source: www.cherigregory.com

As I scanned the twitterverse today, I missed spending time with friends and tweeps at EdCamp Philly. I wasn’t able to attend because I had so much to catch up on. As I am sure you can understand, the life of an educator can get really busy, and this is a very busy time of year. For the past two days I have written about the changes at my school. Let’s just say I was extremely happy that I woke up this morning and it was Saturday. So, instead of attending the EdCamp in Philly, I played catch-up.

My day ended up being a productive catch up day! I worked out in the morning, cleaned the house, mowed the lawn, blogged, played soccer with my daughter, and took my son to Karate…. and I still have time to spare, time to relax. I know my kids have “movie night” planned tonight! What a great day playing catch up!

Source: jomurphey.blogspot.com

Change be draining both emotionally and physically! As I wrote in yesterday’s post, our school is embarking on a systemic change that is impacting every grade level, and about 70% of the staff in some form or fashion. Throughout the day I had meeting after meeting to discuss the proposed changes with everyone directly involved. Some of these meetings went well and some not so well but all were approached with the same information. It will certainly take time, and our dedicated staff will remain focused on the target… the students!

As I stated earlier, this process has been draining. I fell asleep at 8:30 PM last night. I just didn’t have anymore energy. I was tapped out. I am sure I was not the only once as I am cognizant of the change process for the staff. I believe, however, it is days like today that will actually make our school better! We will face this change together. We will be drained together, and renew together!

Source: blog.zerodean.com

Eventually, everything changes. Nothing stays the same. Nothing. With that said, no one likes change… It is one of the most ironic dichotomies of life. In fact, I know why most principals do not want to enact systemic change… it is really hard! In the next few weeks, our elementary school will experience lots of changes… Teachers will be assigned to new grade levels, new classrooms, and new curricula. The changes are based on two notions… getting the people in the right seats on the bus (Collins, 2001), and addressing continuous improvement.

As I go through this process, I will ensure everyone that these changes are designed to improve the school, and our most precious customers… the students. I am also sure, as a reflective educator, that I will report out on how these changes are accepted (or not) and how our school benefits.

Change is neither good nor bad, it simply is Don Draper 

 

Photo by Patti Banker

I’ve never met Mike Trout, I am not from Millville, and I have only been working here for the last 3 years. Yet, as I watched the build up to Mike Trout’s debut at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, I was proud to at least be associated with this city! I didn’t go to the game, but I knew a lot of people who did. I followed their tweets, instagram, and facebook posts about the event….. The event that over 4,000 residents of Millville attended…. all to support their home town hero!

As I watched on TV, the announcers continued to mention the never-before-seen support for an away player. They mentioned how the Millville Band played, the Mayor threw out the first pitch, and how the Millville Orange and Blue dominated! The next day when I talked to co-workers who attended they beamed as they told me their individual stories. Everyone was so happy and so proud be from the Holly City that also happens to be the home of two time MVP runner-up, and all around great guy Mike Trout.

This was such a unique experience, and it made me proud to work in Millville.

Recently, the Principalcast crew hosted ASCD Arias authors Bill Sterrett, Mark Barnes, and Michael Fisher. In the podcast, we learned so much about the Arias authors and their excellent books. Want to listen to the podcast? Check this out:

Books focused in the podcast

The 5 Minute Teacher by Mark Barnes

Digital Learning Strategies by Michael Fisher

Short on Time by Bill Sterrett 

We have been experimenting with Augmented Reality at our school. It is obvious that this technology is in it’s infant stages, and it became more obvious after watching this video:

I don’t think we can even imagine how Augmented Reality is going to impact our schools, let alone society as a whole. I think it is important for our students to be on the forefront of this technology because in the foreseeable future it will be all around.

How do you see the impact of Augmented Reality impacting education? Society? Our civilization?

source: www.categorypartners.com

I lucked out today. As I was coming back from the gym, I caught tail end of TED Radio Hour on NPR. As I listened to the broadcast, I was fascinated by a story about re-branding of the potato.  I thought… the potato? There is a story about Fredrick the Great who was looking for ways to feed his country. Basically, he convinced a country that the potato was “royal” and that everyone needed it. He made the potato desirable through making it the prime vegetable in the royal garden. Soon the peasants risked everything to steal the potato, and eventually began grown potato themselves. There were many unintended consequences such as they avoided famine, drove the price of bread down, and galvanized a nation.

Currently, many schools are branding and re-branding themselves. Know why? Simple stated, public schools are being vilified by reformers, and politicians who believe that they have created a more desirable form of education. Some of these education alternatives are actually succeeding because of the placebo effect. If you believe you will succeed, you might just succeed. The question remains….. a potato is a potato, or is it?

source: www.examiner.com

I hope we are not giving it all away…. I hope we are still going to be able to speak our mind, challenge the process without fear of retaliation. Granted, educators who are working public education are held to a higher standard, but I fear that these lines get blurred when it comes to what is right for kids.

For instance, as I scan the headlines regarding the assessment culture in education, I am seeing a growing number of educators who are standing up and speaking their mind. They are challenging the process, providing data, examples of other possibilities, or just merely saying ‘hold on.’

I just hope it is not too little, too late…

Want to learn from the Tech Ninja? He has a lot to show you! He was recently named as the new principal at an elementary in Texas!

Check out this podcast featuring Todd Nesloney (aka @techninjatodd):

Source: www.alewifebaltimore.com

Since embarking on the Blog 365 challenge, I have changed the way I blog. For instance, I now view blogs as a work in progress… This can be difficult for some of the readers because I get comments like “Did you check your grammar?” or “You didn’t really finish that post.” I usually reply, “Exactly!”

Blogs are not dissertations, academic papers, or even memos…. Blogs are thoughts, ideas, highlights, pictures, videos, rants, and for me blogs are a journey…. Blogs are a work in progress….

Want to edit? Want to help me finish these posts? Just let me know… there is a lot of work to do 🙂