My One Word? Better Yet…My Mantra

With two days left in 2016, I was feeling an immense pressure to come up with my New Year’s Resolution for 2017. I had contemplated not committing to a resolution but that idea seemed evasive and quite frankly, like a cop out. After all, goal setting is healthy, not just for the mind, but for the spirit and soul as well. The last two years I participated in the #oneword challenge and felt good about working on trying to be a better me. Thus, I began the process of selecting my one word. I pondered such words as Investment, Purposeful, Kindness, Genuine, Compassion, Reflection and Gratitude. Yet, nothing quite seemed to inspire me quite like I had hoped. I am not sure why. The ideas that funneled through my head all appeared as worthy challenges and more importantly, described a sincere attempt to improve who I am as a person. But yet, something was still missing.  So, I began to think about it in different way.

What could I stop doing that I enjoyed doing most when I still had something left to give?

My mind quickly began to fill up with words such as eating, exercising, competing, breathing, thinking, dreaming, creating and writing. Writing? I cannot believe that I just said that. But interesting enough it came to mind because it is something that I have always struggled at which probably explains why I keep holding myself accountable for doing it even though I often agonize over it (Read about it here).  However, why would I select something as a resolution that I enjoyed doing. It seemed confusing to use a word like “dreaming” as my one word.  Maybe I needed a phrase or a sentence to help me determine my word or words? So after much contemplation and struggling to come up with my New Year’s Resolution for 2017, I finally decided to go in a different direction than I have in the past to keep me motivated and invested.

Rather than select my one word, I’ve decided to focus on MY MANTRA for 2017.

I will…

Stop sleeping when I am a little tired

Stop eating when I am a little hungry

Stop talking when I still have something to say

 

Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Happy New Years!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Best Of 2016 From The @DavidGeurin Blog

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you...for reading, connecting, and sharing with me this past year. It's inspiring to be in community with so many passionate educators who come together to learn and lift each other up. I am humbled when readers express how an article was inspiring or helpful. I know that I am always learning and growing as I reflect and share with you. Thank you for responding and sharing your thoughts and ideas with me also!

I am looking forward to the new year with great expectation. As one of three 2017 NASSP Digital Principals, I look forward to making new connections and learning from educators across the country. I will remain committed to advocating for relevant and meaningful learning for all. In spite of the challenges we face, educators are working tirelessly to invest in the lives of students. We will continue to do so regardless of political, social, or economic uncertainties.

Here are my top 10 most popular posts from the blog this past year. If you see one you missed, I hope you'll check it out. 

Five Critical #EdTech Conversations For Your School

Developing a shared vision for technology in your school should include lots of conversations. These conversations should occur among teachers, students, parents, and other stakeholders. It's important to think through the pros and cons of technology use and how technology can play an valuable role in learning.

Does Your Professional Development Honor Teachers as Learners?

For the past couple of years, our school has worked to create a way of supporting professional learning that is more personally meaningful. We were inspired by the idea of So our message was clear. If it might make learning better for students, then pursue it.

9 Pieces of Advice Every Teacher Should Ignore

Every educator has received their share of advice from many well-meaning sources - other teachers, administrators, college professors, parents or even your students. You name it. You may have even received some of the advice on the list below. If so, you might want to ignore it.

7 Questions To Guide Decisions Of School Leaders

Our decisions can have a big impact on the school, learning, and ultimately our students. So it's very important to make the best decision possible. Of course, I often make decisions and then come to realize later that with different information or a different perspective, I might have acted differently in the situation.

7 Reasons To Use Social Media In Your School (INFOGRAPHIC)

One thing is for sure, social media is here to stay. Never before have people been able to connect, share, and learn from one another as we do now. I can only imagine what might be next! As a result, our students need skills to win at life in a digital world.

7 Ways Technology Can Transform Learning (INFOGRAPHIC)

In a previous post, I shared some thoughts on technology integration and how tech in the classroom is too often an add-on or extra and not part of an authentic learning experience. In fact, technology is so vital in today's world that it's on par with the school library.

Adaptable Learners Will Own the Future

When I was kid, my Grandpa Geurin bought me a pony. I know that sounds like the type of gift a spoiled rich kid might get. But we were definitely not rich. Grandpa owned a small farm in West Kentucky where he and my grandma worked tirelessly to make a living.

5 Challenges to Your Best School Year Ever

As the new school year is just around the corner, it's a great chance to commit to making learning more effective and meaningful in your classroom or school. Here are five challenges to make it the best year ever. 1. Greet Your Students at the Door Everyone can make it a point to greet students at the door each day.

Is It Time To Move Past Tech Integration?

What is your school's mindset surrounding technology use in the classroom? If you're like a lot of educators, you are probably working to integrate technology into instruction. You might even be discussing the merits of blended learning. But what does it mean to integrate technology? And what is blended learning?

