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The Winter of Our Discontent....Looking Forward to Spring

2/27/2015

In this Winter of Discontent, we look forward to the hope and promise of spring. Events, both good and bad, loom in front of us and focus our attention. We predict what might or might not happen. We plan. We look forward to, or dread what's next. We prepare. We worry. We make decisions based on the probability of "what if." We attend to details based on what we think we know. All the predicting, planning, worrying, and preparation consume us and before we know it, what we've been looking forward to is upon us!

Weddings are fun events that still stress us out when we think about all the planning that must go into the wedding to make it nice, or elegant, or fun. That's the key here--- what we want the end result to look like. Fathers always say they will just pay for the couple to elope. Mothers tend to think otherwise.

Spring is just around the corner and I can't wait! For nearly two years we have been anticipating our son's wedding. It is almost upon us. In fact, 90 days from now, this celebration will be here! For the first year after their engagement, we would think of things to do and say to ourselves, "we've got plenty of time." Then is was 6 months, and the urgency began to heighten. Time is always an issue, especially when the planners and participants are working or going to school full time. I am a planner, and I love to have the details ironed out long in advance so I can get it done with some room for error. My son has some of my planning obsessions in terms of making lists, so he is an active participant in the process. Even those who say they aren't planners become planners or are at least stressed by the plans, so planning impacts everyone involved. I am just the mother of the groom.... you know, wear beige and stay out of the way. I don't wear beige well, but I'm trying to offer my help and then get back out of the way.

As stressed as I might be, it is nothing compared to mothers of the bride (I've played that role too). My friend and colleague, who not only works full time in the central office of a fairly large (for Kansas) school district, just got done planning 2 conferences, in addition to 2 weddings to plan AND PAY FOR, in the next few months. One is a destination wedding, at a destination none of them have never been to in person. I feel my stress rising just thinking about that one! The other wedding occurs just as her job ramps up for the transition to a new school year and she takes over as the president of a state educational organization. Gulp! But I have no doubt she will pull both of these events off and live to tell about it (and I'll be waiting to hear all the stories!). I'm sure there will be glitches because one can never anticipate everything, but I do hope she can actually enjoy each day as a reward for all her hard work in the planning and preparation.

But weddings aren't the only thing we plan for. This has been the most challenging winter that much of the country has seen in years, maybe ever! It has truly been a Winter of Our Discontent. The weather forecasters are giving it their best shot at predicting where the "bullseye" will be in terms of snow fall. It affects cities, road crews, businesses, and individuals. If they are off by even 25 miles, decisions to cancel school or tell people to stay off the road are suddenly, and publicly second-guessed. They try to plan for what to do after the storm has blown through. The biggest challenge for Boston, and many other New England cities, is what to do with all the piles of snow. But from that, there have emerged some entrepreneurs who have come up with some creative ideas to melt and haul out snow to areas where snow isn't a problem. Some have said dump it in the harbor, but there are laws preventing that... understandably so they don't pollute the water or cause ice jams for the boat traffic. There are additional challenges for buried cars that may look like a pile of snow (do we plow that?) or picking up trash. We try to plan, but sometimes, we can't control what we can't control and then we drop into defense and damage control.

The last 2 weekends, "our neck of the woods" has had winter weather predictions that caused us to cancel plans and make sure we got to the grocery store to stock up - just in case. Last weekend's predictions turned out to be nothing more than a little sleet. No problems and no cause for concern, yet we were planning for a "weekend of discontent." This weekend the forecasts began with 10 inch amounts of snow (I know - nothing compared to the Northeast - but our first real big snow of the season), and now they are already reducing those to 3-6 inch amounts. Still some cause for concern, but hardly the wallop we were expecting.... unless the bullseye is off by 50 miles or so or the temperature varies a couple of degrees. So we plan for the worst and hope for the best.

Probably the bigger issue in Kansas right now is the wallop that education is facing in our state. In this "Winter of Kansas Discontent," the attack on educators personally (what we teach, how we teach, and how we get paid, including pensions), public schools in general, and even the programs like Parents as Teachers, that support early readiness and interventions, is unprecedented. Honestly, we never thought it would sink to this level of animosity. We try to inform legislators of our opinions but some don't seem to care. We are genuinely worried about the ability of our state to educate our students and keep the best and brightest not only in education, but in our state to keep us going into the future. Right now schools are preparing for the worst, crunching numbers and squeezing budgets, considering how new laws that can criminalize teachers who use material "not suitable for minors" (how does one really define that broad spectrum?) will impact curriculum and instruction, and figuring how to maintain local control when the legislature that has campaigned to create environments for local control are taking it all away.

In Kansas, we are now Boston. We have planned, predicted, and prepared, and now we wait for the storm to blow through so we can proceed to damage control. Is that any way to educate our students and prepare for our future? Like the Northeastern winter, we will hope that this storm is one of those that only happens once in a life time, but as the special interest money continues to control the attitudes and votes of legislators, I am afraid that this storm could come back year after year, causing a serious erosion to the quality of our education and the security of our future. But we fight on, keeping the promise of the future as our motivation for pushing back and our commitment to do what's right.

