Waiting for Superman

Well...I'm watching Oprah...I know...kinda sad right! Well not this time. I'm learning about a documentary produced by the same man that produced "An Inconvienent Truth, Davis Guggenheim."  It opens in select cities on 9/24.

Now, hear me....this documentary is NOT about my school district or my elementary schools. Coppell ISD, Mockingbird Elementary and Valley Ranch Elementary are doing exactly what schools should be doing. The teachers at these institutions are hard working, striving continually to be better. BUT, all of our nation's schools and districts are not meeting these standards. Each state does not have the accountability that Texas does.

Are we satisfied with what we do day to day in Coppell ISD? Of course, that is our focus, but don't we also owe something to those children that are fighting for an education...and can't receive it! Yes!!!

These highly public "exposes" make me very nervous. Yes ineffectiveness needs to be exposed, but so many of us (educators) are working hard everyday, diligently...to improve and meet the needs of all of our many, varied, students! But there are others...that don't meet the high expectations that we have in Coppell ISD of our students. YES, there are some public schools that do a great job! These successes are not portrayed in the video. Shouldn't we show the schools/districts/teachers that are successful? What is the model we need for all of our schools? Aren't the successes around the country important? Of course they are...

One of my hardest sharing moments...are those that hold up other schools, states, districts that have policies, procedures and practices that help move forward our schools, teachers and students forward. My focus, of course, is educational technology, but when trying to share where I've been and what I've learned??? Many times it is discounted by my colleagues. I try to lead by example and share my knowledge and experience when appropriate, but it is difficult!

The "Lemon Dance" is horrible!!! Pass around the ineffective teachers rather than get rid of them??? Where are these people? I'm on my toes at all times...too much in my mind...afraid of what I might be called on next. Working constantly to improve...my teaching with students and providing support and training for my teachers...ahhh...ineffective teachers who aren't trying...not in my radar, but I know they must be out there. I definitely do experience those that are hard to change...things done differently not highly prized, but we chip away and hope for the best. These teachers want the best for their students.. they know what has worked in the past, just not so much what would work better and prepare students more appropriately for the future they are faced with today in 2010-2011, It is vastly differently than what those students of even 5 years ago face. So in my thinking...if you're doing the same thing you did 4 or 5 years ago, you're not totally on your game.

Social Justice: We set our schools up for failure. Prepare our kids to deal with life in America. Tracking students in high schools...advanced students are prized and supported. What about those in the middle? Do they get the best teachers in the school? And those that are highly at risk? Very far behind? Low? Do they have a chance to graduate and go to college? I'm asking????

Oprah focuses on Charter School Successes. She gave $1 million dollars to each of these 6 charter schools. What could a public school/district do with $1 million dollars? Too bad Oprah didn't find it in her heart/plan to find out! Public schools are what our country has been based on for hundreds of years...do we abandon them? Do we support them? I sure hope so!!!

http://www.aspirepublicschools.org/
http://yesprep.org/
http://www.learncharter.org/
http://www.masterycharter.org/
http://www.sciacademy.org/
http://www.scienceandtech.org/

Voicethread in Education

Lisa Timmerman, a 4th grade teacher @ Lakeside Elementary, attended an after school Voicethread class and took it back to her students in a big way. Below is one of her class projects.

Building a Teacher Audience

I want to explore using Blogger to give information to my teachers and create conversations about various ways of using technology to transform their classrooms. Out Coppell Instructional Technology webpage will compliment the blog with various tutorials, videos, handouts, etc.

Watch this video to learn how to create a blog using blogger.

Club 21 - Blogger Training

During our Club 21 Training this morning, we are learning all about Blogger and transforming ways to use blogging with students.