Today we were all asked to define our message for the year. I really had to reflect on what my message is this year. We were told these facts:
* An average print quote is 26 words
* An average broadcast is 6-12 seconds
* News stories usually run 15-1:15 seconds
That is not a lot of time to get a message across to the public. My message...
Our kids are bombarded with world issues daily, it is our responsibility to give them opportunities to change their world now! We can do this by giving students opportunities to engage in real world work, while integrating content standards.
Well, it's not 26 words, but I'm getting closer! :-)
Intellectual Leader ~ Are you one?
Are you in touch with the issues?
Do you see things in context?
Can you explain both the big and little pictures?
Are you a critical thinker?
Are you a creative thinker?
Do you understand the 'meaning' of what’s going on?
When someone says, " We can't do that because______________"
Do you respond with "What can we do about that?"
These are the types of leaders we need to take our school systems to the next level of success!
Do you see things in context?
Can you explain both the big and little pictures?
Are you a critical thinker?
Are you a creative thinker?
Do you understand the 'meaning' of what’s going on?
When someone says, " We can't do that because______________"
Do you respond with "What can we do about that?"
These are the types of leaders we need to take our school systems to the next level of success!
Societal Trends
Our presenter today was Gary Marx. He posed the question, "What will the new normal look like?" He asserts, "The future is in our schools today!"
Here are some of the trends he presented on today:
1. For the first time in history the old will outnumber the young.
2. Of Every 100 People, who live on the planet, 61 are living in Asia, 14.5 are living in Africa, 11 live in Europe, 8.5 live in Latin America, and only 5 live in North America.
3. Social and intellectual capital will become economic drivers intensifying competition for well educated people.
4. The technology trend insures, eighty percent of all the scientists who ever lived are alive today... and they’re on the Internet!
5. Pressure will grow for society to prepare people for jobs which do not exist!!
6. Understanding will grow that sustained poverty is expensive for all and poverty is everyone’s responsibility!
Possible roles of education:
1. Release of human ingenuity will become a primary responsibility of education and educators.
2. Create intellectual entrepreneurs!
3. Cultivate ingenuity imagination creativity, and inventiveness!
4. We need to encourage a civic temperament that encourages reasoned discussion, dialogue and deliberation!
5. The ARTS are key to the future!!
What can we do now?
Remember, It’s okay to think outside the box... Try to stay in touch with the world... And keep organizations fresh, energized!!
Here are some of the trends he presented on today:
1. For the first time in history the old will outnumber the young.
2. Of Every 100 People, who live on the planet, 61 are living in Asia, 14.5 are living in Africa, 11 live in Europe, 8.5 live in Latin America, and only 5 live in North America.
3. Social and intellectual capital will become economic drivers intensifying competition for well educated people.
4. The technology trend insures, eighty percent of all the scientists who ever lived are alive today... and they’re on the Internet!
5. Pressure will grow for society to prepare people for jobs which do not exist!!
6. Understanding will grow that sustained poverty is expensive for all and poverty is everyone’s responsibility!
Possible roles of education:
1. Release of human ingenuity will become a primary responsibility of education and educators.
2. Create intellectual entrepreneurs!
3. Cultivate ingenuity imagination creativity, and inventiveness!
4. We need to encourage a civic temperament that encourages reasoned discussion, dialogue and deliberation!
5. The ARTS are key to the future!!
What can we do now?
Remember, It’s okay to think outside the box... Try to stay in touch with the world... And keep organizations fresh, energized!!
Talking Points for ALL Teachers
Who has the voice in education? Who advocates for education?
We need to advocate for our profession. In your building, district, and state, here are some talking points you can use to begin discussions!
1. The people involved are not necessarily the ones making the decisions... How do we organize and have our voice heard?
2. Can we create an organized way to communicate with our legislators?
3. We have to be a 'salesman' for change. Can we include the community?
You should strive not to be the best in the world; rather, be the best for the world!
We need to advocate for our profession. In your building, district, and state, here are some talking points you can use to begin discussions!
1. The people involved are not necessarily the ones making the decisions... How do we organize and have our voice heard?
2. Can we create an organized way to communicate with our legislators?
3. We have to be a 'salesman' for change. Can we include the community?
You should strive not to be the best in the world; rather, be the best for the world!
POLICY ~ Race to the Top
Today, POLICY is the word of the day. Looking at national and state educational issues was our theme today. The ‘Race to the Top’ was discussed in depth. States who are selected will be reforming their educational systems with these main points in mind:
* Find broader ways to enter the profession
* Equitable distribution of effective teachers
* Improving teachers and principal effectiveness based on performance
* States have agreed by sept 2011 they will be report on teacher effectiveness of teachers in tested grades
* How would you make the “common core” (national standards) a reality in your state? (This is a push to get us to national standards)
IF a state wins, districts still have to agree within 90 days to what the state wants to do.
It is up to the STATE to decide how to spend the teacher evaluation/incentive money.
* Find broader ways to enter the profession
* Equitable distribution of effective teachers
* Improving teachers and principal effectiveness based on performance
* States have agreed by sept 2011 they will be report on teacher effectiveness of teachers in tested grades
* How would you make the “common core” (national standards) a reality in your state? (This is a push to get us to national standards)
IF a state wins, districts still have to agree within 90 days to what the state wants to do.
It is up to the STATE to decide how to spend the teacher evaluation/incentive money.
SMART board Training
Today is SMART training day. As teachers, the first rule is there is always more to learn! One of our amazing gifts as Teacher’s of the Year, is a SMART board and a set of ‘clickers’ to use in our classrooms. I am so very excited to bring this technology to my students.
The morning was spent moving from room to room learning about the clicker response system, Notebook software, and General SMART board use. I most enjoyed the afternoon when we were grouped by similar grade levels to create a lesson. This is when I really had a chance to get to know, Ms. Alaska, Ms. Florida, Ms. Arkansas, and Ms. Massachusetts. We had a great time collaborating on a lesson our 4th and 5th grade students are sure to enjoy!
The morning was spent moving from room to room learning about the clicker response system, Notebook software, and General SMART board use. I most enjoyed the afternoon when we were grouped by similar grade levels to create a lesson. This is when I really had a chance to get to know, Ms. Alaska, Ms. Florida, Ms. Arkansas, and Ms. Massachusetts. We had a great time collaborating on a lesson our 4th and 5th grade students are sure to enjoy!
Dallas Arrival!
Welcome to the class of 2010! I arrived in Dallas, apprehensive, nervous, and excited. Like many of my fellow Teacher’s of the year I was wondering what the week ahead would hold.
Right off the we were all introducing ourselves. An array of voices announcing, “Hi, I’m Donna from Oregon”... “Hi, I’m Stephanie from D.C”... “Hi, I’m Holly from Louisiana”... “Hi, I’m Susan from DoDs”... After awhile, I was associating folks with their state rather than their name! The best thing about it is, now I have a face for every state in our nation, and the U.S. territories!
Right off the we were all introducing ourselves. An array of voices announcing, “Hi, I’m Donna from Oregon”... “Hi, I’m Stephanie from D.C”... “Hi, I’m Holly from Louisiana”... “Hi, I’m Susan from DoDs”... After awhile, I was associating folks with their state rather than their name! The best thing about it is, now I have a face for every state in our nation, and the U.S. territories!
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