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

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