Purpose-Driven Learning

Seeing tweets, over and over again, regarding the villainization of “worksheets,” (I know I have been guilty of this as well) I tweeted the following:

Teachers… If you give a worksheet in your class, you are not bad at your job. If that’s all you do all the time, that’s a different story, but that’s true of any strategy.

— George Couros (@gcouros) March 23, 2018

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsI struggle with the “black and white” generalization of practices because many great teachers do these practices right now. One of the tweets that I received on this struck me:

Thanks for making this statement. I actually have quit getting on Twitter as much due because of all the Do’s and Don’t being thrown our way. It seriously makes you feel terrible as an educator and knowing how hard you work.

— Kelli Ogle (@teachtechthings) March 23, 2018

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsWhen I look at educators on social media, it is to inspire people to get better, not scare them off of platforms because they feel they are doing everything wrong.

#weareonthesameteam

Do I think worksheets are fantastic and super fun? Nope.

There are a million variations on what a “worksheet” can constitute. What I first see in my head doesn’t seem too compelling in my mind, but that doesn’t mean that can’t be beneficial.

In my own life, I am going to tell you straight up, that I do things I hate.

All. Of. The. Time.

But those things I hate, are often pathways to things I love, or in pursuit of a more significant purpose.  I have been focusing on my health lately, and running on the treadmill is something that I have dreaded for years. Recently, it has been easier because I am thinking of it differently, not because the activity has changed.

I am seeing it as part of a bigger picture and leading to a better quality of life for not only myself but the time I spend with my daughter. I have more energy at home than I have in a while, and that investment in myself, even when it is in something that I am not fond of, seems much more natural to not only endure but to embrace.

The same things will apply to students in a classroom.  They are more likely to embrace something that is not the most “engaging” when they know it is part of a bigger purpose. I have been guilty early on in my career of telling students that they have to do something, “because I said so.” They didn’t see the bigger picture because I couldn’t articulate it to them.  Probably, because I couldn’t see the purpose myself.

Read the quote below:

Of course, every educator would say they want their students to feel “empowered.” But, this is not about “compliance” versus “empowerment.” It is a spectrum.

It is about how sometimes the “compliance” leads to the skills and thoughts for “empowerment.”

This post is not about the purpose of worksheets.  Is it about getting people to think – Do worksheets (or a million other things in education) lead to something purposeful?

When you find that “purpose,” the hard and tedious things seem a lot easier to take. Without them though, the learner experience in our classrooms can be tough to swallow.

• June 28, 2013 The Prophets In Your Land
• August 7, 2016 Change happens. You can either do it, or it will be done to you.
• June 29, 2015 The Power of “I Don’t Know”
• August 11, 2016 Grades Do Not Tell the Story of a Child
• May 1, 2014 “If you screw up…”

Source: George Couros

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March is the Month of Reading Struggles-and a Review of The Philosopher's Flight by Tom Miller

Ever have one of those months where you can't wait to read books, and it turns into a complete drag?  March has been that month for me. This post is me tossing in the towel, admitting defeat, and moving on to other books. 😕

I was so excited to read this book.  I made it about 80 pages in, and just gave up.  A little too much philosophizing and not enough concrete story for me.  I am so bummed.  I read the end, and decided I still didn't want to wade through the rest of the story.  

The Philosopher's Flight by Tom Miller was another book I couldn't wait to read, and 50 pages in I was fully engaged and really enjoying the story of Robert Weekes, male philosopher in a world where women have all the power to fly--yes, fly using sigils to control their flights, and a history of rescuing injured soldiers during war and becoming famous around the world.  There is a group called the Trenchers, who think the philosophers are nothing but evil witches, and they routinely hunt down and murder philosophers, and fight to have them banned for good. 