9 Ways to Make Learning Irresistible

True story. The bell rang and nobody moved. How often are students counting down the minutes of each class? They have their eyes on the clock. They start But the underlying message was that learning is "work" and unpleasant and you need a break, so I'll give you some time later to visit.

        

Comments

• Comments

Related Stories

• Hottest Posts Everyone's Reading this Fall #ICYMI
• Hottest Posts Everyone's Reading This Summer
• Poplular Posts Everyone's Reading #ICYMI

 

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2017 Learning Resolutions #EDU2017

Over the break, I have been playing with creating videos, and want to spend more time doing this in 2017. I have been watching different “YouTubers” to understand not only how they make the videos, but what makes them appealing to others as well.  It is something I am interested in exploring deeper as well in 2017.

That being said, I wanted to share this “Learning Resolution” with others as well, so I tweeted the following:

What are you hoping to learn in 2017? Share a video of your goal to #EDU2017. Accountability to yourself and inspire others as well! http://pic.twitter.com/jIx5mQf73T

— George Couros (@gcouros) December 30, 2016

I encourage others to share a video of themselves to Twitter (or elsewhere) using the hashtag #EDU2017, to hopefully not only create some accountability to what they want to learn this year, but also inspire others to commit to learning something new themselves.

Here are a couple that have already been posted by others:

@gcouros here’s my new years resolution for school. #EDU2017 http://pic.twitter.com/EkC65V9p77

— Arielle Olson (@4MissOlson) December 30, 2016

The new year is right around the corner. Here is my #EDU2017 goal for myself this year! What is your goal? http://pic.twitter.com/ktcS2QR189

— Mrs B! (@MrsBauerns) December 30, 2016

Please feel free to share yours as well and share a link in the comments below. I look forward to seeing what others share and inspire.

• March 7, 2013 Learning From the #Twitter Archives
• September 8, 2016 The #InnovatorsMindset MOOC Starting Soon! #IMMOOC
• September 28, 2016 Kids Teaching the World
• March 7, 2015 New Project: #EDUin30
• December 28, 2010 Visual Leading

Source: George Couros

from Connected Principals http://ift.tt/2iNWUwH

2017 Learning Resolutions #EDU2017

Over the break, I have been playing with creating videos, and want to spend more time doing this in 2017. I have been watching different “YouTubers” to understand not only how they make the videos, but what makes them appealing to others as well.  It is something I am interested in exploring deeper as well in 2017.

That being said, I wanted to share this “Learning Resolution” with others as well, so I tweeted the following:

What are you hoping to learn in 2017? Share a video of your goal to #EDU2017. Accountability to yourself and inspire others as well! http://pic.twitter.com/jIx5mQf73T

— George Couros (@gcouros) December 30, 2016

I encourage others to share a video of themselves to Twitter (or elsewhere) using the hashtag #EDU2017, to hopefully not only create some accountability to what they want to learn this year, but also inspire others to commit to learning something new themselves.

Here are a couple that have already been posted by others:

@gcouros here’s my new years resolution for school. #EDU2017 http://pic.twitter.com/EkC65V9p77

— Arielle Olson (@4MissOlson) December 30, 2016

The new year is right around the corner. Here is my #EDU2017 goal for myself this year! What is your goal? http://pic.twitter.com/ktcS2QR189

— Mrs B! (@MrsBauerns) December 30, 2016

Please feel free to share yours as well and share a link in the comments below. I look forward to seeing what others share and inspire.

• March 7, 2013 Learning From the #Twitter Archives
• September 8, 2016 The #InnovatorsMindset MOOC Starting Soon! #IMMOOC
• September 28, 2016 Kids Teaching the World
• March 7, 2015 New Project: #EDUin30
• December 28, 2010 Visual Leading

from Connected Principals http://ift.tt/2hBkRKd

The Best Of 2016 From The @DavidGeurin Blog

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you...for reading, connecting, and sharing with me this past year. It's inspiring to be in community with so many passionate educators who come together to learn and lift each other up. I am humbled when readers express how an article was inspiring or helpful. I know that I am always learning and growing as I reflect and share with you. Thank you for responding and sharing your thoughts and ideas with me also!

I am looking forward to the new year with great expectation. As one of three 2017 NASSP Digital Principals, I look forward to making new connections and learning from educators across the country. I will remain committed to advocating for relevant and meaningful learning for all. In spite of the challenges we face, educators are working tirelessly to invest in the lives of students. We will continue to do so regardless of political, social, or economic uncertainties.

Here are my top 10 most popular posts from the blog this past year. If you see one you missed, I hope you'll check it out. 

Five Critical #EdTech Conversations For Your School

Developing a shared vision for technology in your school should include lots of conversations. These conversations should occur among teachers, students, parents, and other stakeholders. It's important to think through the pros and cons of technology use and how technology can play an valuable role in learning.

Does Your Professional Development Honor Teachers as Learners?

For the past couple of years, our school has worked to create a way of supporting professional learning that is more personally meaningful. We were inspired by the idea of So our message was clear. If it might make learning better for students, then pursue it.

