the class will be boring. No more purple bacteria.* 

Plus side - engagement, enthusiasm, easy to use, plenty of teacher control of content/publishing, using it at home (on an ipod!), authenticity - They have (for the most part) gone crazy in a good way.  The kids really got a kick out of an email we got from an Irish teacher saying how much he enjoyed our blogs.

 The Negatives- spotty connections with the school computers, repeating "Make sure you have typed in the address correctly." five thousand times!, quality of posts and comments, the atrocious use of conventions of the English language, time committed to reading and responding to each post.

I have learned a lot and it has caused me to think, which can be very hard on a veteran teacher.
Some things I am mulling over and I welcome your thoughts:
Am I stifling creativity by requiring good grammar?
Will I stunt them by strictly defining what should be written? 
How should I handle comments on posts?
How should I handle the posts they do "for fun"?
One "internet expert" said that posts should not be graded. IDK...




My latest thought is to assign some posts that are akin to paper and pencil reading assignments and some posts that are open ended writing assignments. Also I would allow fun and social and creative posts just because they are kids and have so much to express.


I feel like the "Too Heavy" guy

Here we are             

http://kidblog.org/MrWhitesLABlog/

Leave a comment - the kids will love it and probably write back!

* Chris, who moved last week, is the king of random comments - "purple bacteria" was one of his best.

Halloween 2011 at BMS

Here is an example of using Audioboo. The kids really dove into blogging and commenting and then enjoyed a good old ghost story.

Week 5 Post 2 Yes, Change the Horses Midstream

All teacher have been there. It used to be the killer conference. You would make your subplans and all the correct forms and head off to a big hotel in Manchester or Nashua. If you are lucky, the presenter lights up the conference center. You leave enthused and full of great ideas. Sometimes they work out - sometimes they don't. Most of it had to do with how adaptable the new ideas were. Just because it works somewhere else and is presented well, doesn't mean it is right for your classroom.

Now we have an amazing new tool from technology every week combined with (finally) nationalizing standards.

But that same impulse is there this new thing is so cool - my classes will love it - I'll start using it tomorrow.
That is almost exactly the script I followed when trying wikispaces with my classes.

A First Try at Using Wikis in our Classes

This method works for me - when something new and shiny comes along try it - make it fit with what you are doing - try it - abandon it if it is not going well - reflect and learn from mistakes - and very importantly - ask the kids. They are with you there in the trenches of learning. They are working. They can judge the value of tools in a classroom. I learn so much from open dialog with students.

You don't buy a car based on watching someone else driving it. But you value their opinion.

After reviewing notes and personal recollections, I decide what to keep, what to throw away, and what to add on to. How does an artist know what works without trying some new tools.

Week 5 Blog 1 - Finally, It's Clear...except for all the stuff in the way

Chapter 3 in our book made it even clearer where we should be going. The internet as the platform is transformational. It opens up a whole box of possibilities and problems that we have discussed to death.



I remember when these were cutting edge. You mean, you can get them in colors!?! But label them so you won't have to go through each one...
I actually had one for each kid in my one computer(non-internet) class.







Then the web came and you could get ideas from places like this!
How dated is this website?

Today  is fast-forwarded to the future. Now there is so much technology, so permeated in the world that sometimes it feels like the wild west to an old-timer, like me. You can't bring that in here! Check it at the door.

Now things are coming into focus. I can envision a classroom buzzing with activity. Some students in the hall rehearsing and/or recording vlogs, videos, podcasts, etc. One group discussing/planning a current text. Another group online blogging or commenting on a blog post. Maybe some actually reading and writing, old school style. I see myself walking about after a brief mini-lesson and organizing/focusing moment.
The video below is a little tedious, but opened my eyes to some LA possibilities I hadn't considered.

"Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the prize"

Should I start small or jump all in?

Museum of Science - Boston - October 20, 2011

Who is scarier!

Omni Theater

Ryan

Theater of Electricity

New England Wild Animals

So much fun!!!  ...and learning