Jumping right in

There's a lot to be said for jumping right in to a task and not thinking about it until confidence has been firmly set. There's an excitement to trying new things. It expands thinking and stretches the brain as the learning struggle takes place. This is occurring with the ESS Group and I think it will be an interesting experience.

Learning in Different Ways

I just spent 6 days at the International Quilt Festival and the learning was amazing. Not only did I learn new techniques to perfect my craft, I had an opportunity to interact with people from all over the world. My teachers were all engaging and experts in various techniques. It reminded me of the 21st century focus on innovation and creativity. While we all were required to develop a product, we were encouraged to take the basic model and enhance it based on our own creative vision--and out of that direction many exceptional products were shared.

Contributions

I'm very proud of my professional team. They are an impressive group who manage to bring in real revenue to the department. They all have a passion for their areas of expertise and make no excuses for their commitment to serve all demographics. I'm grateful for a new awareness regarding their abilities and efforts to advance the work of the ESS Group.

As we strive to work more collaboratively across content/groups, it is my hope that all members will be recognized for contributions that impact the entire group.

The workout experience

Made some observations today about health and fitness as I worked out at my neighborhood gym. Having belonged to the same fitness center for several decades, I've noticed some trends. First of all fitness is a way of life, a philosophy for some people. And whether or not they are healthier or have leaner, tighter bodies is beside the point. Some of the die-hard spa people look like they did some 26 years ago when I signed on the dotted line, the frontal pouch and the junk in the trunk still abides, yet they're attendance at the "spa" has not changed. They actually work out--treadmill, elliptical, yoga, pilates--they try it all. But their results are questionable from everybody's point of view. For many in this crowd it's a social outlet-they visit more than sweat.

Secondly, the personal trainers are not held to a "model physique" standard as they were when personal training became a fad. The sculptured body of the trainer was the selling point since the price to train with an expert was exorbitant.

Thirdly,complimentary fitness support and customer service has gone the way of the grave--it is dead and buried. Do an exercise wrong after the initial introduction to gym services--too bad, you're on your own.

So the true'gym rats" the ones who understand anatomy and the rules of true health and fitness can be observed giving free unsolicited support. (Interestingly enough the gym workers have from time to time hassled them) They are mostly 'old school' gentlemen who open the door for you, and help you on or off a machine. They can be found huddled together on the free weights, spotting for each other and inviting and respectfully encouraging the ladies, like me at times, who want a challenging workout. Today's workout, a good one, was in honor of them.

Gone too soon

Today marks the third anniversary of the death of my brother Courtney. He was an exceptional man, brilliant, gifted, talented, a prolific writer, the family historian, musician, artist. He lived life to the fullest, loved the outdoors, and saw the beauty in all of God's creatures big and small. An avid fisherman, he spent much of his time on the water when he wasn't traveling with family.

Some of Courtney’s friends once wrote that he was an amazing man who could get us off a deserted island if we were shipwrecked. Or if he couldn’t he would figure out how to turn the coconuts into manna from heaven. And they were right. He could filet a fish with marked precision, skin a rabbit with a few swift strokes of a knife, shoot a gun to hit any target and make a weapon out of a tree branch. He also could launch a boat into the water with ease and as my cousin Regina reminded me (unlike his 3 sibs or numerous cousins) at 16 years of age could back my grandaddy’s Chevrolet truck with cattle trailer attached, down the drive way, under the clotheslines and into the corral with great skill.

He had an exceptional memory, unmatched vocabulary-and remarkable "phraselogy." Identified as gifted in elementary school, he was extremely humble about his abilities. It was his great fortune that my parents recognition of his gifts (my dad with natural writing and musical abilities and my mom--a trained pianist with a gifted ear) sought out teachers who could meet his needs--and acceleration to a predominately white school found him matched with a teacher who compacted, tiered his assignments, and matched lessons to meet his interests.

He was often much smarter than his teachers (actually he was smarter than most folks period) and until he found a teacher who was not intimidated by his knowledge (and skillful enough to reroute his corrections) was often in trouble for correcting them before children and adults. The fact that he was always right really didn't help matters.

As he matured, he became a most considerate person and learned how to be respectful of his abilities. Extremly sensitive he cared about people and the critical issues in his community-making a difference in his home town. His entire community was devastated when he passed away.

