Sunday, April 27, 2014

Food for Thought Shared 4/27/2014


Below you will find "Food For Thought" links shared 4/27/2014. Hope you find them useful. If not, check back next week as the menu always changes!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Flickr_jef_31871680--In-N-Out_Cheeseburgers.jpg

  1. Cornucopia of "Food for Thought"- TIE2014 Keynote Dr. Yong Zhao- http://youtu.be/MySiTjhN1Ok
  2. Every minute...https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BmLSIGmIEAADEul.jpg:large
  3. No App for That? Then smash it!- http://www.edutopia.org/blog/chrome-smashing-creating-the-inconceivable-beth-holland
  4. Why 20% Time is Good for Schools- http://www.edutopia.org/blog/20-percent-time-a-j-juliani
  5. How to Use Twitter in 60 Seconds- http://edutech4teachers.edublogs.org/2013/02/09/twitter-in-60-infographic/
Background- In my weekly Sunday night email to teachers I end with links to articles, videos, posts and other links that I have curated throughout the week that have made me pause and reflect upon my leadership, my practice, my school, my relationships, and my students.  Awhile ago, a teacher in my building Mr. DeCubellis, shared with me a file of all of last year's "Food for Thought".  Since then I have wanted to curate the materials further myself, beyond an email, and share them with an even larger audience. Additionally, I am still trying to get to posting regularly on this blog and I am hoping that this will provide me with a baby step to getting to at least a weekly post.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Don't believe the hype...even on the day before vacation we are teaching and learning

"We don't do anything on the day before vacation" is a phrase heard by some parents and guardians, invoked by students who want to start a scheduled vacation a day early.  In case you were tempted to believe the hype, thinking that teaching and learning was taking a day off at East Greenwich High School, below are just a few of the activities, assessments, discussions, essential questions, and other instructional methods that students were privy to on the day before vacation.

My best wishes to all members of the EGHS community for a fun and safe April vacation, you deserve it! 
  • All of my classes took tests/quizzes before vacation.  In AP I gave out the test prep book.
  • Mass communications class had an extended discussion about news bias as they reflected on the documentary Outfoxed. Many students provided their personal insights about how they themselves never realized just how much they were manipulated by certain media exploitations. We settled on the essential question "where does one go to get pure, objective news?" and settled on the fact that this may be unattainable in our current society. Thus, it is up to the consumer to be discerning and questioning viewers. 
  • Freshmen classes had a discussion of the movie "On Golden Pond" and provided insight into the deep, valuable benefits of the older generations learning from the young and the young learning from the  older generations. We closely examined why the frustrations of generations generally occur and the ways one might ease those frustrations (through introspection and the need for outside inspiration)
  • honors physics A- began lab to measure the speed of sound
  • honors physics B- finished speed of sound lab and then finished taking notes on ch 12 (sound)
  • Geometry - took the quarter 3 test.
  • Q3 cumulative exam in all classes
  • Hands on lab activity and application of content discussed all week! Students seemed to really enjoy the lab and the opportunity to ask questions in an informal setting.
  • All of my classes were finishing/working projects that were due today. Any students who had finished early were required to work on an independent piece and those were due today as well. 
  • The students in the Life Skills program organized all the school's Lost & Found articles.  They washed, dried and folded the laundry from the Ceramics classroom.  The students copied, collated, stapled and delivered copies to several teachers.  All the pencils that will be used by the guidance department for testing were sharpened, counted and bagged by the students.  Besides all this, the students worked on their math, reading and writing skills and participated in "Snack Shack" with their OT.  Quite a busy and full day!
  • All of my classes took their 3rd quarter exams today
  • Directed learning at a Speech given by Elie Wiesel.
  • Four scenes from Merchant of Venice discussed.
  • Completed Act IV in Henry V with class.
  • Three classes handed in Final Drafts of Research Paper .
  • Deconstructing Swift's ""A Modest Proposal"" -- studying his use of ad hominem attacks and irony to bolster the satire. 
  • Working in small groups to tackle confusing poetic devices...arguing over the differences between metonymy and synecdoche and why a poet would bother with either in the first place. 
  • Algebra 2 - Quarter 3 Common Test
  • Advanced Precalculus - Strategies for Verifying Trigonometric Identities
  • Freshman classes: Took a test and wrote and essay about Chapters 20 and 21 (Slavery and Division of the Union) 
  • Junior Classes: Wrote a Document Based Question  essay about the Montgomery Bus Boycott. This was a common core assessment
  • Today all of my classes had a quiz about a particular grammar point.  After that we chatted in Spanish about their vacation plans.  The conversation was all in Spanish and very productive!
  • French V unit test on Cyrano de Bergerac
  • French I instruction and practice on questioning/answering techniques in pairs and whole class
  • French IV discussion of 3 scenes of a Moliere play and introduction to oral proficiency testing
  • French III.  Team work to summarize,present and paraphrase a section of Notre Dame de Paris
  • In chemistry, we discussed the results of the data collected in yesterday's Electrolytes lab. The students completed a graphic organizer characterizing different types of solutions  then shared out with the class. Finally they learned how to analyze a Solubility curve. 
  • Senior Project
  • finish tests, quizzes that are outstanding before vacation
  • DBQ's…common tasks
  • UNIT projects: Regionalization, Satire 
  • Q3 unit math tests
  • Algebra II classes completed the quarter 3 common test today.
  • Test on the food chapters of the Spanish 1 curriculum, quiz on the preterite of the verb ir, quiz on the present perfect, cultural activities in which students made their own "ojos de dios" crafts
  • Worked on the Second Suite in F Major by Gustav Holst, transcribed Radioactive by Imagine Dragons and arranged it for String Orchestra, small group work composing 8 measure original folk songs.
  • Art Studio 2: class critique of current projects
  • Art Studio 1: students worked on finishing their surrealist paintings
  • Foundations of Art: students began final drafts of their still-life drawings
  • AP & Portfolio Art: discussed future plans and art careers, began brainstorming for next projects, visiting artist shared graphic design logo work
  • Students completed a collaborative in class essay using Google docs.  The essay was an analytical thematic analysis on the novel Moby Dick.
  • Students previewed vocabulary such as cerebellum, frontal lobe, & cortex to read, and apply reading strategies, to a book about the curious case of Phineas Gage, the man with the hole in his head. 
  • Rock Identification Lab Practical (lab quiz), physical science
  • "Freshmen English - read and acted out the final scene in Romeo and Juliet, then compared the original text with clips from the 1968 Zeffirelli film interpretation and the 1997 Luhrmann film interpretation.
  • Origins of Fantasy - met in small groups to discuss the Lord of the Rings trilogy; also read a scholarly article and its analysis of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as an example of 'dark fantasy' - watched a clip from Buffy and discussed metaphors, symbolism, themes, etc."
  • Talked about, read primary sources about, and tasted food, all in the target language. All prepared and executed by students, for students.
  • Formative assessment on intercepts and integration, discussion of past quizzes, small group discussion regarding a higher-order question about slopes.  Some new material also presented.
  • poetry salon--students chose, present, and discuss poems
  • review unit terms
  • introduce new concept
  • 9 and 11 PE :  a seeded singles badminton tournament. Each period ended with a  class champion.
  • quarter 3 common assessments
(This post will also be cross-posted eghssuccess.blogspot.com and will be updated as more teacher responses come in)

