Lessons Learned - Part 2

Rich, Vicki, Patti, Lisa, Peter, Me & Tony
Digital Leadership Conference, Liverpool NY 2014

This is Part 2 in a three-part series on lessons that I have learned over the course of this school year. In my first post I wrote about the lessons I have learned from the students in Room 103. This post will focus on the contributions of my colleagues, both near and far and the value of being a connected educator. So picking up where I left off...

4. The Connected Educator & The PLN (Professional Learning Network) 

A few songs come to mind immediately, "With A Little Help From My Friends" by the Beatles and "Thank You For Being A Friend" by Andrew Gold...Yes, I'm a little sentimental and a touch nostalgic, but it's the truth. Having colleagues in your building or district that encourage, support, empower, inspire, and challenge you is critical. Having colleagues spread across the globe that also play these parts is just as important. I really believe that the more we interact, the more we connect, the more we share, the more we learn, the better we become. We have to look beyond our own front door. Of cours, venturing out into the unknown can be scary, and for many beginning the "connected educator" journey can be just that. Putting yourself out there, being vulnerable, it takes no small degree of courage. Baby steps. (Cue the classic Bill Murray in "What About Bob?" ) Connecting with educators around the world however, is transformative. Being a connected educator has introduced me to people, and opened up opportunities I never could have imagined.

The beginning of becoming a connected educator for me was participation in the weekly organized chats on Twitter. It is through these chats that I have engaged in professional development weekly, if not daily. A few that I participate in fairly regularly are #SATCHAT, #COLLABED, #EDTECHCHAT, #NYEDCHAT, #ARKEDCHAT. These are the chats where I "met" Tony Sinanis, Daisy Dyer Duerr, Brad Currie, Tom Murray, Scott Totten, Jamie Armin, TwoTeacherZ, Marty Keltz, Jena Ball and Scott Bedley, all tremendous teachers and leaders in their own right. I do feel the need, however to highlight  #NYEDCHAT in particular, which has allowed me to connect with other great educators in my own state. Peter DeWitt, Lisa Meade, Vicki Day, Tim Dawkins and Patti Siano, a group that I now consider my "go to" educators. Over the past 6 months we have worked together to plan EdCampUNY, a project that has brought us closer. Now when I need to share an idea, gather feedback or vent, they are there, and again, most of them I did not know a year ago.

I have learned so much from all of the educators listed above that it is difficult to encapsulate it all, but it is probably best summed up as courageous leadership. Whether they are teacher leaders, building leaders, or leaders in educational enterprise, all of these individuals lead with heart, and understand the importance of developing the whole-child.

My journey as a connected educator had me looking for other professional development opportunities as well.  This past fall I attended the Edscape Conference in New Milford, New Jersey where I was able to meet many of the people that I had been interacting with regularly through Twitter. You can read more about my reflections following Edscape here. Attending conferences such as the CNYRIC ITD: Talks, NYSCATE annual conference, Edscape, and the Digital Leadership Conference this year allowed me to expand my professional network and provided an opportunity for me to meet face-to-face for the first time with many of the educators that I have connected with online.   Sitting here now, reflecting on how much I have grown professionally and personally as a result of the relationships that have been forged and built over the past year, connecting with these individuals and many, many more, well I am truly overwhelmed. I have been blessed beyond measure. I have written about the power of the PLN before - see this.

5. The Power of the GHO

This year I wanted to learn more about using Google Hangouts in the classroom. I know it sounds cliche, but Google Hangouts have been an absolute game changer! We were able to connect with amazing students, teachers and creative geniuses. We participated in Google Hangout sessions with:

• Scott Totten, Music Teacher in New Jersey
• Scott Bedley and his students in California
• Bill Selak and his students in California
• Michael and his teacher, John Lozano in California
• Barbara Phillips and her students in Ohio
• Lauren Lenzini and her students in Illinois
• Susan Hippelli and her students in Pennsylvania
• Jena Ball and Marty Keltz of CritterKin (more about this in a future post)

These opportunities enriched the dialogue in our classroom, provided us with an authentic audience for our work, and gave greater meaning to what we were learning. Google Hangouts allowed us to connect with peers from across the country, and in doing so, learn how truly connected we all are. We learned about each other and our communities and what makes our part of the world unique. We learned about kindness and empathy. We learned  that the words of Mem Fox are indeed true, "Little one, whoever you are, wherever you are, there are little ones just like you, all over the world..."

