Author: Teach2Connect

I am thrilled that for the first time in many years I will have the entire month of July off from school. When I’ve been asked “what are you doing this summer?” my response has been “read, sun, and pack. “We are moving a few miles away in August so that is why “pack” is an answer. We will lose our access to an outdoor pool when we move so that explains the “sun” element. And I think to goes without saying the “read” is the piece I will most relish. I’m never not reading but to have the time to read a lot and deeply is a very exciting prospect.

So what shall I read? Here is the “short” list.

Professional Reads

Mindset, Carol Dweck

I started it months ago and put it down for Lean In, but I am fascinated about how this book can help us re-think how we perceive ourselves, others, and our ability to learn.

Creating Innovators, Tony Wagner

The children I teach are no the same as the children my teachers taught (aka, me). It is time we start recognizing how the world has changed and Tony Wagner has a lot to say about this subject.

Now You See It, Cathy Davidson

After hearing Dr. Davidson speak at NAIS, I am enthralled with brain science and how we are/can completely transform the way we learn.

Reality is Broken, Jane McGonigal

I am not a gamer. I am not even a wannabe gamer. However, I find the concept of learning from games to be really fascinating. (Also on my summer list is learning to play Minecraft.)

How Children Succeed, Paul Tough

The “it” book from last fall, I’m excited to read the actual thing. I’ve read all the articles about it pertaining to grit, character, etc, but am looking forward to seeing Paul Tough’s take on it.

Rewired, Larry Rosen

The generation we teach is immersed in the digital world, for better or worse. I started this book last fall and am eager to return to it to hear Dr. Rosen’s thoughts on reaching our iKids.

Want some more ideas for professional reads? Check out my Summer Reads Wish List on Amazon. These were all books I suggested to our Admin for ideas for reading this summer.

Non Fiction

Unbroken

My book club read this a few months back and I missed it. As a runner, it seems like a truly compelling story. As a human, it seems amazing.

Why did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?

Even though I can’t attend my book club at church, I want to read this “with” them. Brian McLaren is an amazing writer, provoking theological discussion in the spirit of love and truth.

The Gospel According to LOST

I’ve been binge watching LOST for the first time since Christmas. I am on season 6, the final season. YES-I know what happens at the very end (Thanks, This Is 40….) but I’m definitely watching with a bent towards theology. I love books like this-that look at literature or film and build connections. (I read 3 about Harry Potter and loved them all.)

Crazy Love

The controversial work of Francis Chan has been showing up a lot on my instagram feed lately. I thought I would add it to the stack.

Orange is the New Black

I am a huge fan of the memoir genre and this looks fascinating. How might imprisonment change a person for the good?

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

I have recently started watching back episodes of The Mindy Project and have fallen completely smitten for Mindy Kaling. She is hilarious and I can’t wait to read her book with her voice as narrator.

START: Punch Fear in the Face

Jon Acuff couldn’t have picked a better title for a book on leadership and LIVING life than this one. I bought it the day it came out and am ready to turn from Average to Awesome.

Wheat Belly

In the process of transforming my physical health, I have dabbled in grain/gluten free eating. I think after I finally read this book, I will be set up for good.

Fiction

Revenge Wears Prada

It has been ten years–what are Andi Sachs and Miranda Priestly up to these days?

Night

My chosen piece of real literature for the summer. I haven’t tackled it before now and it is time.

Kids Fiction 

(I like to read what the kiddos read.)

One Crazy Summer

Set in Oakland, CA in 1968, this is the story of three girls and their search for their mother.

The One and Only Ivan

The hit book on the youth circuit this past year, I hope to enjoy this tale for kids.

What am I missing? What do you think I MUST read? Feel free to link up with me on Good Reads or contact me via Twitter. I wish you all the best for a glorious summer.

Every year we say good-bye to a lovely class of 4th graders as they move up into the middle school. This year, my blogging group has been an interesting bunch. Spirited is one word and I mean in the best sense. They are delightful, humorous, and have a strong team bond. They have just been given their last task as bloggers-their reflection blog. My example for them was a reflection of my own school year which I will cross post for you here. Enjoy.

{Dear 4th Graders,

I can’t believe we only have two more blog days left this year. Time has flown by. I am so proud of you for tackling the task of being bloggers. You’ve become self-directed writers and have worked hard under your journalistic deadlines. Here is your last post assignment of the year. Remember, write deeply, pay attention to grammar and mechanics, and read your own work before you submit for review.

Farewell to Fourth-Your Last Blog Post

Write one sentence that sums up your year in 4th grade. Put it in quotes at the top of your post and then write in detail (not summary) why your year was _______ (insert adjective here.) Don’t list things you did but rather write about how you felt and who you were with and why it was important when you discuss particular highlights of your year. You have one day to write and one day to edit, so do not delay!! See my example below.

