I have been involved with Test Pep Rallies for the past 14 years as a teacher, guidance counselor, vice principal and principal. I have created skits, performed skits, write original songs, made music videos, delivered inspiring speeches, and even made bets about the assessments…. I’m done. Want to know why?

There are a few reasons why I am retiring from the Test Pep Rally scene and so is my school. In the past, drastic times have called for drastic measures. We have not been performing well on the standardized assessments (just like all the other low socio-economic districts in the state/country – can somebody say correlation) and we get in front of the kids every year and basically beg them to do well. I will admit it… It’s pathetic. We only did it to attempt to leave “no stone unturned” in this high stakes accountability environment. Honestly, it didn’t work. It didn’t produce higher assessment results.

Another reason why I am retiring from the Test Pep Rally game happened a month ago. I was looking through my Facebook feed and a good friend, who also happens to be very involved in the Parent/Teacher Chat on twitter, has presented at conferences about family engagement, and is an advocate for education Gwen Pescatore wrote about a Test Pep Rally at her school. All she said was that there could be a better way then to spend 30 minutes at her school. I have not been able to get it out of my head…. I respect Gwen, and everything she has done to promote teacher/parent relationships. Here it is two months later, with a “test prep song” written, and I just decided… that’s it. We are not doing this circus anymore!

So what will I do this week? Well, I will go around to each of the classes and talk with the kids about the importance of the assessment, and more importantly their individual “growth.” That’s it. Plain and simple.

Want to know what others are saying about the standardized assessment movement?

Eric Sheninger – Education Reform is Destroying Childhood as we know it

Anya Kamenetz – What are Education Tests for Anyway? 

John Robinson – Test Pep Rallies: Good idea or waste of time? 

Source “Finding Favour”

I have written a few times on this blog about Social Venting. I find it difficult to take when people vent on Social Media. I don’t feel that it is appropriate. It doesn’t solve anything. Unlike a conversation with a trusted friend or relative, Social Media does not go away. Your Digital Footprint follows you, and it reveals a lot about you.

In education, we teach the students to “pause before they post” or “wait 24 hours.” We teach about how important a positive Digital Footprint is, and how it can help you in the future. There are countless exercises designed to show kids the power of Social Media, and how essential it is be a positive member of the community.

Adults on the other hand have not seemed to have learned these lessons…. I see posts about a bad day, getting cut off in the car, how much they hate their boss, someone leaves them, they get the wrong order at a restaurant and BOOM it is posted on Social Media. Then, their “friends” chime in and it goes on and on and on…..  What does it solve?

My advice is to throw your dirty laundry in the basket, not on Social Media…

Mark Barnes, Bill Sterrett, and Michael Fisher

Innovation and Leadership:  Strategies & Tips from Three Authors

On Sunday, May 4^th, join the @PrincipalCast team (including ‪@DrSpikeCook‪@PrincipalStager‪@PrincipalJ ) for an interactive discussion on the TeacherCast network (http://podcast.teachercast.net/category/principalcast/ ) with three @ASCD authors (‪@markbarnes19‪@fisher1000 and @billsterrett ) as they discuss learning, innovating, and leading in education. 

BRIEF BIOS:

Author Mark Barnes ( @markbarnes19) is a 20-year classroom teacher and the author of The Five Minute Teacher: How do I maximize time for learning in my classroom?

Mike Fisher ( @fisher1000 ) is and instructional coach and educational consultant and the author of Digital Learning Strategies: How do I assign and assess 21^st century work?

Bill Sterrett ( @billsterrett) is an educational leadership professor, former principal and middle school science teacher and the author of Short on Time: How do I make time to lead and learn as a principal?  Bill spoke on an earlier PrincipalCast (#13) about time management and joins us again today to focus on collaborative and innovative leadership.

For more about the ASCD Arias series: http://www.ascd.org/ascdarias/home.aspx

source: www.inspiredteaching.org

Today was one of those days when we were short on substitutes. Having not been in the classroom for sometime, I jumped at the chance to spend a day in the classroom (That’s why I am still here at 7:15 pm). My teacher left really good plans for me to follow. I had a great day. We learned math, practiced and prepared for our assessments, connected online, and even learned a thing or two about treating each other with respect.

As a principal, I believe it is always important to be able to not only be the lead “learner” but also the lead “teacher.” Early in the day I let the staff know that I would be in room 12 all day if they needed me. On my prep period I was able to do 5 walkthroughs, return a few parent calls, and have two discipline meetings with students. Teaching actually energized me! I learned a lot from the students, and hopefully reinforced my commitment to being the best principal/learner/teacher I can be… Until next time… stay healthy everyone 🙂

source: factsandtrends.net

In education (and in life), we love to typecast…. I think some people think it makes things easier, but what really happens is that it limits potential. For instance, I am sure you have heard typecasting comments in your organization:

• I am a ________ (insert subject, grade, etc) teacher
• That person is only good at __________
• She can only work in a lower-socioeconomic area
• They will never be able to ___________
• We need someone with specific  __________ experience  
• I’m not a technology person

Until we break the typecasting roles, we are going to struggle. As the 21st Century becomes a reality, how will you resist the temptation to put yourself, or others into the typecast?

source: writtent.com

I recently attended a meeting to discuss an initiative. It is not important what initiative was, but more so the epiphany someone had during the meeting…. Here is a paraphrase of what they said….. When I came to this meeting, I was sure how I was going to vote. Then, I listened to the data that was presented, and now I have changed my mind! Whoa, I thought ….  This person actually let the data inform them….

