Not Your Average Teacher

Move around / OK GO Video Link

// August 15th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Comments

Summer has ended as far as work goes and I was lucky enough to be up to speed when it came to be back in school. Actually i was ready for work, because I feel it has value. Being educators we are asked to do valuable work everyday and that usually involves motion. I was in motion this summer by attending a conference, by reading, by unplugging and decompressing the past year of teaching, and by moving back into a house. The conference was ISTE 2010 and it was in Denver. I got to see some cool speakers and not only saw some of my tweeps, but added to my PLN. (I heard Marzano talk about his research, and I also heard Alan November speak— I recommend everyone checking out these educators). What I discovered, and what is pushing me back to writing is the need for reflection and the continued motion of my learning in that direction. When i was lucky enough to be around some great teachers at the beginning of this PLN process, and when this site got started i was unaware of how much it would transform my learning and how much it continues to impact my teaching. My blogging, is something that is an accelerant for learning. In my motion this year I want to continue with the motion of reflection in this digital way. I hope all of our listeners and subscribers (who i really want to thank) continue their motion in positive ways that provide growth for all that they need and all those they touch.
In that sense, and the reality that summer is over I wish you all a good year and want you to all watch this motion based video to help you say goodbye to summer but also inspire you to continue motion for your year.
Ok GO rules

More than 140

// May 4th, 2010 // 3 Comments » // Comments, Features, Podcasts, video

NETA 2010 has come and gone.  I am always impressed with what I see and hear at the conference. Sometimes in the keynotes and breakouts, but mostly with my PLN and the conversations that happen.  Sometimes they happen by chance in passing, sometimes they happen in meeting places like the PLN Plaza that is the unique space for those generative conversations.  I only see these people, who have become my colleagues and friends, in person once a year.  It is amazing to me how welcome and in-place that they make me feel.  They give me space for a voice and even if i am working stuff out that they have already considered i get the room to work thru it out loud and with them.  They are truly great educators and mentors.  If you haven’t started yet, i can only say that you need to grow and invest in your own PLN.  My growth as an educator has been exponentially exploded by them.

It was a time of revelation and reflection for me.  I had just one year ago been student teaching and had been turned down for presenting at NETA 09.  This year I got the opportunity to present twice.  Though of course I want it to always go perfect, the big point to remember and celebrate was the fact that I am moving in the direction of positively influencing the face of education.  We all are.

Remember to keep on keeping on.  We are in a long race, not a sprint.  Education is for the resilient

From Here…

// November 22nd, 2009 // 24 Comments » // Features

It seems that lessons are where you find them. I have been involved in a lot of planning and meetings and all the other stuff that as an Instructional Coach steers me away from the classroom. But once again as I have found before students are the salvation. I got a chance to work in multiple classrooms last week and the students energy infected me faster than H1N1. Teaching for me is so much a learning process and that is the draw. All of us get frustrated from time to time but the advantage we have with teaching is that we can adjust. We can say from here I will change this or strive for that. The reasons we come to teach are varied but I find for most of the people I see the commitment is deep and meaningful. So if you get worn, stop adjust and say. From here I will…….

Brand New Day

// August 11th, 2009 // 8 Comments » // Comments

I sometimes have a problem allowing myself to see the good in things that are happening in my life. A week ago I was uncertain about my path and if I would be teaching beyond subbing this fall. I just got offered and accepted a job in the local district of Lincoln Public Schools and I am excited, nervous and hopeful. I will be an Instructional Technology Coach, which is a newly created position. I feel a bit as if I about to enter the Wonka Factory and am not sure what to expect.  There is a lot of room for creative development so I am excited.  I want to say thank you to all in my personal learning network who have helped bring me to this point. Thinking about and reflecting on education with you all has been huge to my professional development. Tomorrow I will meet the rest of the team I will be working on and I am looking forward to being a change agent in the district. I will keep you all posted as to how things look and what cool new projects are coming along in my realm. I know now that I will be expanding my digital presence and working to integrate tech into curricula. Collaboration is the name of the game on this block. Again thanks and to all the new teachers out there this year, good luck and keep in touch.

“We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams”

Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka

Dale

In the summertime when the weather is fine….

// July 8th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Comments

Hey everyone, I trust all is well for all of our listeners and followers. Summer is fully here, humidity at no charge and I believe it is getting to my brain. We are teaching this week!!!!!!!!! Podcasting and movie making with the Bright Lights Program. It is really amazing to see the students become excited about producing their own work with new forms of media and we are really knocked out by the things they are turning out. Still looking for a spot in education in the meantime. Stay tuned for more podcasts coming soon and let us know what current projects you are undertaking. Thanks again
The NYAT team.

Your Body of Work

// May 13th, 2009 // 4 Comments » // Comments

I was watching the President give a speech to a graduating class of 2009 tonite and it inspired me, as his speeches often do. The point was that the body of work that we put forth is never complete, nor is it diminished by time. The things we do, in our everyday, the little stones that we stack up do become a mountain and every action we take matters. As we strive to become better teachers, better learners, better people we must realize that our passion and our talent is not measured by one event or achievement, but by the body of work that we put forth. Good luck to all who are graduating, and starting the next phase of the journey, we support you and believe in you.

Job search

// February 22nd, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Comments

So the interviews are coming, I have heard quite a few of our group and other student teachers that we know who are getting called for first interviews. Good luck to everyone and please let us know how it goes!

Divergence

// January 12th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Comments

First I want to wish luck to all my fellow student teachers who took the leap today. We started in our final required piece of the degree puzzle today and while I know that it will be transformative I am a bit sad. I could see the seperation I would face from all of my brilliant colleagues a while ago, but perhaps it was the realization of how hard it will now be to collaborate with them that hit me afterschool today that got me down. Perhaps it is the inevitable step we have to take to grow. Now we are onto a new stage in which we could perhaps missing our own private PLCs we have built. Or perhaps those bonds will grow stronger. Truly we will see and I trust that we can use this site to reflect and check in with people as they continue on the turbulent journey toward a degree
Dale

Against the waves

// July 23rd, 2008 // No Comments » // Comments

I was struck last nite by conversations had with some of my friends and fellow teachers. The timelines were the thing, “we are going to be teachers for the next 28 years”, and “what kind of teacher will i be in 10yrs” were some of the comments made. I think that we all want to still be learners and have the passion that we have now for the profession. The trick is how? I know for most just rolling in the wagon ruts will be enough, but the world doesn’t need another crappy teacher, one who will settle and stop learning. I believe that we as a society setup these milestones in our life, graduating high school, getting a degree from college, but those become unconcious roadblocks to our learning. Once achieved we figure, i know it all, or at least i know enough to function at a certain comfortable level. We need to view ourselves and teach our students to be lifelong learners and to continue to strive to make ourselves reach for more and keep becoming something. Putting on new growth can sometimes be uncomfortable, and change will undoubtedly make things messy, but the reward I believe is worth it. Let us redefine ourselves, and while we are at it add in a positive manner to the human conciousness.

Multi-what you all

// May 21st, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Comments

Just a quick note on a meeting that i attended today, it was for a multi-cultural book panel that i am on. It is always interesting to hear the comments and questions that the group presents. The one that stood out to me was the exploration of prejudice and its sneaky way of usually being subtle. I thought that was very insightful. How do we fight it (racism, sexism, ageism, ismism) when it is said as a sidenote, or as a joke from a basicly well rounded co-worker. How do we approach it when it is not overt and the rest of the group seems to let it slide?

D