It has been a pleasure working with you and Ms. Reilly this year. I hope you will consider making your own blog to continue writing, in whatever way you see fit for yourself. Good Luck in Middle School!

Love,

Ms. Thomas}

Ms. T’s Farewell to 2012-2013

“It was a year of taking risks with amazing teachers.”

As my second year at Norwood draws to a close, I think the biggest highlight for me has been seeing new teachers take courageous risks and trying new, innovative projects. Teachers worked on e-books, digital storytelling, blogs, glogs, voicethreads, and even podcasts to re-charge and re-think their classes this year. Teachers who began with a spark, “I was thinking….” ended with a “wow, I can’t believe we did that”. As a result, they saw their students engaged, happy, and working outside of the traditional teaching-learning box.

It was heartwarming and reassuring to see 4th graders blogging and creating e-books as a reflection of their reading. Their engagement levels soared and the quality of their writing sky-rocketed. For 2nd grade students, audio recording their book discussions allowed them to have teacher-free space to discuss their reading but allowed for the teacher to have a record for follow-up. This innovative assessment provided a source of rich feedback for students and teachers alike. The digital tales of Kindergarten readers was truly a sight to behold. Precious and sweet but also providing an opportunity for students to use a digital tool to become authors.

All of these student results made possible because caring, brave, and curious educators took the risk to re-think elements of their curriculum. My entire work as a tech integrator is validated in seeing the academic success in students and pedagogical shift in teachers. With this I say farewell to the school year of 2012-2013 and look with anticipation to our new adventures to come in 2013-2014.

**My fourth graders had to write a blog post reviewing their trip to Philly. I’m encouraging them to write beyond summary and to make it personal. Here is my example for them…**

I had the great privilege and responsibility to go on the 4th grade overnight. 18 teachers taking 54 children on an overnight field trip to Philadelphia—what a daunting, exciting, and rewarding task. We waved our goodbyes to nervous parents and hopped on the cushy bus to head north up 95. Our super-secret chaperon groups were revealed and I squealed in delight to finally meet my charges. We explored the museums up and down along the way taking pictures, learning new things, and laughing a lot. This group of girls was a delight-amiable and kind to one another. It was a pleasure to be with them; we named ourselves the Tie-dyed Sparkly Mustaches and even developed a cheer. 

Our biggest laugh of the trip came when I accidentally set off the building alarm at the Penn Museum of Archaeology. There was no sign that said emergency exit or alarm will sound so when someone said “let’s go outside”, I took them literally. With our ears plugged, we exploded into giggles. 

The most difficult part of the trip for me was watching one of my girls become ill. I take the responsibility part of being a chaperon very seriously. To know one of my girls is not feeling well, to gauge her health, need for medications and rest all at the same time remaining responsible for four others-this is as serious as it gets. Our teacher team rallied to its best to care for her and take my girls under their wing as she took an early rest. 

Every time I travel with kids I learn a little bit more about them. I also learn more about myself-how I handle stress, how I organize, how I sustain energy. And each time I return home completely committed to the task of being an educator. It is my joy, passion, and calling and our trip to Philly was the best possible confirmation.

 

This past Saturday I had the distinct pleasure of being a member of the steering committee for edcamp metroDC. What an incredible group of dedicated, enthusiastic, and organized people. We met together last fall and this weekend birthed our edcamp baby. I am enormously grateful for the experience.

As a member of the committee and twitter princess for the day, I didn’t have the chance to attend too many of the sessions.  However, I caught a few glimpses and was so very impressed, as usual with edcamp attendees, with the commitment and energy around our craft of teaching. As my own reflection would be short, here are a few reflections that can best serve the day.

@Srtalisa’s Reflection

@buddyxo’s Reflection

A Storify of the day’s tweets

A Pinterest Board of our Smackdown

Thank you to the steering committee. What a great day. To quote @buddyxo, you are all #eduawesome.

I think it is no surprise to anyone that my focus during this spring break has been on the pending cases before the Supreme Court. From a personal standpoint, I look to the repeal of Prop 8 and DOMA as an imperative for equality. For my friends, for my neighbors, for my family, and for people I do not know. I believe that equal rights are granted under the constitution and that includes the right to marry for gays and lesbians as well as local, state, and federal benefits for these couples.

So what does this have to do with our schools? We are setting a precedent for our children. Just as our predecessors did during the first Civil Rights movement. We are in a time where we can tell our children that all people are equal in the eyes of the law but more importantly, in our own. For those that use the Bible as an argument against this imperative, I turn their attention to their high school civics course on the separation of church and state. 