9 Pieces of Advice Every Teacher Should Ignore

Every educator has received their share of advice from many well-meaning sources - other teachers, administrators, college professors, parents or even your students. You name it. You may have even received some of the advice on the list below. If so, you might want to ignore it.

7 Questions To Guide Decisions Of School Leaders

Our decisions can have a big impact on the school, learning, and ultimately our students. So it's very important to make the best decision possible. Of course, I often make decisions and then come to realize later that with different information or a different perspective, I might have acted differently in the situation.

7 Reasons To Use Social Media In Your School (INFOGRAPHIC)

One thing is for sure, social media is here to stay. Never before have people been able to connect, share, and learn from one another as we do now. I can only imagine what might be next! As a result, our students need skills to win at life in a digital world.

7 Ways Technology Can Transform Learning (INFOGRAPHIC)

In a previous post, I shared some thoughts on technology integration and how tech in the classroom is too often an add-on or extra and not part of an authentic learning experience. In fact, technology is so vital in today's world that it's on par with the school library.

Adaptable Learners Will Own the Future

When I was kid, my Grandpa Geurin bought me a pony. I know that sounds like the type of gift a spoiled rich kid might get. But we were definitely not rich. Grandpa owned a small farm in West Kentucky where he and my grandma worked tirelessly to make a living.

5 Challenges to Your Best School Year Ever

As the new school year is just around the corner, it's a great chance to commit to making learning more effective and meaningful in your classroom or school. Here are five challenges to make it the best year ever. 1. Greet Your Students at the Door Everyone can make it a point to greet students at the door each day.

Is It Time To Move Past Tech Integration?

What is your school's mindset surrounding technology use in the classroom? If you're like a lot of educators, you are probably working to integrate technology into instruction. You might even be discussing the merits of blended learning. But what does it mean to integrate technology? And what is blended learning?

9 Ways to Make Learning Irresistible

True story. The bell rang and nobody moved. How often are students counting down the minutes of each class? They have their eyes on the clock. They start But the underlying message was that learning is "work" and unpleasant and you need a break, so I'll give you some time later to visit.

        

Comments

• Comments

Related Stories

• Hottest Posts Everyone's Reading this Fall #ICYMI
• Hottest Posts Everyone's Reading This Summer
• Poplular Posts Everyone's Reading #ICYMI

 

from Connected Principals http://ift.tt/2hCR715

The Bookalicious Babe's Top Ten Reads of 2016

Wow!  It's the last week of 2016, and time to reflect on what I've read and pick  the books that impacted me the most this year.  I always like to look at my reading choices and try to see a pattern over the year.  What I noticed the most this year is my lack of historical fiction.  It's my favorite genre, and I'm quite surprised to see I didn't read much at all.  I did, however, read a lot of nonfiction, which is a switch from previous years.  Mainly this was due to listening to audio books on my daily commute to work, and reading nonfiction books to present at my hospital book talks.  I also didn't read much science fiction, which is another of my favorite genres.  This was all a surprise to me.  I also was a bit disappointed in my inability to get more reading accomplished.  Just so darn much going on this year it was hard to carve out dedicated reading time.  

I also worked hard on posting what I was going to read each month so I could have some discipline and structure in my reading choices.  I've got so many books stacked at home, sometimes it's hard to make a choice and stick with it.  I'm not sure if it helped me or stressed me out!  I certainly don't want to disappoint my followers and not review a book I've said I would review.  As it is, I'm still two short for the month of December.  I'll confess:  I start out with good intentions, but easily get distracted by other books coming into my view.  I can't help it!  

So 2017...I don't know what it will bring, reading wise.  I'll try again to chip away at the stacks and boxes of unread books I've got at home.  I'll definitely try to read more historical fiction, science fiction, and teen books.  I'll even throw in some young reader novels, too.  And I will stick with my policy of not finishing books if they don't grab me in the first 100 pages.  I'm happy to say I've checked out more library books in the past year than I have since I was a kid.  It's certainly been a money saver for me and a chance to support the local library system.  

Without further ado, here are my top ten reads of 2016.  Some were published this year; others have been out for a few years and remain popular book club choices and bestsellers.  It was hard to whittle it down to ten.  

10.  

I listened to these letters on audio, and was thrilled to hear about Laura's life with Almanzo in Missouri in their later years.  Bought the book to keep permanently on my bookcase.  

9.  

This was one of the few historical novels I read this year, and I rediscovered my love of the Revolutionary Era of America.  Thomas Jefferson and his daughter Patsy had a fascinating relationship against the backdrop of a young country struggling through growing pains.  

8.  

This was a heart-tugger about a man's adventures to discover just who his recently deceased wife really was before they met and married.  Did he keep her from being her true self?  A sweet novel.

7.