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Food for Thought Shared 4/13/2014

Below you will find "Food For Thought" links shared 4/13/2014. Hope you find them useful. If not, check back next week as the menu always changes!

  1. I have been referencing throughout the course of the year materials by Seth Godin. If you like or appreciate his message, here is a post with links to some of his "greatest hits"- http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2014/04/some-greatest-hits.html
  2. Gratitude is the New Willpower- http://blogs.hbr.org/2014/04/gratitude-is-the-new-willpower/
  3. 5 Incredible Ways to Work Smarter Not Harder- http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/5-incredibly-effective-ways-to-work-smarter-not-harder.html
  4. 3 Keynotes from conferences EGHS educators have attended this year:
    1. George Couros from "Leading Future Learning 2014" Conference http://youtu.be/EX2tT_SEd2U
    2. Chris Lehmann from "MassCUE 2013" http://youtu.be/KKfCaPyWjUM
    3. Tony Wagner from "MassCUE 2013" http://youtu.be/C2tLMZxKoCg
Background- In my weekly Sunday night email to teachers I end with links to articles, videos, posts and other links that I have curated throughout the week that have made me pause and reflect upon my leadership, my practice, my school, my relationships, and my students.  Awhile ago, a teacher in my building Mr. DeCubellis, shared with me a file of all of last year's "Food for Thought".  Since then I have wanted to curate the materials further myself, beyond an email, and share them with an even larger audience. Additionally, I am still trying to get to posting regularly on this blog and I am hoping that this will provide me with a baby step to getting to at least a weekly post.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

I Surrender...to EdCamps!

It's official. 

I am done. 

No more. 

I give up.

Thanks to meaningful, relevant, hands-on, vote with your feet, create the sessions you need, connect with the person next to you and the room, EdCamp model of professional development that I have experienced, (as well as PD/conferences implemented by ISTE, EdTechTeacher, MassCUE) I can no longer tolerate the "let me lecture at you about best practices, even though I am exhibiting none of them" garbage that passes as professional development and gives PD a bad name. 

