Author: Sweat to Inspire

Educator and Parent

A Christmas Wish for Education

Posted on by Sweat to Inspire

Dear Santa-

I know this time of year you are filled with requests from children, asking for a variety of toys, trips and goodies. Some wishes are self-serving and others are filled with generosity. An example comes from my 9 year old son Griffin who wishes for a sled to enjoy the winter weather in Michigan and wants to adopt an pet from the Michigan Humane society to give an animal a home.  This year I have one Christmas wish that tops the rest:

I wish our society valued education!

Over the past few years, education has gotten plenty of lip-service from politicians and education reform groups. Teachers have been attacked, deemed the enemy and left out of reform process. Education has been viewed as an untapped cash cow, that corporations deem ready to take over. Instead of listening to educational experts, the voices of corporate reformers have taken center stage. World rankings of standardized test scores are often featured as prime evidence of need for reform. Poverty is often overlooked as a hindrance to the education process. Don’t reformers realize that our education system is just a reflection of our society!

What does our society value?

How does a society show value towards something? When we are willing to pay a price for it! Our society values sports and entertainment. We pack stadiums every weekend for college and professional sports, paying more than $30 per ticket (yes low estimate). The “Big House” in Ann Arbor has been selling out since the 1970’s, with over 100,000 attending each contest. Communities pass tax breaks and spend millions to fund new stadiums. Even Bankrupt Detroit wants to spend money it doesn’t have to fund a new home for the Red Wings.   Atlanta is replacing Turner Field which was built in 1996 for the Olympics with a new stadium in 2017. This sports infrastructure projects are happening while our educational infrastructure mostly built in the 1940’s t0 1960’s is crumbing and in major need of upgrades. Film companies spend millions to produce a few hours of entertainment, just think what schools could do with these budgets? Society accepts paying sports figures and actors millions per season or film, but to pay a teacher $70,000 for a year of teaching brings public outrage! Don’t these actions alone send the wrong message to our children about education?

How many books are going to be on your sleigh?

Did many children wish for books? Mine always get some, but do the majority of children receive them? Many parents give presents with education in mind. Giving a computer, tablet, or smartphone seems popular these days, often with the idea that it is an educational present (at least many advertisers want us to believe this). Do parents monitor the use? Do students know how to use them for education? Frequently the answers to these questions is NO. Often the presents are given with great intentions but when students are left to their own choices they use the tools for entertainment (not that there is anything wrong with entertainment). Society needs to model the importance of education. Instead it seems it mocks education every chance it gets. Ever notice that every mention of Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates includes that they both dropped out of College? Yet, it is rarely mentioned where other CEOs/ Celebrities graduated from college!

Santa, please make our society realize the importance of education as an individual journey and process, not one dictated by teachers or a common core. Have our society value EDUCATION and show respect for those that foster the process.

Sincerely,

An educator…

Homework is done to keep me off the naughty list!

Posted on by Sweat to Inspire

I don’t give homework in my class, but I am doing mine to stay off of the naughty list! My friend Shawn Davids wrote a post recently asking fellow bloggers to answer questions and share random facts. IReading other bloggers “Homework” has given me insight into what makes others tick. I am in a race with Colleen Skiles to get it done but lost on speed but gained in learning about self and others.  As teachers we often complete activities like this to get to know our classes. So here goes….

11 Random Facts about me…

1. I should have been a doctor: Well at least that is what my family says. My father, grandfather and great grand father were all doctors. Grew up spending hours in hospitals waiting for dad. Guess that is why I am a science teacher now.

2. I failed Biology in HS. Yes totally ironic, son of a doctor and now a science teacher. Wasn’t much of a student then. Freshman year was a rough adjustment time for me and my grades suffered. Retook the class the next year and got an A.

3. Went to Kent School for HS. Kent is a college prep boarding school in Connecticut. I was from rural mid-Illinois (Quincy). Culture shock for me really. Might explain failing Bio. Took me a year to get on my feet. Great school. Really challenged and changed me.

4. I am a loner by nature. I tend to like to sit off in the corner of a crowded room and observe other. Often feel like I don’t fit in any one group but friends with all groups.

5. Big Micro-brew fan. SO big in fact that when some friends from college started one, I invested. ( New Holland Brewing Company when it was in the start up phase)  I am still an investor today. Incredible how the business has grown. I would be a brewer in another life. (Good thing I work on the other side of the state).  This might explain some random micro-brew tweets.

6. A fellow student at Kent was Seth MacFarlane. We were not friends but knew each other. My students always want to know about him. Funny how I feel he has more influence over my students through his TV shows than I do.

7. Experts told me to go into the career of teaching when I was just 18, wish I listened. My grandmother had me tested for career aptitude. I still have the report that says I should go into education or education technology. Instead I majored in Communications in college the first time around. Took till 29 to realize the experts were right.