I resisted reading this for awhile due to the huge buzz, but a friend recommended it at our book group and handed it to me, so I dug in and was glad I did!  A plane crash leaves a young boy and one man as the lone survivors; what happened on that short flight?  We get the story from each of the people on the plane in the days leading up to the crash; the ending was a heart-tugger.  The novel also talks about the glare of media and the harm speculative journalism can do to people.  

6.  

The Family Plot was a creepy read about a haunted house and the very angry spirit that wants vengeance.  Cherie Priest does an amazing job setting an uncomfortable atmosphere.  I don't scare easily, but it certainly made me uneasy.

5.

This historical novel about a family's struggle to start a successful apple orchard in frontier Ohio is a study in familial dysfunction.  I loved learning about orchards, apples, and the redwood forests of California. 

4.

Listened to this on audio, and was immediately sucked into the lives of four women: two Yankees and two Confederates. Women who disguised themselves, used their charm, thought on their feet, and did whatever they had to in order to help their side win the Civil War.  Fascinating women! 

3.

This book had been on my TBR list for years and I finally read it for a book talk at my hospital.  Wow!  I had no idea James Garfield was such an amazing man. That his life was cut short by the inept medical decisions of an egotistical doctor is a disgrace.  Oh, what he could have done as president.  Highly recommend this book.  

2.  

I think this was the only teen novel I read all year, and it was fantastic.  Lady Jane Grey's true tale of political intrigue and execution is radically changed into a clever alternate story that will have you cheering.  Not just for teens!

1.

This was a charming novel featuring my favorite character of the whole year.  Young Frank is a nine year old who dresses like a star from old Hollywood, quotes classic films, and doesn't fit in with his fourth grade classmates.  It's up to Alice to take care of him while is mother writes her comeback novel.  I laughed out loud throughout this novel about motherly love, comebacks, and the struggle to find your own niche in the world.  An excellent book club recommendation. 

There it is!  My top ten reads of 2016.   May you all have a safe and happy New Year full of good friends, great books, and lots of reading time.  

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Technology Will Not Redefine Schools

Today I tweeted this article:

Thoughts? – Technologies That Will Define the Classroom of the Future https://t.co/XnFCPlER4r

— George Couros (@gcouros) December 28, 2016

As educators, we should always be aware of what is going on in the world, and not be in a state of a perpetual “catch-up”. I appreciated the author sharing these eight technologies and some insights into each:

1. Augmented Reality
2. 3D Printers
3. Cloud Computing
4. New interactive and flexible displays
5. Multi-Touch LCD screen
6. Biometrics
7. Learning based on games
8. MOOCs and other online learning options

(Read the whole article to get an in more depth look.)

This response from Tom Donovan really struck a chord with me:

@gcouros If technologies define the classroom of the future, we’ve failed. Student agency & ownership of learning must define it.

— Tom Donovan (@tdonovan) December 28, 2016

It reminded of this image created by Bill Ferriter:

I believe there has been a shift in education, but as we see these, and other technologies start to be more commonplace, and make their way into the classrooms, the structure of school, and what the “why” of school is, has to be continuously evaluated.

If we are waiting for some “technology” to come along and redefine schools, we will be either waiting a long time, or it will be too late. This is a shift we will need to create in our own thinking.

• August 3, 2012 Serving Others
• January 8, 2015 An Acronym Leading to Empowerment in Schools (CEE)
• February 28, 2015 What do you want leaders to do with technology? (Updated Visual)
• October 19, 2011 The Blended PLC
• September 15, 2016 The Arrows Go Back and Forth #IMMOOC

Source: George Couros

from Connected Principals http://ift.tt/2ijfdep

Technology Will Not Redefine Schools

Today I tweeted this article:

Thoughts? – Technologies That Will Define the Classroom of the Future https://t.co/XnFCPlER4r

— George Couros (@gcouros) December 28, 2016

As educators, we should always be aware of what is going on in the world, and not be in a state of a perpetual “catch-up”. I appreciated the author sharing these eight technologies and some insights into each:

1. Augmented Reality
2. 3D Printers
3. Cloud Computing
4. New interactive and flexible displays
5. Multi-Touch LCD screen
6. Biometrics
7. Learning based on games
8. MOOCs and other online learning options

(Read the whole article to get an in more depth look.)

This response from Tom Donovan really struck a chord with me:

Thoughts? – Technologies That Will Define the Classroom of the Future https://t.co/XnFCPlER4r

— George Couros (@gcouros) December 28, 2016

It reminded of this image created by Bill Ferriter:

I believe there has been a shift in education, but as we see these, and other technologies start to be more commonplace, and make their way into the classrooms, the structure of school, and what the “why” of school is, has to be continuously evaluated.

If we are waiting for some “technology” to come along and redefine schools, we will be either waiting a long time, or it will be too late. This is a shift we will need to create in our own thinking.

