This calendar month I turned 43... that's correct I possess got officially moved into my mid-40s in addition to am a prime number candidate for a mid-life crisis (does wearing funky socks & drinking Mountain Dew on the regular count?). Although getting older comes alongside unopen to drawbacks (starting to audio similar your parents, lamenting for the days of yore in addition to feeling aches & pains on a daily footing when getting out of bed), the concluding few years possess got likewise been pretty awesome for me on a personal in addition to professional person level. Being inward my 40s has been quite empowering in addition to has given me the confidence to live on truthful to who I am, live on proud of what I believe inward in addition to brand decisions based on my experiences (not simply stiff opinions). I possess got learned a lot well-nigh happiness (it comes from within), a lot well-nigh priorities (both personal & professional), a lot well-nigh residual inward life (still non swell at it but amend than ever before) in addition to a lot well-nigh the reason of education, particularly the electrical flow landscape of education, which continues to live on an interesting one, particularly equally it intersects alongside the political landscape.
I possess got been an educator for twenty years in addition to I possess got learned to a greater extent than inward the concluding few months when I embarked on a novel professional person journeying equally an Ass't Sup - the learning literally happens infinitesimal yesteryear infinitesimal - it is pretty awesome! In the yesteryear I possess got written posts to coincide alongside my birthday milestones (here in addition to here) in addition to I possess got decided that although I missed concluding twelvemonth (not certain why), I felt strongly well-nigh sharing 43 things nosotros postulate to halt doing inward schools today.
Is this listing perfect? No. Will everyone handgrip alongside it? Probably not. Do I possess got research to dorsum everything on the list? No. Am I right? I don't know but it is based on my experiences inward the classroom, equally a edifice leader, in addition to at nowadays equally a district leader hence hither is my listing of 43 that nosotros postulate to halt doing inward didactics correct now...
We postulate to stop...
1) Making schools to a greater extent than well-nigh adults than kids - nosotros can't primarily brand decisions well-nigh what is easiest or to a greater extent than comfortable for the adults because nosotros postulate to brand decisions that are best for kids;
2) Giving HW (at to the lowest degree inward simple schoolhouse in addition to peradventure inward middle school). There is NO research that I possess got seen that speaks to a positive correlation betwixt HW in addition to academic achievement;
3) Giving grades... what is the point? Grades seem to select the learning journeying to an end, which goes against what most schools communicate when stating inward their vision that they desire to raise life long learners! Life long learners postulate feedback, administration in addition to infinite to neglect equally they evolve. My friend Starr has enlightened me on this one!
4) Blaming teachers for all that is incorrect inward our schools - the issues are much to a greater extent than systemic in addition to pervasive in addition to are rooted inward a history that is plagued yesteryear racism, inefficiencies in addition to misguided mandates;
5) Making classroom administration well-nigh compliance in addition to obedience. Instead nosotros should acquire inward well-nigh engagement in addition to choice;
6) Taking away respite equally a penalization when kids do something incorrect (unless they do something serious at recess) because our kids (like us) postulate a interruption to run around, possess got fun in addition to socialize!
7) Using populace behaviour charts (red light, yellowish light, dark-green light, etc.) because all they do is humiliate kids in addition to they to a greater extent than oft than non don't modify the behaviors of the kids who are struggling. My friend Pernille has actually pushed my thinking on this point!
8) Confusing innovative or progressive environments alongside ones that possess got a lot of technology!
9) Mistaking engineering for innovation; my friend George has taught me that conception is rooted inward stiff relationships that allow for creative ways (that may fail) to solve our electrical flow problems!
10) Blaming parents/families for our children who powerfulness combat inward school; it is partnership - non a blame game!
I possess got been an educator for twenty years in addition to I possess got learned to a greater extent than inward the concluding few months when I embarked on a novel professional person journeying equally an Ass't Sup - the learning literally happens infinitesimal yesteryear infinitesimal - it is pretty awesome! In the yesteryear I possess got written posts to coincide alongside my birthday milestones (here in addition to here) in addition to I possess got decided that although I missed concluding twelvemonth (not certain why), I felt strongly well-nigh sharing 43 things nosotros postulate to halt doing inward schools today.
Is this listing perfect? No. Will everyone handgrip alongside it? Probably not. Do I possess got research to dorsum everything on the list? No. Am I right? I don't know but it is based on my experiences inward the classroom, equally a edifice leader, in addition to at nowadays equally a district leader hence hither is my listing of 43 that nosotros postulate to halt doing inward didactics correct now...