What I am sincerely hoping for is that when the storm finally passes, and I am confident that it will, there will be a rainbow for us to see and realize that skies really are blue. Until then, I will keep watching the weather both on the horizon and the political fronts and dealing with whatever falls as a result.... hoping that spring will soon emerge so we can escape the winter of our discontent and most of all, I can enjoy this wonderful wedding that is almost upon us!

Storm chaser view near Scott City, KS

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Lead This Horse to Water But Don't Throw It Under the Bus!

2/20/2015

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It's an interesting time to live in Kansas to say the least. Mostly it's just hard to swallow all the negativity and general disregard and/or respect for differing points of view. Change is inevitable with any new set of leaders, but there are effective ways of implementing and sustaining change and then there are the ways of bullies and power-seeking dictators.

Some with power and influence decide to lead the horse (us) to the water promising great miracles if we drink this water. When the horse has questions about what's in the water or what will happen if the water dries up, there are assurances that won't happen but not real answers. So instead of working with the horse to make them want to drink, or ensure the water is safe to drink, they force the horse into the water against it's better judgment, going deeper and deeper until the horse feels like it is drowning! When the horse, and even some of the ones who lead him there, begin to complain that this water wasn't what was promised, they throw them under the bus in an attempt to drown out their complaints and put a new spin on the initial claims.

I mix my metaphors intentionally so that you can understand the complexity of the issues that face our great state of Kansas. We have long fought the stigma of the Wild, Wild, West (think Dodge City and Gunsmoke days), flat lands with nothing of value, and the Wizard of Oz. For many, Kansas is just a place to pass through when travelling on I-70. But Kansas is a beautiful state with many wonderful people, a great place to live and raise your kids, and until recently could boast of some of the best education in the nation. But those days are quickly fading, although the Wild, Wild West image may be coming back.

This week we have seen a new round of attacks on farmers, led by legislators who live in the city and want to make taxes on property "fair." They don't understand (evidently) how this will affect all consumers as the "trickle down" economics that they so believe in will cause the astronomical property tax hikes the give to farmers to "trickle down" to every one of us in the form of higher food prices. The other part of their argument is that this will make the taxes more "fair." Really? I think their idea of "fair" and my idea are very different.

What is fair about the tax cuts that were put into law in the past couple of years that allowed the most wealthy in our state to pay less taxes? Or that small businesses (I'm one of those) pay nothing which provided big businesses with a loop hole to create LLCs (limited liability corporations) for some of their holdings so they don't have to pay taxes either? What is fair about using block grants to fund schools under the guise of local control when in reality the needs and resources of school districts throughout the state are far from equal? Fair does not mean equal. "Fair" is used as a selling point, but when we look more closely, fair is not really fair at all.

We have "leadership" in our state that are making changes that hurt more than help as they fail to consider the domino effect of their actions. They are listening to someone but not the constituents they were elected to serve.

There are many change models out there that we could learn from to understand how to best implement any change in any situation or organization. While they differ somewhat in the details, they all agree that change is best implemented when we know and explain why the change is needed, consider the concerns and needs of those who will implement or be affected by the changes, what end goal is desired, and provide support through the implementation process. Change models also suggest that people work together, not against each other or in spite of others. Relationships matter.

It is interesting that the backbone of our great state of Kansas, agriculture and education, are the prime targets this legislative season. Suddenly these are the groups we blame for all our woes? What would we do without those who provide us food and teach our children to become the workers and leaders of our future? How many of us have walked in their shoes? Farmers work long hours and don't get a "snow day." Their success is often dependent on things they can't control, like the weather, the price of fuel, and the selling price of crops following the harvest.

Educators teach every child, every day. Their success is also based on many things they can't control, like the home environment, previous experiences, or the levels of intelligence of each child and the resources (or lack of resources) they have to work with in their schools. We try to understand and provide support for the student learning needs, emotional needs, and contain their outbursts. But we take them all, love them, teach them, let them ask questions so they can learn more, offer guidance, feed them, and send them home. But the job doesn't end there. Teachers don't work 6 hours a day and have summers off. They grade papers, plan for instruction, make revisions to existing plans, look for new resources and instructional strategies so they can reach every student, worry about struggling students, and find time to do their own learning so they are always on the top of their game.

Farmers and teachers chose this profession because of the passion they feel for the land and for our children, both of which impact the future of every Kansan. That doesn't mean they deserve to be treated in ways that make them feel like they are being attacked or aren't important to who we are as a state and a nation by people who really have no other view point or expertise than that of a person who once attended school or as a consumer of the agricultural products farmers provide.

While I abhor the approach that has been taken in terms of making changes in our state, I don't want to imply that considering new or different ideas and perspectives isn't valuable. If we aren't tying to improve every day, then we will become stagnant whether we are educators, farmers, parents, or policemen. But we have to do this in a civilized conversation that moves us to a better place after listening to the ideas and perspectives of stakeholders.