I feel again, like I have only just begun to scratch the surface here. I may have to come back and add to this post, as I sit a little longer and reflect a little more. But I think right now, if I had to sum it up. It would be the importance of relationships and human connections, because that is what is at the heart of being a connected educator, participating in a PLN and connecting with others through tools such as Google Hangout. What do you think? How have you built professional relationships this year? How have you modeled learning from others for your students? Hoping some of you will share by adding comments below.

Lessons Learned - Part 1

It's hard to believe that another school year is pretty much in the books, and what a year it has been! After teaching 6th grade for the better part of 10 years, I volunteered to change grade levels and moved to second grade. Moving to second grade was exciting and a little daunting, I wasn't sure what to expect. My first teaching position in my current building was in second grade, but that was more than a decade ago, a lot had changed. So I spent a great deal of last summer trying to prepare, but nothing could have prepared me for what lay ahead. Reflecting on the year, I have learned and re-learned some very powerful lessons. The next two or three blog posts will be devoted to these lessons.

1.Students
Lots of things may have changed, but the most important thing that has not changed (at least not yet - thankfully) is the natural wonder and curiosity of second graders. The students in Room 103 love learning, and have this genuine curiosity and joy around learning. Every day has been an adventure, and their enthusiasm is infectious.

2. Students
Kids are kids. These last few weeks of June are no exception. Rather than fighting the current, I allowed myself to get caught up in it. We had June Fun Days this month with each day having its own theme. We dressed up silly, played games, had fun, and yes, a lot of learning continued to happen. But if you walked past our room it was messy and a little chaotic, and it probably would have made a few folks uncomfortable. There was a time when I would have been uncomfortable, but not now.

3. Students
Life is hard. We have seen a steady rise in the number of students severely impacted by trauma in the family, poverty, mental illness, the list goes on. For many of our students, school is their safe haven. It is a place where their bodies, minds and hearts are nourished. A teacher's job is as important today as it has ever been, and maybe more so, because we take on these additional roles, and do more than facilitate the learning of specific content. We nurture the whole-child.

The top 3 lessons learned and re-learned  were related to students, which really isn't all that surprising as they drive everything we do. I could have probably dug up more, and as I continue to process the year in the next few days I may need to add to this list, but these are my significant take-aways as far as students are concerned. The next two posts will focus on: colleagues, a PLN and being a connected educator, the global classroom and a community of learners, leadership and humility. I hope you will stay tuned, give the upcoming posts a read, and share what your own takeaways for the year have been.

This link will take you to an Animoto that I put together as a tribute to my students and their learning this year. Enjoy!

More Than a Number

I recently had my rubric review with my principal.  That's the meeting where you sit down to discuss, and reflect on your performance and growth, in relation to the goals that you set at the beginning of the year. You then apply all of that to the Danielson rubric, and based on a numeric formula you have a score out of 60. I personally think it is an interesting process, on the one hand you have the potential to encourage greater self-reflection, engage in meaningful conversations with your building leader, and ultimately focus on professional growth. I feel there is one huge obstacle however, and that is "the score".

I can't help but wonder what this process would be like if there wasn't a score tied to it. Would there be a way to use this reflection process to improve climate? What if in addition to sitting down with our building leader, we sat down with our colleagues, and reflected collectively on what we have done and what we are doing? What if we identified our strengths as a building, and our weaknesses? What if this process brought us together, rather than isolating us? What if we collectively refused to be defined by a number? We are professionals; we do important work every single day and this must be our focus. I think a lot of good can come from the process in general, but we have to move beyond the numbers.