Now I am not saying that EdCamp is the end all be all model for everyone. "Different strokes for different folks" as "they" say, but after an EdCamp I sure find myself exhausted from doing compared to exhausted from sitting and listening/cringing

But...because manufactured and/or mandated PD will never stop, I will pass along some tips I hope non-EdCamp PD creators will use to win me back. So below is my plea to corporate PD developers:

  1. If you have an inspiring keynote, challenge and help participants to take action or create something after it. 
  2. Provide spaces for people to work in groups or alone quietly.
  3. Let me know in advance the type activity that will occur during a session.  For example, let me know if a session is a lecture, requires technology, or involves a protocol that is going to require me talk to strangers. 
  4. Differentiate your sessions. Have beginner, intermediate, advanced sessions.
  5. Keep the hashtag manageable. Don't use #amazinglearningbroughttoyoubyapublishingcompany2014
  6.  Reduce the price, or at least make sure the hotel doesn't charge me for internet. Also, I don't need, want, or will ever use a messenger bag or lanyard with your logo on it.  
  7. Don't put awards before or after the keynote. I am all for celebrating peoples' accomplishments, but I am here to learn, so make it an optional award session or gathering.
I am sure more will come to me, but that is my list for now. Would love to see what my PLN will add, so please comment away.

Happy EdCamping! 

Monday, April 7, 2014

Food for Thought 4/6/2014

Below you will find "Food For Thought" links shared 4/6/2014. Hope you find them useful. If not, check back next week as the menu always changes!
  1. ODEC- Creative Problem Solving- http://www.oecd.org/pisa/keyfindings/pisa-2012-results-volume-V.pdf?utm_content=buffer23274&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
  2. Great Bloom's Taxonomy with Activities- http://www.celt.iastate.edu/teaching/RevisedBlooms1.html
  3. Post by Mr. Chace after an amazing EGHS poetry slam and reflecting on grades- http://mrchaceeghs.blogspot.com/2014/04/grades-matter.html
  4. We need to talk about TED? http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/30/we-need-to-talk-about-ted
    Background- In my weekly Sunday night email to teachers I end with links to articles, videos, posts and other links that I have curated throughout the week that have made me pause and reflect upon my leadership, my practice, my school, my relationships, and my students.  Awhile ago, a teacher in my building Mr. DeCubellis, shared with me a file of all of last year's "Food for Thought".  Since then I have wanted to curate the materials further myself, beyond an email, and share them with an even larger audience. Additionally, I am still trying to get to posting regularly on this blog and I am hoping that this will provide me with a baby step to getting to at least a weekly post.

    Friday, April 4, 2014

    Is That a Shovel in Your Hand?

    As an educational leader, given all that we want to do, have to do, and should be doing, it is understandable to feel overwhelmed at times. However, if one is not careful, this constant focus can cause you to fall into a trap. A trap of negativity. 
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/Rabbit_trap.jpg/320px-Rabbit_trap.jpg

    I know this trap all too well, because I recently became aware that I have been captured and residing inside of it. 

    The trap of negativity is tricky because it captures you, not with a sudden fall, but with a more cunning and gradual decent. Making it even worse, it is a trap of one's own choosing.

    The insidious part about captivity in the negativity trap is that it shifts your attitudes and interactions with others without you easily recognizing it. Regardless of the cause- the time of year, the plethora of mundane tasks, frustration with things outside of my control; I know I need to counteract this because negative interactions/encounters/thoughts have greater impact than good

    While one can unconsciously and gradually fall into the trap, it takes conscious effort to get out. 

    So I have been trying to reflect on how to make a shift and reframe my thoughts, priorities, and therefore-- my actions.

    Below are a few of the questions that are helping me to focus on what is important. While the reality is that the correct answer may lie somewhere in the middle of poles, I am trying to reset my current defaults. To do so I am trying to see if my inner pendulum has swung too far to one side or the other. If it has, this causes me to: at best- be frustrated, at worst- take action that runs counter to my core values. 


    Reframe Q: Am I feeling or acting this way regarding (insert topic here) because...

    Instruction


    • "I have curriculum to cover" vs. "I have kids to teach"

    Grading

    • "the quarter is ending" vs. "students are ready to show mastery"

    Professional Development (General 1)

    • "we need this PD because it is related to a mandate XYZ" vs. "we need this PD because it can help me help students"

    Professional Development (on Data)

    • "Everyone needs to have PD on Data usage" vs. "We have data that shows some could benefit from Data PD" 

    Professional Development (General 2)

    • "We are going to use this valuable time to sit and listen to me discuss how you can improve" vs. "We are going to use this valuable time for everyone to take action to improve, then I'll sit and listen to you" 

    Statistics

    • "Statistics show that 30% of people CANNOT..." vs. "Statistics show 70% of people CAN..."

    People

    • "Are the source of all of the problems I face" vs. "Are the solutions to all of the problems I face"

    Complaints

    • "Are just noise by people who don't like me " vs. "Are areas that need to be addressed so that we can focus on learning"

    My Assistant Principal, Tim Chace has a saying he uses quite often, "If you find yourself in a hole, put down the shovel." 

    While I have not found my way fully out of the negativity trap/hole, and certain events do cause me to slip, taking the time to consciously reflect and reframe has helped me reset my outlook. 
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Schep.JPG
    More importantly, I have put down the shovel.