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| From ERLC |
We postulate to stop...
1) Making schools to a greater extent than well-nigh adults than kids - nosotros can't primarily brand decisions well-nigh what is easiest or to a greater extent than comfortable for the adults because nosotros postulate to brand decisions that are best for kids;
2) Giving HW (at to the lowest degree inward simple schoolhouse in addition to peradventure inward middle school). There is NO research that I possess got seen that speaks to a positive correlation betwixt HW in addition to academic achievement;
3) Giving grades... what is the point? Grades seem to select the learning journeying to an end, which goes against what most schools communicate when stating inward their vision that they desire to raise life long learners! Life long learners postulate feedback, administration in addition to infinite to neglect equally they evolve. My friend Starr has enlightened me on this one!
4) Blaming teachers for all that is incorrect inward our schools - the issues are much to a greater extent than systemic in addition to pervasive in addition to are rooted inward a history that is plagued yesteryear racism, inefficiencies in addition to misguided mandates;
5) Making classroom administration well-nigh compliance in addition to obedience. Instead nosotros should acquire inward well-nigh engagement in addition to choice;
6) Taking away respite equally a penalization when kids do something incorrect (unless they do something serious at recess) because our kids (like us) postulate a interruption to run around, possess got fun in addition to socialize!
7) Using populace behaviour charts (red light, yellowish light, dark-green light, etc.) because all they do is humiliate kids in addition to they to a greater extent than oft than non don't modify the behaviors of the kids who are struggling. My friend Pernille has actually pushed my thinking on this point!
8) Confusing innovative or progressive environments alongside ones that possess got a lot of technology!
9) Mistaking engineering for innovation; my friend George has taught me that conception is rooted inward stiff relationships that allow for creative ways (that may fail) to solve our electrical flow problems!
10) Blaming parents/families for our children who powerfulness combat inward school; it is partnership - non a blame game!
11) Keeping all the awesome things happening inward our schools to ourselves - the 4 walls should non live on barriers; instead, they should live on transformed into drinking glass in addition to nosotros should proudly part all the awesome things happening inward our schools! My friend Amy (and her awesome teachers) did an amazing chore at telling the schoolhouse story!
12) Giving tests alongside fill upwards inward the blank or multiple choice answers; these powerfulness live on easier to degree but they don't construct our children's powerfulness to recollect critically!
13) Killing the dear of reading yesteryear making it well-nigh reading logs, assignments or jotting every two seconds;
14) Keeping engineering out of the classroom because we, equally the adults, are uncomfortable alongside it... that ship has sailed!
15) Confusing engineering alongside engagement; yes, screens do engage our children straight off but that is "level 1 engagement" - nosotros desire to force them to live on engaged at a higher bird where they are collaborating, communicating, creating in addition to thinking critically. I recollect engagement is well-nigh thinking non simply sitting quietly in addition to working!
16) Using mindless worksheets - you lot know the ones alongside give-and-take banks at the top or dozens of multiple choice questions. We don't desire our kids to live on masters of worksheets because that is non how they are going to modify the world!
17) Confusing PROJECTS alongside Project Based Learning! Projects are well-nigh a production (that oft looks the same for every learner) piece PBL is well-nigh enquiry in addition to process... oft driven yesteryear the pupil later beingness framed yesteryear the teacher. My friends Ross in addition to Erin possess got taught me a lot well-nigh this!
18) While nosotros are on the theme of PROJECTS, nosotros must halt sending projects abode for families to complete. Our parents don't postulate to live on doing mass reports or tri-fold boards that expect professionally done! If the projection is that important, do it inward schoolhouse to bird the playing plain in addition to brand the learning collaborative.
19) Demanding that our kids piece of job quietly throughout the schoolhouse day; messy, noisy in addition to collaborative classrooms are oft to a greater extent than successful than the tranquility ones.
20) Just involving our families inward schoolhouse during special events (like the bake sale) in addition to instead nosotros should engage them inward the learning.
21) Making professional person evolution for teachers an afterthought - our teachers postulate to possess got the chance to larn throughout the schoolhouse year! And the PD does non possess got to live on a workshop or conference; the PD tin live on led yesteryear the principal, yesteryear teachers in addition to fifty-fifty yesteryear kids! And, our teachers should possess got the choice to log PD hours yesteryear doing things similar reading (or writing) weblog posts, participating inward Twitter chats in addition to watching webinars.