 Robert wants to join the Rescue and Evacuation Department of the U.S. Sigilry Corps, but is up against tradition--only women are allowed entry into this prestigious, yet extremely dangerous Corps.  It's World War I, and the United States is just entering the war.  Young men and women still believe in the romanticism of war, and have no idea of the horrors war actually brings. Robert gains admittance to Radcliffe, one of a handful of men in the philosophy program.   The barriers he runs into are exactly what women have had to deal with over the centuries, and that is probably the best part of this novel.  It's a world where women have the power, and men don't. I did enjoy the characters--they were well formed, interesting people, all with backgrounds that would lend themselves to further exploration if this became a series. 

While I was enthralled with this novel, it only lasted about 100 pages.  Then I struggled mightily to keep going.  I skimmed the last 100 pages because I just didn't want to quit, but I had completely lost the drive to continue.  Why?!  There was a whole lot of inaction in the middle that bogged down the story.  I got a bit lost in the descriptions of certain actions Robert had to complete in his training, and the sigilry descriptions got a bit too much for me.  There is certainly a possibility that there is more to come, and I would be interested in reading more about Robert's life after Radcliffe.  Maybe by then I'd be able to enjoy his fantastic tale.  But as of now, ugh. Just couldn't say this was much fun for me.  

Rating:  3/6 for a novel with a lot of potential and a clever plot.  Too much down time in the middle made me lose interest that I just couldn't get back.  Available in hardcover and e-book. 

Not sure why March has been such a difficult book month for me.  I've got quite a few new books to read for April, and I hope to read a few that help me reset my reading groove.  I feel a big weight off my shoulders admitting defeat and admitting that yes, sometimes a book starts out so good, and sputters to a halt soon after, and there's nothing that will bring it around.  

I'll be posting my April reads this week, before Easter weekend.  I've got a few that I'm reading for book groups, and who knows what else I'll pick?

Happy reading everyone!  

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Purpose-Driven Learning

Seeing tweets, over and over again, regarding the villainization of “worksheets,” (I know I have been guilty of this as well) I tweeted the following:

Teachers… If you give a worksheet in your class, you are not bad at your job. If that’s all you do all the time, that’s a different story, but that’s true of any strategy.

— George Couros (@gcouros) March 23, 2018

I struggle with the “black and white” generalization of practices because many great teachers do these practices right now. One of the tweets that I received on this struck me:

Thanks for making this statement. I actually have quit getting on Twitter as much due because of all the Do’s and Don’t being thrown our way. It seriously makes you feel terrible as an educator and knowing how hard you work.

— Kelli Ogle (@teachtechthings) March 23, 2018

When I look at educators on social media, it is to inspire people to get better, not scare them off of platforms because they feel they are doing everything wrong.

#weareonthesameteam

Do I think worksheets are fantastic and super fun? Nope.

But there are a million of variations on what a “worksheet” can constitute” but what I first see in my head doesn’t seem too compelling in my mind.  But that doesn’t mean that can’t be beneficial.

In my own life, I am going to tell you straight up, that I do things I hate.

All. Of. The. Time.

But those things I hate, are often pathways to things I love, or in pursuit of a more significant purpose.  I have been focusing on my health lately, and running on the treadmill is something that I have dreaded for years. Recently, it has been easier because I am thinking of it differently, not because the activity has changed.

I am seeing it as part of a bigger picture and leading to a better quality of life for not only myself but the time I spend with my daughter. I have more energy at home than I have in awhile, and that investment in myself, even when it is in something that I am not fond of, seems much more natural to not only endure but to embrace.

The same things will apply to students in a classroom.  They are more likely to embrace something that is not the most “engaging” when they know it is part of a bigger purpose. I have been guilty early on in my career or telling students that they have to do something, “because I said so.” They didn’t see the bigger picture because I couldn’t articulate it to them.  Probably, because I couldn’t see the purpose myself.

Read the quote below:

Of course, every educator would say they want their students to feel “empowered”. But, this is not about “compliance” versus “empowerment.” It is a spectrum.

It is about how sometimes the “compliance” leads to the skills and thoughts for “empowerment.”

