Save our Schools March/NBPTS Conference Wrap-Up

In February, I decided to attend the NBPTS conference then later I learned of the Save our Schools March in Washington.  The two events occurred simultaneously.  Both events made me think deeply about my role as an educator.  I came away with the following thoughts.

• The choice to become a teacher is a tough choice in America today--low wages, demeaning policies and a lack of public support hinders many from joining the profession or doing what's possible in their educational roles.  Note: I'm fortunate to work in an optimal school and earn a fair wage--a model for all schools/educators.
• Our country depends on a strong public school system for all; currently the quick-fix, test-driven educational policies our government is supporting are undermining the potential that public schools hold to create a strong, smart, innovative people and nation.
• It's every educators' responsibility to educate all children in their charge with engaging and empowering strategies and efforts that prepare students for the world of the future.  Educators have to rid their schools of pervasive isolation and move towards greater collaboration (in and out of school) to best educate all children.
• Educators have to be life long learners who embrace evidence/research based practices.  Schools should encourage their teachers to affiliate with national organizations related to content and pedagogy, and national organizations should continue to partner with universities in an effort to bridge the divide that exists between research and practice.

I'm proud to be an educator because I believe that optimal education for all provides our country with a strong foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and pleasing future--a better world for all.  I have a responsibility to work with my colleagues in my school, system, community and nation to learn about and implement best practices to best serve students.  I also have a responsibility to stay in touch with legislators and other policy makers in an effort to inform them about what's best for education today.

I'm open to challenge, ideas and comments, so let me know what you think.  As always, my main objective is to do my job well as a fourth grade teacher.  Thanks for listening.

Pedro Noguera Speaks at NBPTS Conference

Yesterday morning, Pedro Noguera, New York University professor and expert on school reform, diversity and the achievement gap, challenged the United States government and educators to improve education for all children with an inspiring, supportive speech.

Noguera encouraged the government and educators to support educators' ability to serve the whole child utilizing a diversity of educational strategies.  He made the following points in his speech.

• The politics of blame is harmful; when we focus on blame we can't get creative.  The focus instead should be on responsibility.  When the government blames teachers and teachers blame parents and students--no one progresses.
• We can't ignore children's basic needs when we want to educate them.  
• Right now we hold every child to the same standards even though we're not educating under the same conditions.  Every school in America needs to have conditions for excellence in education.
• The focus should be on mastery; simply covering the material is not enough.  There's a big difference between teaching and talking; if the evidence is not there that children are learning then you have to stop and teach differently.
• One reason New Zealand's education system works is that it's a system of high-trust, low stakes whereas America now has a system of low trust, high stakes.
• Every school should employ high quality instruction, an enriched environment, and essential skills acquisition.
• We have to rethink accountability, reduce isolation and increase collaboration.
• When adults are learning; the students are learning.
• Every adult in the school should be engaged in helping students learn - that's the first priority.
• Schools should have a multi-service lens; partnering with local agencies can help schools serve the whole child.  He cited the fine example of PS 28 in New York.
• Education can play a role in breaking the cycle of poverty only if students are empowered and engaged.
• The children's time is right now--educators should ask, "What can we do right now to serve children well," with a sense of urgency.
• He quoted George Bush's words and warned us not to operate "under the soft bigotry of low expectation."  If you come from challenging circumstances, it's of even greater import that you are prepared.
• Developing knowledge with optimal pedagogy and strong relationships is essential.
• If you are working with a population of students that is different from your own socio-economic and/or cultural background, then you have to take the time to know and understand that population.
• Current national policies limit and constrain educators rather than provide conditions for excellence that engage and empower educators and students alike.
• Schools bring stability to children.
• Schools are complex organizations; teaching well is not a simple process.  Policy makers who believe in simple solutions don't understand the complexity of education.  Educators need to be an integral part of the conversation related to school transformation.

Noguera is an ally to teachers.  He supports a positive direction for education in America.  I'm listening and I hope our policy makers are listening too. 

Please add your thoughts about Noguera's speech and ideas if you'd like.  Thanks for listening.

Arne Duncan Speaks at NBPTS Conference

Who can argue with Arne Duncan's words today?

