Let The Madness Begin....

WELCOME BACK!!!

I presented to Augusta in the beautiful Augusta Theatre.

My mom (I wonder sometimes if she is the only one who reads my blog) asked me why I hadn't posted anything lately. I laughed out loud at that...anyone who teaches knows this is a crazy time of year. I did have the amazing opportunity to kick-off the year with Augusta, Buhler, and Flinthills districts. It is so much fun being around educators and school personnel this time of year. We are like kids in a candy store!!! We are nervous, anxious, excited, and salivating to get back into action! Thank you to all the districts that asked me to be a part of their year. I always take away more energy than I leave...so thanks! (the Buhler district is pictured to the left).

Teachers are so busy getting rooms ready, getting copies sent off, preparing lesson plans, thinking of engaging first day activities, and doing paperwork, that we often forget to eat! But the past few years, it seems even busier - is that possible? I keep thinking, "I have been doing this for almost 20 years - how can I not be ready for students?" But I figured out the difference today. Ok, to be honest, my colleague figured it out but I am taking credit for it! The technology adds so much to our plate. Yes, it saves us some work, and totally engages students, but it is still another thing at the beginning of the year to work with. We worked on setting up our Moodle accounts, getting passwords, authentication codes, scheduling laptops, adding printers to computers so we can print, getting KanEd log-ins, learning student emails, adding software to use clickers, learning how to use a SmartBoard....do you get the idea? No longer do teachers just need to "get their room ready." We are now trying to stay ahead with technology too. It is challenging and we need tons of support. I am lucky. My district has two Technology Integration Specialists (see their blogs on the right) who encourage, push, and prod teachers to embrace technology. And anyone who works with technology knows there are always "issues" to deal with. I had a student teacher come observe me the past few days and he commented, "Wow...I have a lot to learn. We didn't have all this technology when I went to school here." That was 4 years ago!!!Buhler teachers listening to the United Way presentation - we are Pace Setters this year!

But the question remains in my mind. ...Where is the balance? One parent thought his son couldn't use his iPod graphing calculator app (he can) because we recommended purchasing a graphing calculator. It is a strange position to be in for high school teachers. Yes, we want students to use all the technology available to them. Yes, the iPod app costs like $1 compared to a $100 calculator. BUT, what happens if we let them use the iPod and the student doesn't know how to use the graphing calculator? The iPods are not allowed on high stakes assessments like the ACT, SAT, AP Calculus exams, or even the state assessments. We want the student to be successful. So, until the exams catch up with the technology available, we will continue letting students use iPods but also expect them to know how to use the calculator.

Technology is amazing. I now have a Moodle account, a Twitter account, a Plurk account, a blog, and a Facebook account. All this technology and I still prefer to talk to someone face to face. I even prefer actually phone calls to texts (gasp!). I keep wondering how anyone can keep up with all the different types of updates (and still TEACH). So,until I can master all of them at once, I think I will just use my Facebook updates to stay in contact with my friends.....and my blog!

USD 501 Topeka Public School

A group from McCarter tailgating!

I was invited to help kick off the school year for Topeka USD 501 and it was me that felt energized from the 2300 people I spoke to! I arrived at Hummer Sports Park and wondered if I was there for a K-State football game...there were groups tailgating, a band playing, and the National Guard was shooting t-shirts into the air! This district knows how to "rev up" their staff!!! It was so festive with schools dressing in their school colors, holding signs, and balloons. I realize every district has their own traditions and culture and Topeka's tradition was awesome. They drew 7 names for a "day off" with their administrators covering their class for a day - what a really cool idea.

The four students who helped in my presentation - they rocked!

It was extra special for me as there were more Buhler connections as Dr. Stephen Burkholder (his dad was a superintendent at Buhler- and a legend in my district) is the Executive Director of Instruction and was on stage with me. Two previous students were in the audience which made it even more meaningful. Dr. Kevin Singer made me feel so unbelievable welcome and spent a couple hours of his valuable time with me sharing his amazing life experiences. If you ever have the opportunity to ask him about his life, you should. He is one of those people that can redefine "coincidence" or "fate." He was very involved in In The Shadow of the Blade and has promised me a copy - I may hold him to it!

I know something as big as today was doesn't happen without someone really working extra time coordinating it all. Ron Harbaugh was the MIC - that is "man in charge" of it all. He helped me tremendously and even found some students to help me with my presentation. He, too, made me feel at home in Topeka. The students did a great job - I was so impressed they sat in front of that many people and spoke...that is definitely a growing experience! If you want to check out the news coverage from WIBW click here.

When I looked out at all those people knowing the power to influence our future children each of them holds, it gave me goose bumps. USD 501 has 13,500 students that are going to be entering their buildings next week. Think about that for a minute....that is a lot of students with a lot of needs, expectations, goals, and dreams. Getting to know each student's story was my challenge to them. Because once you know their story, you have to do something about it.

Buhler grads teaching in Topeka: Michael Knapp and Demitris Reed-Sawatsky

Finding Your Voice

Ric Anderson and I waving to our Buhler friends - Ric is a 1983 Graduate from BHS!

I was invited to be part of a new committee for KNEA called the Media Response Team. This is a new effort of KNEA to help teachers find their "voice." They are encouraging and training a group of educators to how to respond to educational issues, advocate for our profession, and get more vocal through writing and blogging. We were trained in message framing, delivery, and discipline. If you are a member of KNEA, this information can be found on their website and it is great information for English or Journalism instructors. We also heard from various media outlets on how they would like to receive information from us - which is electronically. When communicating with media, be short (1 page or less), frame your message, share some data, and tell a story of how the issue is affecting students or yourself.

The people that shared information on news vs. opinion, how editorial boards work, what an Op Ed piece is, and how editorial opinions are formed. We heard from:

Christina Hansen – Online Editor at the Cap Journal (pictured left)

David Powls – Editor, Holton Recorder

Jon James – News Director, WIBW (pictured left)

Stephen – News, Kansas Public Radio

Ric Anderson – Editorial Page Editor - Cap Journal

Our homework is to write a letter to the editor welcoming back teachers and students as the school year begins. I have writing on my blog about teachers needing to find their voice and start advocating for our profession and about getting "teachers to the table" on issues. Well, it looks like this is where the "rubber meets the road" for me as I am going to have to start walking my talk! It is hard and scary to put your opinion out there for everyone to read, judge, disagree with, agree with, and comment on. It is easier for me to advocate quietly behind the scenes in one on one conversations with policy makers but I have been asked to get outside my comfort zone. As I have written before, budget cuts and the Race To The Top make this an exciting and critical time for educators - we can no longer sit on the sidelines waiting and hoping for policy makers to just know what to do and how it affects students. We MUST get to the table - invited or not - we need to knock on the door and ask to be let in!

Some of the Media Response Team: Dave Sherrer, Anna Moon, Jean Goodman, Mary Masters, Lori Goodson, Jennifer Holt and Cyndi Menzel (KNEA Communications)