Reflection

One of the most rewarding practices I engage in on a regular basis for my job is reflection. I have come to believe that without this, I wouldn't grow in my profession nearly as much as I should; without it I wouldn't be able to learn from mistakes.

This is one of the biggest reasons why I (try to) write on a consistent basis. Every time I sit down to write, I'm thinking about something worthwhile, and inevitably, it leads me down a path of reflection - thinking about what happened that day, what's going on in life, what some current challenges are for work.

Because of this, I've typically been a pretty big fan of the alt-comp program out district has been a part of for the past few years. Yes, there are times where I feel like I'm doing a bit of hoop-jumping, but on the whole, I have found the experience to be rewarding. Why? Reflection. Purposeful, mindful, practice-impacting reflection. And what's great is that the reflection just isn't me alone. There's always place and time for that, and over the years I do more and more of it. The step up with the alt-comp program is I'm able to reflect with and through the eyes of a colleague-coach, someone who offers great feedback, listens and guides, and offers data and reflection based upon my requests.

With the structure of modern life & work it can often be difficult to reflect, but I would encourage anyone to take some time - 5, 10 minutes even - to reflect on their lesson, interactions, workouts, etc. to gain a better understanding of what was achieved, what went well, and what can be done better the next time.

Ah, But the Listening

Today's just been one of those days. You know the type. The kind of day you find yourself saying: "It's only Tuesday, huh?" The kind of day that makes me question your effectiveness, purpose, and resolve.

Why? One reason: listening.

Or, perhaps a better way to put it: an absolute lack of listening.

The thing is, we are doing so many cool things in class; using so many 21st-century tools; utilizing best practices methods in teaching and delivery. But at the end of the day, if students are not listening - like, at all - there are still going to be frustrations, setbacks, and dozens of unnecessary questions.

I really enjoy my students and classes this year. It has been a great group to work with, and being able to say that with 176 students is a blessing. On most days, teaching them has been a pleasure. Even with days like today, the positives greatly outweigh the negatives.

Writing this today is not my way into hypothesizing about why students can have some bad listening days, or why some students seem to be serial offenders in this category. There are many different variables that lead to this, and in many ways, I'm able - like many teachers - to work through and around these issues to still effectively reach our goals. No, today I'm simply marveling how much impact listening, good or bad, continues to have on learning, daily life, work, relationships, etc.

So while 21st-century learning, practices, technologies and tools are incredibly important, I sometimes just need my students to apply the skill that's been around since the time of their ancestors...

Listening

Happy Weekend

As I right this, the weekend is under an hour away. My time with the students is done for the week; all that's left is prep and a team meeting.

This has been a good week.

     My students are excitedly writing on a daily basis on their Language Arts blogs, working on digital story telling projects, and final drafts of their first Anchor Papers of the year: creative/narrative pieces, focusing on the "day in the life" of something other than themselves.

     My family continues to be a source of inspiration, love, and support. I am incredibly blessed to have two children who love to play with me, wrestle, work on homework together, read, swim, skate, shoot hoops, etc. I have a wife that adores me - why, I'm not completely sure - but is a smart, incredible teacher in her own right and pushes me further along my path.

     My weekend is one looking to be filled with friends, laughter, and football, as we continue a tradition started in college of taking a weekend in the winter to be together up north.

I won't even mind too much if the Packers win :)

Happy weekend everybody!

Ski-U-Mah!

What a great night! Big road test, tough place to play, #9 vs. #12.

What do the Gophers do? Go into Champaigne and take one from the Illini, making a nice little statement.

There are not many sports games I get too worked up about; if fact, I never really lose sleep over the outcome...for that it would take something pretty monumental. I've lived through '98 Vikes vs. Atlanta, wide-right. 41-Donought. 12 men in the huddle @ New Orleans. Continuous crushing of the Twins by the Yankees in the post-season. T-Wolves 1st Round exits. Wild lost seasons. Brewster.

But Gophers Hoops? Always #1. I remember being crushed when the academic scandal hit; I'm still bitter when people feel the need to insist that 96-97 "didn't happen." Yes, it did, and it was glorious. As were the runs made to the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 by Burton, Coffee, Lynch and everyone else on those teams in the 80s.