• August 3, 2012 Serving Others
• January 8, 2015 An Acronym Leading to Empowerment in Schools (CEE)
• February 28, 2015 What do you want leaders to do with technology? (Updated Visual)
• October 19, 2011 The Blended PLC
• September 15, 2016 The Arrows Go Back and Forth #IMMOOC

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The Rules of Love and Grammar by Mary Simses

I read Mary Simses' first novel The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop and Cafe last year, and while I enjoyed it, wasn't wowed by it.  In her second novel, Mary Simses does a much better job keeping my interest, but I still have some issues with characters and plot.  

Grace Hammond is a 33 year old New Yorker who comes home to Dorset, Connecticut one summer to stay with her parents while the ceiling in her apartment is repaired after a water leak in the apartment above hers.  She's also just broken up with her boyfriend, and lost her job.  A whole lot of misfortune all at once.  Fleeing to her parent's house gives her time to lick her wounds and figure out what she's going to do when she returns to New York.  

That summer, director Peter Brooks is in Dorset filming a movie that is semi-autobiographical.  He's a son of Dorset, and people are very excited to have a famous director and his stars descend on the town.  Grace and Peter were friends as teens, and were thisclose to a romance when Grace's older sister Renny was killed in a car accident at 18 and Peter's family moved away to Arizona just a few weeks after that.  Grace's longing to recapture that happiness with Peter comes roaring back when her friend Cluny tells Grace he's back in town.  

Grace has time to burn, so she's helping her parents get the house and yard ready for her father's 65th birthday party.  She finds Renny's old Schwinn in the garage, and decides to have it restored as a way to honor her sister and help Grace lay down the guilt she feels over her sister's death.  Mitch, a ruggedly handsome man, helps his father at the bike shop during the summer months. Grace and Mitch have a bit of an antagonistic relationship, and her focus is all on Peter.  The star of the movie, Sean, has a run in with Grace and seems to be smitten with her.  Gee, three men!  How will Grace ever decide where her heart lies?

Underlying all of the summer romance possibilities is Grace's floundering over her career and life in general.  She's haunted by Renny's death, and coming back home seems to have brought it to the forefront of her mind.  She feels like her parents always preferred Renny, and doesn't believe she has any talent.  I have to say this part of the novel seemed wrong, somehow.  It's been 18 years since Renny has died; I am a bit puzzled that Grace is still struggling over how she thinks her parents really feel about her. They've been nothing but encouraging, but I feel like her behavior belongs to someone much younger.  I could see this being a stronger plot if Grace was in her mid-twenties, not her early thirties.  She seems to bounce from one potential romance to another without any kind of real focus, and when the big talk happens with her parents, I felt like it was long overdue and made the ending a bit rushed.  I do, however, like the ending, and that we are left with a satisfying conclusion, but not a neat ending tied up in a bow.  There's room for perhaps another story, and I'd be happy to read it.  

Rating:  6/10 for a novel that was enjoyable and quick read.  The town of Dorset came alive, and sounds like a place I'd like to call home.  Grace seemed a bit immature for her age, and the main plot line would have worked better if she'd been in her twenties.  But overall,  a novel that would be a good choice for Moms, Grandmas, and those who like contemporary women's fiction.  

Available in hardcover, and e-book.

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7 Reasons ‘Classroom Leadership’ Is Better Than ‘Classroom Management’

PMP Bonus 02: “Bee Stings” And Thoughts on Life & Death

This week’s post is more personal than school leadership related. Recently, my wife’s father-in-law, David L. Fulbright, passed away. He was a former teacher, minister, and counselor. He was also a great story-teller and Papa. As the family sat by his bedside in his remaining hours, I had some quiet moments that brought back memories […]

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The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

The news that Carrie Fisher died early this morning just broke my heart, the capper in a year that has seen so many of my childhood and teenage movie and music icons leave us.  

 I had just finished listening to the audio version of The Princess Diarist last week, and was shocked at my timing.  It was my first Carrie Fisher book experience, and I am so glad I listened to the audio, narrated by Carrie and her daughter, Billie Lourd. I never would have been able to appreciate Carrie's humor if I hadn't listened to her tell her stories.

The biggest news from this memoir is, of course, her affair with Harrison Ford during the first Star Wars movie.  She was 19, he was 35 and married.  Carrie talks about her previous relationship with a young man who was also attending drama school with Carrie in London; he was really her first relationship with a man.  She was pretty innocent at 19, and Harrison Ford thought she was much more experienced than she was, and didn't realize it until they were into their short, three month affair.  Carrie reminds us frequently that this happened 40 years ago; she doesn't really remember too many details (which is what everyone wants to hear), but her diaries reflect her struggle to understand why him and what it all meant.  Her daughter Billie reads parts of the diary entries that reflect on how Carrie feels about Harrison; how she knew he wasn't someone who would last because she was always attracted to men who ran away, or weren't accessible.  She had crushes on gay men, too.  In a way, she felt she didn't deserve love.  And she looks back at her young self, and is amazed that she felt so fat and unattractive, when she really was such a beautiful girl.  The diaries she refers to are diaries she wrote during the filming of Star Wars; she happened upon them last year while sorting through old paperwork at home.  