I would love to get your thinking on this. How is this working in your building or district? What are the strengths or benefits you have seen? What areas do you think need improvement? I appreciate you taking the time to read and contribute your thoughts on this.

The Power of Stories

#Digilead101

Today I was able to attend the Digital Leadership Summit hosted by SAANYS and NYSCATE. My reasons for attending the conference were three-fold. First, I was going to be able to hear Eric Sheninger speak on digital leadership, and get a copy of his book (signed no less). Second, Tony Sinanis, was coming and speaking about community engagement, and well if you've read my blog before, you know how much I admire Tony. Finally, I was going to be able to meet in person for the first time, a great group of people in my PLN.

The Power of the PLN Strikes Again

This evening as I had some time to process the day, and what it all means,  I am once again struck by the power of the PLN. As I look at the pictures, think about the conversations, and the sharing of stories, I am reminded of how richly my life has been blessed by the people I have met as a result of connecting via Twitter. As I sat and looked around the table during the closing panel discussion, it seemed hard to believe that most of the people sitting there I didn't know even a year ago, and yet they have had such a profound impact on my teaching practice and in my confidence to share my own story.    
Sharing stories is powerful because it connects us, it is a method of communication that connects with us on a deeper level, and the engagement that results is real and powerful.

Stories, and the power in telling your story was certainly a theme woven throughout the day, particularly in the sessions that I attended. Here are a few of my key takeaways:

Tony Sinanis on Community Engagement

I love how Tony began his session. He asked the participants to reflect on the following questions:

What is your school story?

Do you explain the how and the why (behind the things you do)?

What do you stand for?

How would kids answer that question? Would it be the same?

I am curious about what our students and their families would say, so I think I am going to ask. How clearly have I communicated by my words, but more importantly by my actions what I value, what I believe to be true about education, learning and community. 

I was also challenged to consider whether I am giving students voice, and the power to think critically about what they are doing everyday, and am I putting the power to share their learning journey, their story into their hands. I was pushed to consider how I could this better.

Eric Sheninger on Digital Leadership

I travelled to New Milford High School in the fall for EdScape, and was extremely impressed by what I saw, the physical space (think modern learning spaces married with the beautiful architectural details of a school built in the late 1920's), the student ambassadors, and of course Eric. Not having had an opportunity while at New Milford to learn more about Eric's story, and the story of New Milford High School, I was really looking forward to hearing his keynote address (and yes, getting my booked signed). What perhaps, struck me the most was Eric's honesty about his own digital leadership journey, his own story, and what can happen when we give up some of our power and control.

Here are a couple of quotes that really stuck with me, "give up control and don't fear failure; trust our kids" and "action over position", and with that action over position I extend that to our entire community of learners.

#HibachiChat

Last, but not least here is to Tony Sinanis, Eric Sheninger, Lisa Meade, Vicki Day, Peter DeWitt, Patti Siano and new friends Alan Spieldenner and Rich Hughes with much appreciation for the laughs. XO

The Courage to Lead

Courageous leadership can look a little different given particular situations. At times courageous leadership can mean bucking the norm, refusing the status quo and moving an organization in a new direction or into unchartered territory. At times courageous leadership may in fact be speaking up, and being vulnerable as you confront difficult situations, and at times it can be as simple as acknowledging that as a leader you don’t have all the answers.  

When I sat down and thought about educators that I believe demonstrate courageous leadership on a regular basis, a couple of names came to me right away, Peter DeWitt and Tony Sinanis. If you are a regular in any number of education chats on Twitter you are sure to have run into them.  These two gentleman have had a tremendous impact on me, and many others. In addition to their regular contributions during Twitter chats focusing on education, they write reflective blogs that challenge readers to think deeply about the current issues in education. What makes Tony and Peter particularly courageous is their willingness to wrestle with complex ideas and examine many sides of a situation. They confront reality head-on, and communicate openly. Both of these educators seek feedback and consider multiple viewpoints, you can see this through their participation in regular Twitter chats, education conferences and the dialogue they generate with their individual blogs. Peter and Tony say what needs to be said, even if it may be counter to popular opinion.  And there is an understanding that learning can be messy, and that in failure we pave the way for future success. Finally, they lead with heart, and leading with heart takes courage. It means being authentic, being vulnerable and cultivating human relationships.