This post is not about the purpose of worksheets.  Is it about getting people to think do worksheets (or a million other things in education) lead to something purposeful?

When you find that “purpose,” the hard and tedious things seem a lot easier to take. Without them though, the learner experience in our classrooms can be tough to swallow.

• June 28, 2013 The Prophets In Your Land
• August 7, 2016 Change happens. You can either do it, or it will be done to you.
• June 29, 2015 The Power of “I Don’t Know”
• August 11, 2016 Grades Do Not Tell the Story of a Child
• May 1, 2014 “If you screw up…”

from Connected Principals https://ift.tt/2un0Uim

Change the Story, Change the Culture

I have been paying a lot of attention to the importance of stories in changing school culture.  While many people are focused on the idea of “data” changing the culture, the reality is that practice doesn’t change because of numbers. It can inform our practice, but it is unlikely it will inspire us to do something different.  When someone feels something, they are more likely to change themselves.

People will point to the idea that “feeling something” because of stories is just “fluff,” when in reality, there is brain science behind the idea. From, “Why Your Brain Loves Good Storytelling“:

Many business people have already discovered the power of storytelling in a practical sense – they have observed how compelling a well-constructed narrative can be. But recent scientific work is putting a much finer point on just how stories change our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.

As social creatures, we depend on others for our survival and happiness. A decade ago, my lab discovered that a neurochemical called oxytocin is a key “it’s safe to approach others” signal in the brain. Oxytocin is produced when we are trusted or shown a kindness, and it motivates cooperation with others. It does this by enhancing the sense of empathy, our ability to experience others’ emotions. Empathy is important for social creatures because it allows us to understand how others are likely to react to a situation, including those with whom we work.

The other idea that I have been focusing on with stories is the idea that in an “information dense” world, what makes an idea stick out? Daniel Pink shares,

Stories are easier to remember because stories are how we remember. When facts become so widely available and instantly accessible, each one becomes less valuable. What begins to matter more is the ability to place these facts in context and to deliver them with emotional impact.

If the thoughts bring you to emotion, they are more likely to stick out in your memory.

Stories are the fuel for innovation.  If you want to help people embrace a new narrative, the best way is to create that new narrative together. What is the story of your school or organization? Not just the story of the past, but what is the story you will write together in the future?

This quote resonates:

Figure out the story of where you have been and where you need to go. When people see themselves as part of the narrative, they are more likely to become the heroes of that story.

• April 27, 2015 The Power of a Good Lecture
• November 13, 2011 You Should Read… (November 13, 2011)
• November 4, 2012 You Should Read… (November 4, 2012)
• June 15, 2015 5 Questions To Drive Personal-Professional Learning
• December 16, 2016 4 Non-Negotiables for Schools

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Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Banana Oatmeal Cookies are soft, chewy and studded with chocolate. Pair them with a mug of your favorite coffee for breakfast, or serve them up for dessert!

Today I want to chat about Kombucha. Which is obviously completely unrelated to these Banana Oatmeal Cookies, but I know you won’t mind.

Let me start by saying that my husband drinks apple cider vinegar mixed with water every morning to reduce inflammation or something like that.

He claims it’s magical. I claim it’s nasty.

(more…)

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Easter Appreciation, an easy way to celebrate your EGGcellent team!

My principal bestie, Melinda Miller and I have this Facebook group dedicated to Staff Appreciation and Celebration. It’s an entire page for administrators to share and creatively copy all sorts of great ideas, all meat to encourage, motivate and celebrate your teachers/staff. While it can be overwhelming, it does make me feel SO much better […]

The post Easter Appreciation, an easy way to celebrate your EGGcellent team! appeared first on Technically Yours Teamann.

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Essence at Windermere South

Building 2 has the perfect mix of condo residences to suit any homeowner. From efficient 536 sq.ft. studio suites to spacious 1245 sq.ft. corner units, Building 2’s condos have been meticulously designed to meet the needs and requirements of our buyers.

The post Essence at Windermere South appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

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