8. My first car was a 1969 Buick Station Wagon Special Deluxe: My friends called it the Brady Mobile.

9. Prefer fruit deserts over chocolate.

10. Once had a Mohawk in high school. Yes had issues fitting in.

11.Always ask for presents for my children on Secret Santa wish list.

     Ok, now to answer David’s 11 questions:

1.Smooth or crunch Peanut butter?

Smooth Peanut butter: Crunchy is hard to spread and rips the bread. Smooth all the way.

2.Where is your Happy Place?

Sitting in the bay at my families cottage on Walloon Lake.

3. Your Favorite movie as a child?

Always loved “A Christmas Story”, must be coming to mind due to the time of year. Don’t miss it every year.

4. What quote inspires you the most?

“If it doesn’t kill you it only makes you stronger.” Was a marine quote that my fraternity used all the time. Reminds me that doing tasks make us better. Who doesn’t want to be better.

5. If you could sit down for one hour with any person, past or present, who would it be and why?

My father. He died when I was 17. Would want to know if I was living up to his expectations.

6. What’s one of the scariest things you’ve ever done?

Well, it wasn’t by choice but I survived a plane crash. Scared the crap out of me. Glad to have survived.

7. In just one word, how would your friends describe you? Your colleagues?

Friends: Loyal       Colleagues: Dedicated

8.What’s the best decision you ever made?

Going back to school to become a teacher

9. What did you do for your 16th birthday?

Don’t remember! Must have sucked: I was a junior at a boarding school not much to do to celebrate. Didn’t get my driver’s licences till Summer after. (My birthday is in March)

10. What is your favorite joke?

When a student asks what’s up? I answer ceiling tiles. (Dry sense of humor I know)

11 Bloggers that inspire me!!

John Bernia– The Principal’s Page

Tom Whitford– The Connected Educator’s Hotspot

Kit Hard– Edtechkit

Carina Hilbert– The Grumpy Language Teacher

Garth Holman– Teachers for tomorrow

Michael Matera– MrMatera.com

Ben Curran – Engaging Educators 

Chris Stanley– Learning As We Go

Ben Kuhlman– Writing and Teaching 

Bill Martin – Tech Seeds

Ben Rimes- The Tech Savvy Educator 

Short list of many who write to better education!

Your Homework: Hope you choose to do it!

1. Why do you teach?

2. What was your favorite book as a child?

3. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go? and why?

4. Favorite dessert?

5. Describe the inside of your car?

6. Where were you on 9/11?

7. How many states have you traveled to?

8. What was your first blog post about?

9. What was your Best Christmas gift ever received?

10. Describe you standard work attire?

11. Favorite store to shop in?

Your responses will help us know you better!

So Now It’s Your Turn

Picture

Here’s how it works:
  1. Acknowledge the nominating blogger.
  2. Share 11 random facts about yourself.
  3. Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you.
  4. List 11 bloggers.
  5. Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer, and let all the bloggers know they have been nominated. Don’t nominate a blogger who has nominated you.

Post back here with a link after you write this. Go on, you have homework to do. Thanks in Advance!

The Forgotten Purpose of Education

Posted on by Sweat to Inspire

As United States policy makers set out to raise the standards on education by implementing the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS), I often think we have forgotten the purpose of education. Legislators have been convinced by “Education Reformers” that raising the standards will make our country competitive again in national tests and the rankings that follow. States, school districts and teachers have gotten caught up in attempting to teach the numerous standards each year. Many of us fail to cover it all. The argument made has been: “We don’t want Mary Poppins teachers”, you know those who teach a few of their favorite things. “We want to know that all students have the same educational foundation”, often called guaranteed and viable. Other education educational buzz words often used to describe new curriculum are rigorous and relevant.

When reading about the new CCSS non-educators often feel it is a needed change, especially with all the negative press education has received lately. Many educators have spoken out against the CCSS, arguing that it is a sign of corporate take over to education and takes away from the arts, leaving education  dry and  scripted. Really lost in all of this banter is the TRUE purpose of education.

Is education supposed to:

  • Guarantee that individuals know curriculum?
  • Create employable students?
  • Enable students to be college ready?
  • Solve a quadratic equation?
  • Create a graph?
  • Use the scientific method?
  • Speak a foreign language?
  • Create an App?
  • Write a song?
  • Paint a Masterpiece?
  • Build a house?

The answer is simple yet lost in all of the discussion about education lately. Education is for ONE thing and ONE thing only. Since the dawn of time education has been about LEARNING to LEARN. Once this process is completed we can do all of the above if we so desire.

Think about it: Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Steve Wozinak did not follow a “Common Curriculum” on their paths to greatness. Mozart, Picasso, and Jackson Pollock would have never created such wonderful works if their learning bound by a “common” content.