While many of us as educators might shy away from this topic because it deals with a “family matter”, I think we have a great opportunity. The biggest teachable moment about character we may see in our lifetime. We have the opportunity to show our children that all people, truly all people, deserve the rights and protections given to us by the Constitution.

Our schools can only benefit when we embrace the diversity of our communities. As our world continues to flatten, our children cannot be isolated from it. We must teach them well. We must teach them to see people and reach out in love. We must expand the reach of our schools and welcome families of all configurations into our halls of learning. We will all be better for it.

Where ever you stand on the moral or judicial points of these landmark cases, I hope that you do not shy away from embracing the opportunity to grow love and acceptance in our schools. Be courageous and open the doors!

 

**Two Great Articles**

Dr. Peggy Drexler: How to Talk to Your Kids about the New Normal

American Academy of Pediatrics Supports Same-Gender Marriage

World Read Aloud Day Challenge #3-A Snapshot of My Reading Life

This snapshot is just one of the collections near my desk in the computer lab at school. I read at work every single day. On days when I don’t work with teachers and students, I spend most of my day reading articles, blogs, resource guides, and books about learning. I love that I have a job that includes reading all the time. Every week at my school we have D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read) in lieu of a message at Chapel. It is amazing to experience the entire school reading quietly and enjoying books just for the sake of enjoying them.

At home, we have a house full of books. Shelves, boxes, stacks on the floor, we have run out of space for our favorite read books and our to-be read books. Cookbooks in the china cabinet from Julia to Practical Paleo. The favorites bookshelf that includes the Harry Potter series, The Alchemist, and a Tree Grows in Brooklyn. The “nerdy teacher” bookshelf with the works of Pink, Kohn, Delpit, Marzano, Friere, and Dewey. The triathlon and runner bookshelf with training plans, nutrition guides, and generally strong reminders to get off the couch and go train. And our piles and piles of fiction, religious inspiration (me), and spy stuff (him). I can’t imagine a house without books.

Tomorrow is the big day, World Read Aloud Day. We have an impending snow storm (which we would all like after a year and a half without a snow day) but we will read, loud and proud, no matter what!

In my one, jam packed day at the NAIS annual conference a clear theme emerged above all others. We must have, model, and encourage a growth mindset. Leaders must instill a culture of continuous learning for adults and students. Time, resources, and processes must be put in place for teachers to work in a reflective, always growing environment.

In their session on “Promoting a Growth Mindset” the trio from Episcopal Academy, Geoff Wagg, Tracie Lee, and Kim Piersall spoke of their token program, Mastership. This program is an in-house, year-long, experiential PD program for 10 teachers a year. It was a compelling program of molding leaders and growing teachers interpersonal and pedagogical skills. I wonder, however, the process they took to get the program moving? Did it bubble up from teachers desire? Do the teachers who need it the most have incentive to take it? Does it fit within a great culture of growth?

During the general session, the amazing Pat Bassett spoke of the three revolutions which have shaped our country. The first revolution, the American Revolution and the forming of a country, brought us examples of accepting risk, dreaming, committing to strategy and “Madison’s Tipping Point Challenge”-do your homework, work the network, communicate frequently and consistently, and change course as needed. The second revolution, the Civil Rights Movement, brought us the speech that articulated the need a vision for all times and places. Mr. Bassett spoke of LBJ as the Madison of the Civil Rights Movement, bringing the dream to fruition. We are now in the 3rd great American Revolution. The era to Think Big, Think Great. A dream of educational revolutionaries who are re-defining teaching, re-thinking learning, and re-designing schooling. I am proud to be a part of this revolution. We, the educational revolutionaries, must fight the naysayers. We are “face to face not with the last time but the next time in history with something commensurate with your (our) capacity to wonder.” We must not let go of our capacity to wonder.

Mike Gwaltney and Brad Rathgeber reminded us in “Technology is Not the Answer” that our work in the 21st century is not about which tool we choose but rather the why and how of our guiding principles. Their examples from the Online School for Girls include:

• Mission and Vision
• Students and Learning at the Center
• Essential Skills
• Search for Opportunities
• Growth Mindset.

And there is my buzz word once again, Growth Mindset, for our students and our faculty. At OSfG, they are continually analyzing the work of their students and faculty. Through the use of student feedback, teachers are encouraged to grow and shift. Backwards Design is used to meet the mission and vision of the school. The OSfG vision of Conneciton, Collaboration, Creativity, and Application is woven through all parts of the whole. I left this session feeling like a cheerleader and wondering how I can open the conversations about these things in my school?

