Author: Sweat to Inspire

Educator and Parent

Why I am a Connected Educator

Posted on by Sweat to Inspire

 As I begin this journey of starting #mschat (August 9, 8 pm EST every other week), I have been asked by friends and colleagues Why? 

 

The simple answer is to get off the “island of teaching” and into a collaborative group. It really goes back to my first year of teaching: I was struggling getting a grip on the what and how to teach. I asked my veteran grade level teaching partner if we should meet with teachers in another building to discuss the issues. She answered: “No we have to figure it out, our principal would not like that.” I felt isolated and alone. Teaching has traditionally been this way sadly. Teachers, schools and districts have been hesitant to share what the are doing (The good, bad and ugly). Education is not a competition, we all have the same goal so we need to collaborate.  

 

Last year I stumbled upon educational value twitter at the suggestion of a friend. On twitter all of the educators are helping each other reach the common goal of student learning and quality teaching. Over the past year I have participated in many chats that have help me grow. The chats make me reflect on my teaching and give me insight into what other teachers are doing in their classroom.  I have found great tools and lesson ideas by being a connected educator. Better yet I have forged relationships with other educators from around the world. I have a large group of teachers to ask advice of, share ideas with, and collaborate. Observing a void in the conversation specific to the middle school needs, I along with my principal (@wwmsprincipal) have decided to start #mschat. Topics will be picked using a twitter poll, focusing on Middle School issues.

 

I encourage all educators to become connected. Start slow by following people you know. Lurk in chats, until you feel comfortable. I feel it is best just to try it out and find your comfort level. The community is welcoming and full of help. If you don’t understand how something works, tweet a question and the community will answer. Educators that feel isolated and want to get off the “island” need to explore all of the social media options and become connected.

 

Middle School Chat Starting Aug 9th 8 pm EST

Posted on by Sweat to Inspire

I have been on actively on twitter as an educator for a little over a year, in this time I have found wonderful connections to educators from around the world. I have found incredible resources and insights from educators of all levels. I value all of the people in my growing PLN. One thing that seems missing is a chat/group dedicated solely to Middle School Issues. So after conversations with members of my PLN and encouragement from my principal. I am going to moderate a #mschat starting August 9th at 8pm. This chat will   be a twice monthly chat focusing on current middle school issues. I hope this will be a time where middle school teachers can share the great things that are going on at their schools and also talk about the challenges of teaching at this level. I look forward to learning and growing with all of the connected educators out there. See you in 2 weeks.

#EdFix

Posted on by Sweat to Inspire

For the past 2 years or so the political world and educational world have be colliding due to the state of our educational system. Many are touting new ideas to “Fix” education. Fingers are being pointed at different parties to blame. Businesses are circling like vultures to pick at the billions of dollars spent in the system.

So how do we fix education? Is there a silver bullet/ one size fits all/ quick fix?

Well the answer to the second question is easy: NO it will be situational fixes that take time.

How: well that is the hard one. Why is the system in need of a “Fix”?

Well in my opinion it is due to our culture shifting away from valuing education and knowledge. Our society let education become what it is today. We as a collective value pop culture, material possession and entertainment over education.

Just look at where the money goes and this is evident. This value shift from hard work and education of earlier generations has had great impact on the educational system. Society needs to shift the focus back to education. Here are a few ideas to get started in the shift:

  1. Hold teachers in high regard, respect what they say like you do your doctor or lawyer.
  2. Businesses need to partner with schools to set up programs to assist students.
  3. Address the hidden curriculum, teacher teach so much more that the core. Poverty needs to be addressed.
  4. Have pop-culture reflect education as a “must needed value” instead of  stars sharing that they made it despite dropping out. Or showing education locations as a “party” back drop.

 

To truly fix education we need to change society to value education!

Should there be an ISTE?

Posted on by Sweat to Inspire

The International Society for Technology in Education is currently holding there annual conference in San Diego. For all accounts, ISTE does great things and for what I know of it the conference helps great minds connect (IRL). THe question I have is do we need a group promoting technology in Education? Is there one promoting tech in business? It really seems like all educators would want to use more technology in their classrooms and instruction. To me it seems like “Best Practices”. Sure 20 years ago this group was needed at the dawn of personal computers and the rise of the internet. Similar to the invention of the overhead projector and the chalkboard, they probably needed a society in their day.

I feel any education conference needs to have technology as a major player. We use tech for reading, writing, math, science, social studies… heck everything we do in the classroom. Grade books and attendance are mostly done on the computer these days. So isn’t it time to merge ISTE with other educational best practice organizations? The conference should just be Best Practices in Teaching!

Ok, I know some teachers are still struggling with Technology, this reinforces my position. Technology needs to be in every classroom and should not be separated out as something “special’ or extra. We need to make sure all teachers are knowledgeable in core teach essentials. This is way it needs to be a focus included in all conferences not just one focused on tech. Technology needs to be better incorporated into all subjects everywhere.

I leave you with this question: Would we have a conference for the use of pencils in Ed? Whiteboards in Ed? Books in Ed?

Great ideas going on that need to be shared everywhere.

Not all evaluations are equal …

Posted on by Sweat to Inspire

As the school year is coming to a close many of district administrators are busy working on teacher evaluations. In Michigan, all teachers now have to have a yearly evaluation. By law a significant part of this evaluation has to be based upon  student achievement data. Has the state given guidance into what data to use and how to use it? Not really. The MDE was supposed to come up with an evaluation model by the end of March. At the end of March, they realized how hard this model was to create and have decided to Pilot a new model in 13 districts state-wide to make sure it is fair.  Meanwhile in all of the districts in the state, evaluations are being done using what each district feels will work best.

So all of the state’s teachers are being evaluated on as many different models for evaluation as districts. These districts will report one of 4 rating for each teacher; 1. Highly Effective 2. Effective 3. Minimally Effective  4. Basic. This is reported in the rep report to the state which is a public record. If this get published think of the chaos.

A teacher ranking “Highly Effective”  in one district could rank “effective” or lower in another district. We will be comparing apples but they are different types of apples used for different thing.

Districts and the state need to report publicly the formula used for creating the ratings. Or better yet, the state needs to void all of the ratings until a universally used system is put in place. This way the public won’t get confused.

An open letter to any elected official who is willing to listen

Posted on by Sweat to Inspire

Dear Officials:

First an foremost thank you for taking the time to listen to an educator. Most of us feel unrepresented in this time of school reform.   As you create laws and pass sweeping changes that affect my place of work I would like you to keep in mind a few things.

1. Please listen to educators- the ones who have been in a classroom at least 10 years.

2. IF you feel you need to cut money from schools remember that it means I will have less to pay for student’s meals, snacks and supplies. That is where most teachers extra money goes back into the underfunded classrooms.

3. IF you feel teachers need to spend more time with paper work and training, it will mean I will have less time to coach, tutor, or design high quality lessons. Teachers already work at night and during weekends to keep up with the demands on their time.

4. Address the hidden curriculum. Sure I know we need to teach math, science, social studies and language arts. We should not have to teach: social skills, manners, internet safety, hygiene, etc. Poverty makes in necessary for teachers to teach these needs. Funding needs to be available to help in these areas. Or reform business so poverty is gone.

5. Remember your teachers, you have an education because of them. Teachers make the future and need to be supported and not attacked.

 

Again Thanks for listening.