Let's start a revolution

"You say you want a revolution, well you know we all want to change the world..." (The Beatles)

There is an epidemic plaguing the public education system, and it is called standardized testing. I am all for having national standards and insuring that all students are held accountable to those high standards. I don't believe that the current accountability system is the answer to insuring that national standards are being learned by today's youth. I find it ironic that business and industry complain that today's work force is not prepared for the work environment, and schools need to be held more accountable through standardized testing when in fact, it is standardized testing that is keeping students from learning the necessary skills to be successful in today's ever-changing job market. The careers today demand competent workers that can think critically, work collaboratively in a team, solve problems through creative thinking, use deductive reasoning, and navigate and engineer technology that changes on a daily basis. How can a multiple choice test truly test any of this? The answer is--it can't. So, let's start a revolution---let's take back our schools--let's end the bureaucracy that is plaguing public education and find a new vision to help our children. Our children deserve better, but more importantly, our future success as a country in a constantly changing world demands better. Stay tuned....change is coming, and I want us be prepared to embrace it!

Trying to appreciate musical noise

I have a 15 year old son, who is a very talented musician. He plays the guitar, and he is quite good. I love listening to him play, especially when he plays Stairway to Heaven. My son is a "music snob." He has very refined taste when it comes to what he believes is artistic talent. While I like music that doesn't hurt my ears, he likes music that in my opinion sounds like noise! As a teen, I was a Madonna, Journey, Michael Jackson, Cyndie Lauper and Huey Lewis and News fan. I did not like Def Leppard, Ozzy Osbourne, David Lee Roth, Pink Floyd, or Poison--their music hurt my ears--it was noise! (I know, I know--don't criticize.) Anyway, today as I was driving to school, I thought about my 15 year old when I was looking for a song on the radio. I decided to try his favorite radio station to see if I could listen to the noise without cringing. I really wanted to hear the music through his ears and appreciate it the way he does. Once I got past the initial heaviness of the music, I started to listen to the lyrics. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the words, and I could even relate to the difficulty of writing a song that was so complex. I also listened to the "noise." Once I got past the bass, I focused on the guitar, and I understood why my guitar-playing son thought these musicians were geniuses. When the song was finished, I tried to remember some of the words so that I could "Google" the name and the artist to impress my son with my new found knowledge. Of course, by the time I walked into the building, I forgot it all because although the music was dark, heavy, and poetic, to me, it was forgetful. It just wasn't as memorable as a song like Thriller or Beat It or Like a Virgin, or even Girls' Just Wanna Have Fun! I will tell my son about my effort to appreciate his taste in music, and I will try to be more patient with him when he climbs into the car and changes my radio station. I just wonder if he will return the favor by not rolling his eyes at me when I clean the house while dancing to Hip to be Square! (I know, I know, don't criticize! ) :o)

Spirit Week

It is Spirit Week at DMS! Tomorrow is Mix-match Monday--can't wait to see what the kids and teacher look like!

Proud to be an American

Tonight, DMS hosts its 2nd annual World Culture fair. We will have booths and exhibits that represent over 40 countries from which our students have ancestors. I have visited many countries in my life, and I am always surprised that other countries do not have the diverse mix of cultural backgrounds that America has. Since our country is a melting pot of many different backgrounds and ethnicities, many people will often ask what one's cultural identity is. I, for one have been asked on numerous occasions if I am Latino or Hispanic. It is unusual for someone in this country to ask if I am an American, but in countries like Japan, England, France, and Germany, the natives don't ask if I am Hispanic or Latino, they ask if I am an American. So, I often wonder why some Americans do not identify with being an American as being their culture? Is it because we are a melting pot, and we don't want to lose the rich heritage that is our ancestry? In my case, my maternal Great-Grandmother immigrated here from Tripoli, Lebanon, and my maternal Great-Grandfather immigrated here from Dublin, Ireland. I have no idea where how my father's ancestors got here because according to him "they have always lived in Texas." I (like both of my parents) am a native Texan--born and bred. I can write an entire blog on how Texans are the proudest citizens in these United States and comment on how Texans have their own unique culture, but I'll save that for another day. My point is that although we have families that hail from all over the world, we are all Americans, and we share a unique tapestry of culture that melts and blends together that makes us who we are. I am an Irish, Lebanese Texan, but more importantly, I am proud to live in this great country as an American.