He once wrote "Everything good that I could be, is because of special people in my life, not all family. I've tried to pass good attributes along."

I like to think although he was one year and 9 months younger than me that the best things in me are a reflection of him. He was a remarkable man who I miss dearly, and like my dad, a soul the Lord called home too soon.

A delightful time

I'm having a delightful time facilitating AKOM at a school with a receptive staff. Great conversation and interactive activities have all worked well. I suspect the afternoon will pass by more swiftly than the morning, The school is on a high because of their first ever Exemplary rating.
I like facilitation so much more than training--the rich conversation that occurs has such wonderful implication for further dialogue once I'm gone. It also puts the onus on the participants and reduces the " I'm it" role.
Although I'll be dead tired at the end of the day--physically and mentally-because facilitation does require 'nudging' responses and thinking ahead. I like that challenge--the mental leaps the mind makes when active, engaging dialogue is taking place. A wicked schedule is on the horizon after the PD wave is over--and I'm sure I will probably long for a few days intellectually kicking it with a group of nice educators.

I don't need to be training

It's funny--I am swamped with pending contracts, another potential presentation to a customer, personnel issues, e-TRAIN snafu's, marketing needs, my back is whack-- and basically, I don't need to be training, but it's 11:00 p.m., my presentation is spread all over the floor and I'm actually pumped about facilitating All Kinds Of Mind on tomorrow. First of all, because I'm a special educator at heart and I truly believe that focusing on children's affinities can transform teaching. Second, it has phenomenal implications for RTI. By merely understanding how children are wired, real solutions can be implemented. From the truly gifted to the truly learning disabled, we bring their passions and interests to the table and help them soar. So although I really don't need to be training--I REALLY NEED TO BE TRAINING!!

Hope and a good attitude

My beliefs and values are grounded in my faith and my faith is built on hope. So when I was not my typical optimistic hopeful self last week, I was pretty hard to live with. I didn't realize it at the time, but seeing progress and forward movement made me dread returning to an entrenched bureacracy. And I failed to bury it to get the work done. I spoke words out of turn, worried a few people and walked around angry with myself. I was simmering all week.

And then, this morning I went to my church and Daniel with his beautiful voice sang, LLM "Love Lifted Me", a song I grew up with. It touched me to my core and filled me with hope and a good attitude. Got some disturbing news-twice-and didn't get shaken. Re-occuring backpain is back--but got some brief therapy and I'm set for the week.

So when folks look at me sideways this week, and fires start to pop up all over, I'll replace the negative thoughts with positives and quietly hum that sweet old hymn.

Success

After the Senior Staff presentation on Friday I have a new respect for the group that leads our division. My team members came correct and all brought their A-game. Thank God, the technology worked and the transitions were seamless. Although we used three tools, they were extremely well received--a sometimes wordy group(except for our mist in our sist) we were all masters of Marzano's top strategy "Summarization" It was a good feeling to be the perfect tag team on a day when we only got one shot.

Wild Ride

I hope we have a wild ride this year with lots of new learning and finally a true new way of doing things. I'm hoping our speak will match our action. I'm hoping we we will all become creative innovators who are technologically savvy using web 2.0 tools in relevant ways. I hope we won't be afraid to ask the difficult questions. I hope we will stretch ourselves in ways that are uncomfortable but rewarding. I hope that we will be the first choice of many as we become so off the chain, they will label us 'fascinating'. I hope.....

Magic is magic

Today we heard from a basketball icon and legend and I was surprised by his business acumen. Magic Johnson captivated the audience as he shared his expertise on making a profit while making a difference. A caring man, he reviewed a business plan on the spot and provided "real time" support to a group of visionary thirty year olds. I was amazed at his knowledge of education, 21st century technology and critical urban issues.

He admitted to having reading problems as a teenager, but overcame his deficit with the same strategy that made him a basketball star....practice. An amazing man making a real difference just like magic.

My Wisest Investment

As we experience our first Urban League conference, my husband and I are impressed by our daughter's influence in this org.
As she ends her two year term as president of the Young Professionals, her influence is heavily stamped in dynamic and relevant ways.
She is a true visionary leader- with devoted followers. We observed her impact anonymously for 2 days. Her leadership was heralded by many.

I often reflect on my own contributions and relevancy to the world. Cassye is verification that I need not worry. She is my wisest investment.