22) Making professional person evolution for edifice leaders (this 1 goes to you lot superintendents) almost nonexistent because nosotros don't desire them leaving the edifice - that is non ok! We postulate to back upwards our leaders inward their learning - they should live on encouraged to acquire to conferences, EdCamps, accept courses, lookout adult man webinars, etc. because if they remain current, the chances growth that our schools volition locomote on to iterate in addition to acquire better!
23) Ignoring the fact that schoolhouse leaders possess got the greatest singular influence on the civilization of a school. Todd Whitaker taught me that if the main sneezes, the whole schoolhouse catches a mutual frigidity in addition to later 10 years equally a principal, I tin wholeheartedly state that is TRUE!
24) Removing "soft data" from our information walls, information meetings or whatever you lot telephone phone them inward your school! We cannot simply expect at examination scores equally THE information point; instead nosotros should consider observations, conference notes in addition to relationships because they all influence how our kids perform!
25) Hiding our smiling from kids till Dec - that is simply silly! We postulate to smiling for kids from DAY ONE! Smiling teachers in addition to kids Pb to happy teachers in addition to kids in addition to that leads to positive relationships in addition to those are the telephone commutation to active learning!
26) Ignoring the fact that relationships influence everything that happens inward a school. Our schools postulate to live on built on positive in addition to salubrious relationships rooted inward trust in addition to respect!
27) Ignoring the reality that civilization is well-nigh a lot to a greater extent than than spirit days in addition to parties; civilization is well-nigh trust, abide by in addition to a mutual vision!
28) Forgetting how of import our schoolhouse secretaries are inward the sustainability of culture; these people are the faces of our schools hence they postulate to live on AWESOME in addition to they should live on recognized for their awesomeness!
29) Forgetting how of import our schoolhouse custodians are inward the daily running of our buildings; these difficult workers brand certain our schools are salubrious in addition to rubber for our kids in addition to teachers!
30) Ignoring the reality that, inward general, our schools haven't evolved much since the 1 room schoolhouse yet we, equally humans in addition to thinkers, possess got evolved tremendously. It is fourth dimension for our schools to start moving forward!
31) Focusing, solely, on "forward thinking" or "progressive methods" because hence nosotros are working towards something that doesn't be - something abstract. Instead, let's focus on edifice the capacity of our educators hence that the electrical flow instructional methods beingness used are sound, robust in addition to best for kids!
32) Putting pressure level on kids to perform on high stakes testing (or whatever testing for that matter). If nosotros back upwards our kids in addition to differentiate instruction (and assessment) to encounter their needs, they volition perform in addition to demo us what they know!
33) Focusing on the "cool" or "trendy" stuff (iPads, Chromebooks, etc.) inward isolation; instead nosotros must focus on the people... the stuff is only equally proficient equally the people using it!
34) Going towards a full self-directed PD model for teachers. While I do believe choice for teachers inward what they larn well-nigh in addition to how (passion projects, PLCs, etc.) is incredibly important, at that spot likewise postulate to live on unopen to district-wide goals in addition to focal points that nosotros are all working on. That is how nosotros motion an entire community frontward equally opposed to simply perpetuating pockets of awesome inside our schools.
35) Trying to strength educators to acquire on Twitter (or another SM platform) because the truth is, it does non piece of job for everyone. That beingness said, nosotros do postulate to divulge people to the powerfulness of collaboration (possibly through communities of exercise or PLCs) hence educators tin interruption out of their silos!
36) Making schoolhouse to a greater extent than well-nigh teaching - schoolhouse should live on well-nigh learning first! Learning for kids, families in addition to educators should ever live on at the meat of our work!
37) Punishing educators through ridiculous federal or province mandates that possess got naught to do alongside kids; instead, these mandates cut back educators to a number in addition to that is non what volition improve didactics inward this country!
38) While I dear trends similar Genius Hour, Makerspaces in addition to PBL (we did a lot of this awesome learning at Cantiague) those acquire much deeper than simply blocking out fourth dimension inward a schedule to brand them happen. If nosotros desire things similar Genius Hour or PBL to live on sustainable, nosotros must modify the agency nosotros learn - these can't simply live on special events that spill out 1 time a calendar week (that is a fine starting request though); instead, they should assist us modify our daily approaches hence learning is filled alongside to a greater extent than pupil centered in addition to pupil driven enquiry opportunities!
39) Using sarcasm inward the classroom - particularly alongside our simple in addition to middle schoolhouse kids; fifty-fifty if it is funny most of the times, the 1 fourth dimension it is embarrassing to a kid is plenty of a argue to stop!