Happy Monday

The band and choir concert Friday night was fabulous. The highlight of the night was hearing the Honors Band play a level III UIL song (level 5 is for a high school honors band)---they did so well that I got goose bumps on my arm! I am so proud of all our students--they are so talented. The book fair is underway in the library this week. I am having to "force myself" from going in there because there are so many wonderful new books. My love for reading is so huge that my husband thinks we should take stock in Barnes and Noble! I am sure that I will purchase quite a few books from the book fair. All is fairly quiet at DMS, but I am sure that will change next week when we have Spirit Week. It is a great way to end October and to help support our feeder high school as we celebrate their Homecoming week. I hope parents will not be shocked when students dress for "Way Back Wednesday," and they want to dress in 80s fashion! When did the 80s become "way back?" I feel so old! I'll make sure we take pictures and post them on the website for all to see!

TGIF

I saw wonderful things happening today in Science classrooms. Our teachers are implementing more and more technology, and students are being challenged. I am excited to see the choir and band concert tonight. We have such talented students, and I am sure this is going to be a great evening. I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

Trying to fix education

A friend of mine sent me an article today written by some reporter who believes he has the answer the "fix public education." His entire article was about how America should recruit high school and college students in the top of their class to be teachers the way Finland, Singapore, and South Korea do. He believes that we should stop trying to fix "mediocre teachers" that are in the classrooms now and actively recruit teachers that are academically smarter. (Sigh) It is always perplexing to me why people who are not in education feel the need to fix education. Teaching is the hardest job there is, and every year with every new law, every new initiative, every budget cut, every public criticism, every teacher who does something stupid, and every child that brings a weapon to school, the job only gets harder. I firmly believe that unless you walk in the shoes of a public school educator, then you do not have the right to voice an opinion on how to "fix public education." As a 17 year veteran educator I can offer numerous ideas on what needs to happen to fix public education, but to date, no one has asked me. I find it ironic that reporters, congressmen, business executives, and lawyers all feel that they know what is best when they have never been a teacher. I do not even begin to try to fix the American economy or find a solution to the growing health care problem, or even try to mandate how to stop frivolous lawsuits because I don't know the answer to any of these things. I leave these problems to the experts who spend their days eating, breathing, and living these issues. As far as filling the schools with "teachers that are academically smarter than the present mediocre ones," I find this entire premise to be inaccurate and unfair to the countless professionals that spend their life making a difference to a child and giving that child hope for the future.

Welcome to Shocktober!

I first heard the word "Shocktober" when I was a new teacher. I remember that in September, I loved teaching, my students, and my school. I couldn't believe that I got paid to come to school every day and have the most amazing experience working with high school freshmen. That was September, and then the calendar changed to October. It appeared to me that overnight, my students became apathetic and talkative. My paperwork demands quadrupled. Student learning declined, and I had more meetings to attend that I could have ever thought possible. It was October, and I thought to myself: What in the heck did I get myself into? I remember talking to my mentor at the time, and I told her that I was overwhelmed, and I just didn't understand how everything that was once perfect, all of the sudden turned so bad. She smiled and told me that I had the Shocktober blues! October is the month when the "honeymoon" phase of school is over. Usually, the first six weeks is over, and students and teachers begin the real work of learning. Concepts become more difficult, days become longer from extracurricular activities, and the excitement of starting a new year has waned. So, we are in Shocktober at DMS, and it is very typical of every October that I have experienced since the beginning of my career. Our days are very busy, and the curriculum is getting harder. Students are consumed with extra curricular activities and hanging out with friends. So, as I lead this school, it is important to me that my parents and teachers understand that although there may be many tears this month (and you may want to pull your hair out,) October doesn't last forever. It truly is only 31 days long! Once Shocktober is over, the best part of the school year happens--the holiday season with Thanksgiving and Christmas/Winter breaks, and I can assure you that the holidays bring joy, peace, and camaraderie once again.

Happy Friday

Please forgive me in my recent absence from "blogging"---it has been very hectic the past couple of weeks. Monday is a student holiday, and I hope all of our students enjoy their 3 day weekend. The staff will be learning about technology and how to incorporate two technology applications into their classroom. We will be learning PREZI and ANIMOTO, and I am excited to see how teachers will be using both applications with their students. Have a great weekend!