I'm enjoying watching this Gophers team play more than any other since 96-97. That's why I'm so excited, and that's why I don't it to end anytime soon. I know they'll lose more this year; with the schedule and conference that's inevitable.

What's important is the joy one can get from watching a solid team play, and how that can sometimes help a guy get through some long, cold winter nights.

Meetings

Just had another meeting reminder pop up on my e-mail outlook. It's not the worst thing in the world. I know there are - hold on, just received another meeting request for a future date - many people who have busier meeting schedules than I do.

What amazed is that, as I looked at my calendar to see more information about this meeting happening in 15 minutes, I noticed about 5 additional 'sit-downs' over the next 48 hours. On the surface, maybe not a big deal. But here's the thing: During all the time I'm not at or prepping for a meeting, I am teaching, grading, planning, etc.

The end result is that a lot of the work I could otherwise get done during the day turns into work at home, outside of my hours!

In the grand scheme, it's nothing more than a small annoyance; some meetings are downright beneficial.

If nothing else, venting a little while something is on your mind can do some good. Better run, that meeting is in 5...

A Simple Resolution



Although I've never been a huge 'new year's resolution' kind of guy, I did want to challenge myself to be more consistent in my writing this year. Specifically, I want to push myself to write every day, or at least as close to that as possible.

Sometimes, things just tend to get in the way: work, kids, life, etc. That said, I feel as though I can squeeze out 10-15 minutes minimum on a daily basis. If nothing else, it may serve as a good way to reflect, specifically on work-related things, as well as what's going on in the world around me.

Why the sudden urge? I mean, let's face it: I haven't written since September!! Well, as I continue to push my students more and more to write & write digitally, I think it becomes more and more important for me to write myself. After all, if consistent writing improves one's writing, perhaps consistent writing should improve one's ability to help younger writers...

Anyway, I was all set with a few posts back in mid-December, especially after attending and presenting at the TIES 2012 conferece in Minneapolis. In due time I'll share some reflections. For now, I just want to enjoy the feeling of writing again; not burdening myself with the pressure of feeling as though something important always needs to be said.

Like I tell my students: any opportunity to exercise your writer's voice is one that should be seized.

Here Already, Huh?

Well, that went fast.

Spring flew by last year; 4th quarter busy with all manner of writing, speaking, literature studies, and general end-of-year craziness. Then, summer shot past, already a blur in the rear-view mirror. Endless days mixed with playing, gardening, cabin, tutoring, lousy Twins games, concerts, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.

Alas.

Here I am. Here we are. The first day of school, already in the books.

I've taken a bit of a leap of faith this year, and the expectations I've put on myself are higher than they've even been as a teacher. I'd like to accomplish things this year and push my students to places this year that are completely new. Opportunities are there: new LA standards, new LA curriculum, a very supportive Admin team - Principal Specific - guiding through the process of content standard PLC work, a new way of teaching my subject.

Here's where the leap comes in...

I gave up "my" room this year - an agreed-upon eviction, if you will - and in turn am receiving 30 brand new Chrome Books and a fantastic new cart to wheel them around to the various rooms in which I will be instructing this year. Additionally, my cart will have a projector, complete with Apple TV to beam straight from my iPad to help direct my instruction and engage students along the way.

One minor glitch: no cart or Chrome Books yet.

I try not to get too frustrated about such things...for one, I know very dedicated people are helping insure this stuff actually arrives, and two, there's plenty to do with my new 6th graders the first few days of school.

On a very positive note, the first day went very well, and I'm already proud of how my new students found their way to all of my different rooms and showed themselves to be very capable. What I'm excited about is the opportunity to engage and excite so many more readers and writers this year; to enhance the digital literacy skills of so many kids; to experience a new kind of classroom setting throughout the year - atrium, unused hallways, media center space, etc. My hope is for every conception of a what a classroom is, and for every wall knocked down along the way, my students (and I) will see teaching and learning in many new ways.