Epilogue:

After I wrote this, I got to thinking of another person that I feel is demonstrating courageous leadership, and her name is Lisa Meade. Lisa is a middle school principal modeling the value of being a connected educator, an innovator and reflective practitioner. She regularly engages and challenges others in many of the education chats on Twitter, and regularly posts her reflections on education and teaching practices in her blog. She understands the importance of building relationships and sharing her passion. Sometimes I don't think she sees herself as being particularly courageous, but she is.

Privileged to have them as colleagues, inspired by their leadership and ultimately blessed by their friendship.

A FEW MUST READS FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE BLOGS:

A Work in Progress by Lisa Meade

I am a Nine by Tony Sinanis

Why Did You Become a Leader? by Peter DeWitt

The "P" in PLN

"P" is for POWERFUL

There are many days when I think the "P" in PLN stands for POWERFUL instead of, or at the very least in addition to, professional. Investing time and energy, connecting and developing a professional learning network, is certainly a wise investment. The power of being a connected educator, lies not in the connections themselves, it is not in the number of individuals you are following or the number that may follow you, the power is in the relationships that we nurture and cultivate. It isn't the technology it is the humanity. The technology is the vehicle that makes the relationship possible.  All of this has come into really sharp focus for me lately.

The opportunities I have had, the transformation I have seen in my teaching and learning as of late, can in a large part be traced back to being a connected educator.  Being a connected educator has afforded me opportunities I would have never dreamed of, and this has been a huge benefit to myself and to my students. Regular participation in the education chats on Twitter have helped me to develop some pretty amazing collegial relationships.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS; RATHER IT TWEETS

I'm currently working with a gifted group of educators from around Upstate NY on an Ed Camp project.  You can follow our progress here: EdCampUNY. I have not met any of these educators in person yet.  We communicate via email, Twitter, and Google Hangouts, and though we have not met face to face, I consider these individuals colleagues and more importantly friends. As Marty Keltz so eloquently put it recently, "the virtual is real." I will be sharing more about my meeting with Marty in just a bit, but let's consider the power of those words. I think those new to social media can be quick to be dismissive of its positive power, I know I was a few years ago. But it really is true, if you invest positively, if you are authentic and genuine, the relationships that develop virtually can be just as real as any other relationships. This is why part of me is just a little bit jealous of Marty, you see Marty is on a journey that is going to take him part way across the country and give him the opportunity to meet more than a few of the people in his PLN.

MEETING MARTY

So let me set the stage a little bit, it was a pretty typical Tuesday evening, and after putting the kids to bed I sat down and began scrolling through my Twitter feed. There are a few great chats on Tuesday night, so it wasn't long before I was sucked in. One that immediately got my attention was the #PTChat being moderated by fellow New Yorker and all around great guy, Tony Sinanis. I jumped in, and it wasn't long before I found out that Marty Keltz, someone I had come to know through other edchat discussions, was in the area. Pretty quickly it went from connecting on Twitter to the next day meeting for coffee and great conversation.

I admit I was more than a little excited. Meeting people that I have come to know through our online exchanges is just plain exciting. It was actually at this point that I decided that maybe I needed to learn a little more about Marty. I knew we shared some common beliefs about learning, and the role of education and educators, what he shared and tweeted was what led me to follow him in the first place. I really felt like I knew what I needed to know; I knew what was important. But being somewhat responsible and prudent I thought a little research was in order. I started with checking out his Twitter profile and running a quick Google search, I very quickly found out that I had just agreed to have coffee with an Emmy award-winning producer, the co-founder of Scholastic Productions, and the man who led the team that created the Magic School Bus series. What?! Yes, I was feeling woefully inadequate, and yes, as an elementary school educator, the idea of getting to meet the man behind the Magic School Bus series was pretty mind boggling (talk about street cred with my students!). I woke up the next morning not really sure what to expect. I'm still struggling a little bit with putting into words just what our brief conversation meant. Which is probably difficult for some of you to understand. I think it might be a little like connecting with a long lost member of your extended family.