40) Making all teachers write inward project design books (you know, the ones alongside all those lilliputian boxes). We postulate to allow our teachers project design nevertheless it makes sense for them in addition to their kids!
41) Ignoring the reality that mutual planning fourth dimension is critical to the success in addition to sustainability of a schoolhouse community - our teachers in addition to leaders postulate fourth dimension together to part ideas, resources in addition to materials!
42) Having meetings simply for the sake of having meetings! Come on people... if it tin live on set inward an e-mail or newsletter, hence set it at that spot in addition to operate the coming together for unopen to professional person or personal development! My friends Jennifer, Peter in addition to Mark taught well-nigh re-imagining meetings.
43) Finally, nosotros postulate to halt making decisions that experience proficient or are easier for the adults inside the learning community in addition to instead brand all decisions inward the best involvement of children. While this approach may non ever live on easy, it volition ever live on right.
12) Giving tests alongside fill upwards inward the blank or multiple choice answers; these powerfulness live on easier to degree but they don't construct our children's powerfulness to recollect critically!
13) Killing the dear of reading yesteryear making it well-nigh reading logs, assignments or jotting every two seconds;
14) Keeping engineering out of the classroom because we, equally the adults, are uncomfortable alongside it... that ship has sailed!
15) Confusing engineering alongside engagement; yes, screens do engage our children straight off but that is "level 1 engagement" - nosotros desire to force them to live on engaged at a higher bird where they are collaborating, communicating, creating in addition to thinking critically. I recollect engagement is well-nigh thinking non simply sitting quietly in addition to working!
16) Using mindless worksheets - you lot know the ones alongside give-and-take banks at the top or dozens of multiple choice questions. We don't desire our kids to live on masters of worksheets because that is non how they are going to modify the world!
17) Confusing PROJECTS alongside Project Based Learning! Projects are well-nigh a production (that oft looks the same for every learner) piece PBL is well-nigh enquiry in addition to process... oft driven yesteryear the pupil later beingness framed yesteryear the teacher. My friends Ross in addition to Erin possess got taught me a lot well-nigh this!
18) While nosotros are on the theme of PROJECTS, nosotros must halt sending projects abode for families to complete. Our parents don't postulate to live on doing mass reports or tri-fold boards that expect professionally done! If the projection is that important, do it inward schoolhouse to bird the playing plain in addition to brand the learning collaborative.
19) Demanding that our kids piece of job quietly throughout the schoolhouse day; messy, noisy in addition to collaborative classrooms are oft to a greater extent than successful than the tranquility ones.
20) Just involving our families inward schoolhouse during special events (like the bake sale) in addition to instead nosotros should engage them inward the learning.
21) Making professional person evolution for teachers an afterthought - our teachers postulate to possess got the chance to larn throughout the schoolhouse year! And the PD does non possess got to live on a workshop or conference; the PD tin live on led yesteryear the principal, yesteryear teachers in addition to fifty-fifty yesteryear kids! And, our teachers should possess got the choice to log PD hours yesteryear doing things similar reading (or writing) weblog posts, participating inward Twitter chats in addition to watching webinars.
22) Making professional person evolution for edifice leaders (this 1 goes to you lot superintendents) almost nonexistent because nosotros don't desire them leaving the edifice - that is non ok! We postulate to back upwards our leaders inward their learning - they should live on encouraged to acquire to conferences, EdCamps, accept courses, lookout adult man webinars, etc. because if they remain current, the chances growth that our schools volition locomote on to iterate in addition to acquire better!
23) Ignoring the fact that schoolhouse leaders possess got the greatest singular influence on the civilization of a school. Todd Whitaker taught me that if the main sneezes, the whole schoolhouse catches a mutual frigidity in addition to later 10 years equally a principal, I tin wholeheartedly state that is TRUE!
24) Removing "soft data" from our information walls, information meetings or whatever you lot telephone phone them inward your school! We cannot simply expect at examination scores equally THE information point; instead nosotros should consider observations, conference notes in addition to relationships because they all influence how our kids perform!
25) Hiding our smiling from kids till Dec - that is simply silly! We postulate to smiling for kids from DAY ONE! Smiling teachers in addition to kids Pb to happy teachers in addition to kids in addition to that leads to positive relationships in addition to those are the telephone commutation to active learning!
26) Ignoring the fact that relationships influence everything that happens inward a school. Our schools postulate to live on built on positive in addition to salubrious relationships rooted inward trust in addition to respect!