I am enjoying time away from work. After having spent some time in a slow moving town, "Palacios", with family, I'm reminded of perspective. I try to stay connected to all my worlds or it's just too hard to re-enter. For instanceI spent time at the bank closing out my term as president of a non-profit. I dreaded that like --a broken leg because I didn't want to interact with anybody or anything unless it was in my 'world of family' It was torture making the connection.

So once done, I read e-mails from work in about 5 minutes-responded to none. I didn't want to--I felt I had to--re-entry is eminent I feel myself separating more and more after one week--after next week it will be even harder--It is destined to be a fast paced and fun filled time. I'll be in the company of the "cerebrals". Which is going to be amazingly exciting--all those young minds solving the worlds problems--(my gosh they are all so very brilliant-i love that) and all the old guard-encouraging them and paving the way for action. I'm pumped that my youngest is key to the movement and the chests of me and my husband will probably be visible to the entire world.

Critical Friends

Most of our team members are experiencing CFG training and I am delighted for I believe it will bring a new dimension to our work. I'm inspired to contact my first CFG group members and renew our energy for the process. The joy of looking at student work, to help teachers refine their day to day practice is rewarding and I miss those opportunities to impact instruction in a real dynamic way.

By having more of our group knowledgeable the variety of protocols and their many purposes, I think it will be easier to adhere to the guidelines. Lack of familiarity with the true process often led to abreviated use which always made me cringe.

We can now move beyond Text based, final word, and tunning protocols and move to hopefully some of the ones that really focus on refining our work.

Dreams Need a little work

John C. Maxwell in the first line of the preface in "The Complete 101 Collection" states, "I've been passionate about personal growth for most of my life. ....I wouldn't have achieved any of my dreams had I not been dedicated to continual improvement. Such a simple statement but so profound in its implications. Perhaps unrealized dreams dry up for lack of continuous personal growth. Perhaps the original effort, ideas,time and other critical elements may move the dream forward, yet may not sustain it.

One of my favorite poems from Langton Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?

What is the most important thing?

What is the most important thing for us as educators? Where should we place our priorities? Are we making progress? moving forward? changing lives? As we move with unbelievable speed toward the end of this year, I am focused on assessing my 2008-2009 accomplishments. While my management objectives will be met, have I changed the life of one child? Have I impacted a teacher so that it is long-lasting.
Have I empowered, supported all of my team members, family, and friends so they have felt time spent was worth their while?

It's my personal assessment and it may not really matter to anyone else, but for me, the questions are monumental. I don't want glory, akalades or fame. To be truly humble is something I desire.

I just want to know-before I start this all over again next year. Did I do the most important thing?

Webinar Savvy

Today the leadership team of C & I PDS hosted a webinar. It was extremely exciting. Another technologically tool mastered--well a few more attempts and perhaps I can truly say mastered. There was a learning curve that provided challenges, but the enthusiasm exhibited by the team was wonderfully rewarding. This is what stretching the mind is all about. The energy that emanated from the small "production" room was palpable. The OD Team from PDS was wonderful in their collaborative spirit and encouraged in ways words can't truly describe. I now feel a kinship to Evelyn Wagner's team, Bibi, Pam, Farhan who were our number one cheerleaders. Kudos to my team and kudos to the Organizational Development team.
We're all strivers.

The Strain of Poverty

Poverty is the shortage of common things such as food, clothing, shelter and safe drinking water, all of which determine our quality of life. It may also include the lack of access to opportunities such as education and employment which aid the escape from poverty and/or allow one to enjoy the respect of fellow citizens.
In a recent report on "Children At Risk in Harris County-2008" 54.2 % of the student population live in economically disadvantaged homes which have an annual income of less than $34,000. Many school age children are homeless and the weekly economic reports reveal the numbers are rising. As we continue to provide professional learning experiences, we must be mindful of these factors that impact learning and find ways to provide the necessary supports that make education, "the way out."

How can we support teachers who want to understand and assist students from poverty?

Paying for Performance

The first time I saw Roland Fryer, a Harvard economist discuss cash based incentives for a group of African American students from poverty, I was appalled. I sat on my high horse in judgement over paying kids to care about learning. Why the desire to learn should be intrinsic, for after all, "Knowledge is power" and everyone wants to be powerful, right?