It was really amazing because most people get stuck in their thinking. We all do at some point, but there are times when we allow our minds to be open…. I know that in education, the terms”data,” “data-based decisions,” and “data informed,” are difficult for some people to understand…. In this case, I was encouraged by the epiphany and how one person allowed the data to inform their decision…

source: digicitizenship.wikispaces.com

As technologies emerge, it has become very easy for people to overlook and acknowledge their sources. Some people even take “pride” in stealing. You may hear them say that they just add their name to a power point, picture, or even the written word. As an educator, I take offense to this thinking. In fact, it runs contrary to what has made our profession so unique and powerful.

When I blog, I always give credit to the content, pictures or videos I place in this blog. I am trying to model digital citizenship and true 21st century learning. As an online adjunct professor, even in a discussion board, I challenge the students to acknowledge or “ground” their sources. As a Principal, I require my faculty to use the data or resources to support a claim or a new initiative.

Here are a few tips to maintain good Digital Citizenship that could help you become a trusted source of information in the 21st Century:

• When you share information, be sure to give credit – This is easy to do and can be accomplished by a link, footnote, traditional APA or MLA citation, or simply stating “source”
• When in doubt, leave it out – If you feel you need to get permission and either don’t have the time, or can’t contact the originator, just leave it out and mention it
• Encourage people to help you – It is OK to ask on Social Media about the origins of a particular source, or to even seek out sources to use in your blog
• Be honest – If you have no idea where you got something, as long as you don’t portray that you made it, you will be fine
• Sign up in communities such as Flickr for photographs or Reddit for art

If we want our students to cite the text, and make inferences, we should too! Check out this video about citing text for students from the Teaching Channel 

source: savvysassyme.com

Blogging can be intimidating. There is always the question… what am I going to write? Who is going to read it? These are fair questions, and honestly, no matter who you talk with, each blogger has gone through these stages… Here are my 7 tips on writing your own way:

1. Just write – Whether it is an idea, a comment or a suggestion… just write
2. Ask for other (trusted) people to read – Let them look at it from the the “reader perspective”
3. Set a time to write – For me, I write every day – Maybe for starting out you decided to try once a week – Set a time and stick to it!
4. Publish – It is so easy to start your own blog – Most blogs are equipped with design that makes you look professional
5. Length does matter – Through my statistics on my blog, most people are on this site for 1:22 seconds – That’s not a lot of time and my posts reflect this insight
6. Give credit to your sources – Make sure to give credit for videos, pictures or quotes
7. Read, Read, Read – You need to read other blog posts

source: misdlibraryinfo.blogspot.com

On Sunday, April 27, 2014 at 9:30 EST on www.teachercast.tv the Principalcast crew interviews Todd Nesloney aka @techninjatodd. The purpose of the interview is to focus on Todd’s new position as an administrator.

For those of you who do not know Todd, he is a celebrated teacher, blogger, flipped classroom expert, and overall awesome dude. His website includes information on technology tools, and a focus on his class blog. Todd is a resource to everyone on twitter. According to his website, in 2013 Todd was selected as a White House Champion of Change, Center for Digital Education’s “Top Innovators in Education” and a “20 to Watch” by the National School Board Association. He also work with Remind101, Sophia, Classroom Champions and several other organizations and has recently authored two books Spruce & Lucy and Flipped 2.0.

Make sure to visit www.teachercast.tv on Sunday, April 27 at 9:30 EST to learn more from Todd. Be sure to engage with the Principalcast crew in the chat room so you can ask Todd questions!

Our school recently participated in the annual Earth Day celebration…. Our Art teacher, with the help of many other people in the building, assisted the students with an awareness of exactly why we need to celebrate the Earth. Throughout the days, students of all ages learned the importance of recycling….

I think the day was focused on all the right activities. Students made recycled paper, and were encouraged to “plant” it because it contained seeds. They made art out of recycled materials, and participated in the design of the art. The students also began to grow their own plants through a station that taught them about seeds and the planting process…

Students in grades 3 – 5 went to see the movie Bears. During the weeks leading up they researched the movie and even did a compare/contrast upon returning from the movie. Some students took time to watch live streaming Bear cams that featured live Bears looking for food.

What I liked most about the day was that it was good old messy learning. It required students and teachers to get out of their comfort zones and appreciate all that our existence on Earth provides…..