• Remake schools for the 21st century.
• Pay teachers adequately.
• Narrow the role of government, and let educators lead the way.
• Make teaching a venerated profession.
• Treat teachers as nation builders.
• Don't underinvest in education.
• Keep the best teachers in the classroom.
• Provide autonomy for teachers.
• Use the Department of Education as an engine of innovation.

Teachers in the audience were moved to question.  They questioned the methods used to reach the goals above.  Methods that many feel are not reliable, and serve to belittle and degrade teachers.  I agree that it's a time to transform the profession, and I also believe that the transformation should come from educational professionals utilizing respectful evidence-based processes and methods that create conditions for excellence for all of the nation's children.

Karen Cator Speech, NBPTS Conference: Tech Direction

Karen Cator, Director of the Office of Educational Technology of the U.S. Department of Education, presented at the NBPTS conference.  To me, it was an affirming speech which once again demonstrated the fact that we’re headed for tech integration at almost every level of our work as educators.

Cator began her speech by describing how businesses today are mixing and matching medias, transmedia, to relay content.  That’s the world our children are living in.

She also listed and discussed the avenues technology provides to learners and teachers including:

·      Visualizations, animations, simulations

·      Access to virtual communities.

·      Feedback loops.

·      Accessibility

·      Publishing to wide audience.

·      Global participation.

·      Extension of the learning day.

Ms. Cator also described the National Education Technology Plan, and emphasized that technology makes you highly effective and highly connected.  Pointing to the future, Cator explained that the Nation hopes to connect up to 98% of the country with Broadband.  She also noted that Comcast is about to offer affordable WIFI options to students without Internet connections.

Further, the Director encouraged teachers to leverage the technology tools that students already have to promote lifelong learning in and out of school.

She encouraged teachers to take action in the following ways:

• Shift control and access to students.
• Develop your PLN (professional learning network).
• Be designers – scientists in your own classroom.
• Create new, motivating and engaging assignments.
• Share your stories, strategies, results.
• Support and encourage the professionals around you.
• Get children in on the discussion

Karen Cator is an energized, positive speaker who eagerly supports technology in classrooms throughout the United States as a means of reaching all children in engaging and empowering ways.

School Culture Considerations

Dr. Romena Holbert from Xenia High School and Margo Gaillard-Barnes from Dayton Public Schools presented “Reboot: Use of Core Propositions to Empower Teachers as Agents of Change” this morning at the NBPTS conference.  The presenters discussed positive changes and collaboration in their own setting while leading us through a number of exercises to foster thought about our own schools.

Since I had just attended an RTI workshop which emphasized the need for cultural shift in order to embrace RTI practices, I was intrigued by this presentation.

First they encouraged teachers to discuss observations, strengths and challenges related to their school culture.  It was interesting to meet with and discuss this information with other teachers in the room.  In many cases, one person’s challenge was another person’s strength.  Hence we were able to share relevant strategies and connections.  This would be an interesting exercise to implement with cross-grade or cross-subject teams in a school.

Later, the discussion led to the elements that make up school culture including observations, assessments, engagement, staff learning, collaboration, developmentally appropriate teaching, whole child lens, available resources, community/university resources, student/teacher motivation, and faculty/student ratios.  Some of the issues found to impact collaboration included hierarchal relationships, dissimilar program expectations, different schedules, communication, the varying sense of urgency and competition.  To maximize effectiveness, collaboration and professional learning communities are essential.

Holbert and Gaillard-Barnes described processes used to foster collaboration and student success including:

• Getting to know teachers.
• Developing trust and relationships.

• Helping teachers set goals.
• 
Implementing a collaborative plan to achieve goals.

• Integrating action research in the work day.

• Positive reinforcement and acknowlement of teachers’ personal lives.
• 
Establishing effective routines and a systematic approach.

• Employing meaningful reflective practices.
• 
Developing ways to foster students’ desire to reach mastery.

• Keeping motivation alive, not burning out the teachers – realistic growth.

• Dreaming big!

These presenters, similar to the many speakers at the NBPTS conference, encourage greater collaboration in schools to better foster success for all students.