Very quickly our conversation turned to "our children" the students we serve, our mutual goal of promoting empathy and developing social emotional intelligence. Our shared belief that a test score should never define a child, and our support for the need to reclaim education for the whole child. I could have spent the whole morning talking with Marty, but time was short. Before I had to make my way to school we discussed his current project CritterKin. Listening to him I became more and more excited. His project CritterKin, with Jena Ball was just the thing I had been looking for. I couldn't wait to get back to school to share it with my colleagues.  In the coming months we will work with Marty and Jena, and the rest of the CritterKin pack as we help to develop social emotional intelligence, and promote kindness and empathy. This is just one more example of the POWER of the PLN.

The moral of the story is this...get connected. Yes, being connected takes time, and it takes commitment, just as building any other relationship does, and just like any other relationship you get out of it, what you put into it.

The power of the PLN is the people. It is the relationships that we build. It is the causes that unite us. The stories that we share.

Dreams to Reality: Reflection

Am I Dreaming?

Integrating technology effectively is not a pipe dream, a hope or a wish that is impossible to achieve. It is within the grasp of each classroom, each school, each district, and it is an imperative. So what do we do? Where do we start? I think sometimes that is the problem, the starting, and then the building momentum. It seems overwhelming. After all, the number of things to factor in, and reflect on, is huge.  There is no denying that really.  Everything from the policies and procedures, to the infrastructure, there are thousands of things that need to be considered, and I think the fact that it is such a daunting task sometimes causes us to abandon innovation before we ever really start.  

There are of course places all over the world that have risen to the occasion.  There are places where amazing things are happening in terms of student learning. What do these places have in common? Here is a hint, it's not all about demographics and economics. I don't mean to be dismissive of very real obstacles, they do exist. But the reality is, even those school districts faced with incredible obstacles, can also be incredibly innovative, and produce incredible results (necessity is the mother of invention?).  It seems to me that what it boils down to is leadership and vision. Are there other key factors necessary to successfully integrating technology? Certainly, but without these two where are we really?

Sometimes it feels like a school or district's vision is really just an outline of a good intention. We set goals based on this intention, and we want to achieve them, but we don't. Quite frankly, the road to nowhere is paved with good intentions. We need leaders at all levels that will commit to the hard work of turning good intentions into actions, and actions into the reality that will truly prepare students for "college and careers."It is not impossible and it is extremely necessary.

A Case in Point...
If you want a glimpse at what this could look like sit down with Tom Murray from Quakertown Community School District in Buck County, Pennsylvania. I'm not going to pretend that they have some kind of silver bullet, or some kind of techno utopia there, but what they do have is pretty darn impressive. 

I had the opportunity to listen to Tom's keynote today at the CNYRIC ITD Talks.  I've followed Tom on Twitter, have participated in a number of the chats that he has moderated or co-moderated, read some of his contributions to electronic journals, and so I thought I had a general sense of what his keynote would be. Well, I was blown away. You see the learning environment Tom described I almost doubted could exist. A cyber school environment, BYOD, 1:1 implementation and blended learning, not in isolation, but woven together into an amazing tapestry to provide truly fluid, differentiated and personalized learning for students. It is clear that Quakertown Community School District's litmus test is "what is best for students and student learning." Their attitude and posture are clear, it is articulated in their vision statements, but more importantly is evidenced by their actions. Effective technology integration is not a pipe dream, a hope or a wish that is impossible to achieve, because it is fully alive in Buck's County, Pennsylvania.

Find out more about their 21st Century Learning Initiative .