Just as Pat spoke of the great revolutions, Cathy Davidson closed the conference with the Four Great Information Ages and how we can prepare our students for the future. We are currently in the fourth great information age, (the first being writing, movable type, and the age of the steam powered press); the Digital Information Age. So we ask ourselves, how are we preparing our kids and ourselves for THIS world? She asked us to brainstorm the three most important things we can do for our kids-I suggested develop a strong sense of empathy/compassion, and ethics (2) and learn how to unplug and reconnect with nature. Other ideas found on twitter included develop resilience, find passions and follow them, learn how to learn and become a discerning learner. She spoke to us of the reason single focused attention was so important during the industrial revolution and reminded us that the science behind mono-tasking is weak. Our brains were born to multi-task and grow. (How else can you explain breathing, heart beating, and typing all at the same time!) She then provided us with the “5 Things We Can Do Now to Shift the Paradigm”

1. Rethink Liberal Arts as a Start-up Curriculum for Resilient Global Citizens (use the great masters to apply to real life situations.)
2. Move from Critical Thinking to Creative Contribution. (Think about “The Han”)
3. Make sure you what you Value is what you Count
4. Find Creative Ways to Model Un-Learning
5. Take Institutional Change Personally. (“Institutions tend to preserve the problems they were created to solve.–Clay Shirky)

She reminded us and empowered us to believe that teachers cannot truly be replaced by a computer system. Why? Because of what we wrote in our brainstorms. The things that we value, teaching character, teaching meta-cognition, can only be taught by human to human contact.

And in the end, all of this, comes back to a mindset of growth. The belief that we can do anything with hard work, leadership, and the belief that we were made to constantly grow. My brain is still so very full from the inspiration I found at NAIS this year. I hope that I can continue to inspire this mindset in my students and colleagues as our year continues. Thank you presenters, colleagues, and my administrators for giving me the opportunity the attend this year.

 

I am so excited to once again venture out into the big world and head out to the NAIS Annual Conference. This will be my third year attending at least part of the conference thanks in part to “Friday Teacher Day”. NAIS makes it possible for teachers to attend one day for a discounted rate! Thank goodness my sister lives in the city of Brotherly Love and is offering shelter for a wayward traveler.

So off I go tomorrow up to Philadelphia, hopefully in time to see my Kling-peeps at the reception for alums. Then an early wake up call at Casa Sister to head to the conference on Friday. Here is where it gets challenging. With so many offerings and only ONE day to take it all in, how do I choose?! Since NAIS AC doesn’t have the awesome edcamp “rule of two feet”, I feel like I have to pick and stay in the workshops I attend. So YOU, dear reader, get to help me! I’m going to put up the sessions I’m interested in and hopefully you can help me, via twitter, to choose the right sessions.

I am interested in concrete examples of how I can build a culture of growth mindset, drive change successfully, integrate technology, and lead for curriculum innovation. (Obviously, I’ve set the bar for myself sort of low.) So in the spirit of competition, here are my choices:

8am-9am

VERSUS

11:30am-12:30pm

 

VERSUS

1:30pm-2:30pm

VERSUS

VERSUS

So many excellent choices with really interesting topics. I might have to break the sit and stay rule just to catch some of it all! But help me out, tweet me @teach2connect with the sessions you think I should attend. Are you one of these presenters? Sell me on your session! Are you going to one of these and want me to go to another? Let me know! Let’s put a little fun into this conference.

Are you headed to NAIS? If so, see you there! I’ll be the one who looks like she is in a candy store of learning. If not, keep up on the back channel!

This week in the World Read Aloud Day Blog Challenge we ware answer questions called Now and Then. Thinking about ourselves as a ten year old and today.

Now & Then

1. I think everyone in the world should read…

When I was 10: The Babysitter’s Club and the sports section of The Baltimore Sun.

Now: Anything they can get their hands on. Every genre of Book, Magazines, Newspapers, Online Journals, Comic Books, anything and everything to read deeply and widely. Read to learn, read to grow, read to enjoy, read!

2. If I could listen to anyone in the world read aloud to me it would be…

When I was 10: My Mom

Now: My Mom

3. When I read aloud, my favorite character to impersonate is…

When I was 10: Cheer Bear

Now: Tina Fey in Bossypants or any form of British character

4. The genre that takes up the most room on my bookshelf (or e-reader) is…

When I was 10: tween fiction

Now: In the office-nerdy teacher books about change management and sociology of schooling. In the bedroom-fiction, for sure.

5. The last book I wish I’d written or inspired me to write my own story is…

When I was 10: Are you there God, it’s me Margaret?

Now: The Alchemist