I was reminded in a conversation with an analytical that the world is built on incentives. I grew up with an allowance--so did my children and friends--not necessarily for getting good grades, but for being well behaved and completing chores and other responsibilities. So what's the difference? There probably isn't one.

But in my world and the world of my professional peers, we love learning, exploring new ideas, reading that latest book or article to expand our thinking. We can't wait to have time for those conversations where we agree and disagree and finally exhausted start searching for the next mind bender and extender. Never content to remain the same. Working among people who love to learn makes incentives for learning seem contrived and almost sacrilegious. Yet if we are a society of incentives, bonuses, and merit pay why shouldn't it extend to the kids.

Being "Cerebral"

Today I was asked to write a recommendation for someone I supervised several years ago. I was honored because I truly value her professionally. We spent some time talking and I drifted back to a time when we spent early mornings and late evenings having intellectual conversations. Although we often would do a "Seinfeld" and talk about nothing, she always challenged my thinking. She pondered the deep things and asked interesting questions that often remained unanswered. She was a real fine teacher and just as she challenged me, she challenged her kids. When she became a coordinator, she challenged the teachers and provided the kind of support that often got results where it mattered, in the classroom. Thinking was active for her. She pondered and paused until her thoughts were aligned and then she'd delve into a rich dialogue that always produced something profoundly engaging. My younger daughter calls it being "cerebral". Someone who thinks and stretches your thinking. Imagine the places kids could go if every teacher was "cerebral."

Goal Setting

I was reminded this morning of the importance of setting goals and persistence. We're about to take professional learning to new heights and I think it's going to be an exceptional endeavor. But we must revisit our goals and make sure we fulfill them as we consider setting new and realistic goals that are aligned with our mission. I'm having to slow down to speed up so that I don't move too far ahead of myself. I love the endless possibilities.

Students take the reins

In the 1960's the National Training Laboratories (now the NTL Institute of Alexandria, Virginia) did studies on retention of learning after students were exposed to various teaching methods. They found that students retain 90% of information after 24 hours when they teach others or immediately use the learning. (We use this learning pyramid in our training.) Despite the fact that we've known this information for over 40 years is an indicator of insanity (doing the same old things the same old way expecting different results). The latest edition of Educational Leadership speaks to students taking the reins by helping each other master new software programs, creating engaging alternative assessments, and making the most of collaborative online spaces. In this new environment, lesson planning will shift to designing collaborative projects that tap into cross curriculuar content, abstract concepts, and learning in meaningful ways. Podcasting oral histories, and documentaries will take the place of powerpoint presentations. As students use wikis and blogs they can also incorporate fan fiction into the mix.

All of this requires teachers who know how to make the most of online resources and staying true to the ethos of Web 2.0.

Roses and thorns

First lady Michelle Obama shared that since moving into the white house her family frequently has the opportunity to eat dinner together. All family members sum up the day's events by sharing roses and or thorns experiences. It brought back childhood memories when my family of 6 would also engage in a similar activity. Since all of my siblings loved to read, we tried sneaking books to the table, but my mother always disallowed it. We were required to sit up straight, use correct grammar, and wait our turn to speak. Once that was all over--we could cut up and have a cool time just being kids. I wonder how many families still sum up the day's events--I don't think very many since drive throughs have replaced family dinners and conversation. Too much time spent in traffic often contributes to the lack of home cooked meals thereby diminishing the need for dining room table talk--everybody grabs their portion out of the fast food bag and off they go.
How do children find out the opinions and beliefs of their parents if not around the dinner table. Doing homework? Riding to soccer practice? Right before they get tucked in? Do parents still tuck their children in bed at night? Say prayers with them? Or share positive affirmation? I wonder. I like the roses and thorns idea. Since everybody is copying the new first family, who knows, maybe summing up the day will become popular again.

Soledad--What do you see?

My father-in-law, an educational icon in Houston, was honored for the umpteenth time at a gala event where Soledad O'Brian was the keynote speaker. She was exceptional in her delivery as her speech was peppered with wonderfully interesting stories. One of the stories she told was about asking the question, "What do you see?" which in it's truest sense means looking beyond the visible to see what can not yet be seen. It was profound because my father-in-law was honored for doing just that. He spent 36 years imagining how life could better for children if love for learning became a rule and not an exception. And so today his doctor, attorney, dentist, and accountant are all former students-all individuals he believed in. He challenged each one with "What do you see?" and each of their visions with his support became a reality.
It made me question my contributions--what have I done? Who have I influenced in a postive way? Have I encouraged and supported so that dreams are being realized? Only the fruit can answer my questions.