Carrie's humor is sharp, biting, loud, and will make you chuckle.  She's a remarkable writer, and she truly learned to not give a shit about anything.  She lived with no regrets, and accepted her place in cinema history and pop culture as Princess Leia.  Her skill as a script doctor and writer is evident in the funny conversations she constructs about meeting fans at Comic Con; her ability to create characters with dialogue was amazing.  What a talent.  

I'm so glad I listened to this book while Carrie was still alive; I liked to think about what she was doing while I was listening to this book every morning and afternoon on my commute.  A fitting final story from an amazing, ballsy, brilliant woman.  

Rating:  8/10 for the sheer pleasure of listening to Carrie Fisher and her daughter tell her story.  A peek inside the phenomenon of Star Wars when it was a little science fiction movie that no one knew much about.  

Available in hardcover, audio, and e-book.

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“…in the service of the right aims”

In my post, “4 Non-Negotiables for Schools“, I wrote that the first one was the most important:

1. They are a welcoming and warm environment. As someone who goes into schools often, I can get a feeling of the culture within a few minutes. Whether it is talking to the secretary, or seeing what is on the walls when I walk into the building, the culture permeates through all pores of the building.  In my own experience as a student, one of my favourite people in school was the custodian.  He went out of his way every day to talk to the students, learn about them, and have a good relationship.  Every adult makes every child feel important, whether it is making connections with them during supervision, or acknowledging them as you pass them in the hallway.  I believe this starts with the principal, but it is something that should be expected from all staff. Learn names, make kids feel welcome and valued, and create a space where students want to be.  Without this, the other factors don’t matter much.

After I wrote that, I saw this great story, “Elementary School Janitor Leaves Cute Messages In the Carpet Overnight“, which is exactly what the title says it is.  Here is a snippet from the story:

A dedicated Red Sox fan, Ron was inspired to try his hand at carpet artwork after observing the lines in baseball field grass. He calls the carpet his “mini Fenway Park.”

Assistant principal Dan Mitchell told ABC News that Ron’s actions help the students understand the behind-the-scenes work that goes into creating a good learning environment.

“His shift is when the kids are gone, so oftentimes they lack that connection between the night staff and the students here in the day,” said Mitchell. “It really drives home the point that there are so many people that come in here after you’re gone and they work so hard to make a safe, comfortable, and happy place for you to learn. He’s an employee of the school, but he’s a stranger to the kids so to take that extra time with these small gestures really drives home that personal connection.”

I loved not only the story about the janitor, but also what the Assistant Principal said about the importance of the “behind-the-scenes” work of all to make the school “a safe, comfortable, and happy place for you (the students) to learn”.

Although this is probably not in the “job description”, I think of Barry Schwartz Ted Talk on “Using Our Practical Wisdom”.  In it, he says the following:

Dealing with other people demands a kind of flexibility that no set of rules can encompass. Wise people know when and how to bend the rules. Wise people know how to improvise. The way my co-author , Ken, and I talk about it, they are kind of like jazz musicians. The rules are like the notes on the page, and that gets you started, but then you dance around the notes on the page, coming up with just the right combination for this particular moment with this particular set of fellow players. So for Aristotle, the kind of rule-bending, rule exception-finding and improvisation that you see in skilled craftsmen is exactly what you need to be a skilled moral craftsman. And in interactions with people, almost all the time, it is this kind of flexibility that is required. A wise person knows when to bend the rules. A wise person knows when to improvise. And most important, a wise person does this improvising and rule-bending in the service of the right aims.

Doing your “job” is important, but I would always take someone that goes above and beyond “in the service of the right aims“.  It is important to recognize that all of these “small things” are what builds culture, and without a strong and positive culture, powerful learning is less likely to happen.

• December 13, 2011 Empathy and Emotion
• December 16, 2016 4 Non-Negotiables for Schools
• May 27, 2016 Accepting the Default?
• September 19, 2016 3 More Critical Questions For the Innovative Educator
• August 13, 2010 “You Don’t Need to Be Brilliant To Be Wise”

Source: George Couros

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“…in the service of the right aims”

In my post, “4 Non-Negotiables for Schools“, I wrote that the first one was the most important:

1. They are a welcoming and warm environment. As someone who goes into schools often, I can get a feeling of the culture within a few minutes. Whether it is talking to the secretary, or seeing what is on the walls when I walk into the building, the culture permeates through all pores of the building.  In my own experience as a student, one of my favourite people in school was the custodian.  He went out of his way every day to talk to the students, learn about them, and have a good relationship.  Every adult makes every child feel important, whether it is making connections with them during supervision, or acknowledging them as you pass them in the hallway.  I believe this starts with the principal, but it is something that should be expected from all staff. Learn names, make kids feel welcome and valued, and create a space where students want to be.  Without this, the other factors don’t matter much.

