NOT Rocket Science

One of the things I love about education is the challenge of it. Since my first year of teaching 11 years ago, I remember reading and talking and asking lots of questions trying to find that elusive magic bullet. What is it that we can do to eliminate the achievement gap? It turns out it isn't that complicated. Here's the secret: do whatever it takes to make sure every student learns, every single day. If they don't, then re-teach in a different way and assess again.

Roland Fryer and Geoffrey Canada talk about this issue. Check it out:

www.aifestival.org/session/afternoon-conversation-geoffrey-canada-and-roland-fryer-jr

There are five things we can do to eliminate the achievement gap*:

1) More time in school.

2) Teacher quality

3) Using data to drive instruction – every 3 weeks, re-teach, re-assess, make sure kids get mastery

4) Differentiating instruction

5) Culture, expectations, accountability

(*research based data shows these five things are correlated with significantly reducing the achievement gap).

Now, if only we could get teachers on board with this....

Changing School Culture

Thanks to a colleague, I'm reading a great book about changing school culture. I've wondered how to go about changing mindsets so that everyone has the "do whatever it takes" attitude when it comes to student achievement. The strange thing is that many teachers will say that they are doing all they can, that they can't do anymore. We have to keep going until all students achieve. The very idea that one can do this job in 7.75 hours is ridiculous and unprofessional yet our profession is part of a union that fights for the right to arrive at work at 7:00 and leave promptly at 2:45. If we are to make real changes for our students, we cannot adhere to that schedule. Imagine a surgeon who had a particularly difficult operation. What if his hours were up in the midst of surgery? Would he leave the patient on the table? Never. But that's what some teachers are fighting for. I'm not into teacher bashing because it gets us no where. It's time for solutions. Time to use the union to move our profession forward instead of backward. Rather than clinging to some crazy schedule or structures that support weak teachers, why not work to increase our pay and require more education for teacher licensing? Why not work toward a longer school day and paying teachers more who choose to work in high poverty schools? Why be so defensive?

Last Days of School

Everything is important. Every moment. I know everyone is tired and we are all looking forward to some time to rest and recover. But we need to stay focused on our work for now.

Research says that students lose 2.5 months of learning over the summer and the time spent recovering the learning in the fall simply puts student learning back even more. This problem is more critical with poor children. I know everyone thinks we're being nice by showing movies on these last days and going on field trips, but really, we're doing some real damage that can't be made up. Students will spend much of their summer indoors watching movies. School is for learning. Step it up people. It's the least we can do.

Do What You Love

It took me a while to find it. Now that my children are finding their way, I realize how patient and curious we should be before throwing in the towel or making a decision that we are unsure of. Living is all about trying and exploring. It takes time and the thing you love today might be different tomorrow. Find it and if you can't find it, keep looking and do things that make the looking more fun. Take a class, read a book, take a nap, talk to your grandma. Believe in yourself and in what you are doing is exactly the right thing to be doing now. Figure out what's next when it arrives.

Tips

If you feel ill, take some deep breaths. If you still feel sick, call your mother and place a cool compress on your head.

What is Faith?

In my darkest moment I reached out for comfort. I didn't ask why this had to happen to me. I think that is faith. I knew there was comfort for me - I knew if I could reach out, it would be there. I knew that if I just asked and let go a little that I would be okay. Sure, there were times that I thought, does it have to hurt so much? or does recovery have to take quite so long? Sometimes I wondered when I would hear some good news, like the date I'd be released from the hospital. But through it all, I knew it would be okay. There were many people that came to support me spiritually. A chaplain, a priest, a healer. The chaplain suggested this short prayer, "Be still and know that I am God." As I said it I felt like I was actually in God's palm - what a beautiful feeling of comfort and security. One morning after a terrible feverish night sleep, I finally dozed off. I woke up with the the voices from my church choir in my ear singing Total Praise. I am changed. Not in my faith or my belief. I am changed in what faith can do for all of us. Believe.

Home At Last

It's been an unbelievable two weeks. An adventure of some kind. I am still in a haze, but slowly coming to the surface of my life. I have had wonderful care at the hospital. My friends and family have been unbelievably supportive and caring - doing much more than I ever asked. It has been overwhelming and humbling to feel so cared for and loved. I have a great life and I'm so glad to get back into it.