We are embarking on an awesome journey at our elementary school…. We are having the first Annual Alumni Night on May 30, 2014. The reason for this night is twofold… First, we want to honor those alumni who attended RM Bacon School since the doors opened in 1929. Secondly, we want to showcase the amazing things that are taking place currently and share our plans for the future.

Come out and support us on May 30, 2014 for an evening to remember. If you can’t make it, mark your calenders for next year… we have already scheduled the Second Annual Alumni Night for May 29, 2015!

I am sure this man never talked back to his teacher, and his parents supported teachers. source: pepperhawkfarm.wordpress.com

Since today is “officially” teacher appreciation, I thought it would be a great topic to blog about. Teachers make way too much! They are too greedy!

If you read my blog on a regular basis, you have probably seen countless posts about the positive impacts that teachers make. As a principal who believes in the power of teaching, teachers have one of the most important jobs in the world, and I attempt to support teachers everyday. Know why? They support kids and make too much… way too much!

Its a shame that are more then a few jaded administrators, politicians, and ed reformers that vilify teachers. In my opinion, teachers are not the ones to blame when someone doesn’t like something in society. There are way too many variables that are out of teachers’ hands such as socio-economics, family dynamics, and parental/community support to blame teachers for the ills of society. I see teachers everyday fighting a seemingly uphill climb as they deal with being criticized in the press and on the late night talk shows. It never used to be like this. Granted, there are some teachers who have given the critics easy material, but then again so have the police, politicians, doctors, lawyers, etc. every profession has their outliers….One of the biggest criticisms of teachers is they too much money…. way too much!

Taylor Mali agrees. He thinks teachers make way too much as well….. Check out his awesome performance on what teachers make.

Thank you teachers! Thank you for making too much, way too much!!! You made it possible for all of us to achieve our goals!

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