After I wrote that, I saw this great story, “Elementary School Janitor Leaves Cute Messages In the Carpet Overnight“, which is exactly what the title says it is.  Here is a snippet from the story:

A dedicated Red Sox fan, Ron was inspired to try his hand at carpet artwork after observing the lines in baseball field grass. He calls the carpet his “mini Fenway Park.”

Assistant principal Dan Mitchell told ABC News that Ron’s actions help the students understand the behind-the-scenes work that goes into creating a good learning environment.

“His shift is when the kids are gone, so oftentimes they lack that connection between the night staff and the students here in the day,” said Mitchell. “It really drives home the point that there are so many people that come in here after you’re gone and they work so hard to make a safe, comfortable, and happy place for you to learn. He’s an employee of the school, but he’s a stranger to the kids so to take that extra time with these small gestures really drives home that personal connection.”

I loved not only the story about the janitor, but also what the Assistant Principal said about the importance of the “behind-the-scenes” work of all to make the school “a safe, comfortable, and happy place for you (the students) to learn”.

Although this is probably not in the “job description”, I think of Barry Schwartz Ted Talk on “Using Our Practical Wisdom”.  In it, he says the following:

Dealing with other people demands a kind of flexibility that no set of rules can encompass. Wise people know when and how to bend the rules. Wise people know how to improvise. The way my co-author , Ken, and I talk about it, they are kind of like jazz musicians. The rules are like the notes on the page, and that gets you started, but then you dance around the notes on the page, coming up with just the right combination for this particular moment with this particular set of fellow players. So for Aristotle, the kind of rule-bending, rule exception-finding and improvisation that you see in skilled craftsmen is exactly what you need to be a skilled moral craftsman. And in interactions with people, almost all the time, it is this kind of flexibility that is required. A wise person knows when to bend the rules. A wise person knows when to improvise. And most important, a wise person does this improvising and rule-bending in the service of the right aims.

Doing your “job” is important, but I would always take someone that goes above and beyond “in the service of the right aims“.  It is important to recognize that all of these “small things” are what builds culture, and without a strong and positive culture, powerful learning is less likely to happen.

• December 13, 2011 Empathy and Emotion
• December 16, 2016 4 Non-Negotiables for Schools
• May 27, 2016 Accepting the Default?
• September 19, 2016 3 More Critical Questions For the Innovative Educator
• August 13, 2010 “You Don’t Need to Be Brilliant To Be Wise”

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2016 Review: Log and Timber Homes

Where has the year gone? 2016 has been a busy and exciting year for the A Team. We had the pleasure of building homes for clients in the United States, across Western Canada and two log cabins in Italy. We traveled some beautiful countryside, completed some stunning projects and met some great people along the way.

We thought we’d share a quick roundup of some of our highlighted projects from 2016.

In addition to our own projects we also partnered with a couple of larger development firms in B.C. It was great to work with these companies installing some wood elements where traditionally steel is used.

Saanich

Recently featured in Modern Home Victoria, this large diameter cedar post and beam house is beautiful inside and out. This 2,185 square ft. post and beam home has two very special flared posts going from floor to ceiling in the centre of the home, with a little wood burning fireplace set between. The main floor of this house maintains a nice open feeling with 18’ vaulted ceilings down the center and huge windows taking in the view.

Our clients couldn’t be happier with the home and love all the open space to entertain and spend time with family.

Timber Frame in Mission

We had the privilege of building this 3,300 square ft. custom timber frame home about 10 minutes from our shop.  Our clients came to us in early spring with a scale wood model of the large trusses to be found inside the great room, we had them engineered and proceeded to hand cut all the beautiful Douglas Fir beams that can be found through the home.

Our clients couldn’t be happier with the results.

Arizona

In September, we had the privilege of building a beautiful post and beam log home near Eagar, Arizona.  Our clients choose to build in the mountains about 3 hours east of Phoenix where they can escape the summer heat and enjoy the local horse facilities and endless trails.  The cabin is 2,000 square ft. on 2 floors plus a full basement.  Designed to enjoy the outdoors year around, there’s a large covered deck area out back and a semi-attached garage. With 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, the large cabin can suite most families’ needs.

They are still finalizing a few of the things through the cabin and we can’t wait to see the finished pictures in 2017.

Blackberry Kitchen

The Blackberry Kitchen, also known as the Norma Kenny House, was originally built by Artisan’s co-founder Rob Littler in 1986.  The project was initiated by the Continuing Ed faculty at the College of the Fraser Valley where Rob led a class of 12 local builders and successfully built the house in one of Missions largest parks, Heritage Park.  The current tenants have since transformed the home into a beautiful rustic restaurant, The Blackberry Café. They decided they needed more room and a larger kitchen, so after 30 years, Artisan returned to the project and helped remove the entire loft structure to expose the huge vaulted ceilings while using re-claimed logs from the loft as new posts throughout the main floor and a custom bar top.