Investigation

Today I join a group of colleagues in an adventure--an investigation of sorts. I'm not sure our complete purpose totally but I know mine. To absorb and observe as much as I can, especially the group dynamics. The district is undergoing a transformation and this will be an opportunity to be in close quarters with my professional peeps. The atmosphere and climate of our collaboration may provide a glance at emotions regarding our changing educational future. Will there be talk of the stimulus? restructuring? budget cuts? professional learning? technology?--or will we each be engrossed in only our partnered conversations? I've got a list of questions regarding credit recovery for our students, and accelerated learning--that's part of my real focus. But it's my secondary purpose that generates the most queries.

Lofty Goals-dare I go there?

I'm beginning to question my eagerness to move to the next level of staff development. I have been so enthusiastic about the possibilities that I'm forging ahead without much thought of the consequences. But today, I started to put on the brakes because I'm not sure if I have the energy for this. There are so many unknowns, so many hidden rules. As a fee for service department, my thoughts turn to, pricing, staffing, tradition, e-TRAIN--how to name it in 30 characters or less? how to capture the essence of the offering without confusion? Perhaps, I should stand back and wait for a ground swell. Did I hear you say--, Remember, my friend, it's water on the rock,----- continuous water on the rock.

Saying the same thing

A friend recommended a book to me because of the ideas it proposed about gifted education. Maybe I've been at this too long--but there was really nothing new--except many already familiar good ideas repackaged with a new name and a few catchy phrases. One of the tenets of the book was that repetition and practice is important even for gifted individuals. Eric Jensen made that extremely clear in Teaching with the Brain in Mind. Mike Schmoker reaffirmed it in pushing us to get Results Now. And Marilee Sprenger emphasized it in How to Teach So Students Remember. There's really nothing new in the world of education--just recycled ideas boxed up like un-opened gifts. It is as Mr. Schmoker said--"We in education already know what to do ."--Hopefully, the repackaged ideas will inpire us to do it.

I just don't like it!

There was a time when I could leave my house at 6:00 in the morning and meet just a few cars on the road. Everybody has discovered the secret to driving peace and the roadways are now filled with travelers in a mad attempt to avoid gridlock. I don't like it one bit. The days when I could enjoy smooth lane transitions are gone. Those early morning travels prepared me for a peaceful day of thinking, learning, and working with grace. This saved my co-workers and friends from a person I hope they'll never get to know in this life. I'll adjust to this change, I know, but in the meantime I don't like it one bit.

Too many pages

I'm currently reading a book that I find fascinating and enlightening, yet many people look at me with disbelief when they discover the book has 916 pages. " That's too many pages. Why would you read that with your busy lifestyle when there are so many other great quick reads?" Why indeed? I hail from a family of avid readers-and we grew up reading books like Atlas Shrugged with a thousand pages or more. These were books that allowed us to get lost in the characters, in the times and in the places. It helped us appreciate many different perspectives. It made our family debates interesting. Life is already hurried enough-I'm more than okay with too many pages.

The future is now!

A quick visit to Dan Pink's website reminded me of our passion last year to change the way we do things in C&I. We were all invigorated and determined to use technology more in ways that made it natural and automatic. We were ready to embrace high touch, high tech as we focused on design, story, symphony, empathy, play, and meaning. Now, I do admit--all six elements are a part of me on some scale ranging from small to great- (Design, Story, and Meaning are all in my self-created quilts and cards)--but technology is not where I thought we would be by now.
A year later I regret that I have been "pulled back in" like Al Pacino in Godfather III to my same way of thinking and working. I try to stretch, I do I do--but tradition stops me at every turn. I am determined that this will be the breakout year for C & I. No more looking to the future--for the future is here!

Master Teacher Camille

Here is the blog of a master teacher in HISD that I mentor. Exceptionally gifted with a passion for children, Camille is one of HISD's finest!

http://www.teachingsleepy.blogspot.com/

Talking Points-Keeping It Real

Welcome to my blog. I look forward to sharing ideas and receiving comments that generate thinking.
Please feel free to post comments that keep the conversation authentic.