27) Ignoring the reality that civilization is well-nigh a lot to a greater extent than than spirit days in addition to parties; civilization is well-nigh trust, abide by in addition to a mutual vision!
28) Forgetting how of import our schoolhouse secretaries are inward the sustainability of culture; these people are the faces of our schools hence they postulate to live on AWESOME in addition to they should live on recognized for their awesomeness!
29) Forgetting how of import our schoolhouse custodians are inward the daily running of our buildings; these difficult workers brand certain our schools are salubrious in addition to rubber for our kids in addition to teachers!
30) Ignoring the reality that, inward general, our schools haven't evolved much since the 1 room schoolhouse yet we, equally humans in addition to thinkers, possess got evolved tremendously. It is fourth dimension for our schools to start moving forward!
31) Focusing, solely, on "forward thinking" or "progressive methods" because hence nosotros are working towards something that doesn't be - something abstract. Instead, let's focus on edifice the capacity of our educators hence that the electrical flow instructional methods beingness used are sound, robust in addition to best for kids!
32) Putting pressure level on kids to perform on high stakes testing (or whatever testing for that matter). If nosotros back upwards our kids in addition to differentiate instruction (and assessment) to encounter their needs, they volition perform in addition to demo us what they know!
33) Focusing on the "cool" or "trendy" stuff (iPads, Chromebooks, etc.) inward isolation; instead nosotros must focus on the people... the stuff is only equally proficient equally the people using it!
34) Going towards a full self-directed PD model for teachers. While I do believe choice for teachers inward what they larn well-nigh in addition to how (passion projects, PLCs, etc.) is incredibly important, at that spot likewise postulate to live on unopen to district-wide goals in addition to focal points that nosotros are all working on. That is how nosotros motion an entire community frontward equally opposed to simply perpetuating pockets of awesome inside our schools.
35) Trying to strength educators to acquire on Twitter (or another SM platform) because the truth is, it does non piece of job for everyone. That beingness said, nosotros do postulate to divulge people to the powerfulness of collaboration (possibly through communities of exercise or PLCs) hence educators tin interruption out of their silos!
36) Making schoolhouse to a greater extent than well-nigh teaching - schoolhouse should live on well-nigh learning first! Learning for kids, families in addition to educators should ever live on at the meat of our work!
37) Punishing educators through ridiculous federal or province mandates that possess got naught to do alongside kids; instead, these mandates cut back educators to a number in addition to that is non what volition improve didactics inward this country!
38) While I dear trends similar Genius Hour, Makerspaces in addition to PBL (we did a lot of this awesome learning at Cantiague) those acquire much deeper than simply blocking out fourth dimension inward a schedule to brand them happen. If nosotros desire things similar Genius Hour or PBL to live on sustainable, nosotros must modify the agency nosotros learn - these can't simply live on special events that spill out 1 time a calendar week (that is a fine starting request though); instead, they should assist us modify our daily approaches hence learning is filled alongside to a greater extent than pupil centered in addition to pupil driven enquiry opportunities!
39) Using sarcasm inward the classroom - particularly alongside our simple in addition to middle schoolhouse kids; fifty-fifty if it is funny most of the times, the 1 fourth dimension it is embarrassing to a kid is plenty of a argue to stop!
40) Making all teachers write inward project design books (you know, the ones alongside all those lilliputian boxes). We postulate to allow our teachers project design nevertheless it makes sense for them in addition to their kids!
41) Ignoring the reality that mutual planning fourth dimension is critical to the success in addition to sustainability of a schoolhouse community - our teachers in addition to leaders postulate fourth dimension together to part ideas, resources in addition to materials!
42) Having meetings simply for the sake of having meetings! Come on people... if it tin live on set inward an e-mail or newsletter, hence set it at that spot in addition to operate the coming together for unopen to professional person or personal development! My friends Jennifer, Peter in addition to Mark taught well-nigh re-imagining meetings.
43) Finally, nosotros postulate to halt making decisions that experience proficient or are easier for the adults inside the learning community in addition to instead brand all decisions inward the best involvement of children. While this approach may non ever live on easy, it volition ever live on right.
Clearly the listing could acquire on in addition to on but inward the end, I recollect these 43 points are critical to the success of whatever learning organization in addition to are inward the best involvement of children. Do you lot agree? Which 1 stands out most? Why? What do you lot recollect should live on the side yesteryear side thing on this list?
Please acquire out a comment below!
Please acquire out a comment below!
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