Schools need to become a place where students learn the basic skills. Then they are allowed to  explore topics pushing their teachers to help them. This is the discovery that four and five year-olds have, the endless questioning and excitement. You know the ones parents get tired of and answer with BECAUSE!   Schools should not be on clocks, expecting everyone to discover their path by 18. Some get to the road much quicker and others might like to wander in the woods for awhile.

A teacher will know they have done their job when their pupils finds answers to their questions without assistance.

Remember schools can’t teach all the skills needed for employment. Too many jobs and skill sets are changing too fast. I went to high school in the 1980’s: No internet and few computers. Look at me now writing a blog!! Once we know how to learn we can do anything we desire!

Let’s return education to its true purpose: TEACHING how to LEARN!!

Thanks… Focus on positive and let the negative fall away!

Posted on by Sweat to Inspire

It is that time of year, where you reflect and give thanks for all the positive things in your life. As a teacher it has been easy to get caught up in all the negativity. The profession feels like it has been under a relentless attack lately, but there is so much to be thankful.

  1. Professional Learning Network- Such a positive group of teachers can be found on social media. When you are feeling down, have a bad day, they are always there to pick me up. I have yet to have a negative experience with my PLN. You engagement me, challenge me to grow and do better, give me comfort after a long day and never let me settle for being good.
  2. Collaboration- Teaching is in a time of transition from teachers being alone in rooms doing their own thing to a model where teachers collaborate to create awesome learning experiences for their students. All who have collaborated with me, thank you for opening you minds and sharing what you do in your classrooms so I can be a better teacher.
  3. My Administrators – They get it! Knowing how to comfort the afflicted teachers and challenge the comfortable. Always striving to exhibit the traits teachers desire. Thanks for being humans, not robots, striving for the best learning environment possible.
  4. #MichED – Thanks to the vision of Jeff Bush for spearheading the efforts to start this group of Michigan teachers. You all inspire me. The weekly chat is just the tip of the iceberg. Meeting many of you face to face has greatly enhanced my learning when attending Edcamps and conferences. Looking forward to the Connected Educator Unconference in Boyne City in January to meet more of you.
  5. AMLE– Thanks for the support with #mschat. Everyone at AMLE has an incredible energy and enthusiasm towards teaching students in the middle level. The passion that you bring out in members inspires. I can’t wait till we collaborate again. (Great chat coming in January).
  6. MEA– Protecting the risk taking teachers is a hard job. Many of us would only be good without the knowledge that the union is there to protect and fight for teachers rights. Being a union person is not a glamorous job (similar to teaching), it has many critics. The job they do, helps us all be better teachers.

Enjoy your break with family and friends. Focus on all the positives we have in life and teaching. Be the change you wish for in education.

Traits teachers desire in their Principals.

Posted on by Sweat to Inspire

Principals have a tough job. They are responsible for an entire building of staff and students. Answer questions and demands from all sides. It is hard to for them to focus on their passion: The student and their learning (Has to be to spend so much time in a school), In the rush to handle the demands of the job, principals can take their staff for granted. Forgetting about the need for building and maintaining relationships. Below are a few traits that teachers find desirable in their principals.

  • Listen to teachers, acknowledge their concerns and give them assurances to their actions. Teachers need to feel that the principal hears them and cares what is being said. Teachers like to feel like their opinion matters and it should. Respond promptly to concerns and address them. Disagreements will occur but not without hearing both sides out, then agree to disagree.
  • Give time to your staff. Teachers want to be able to reflect and share what they are doing in their classrooms with the principal. Leaders need to be available for staff to meet, share positives and discuss concerns. Create a schedule so teachers know when you have time for them on a regular basis. When principals aren’t available teachers feel that they don’t care what is going on in the classrooms. Ask questions about lessons, successes and failures. Staff will be more comfortable sharing when more time if give.
  • Give honest timely constructive feedback. IF you see a great lesson, tell the world. IF you see one that needs work, reflect back to your teaching days find the positive and then share how to make it better. Be specific on what works and doesn’t to help the staff grow.
  • Treat all staff as equals. Teachers need to feel valued and equal. Every member of a building’s staff has unique qualities that make the entire team work. Give all staff equal access and time. Play no favorites, staff will see this action and start making assumptions upon it.
  •  Publicly back your staff. Teachers need to make split decisions when dealing with students. Back the decisions publicly, so staff feels supported. If teachers action was a wrong, deal with the issue in a private setting so the teacher can save face. Teachers need to feel supported.
  • Lead by example. Model the behaviors you desire out of staff. Remember that your staff is watching every action. Choices you make with behaviors affect the entire building.
  • Be Positive. Smile and say Hi! Just like Harry Wong says a teacher should meet their students, Principals should meet their staff every day. This is probably the hardest thing to do but has the best results when done.

Hope these quick reminders help remind principals to focus on their staff and create a positive environment for everyone to work and learn.