It was a fun project to work on knowing that two generations of the Artisan family have worked on the home. If you are ever in the area it’s a must to stop by this restaurant.

Vancouver Island

On Vancouver Island we built anther log cabin, Bowser Cabin. This 24′ x 24′ cabin is small by some standards but designed very well to maximize the living space.  It was designed to have a warm, cozy and inviting feel as the couple that is moving into it next year will be retiring and wanted a home that was relaxing.

Located near the ocean on Vancouver Island, the cabin was built with Yellow Cedar due to its amazing natural characteristics that make it very resistant to decay and weathering.  They also choose hardy plank siding and glass panel railings for low exterior maintenance.

Rivard Family Home

The Rivard family has moved into their large custom Post and Beam home in Northern Alberta.  Its been a labor of love and they’re thrilled to be finally enjoying their dream home.

This home has been one of our most popular styles due to the large cedar flared wood we used in the design. You will likely be seeing more of this home in the future.

Italian Log Home

We also had the pleasure of heading back to Italy to work with our clients from a few years ago.

Following the build of their log home in Italy in 2012 we returned to help our same clients build two cabins that will be opened as a bed and breakfast in spring of 2017.  We supplied and built 2 very unique elevated log cabins in the Piedmont area of Italy.

Theses cabins are built 16′ off the ground with an amazing set of circular log stairs to access them.  The views are spectacular and will be thoroughly enjoyed by many lucky visitors in the years to come.

Timber Frame Entry for Peninsula Seniors Center

We were hired by Kasper Developments to engineer and build two large timber frame entrances for a recent project in White Rock. These massive Douglas Fir Beams average 10” x 16”.

It was a great project to work on with Kasper Developments and hope to work with them more in the future.

Log Shelters for Playground

Cressey Development hired us to build 4 custom log shelters for an outdoor natural play area for a daycare in Richmond B.C. The playground is located on the 4th floor of a building right in the city.

We enjoyed this project as many of the children have never played on real logs and wood before.

 

Every project is unique and special to us. The people and the families that we meet along the way make every home memorable. We are very fortunate to be invited into the homes of our clients and made part of their family as we build them their dream home. It is a huge pleasure and honour.

Thank you to all of our clients past and present and we look forward to an even better 2017!

If you or someone you know is interested in building a custom log home, cabin or timber frame please visit our Log Home 101 section which can help answer some of the common questions you might have when it comes to building. As always, you can contact us and we would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

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A Vision for the “4 Non-Negotiables for All Schools”

In a previous post, “4 Non-Negotiables for Schools“, I shared what I believe should be evident in all schools:

Charlie Hutzler, summed it up nicely on Twitter:

✔ #Climate
✔ Develop whole child
✔ Model #learning
✔ Stoke #curiosity
4 Non-Negotiables for Schools @gcouros https://t.co/gzVEeew3E3 #edchat

— Charlie Hutzler (@CAHutzler) December 18, 2016

What I wanted to try my hand at was putting these ideas into a cohesive “vision” for schools as I have been thinking about revisiting my own Educational Leadership Philosophy. One sentence that brings these all together. Here are a few attempts I have made that are still a work in progress:

Attempt 1:

School should be a place where all learners feel welcome yet challenged, continuously grow and develop as people and learners, and curiosity is stoked, nurtured, and expands into all phases of life.

Attempt 2: 

Schools need to continuously develop the curiosity and humanity of all learners in an inclusive, welcoming and challenging environment.

Attempt 3: 

Schools should develop all learners to continuously grow as people, stoke curiosity, challenge ideas, and be an inclusive community to all.

A few things…

Curiosity was a word that was a non-negotiable in all sentences.

Learners is meant to encompass everyone in the school community.

Challenge (or challenging) was an important word for me to share here because I believe that when a school becomes welcoming, we have to be open to diverse ideas, whether we agree or not.  That is why “warm and welcoming” are so crucial.  It is hard to challenge ideas in a place where we do not feel comfortable with others.

I have written entire blog posts in a much shorter time than it took me to write those sentences.  It was a good exercise to try to put concisely in what I believe school should be.

I was inspired by one of my favourite “blast from the past” videos from Dan Pink talking about, “What’s your sentence?”  If you have never seen it, it is a powerful exercise:

 

I would encourage anyone reading this to try this on their own, or with their staff. What do you believe school should be for all learners?  What would your “school” or “classroom sentence” be?  I encourage you to take a look at what I wrote and share your thoughts, or write your own “school sentence”.  This was a great learning process for me, and I encourage others to go through the process themselves, or with their staff, and see what you come up with.

• August 9, 2013 This I Believe
• November 8, 2010 What Shapes Your Learning?
• March 11, 2011 Stories Around the World
• July 22, 2010 The Importance of Play (for adults)
• February 6, 2013 Revisiting Cursive

Source: George Couros

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