If our goal is to win the gold medal in sprinting, we can't accomplish that in one year. Despite the fact it's a short race, it takes a great deal of training, tweaking, and practice to make that happen. Kansas has failed to account for the fact that if the goal is to streamline spending and make government smaller, it is a marathon in terms of planning and implementation, not a sprint, and can't be accomplished with one vote or stroke of the pen without pulling a muscle or doing unnecessary harm. It is ironic however, that in their efforts to reduce government spending, they are increasing the role of government by being much more controlling and intrusive into the everyday lives of the people and groups they say they are out to help.

The lessons for all of us are that change must occur if we are to keep improving, but it must be done in a way that brings people along and not drown them in the water they are hesitant to drink. Listen to the voices of the stakeholders not the money. Funny that as the governor and the legislature look to cut the spending of education and tax the land of the farmers more, they are taking more money for their own political campaigns. They keep telling us that money doesn't make schools better. They say the farmers will benefit from higher taxes on land because it will increase benefits in other places. Kind of an interesting spin. I do believe that in reality money can't buy happiness but it is necessary for many things, and in this case... it's buying a lot of misery.

So when you lead that horse to the water....don't forget to take the time to make them want to drink, listen to the concerns of the horse before they drink, and then ensure the water is truly safe to drink based on all the facts, then you won't need to throw that horse or anyone else under the bus.

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21st Century Teaching & Learning: Oh the Places You'll Go!

2/13/2015

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Dr Seuss's book, "Oh the Place You'll Go" is a reminder of the possibilities that exist in life. We often hear excerpts read at graduations and we smile at the simplicity of his words, and marvel at their profound implications. But the words he shared also give us a glimpse into the way the world of education works now for our kids. And to play off of what the Wizard told Dorothy in another equally famous movie/book: "You're not just in Kansas any more!"

You may hear the term 21st Century Skills and wonder what that really includes. When the term first came to be (shortly before the turn of the 21st Century) we tended to equate it with the use of technology. And while that is certainly a part of it, it also entails the knowledge, skills, and behaviors required in post-secondary education and in today's work place which relies less on routine and more on collaboration and innovation. The list is comprehensive and what we in education would consider "cross-curricular" which simply means it can and should be found in any subject. 21st Century Skills consist of of skills like problem solving, research, analysis, creativity and innovation. But it also addresses behaviors like perseverance, leadership, teamwork, self-direction and self-discipline. The ability to clearly communicate in a variety of formats is also a key ingredient for the successful 21st Century Learner. Finally it addresses the need for civic mindedness, financial and global awareness, ethical behavior, and personal responsibility. (Click here for more information.) Who wouldn't want their son or daughter to grow up to be proficient in many or all of these skills and abilities? "Oh the places you'll go!"

One can't help but notice that the world has changed dramatically in the last 50 years, so it stands to reason we must adjust the educational experiences we provide for students as we prepare them to be successful adults. One very obvious example is that you are reading this blog on the Internet. We were just beginning to hear about Internet 20 years ago (think about the Today show clip that opens the BMW Superbowl commercial with Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel) let alone blogging. Yet here we are. We have email account(s), Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, apps for our phones, and a whole lot more ways to connect with anyone around the world. We may not be able to go visit every place in the world, but every place can come to us. "Dorothy, we aren't just in Kansas any more."

This past week during their newscast, KWCH Channel 12 out of Wichita, Kansas featured the project based learning experience that was occurring in the sixth grade at Andover (KS) Middle School. This project utilized a wide variety of skills from math, language arts, history, geography, science, and technology. They connected with their class pen pals in Nairobi, Kenya via Skype (instead of that pack of letters that we would have sent back in my day that would have taken 2 weeks to arrive) ready to have a nice visit when they found out about the broken water pipes and the subsequent issues that accompany water problems in Kenya. That encounter produced a class project to raise awareness and provide some solutions for the water problems experienced half a world away. Listen to the excitement of the Andover 6th grade students as they talk about what they learned and the importance of their work in the video shared by Channel 12. "Oh the places you'll go!"

This Andover example is the kind of learning I would like to see all kids experience on a regular basis. It is full of 21st Century Skills where students are asked to apply what they know rather than just memorize for a test. Think back to your best learning experience. Or if you are a teacher, think about the best lesson you ever taught. ........... Said. No. One. Ever: "It was a worksheet, 60 minute lecture, or a chapter test" More than likely you identified some type of project or active learning session. My Psychology classes loved the Marriage Unit, the Personality Box, Juggling to demonstrate how learning occurs, and creating neurons with the elementary PE equipment. They may have enjoyed the discussions or the stories I told during those "lecture days" but in reality when they were "doing" the learning, it was more memorable and long-lasting because they were experiencing the learning not having it done to them.

There is some controversy concerning the idea of moving to a classroom or school totally immersed in 21st Century Learning. Some of the people that question this change in instruction focus on the idea that the "basics" might be lost when instruction includes so much activity. In my graduate Curriculum Design Course that I teach, we talk about being hands on and minds on. This means that the activity must be purposeful and lead to achieving the learning goal. If we are just "being active to be active," then potentially that is a waste of everyone's time. Therefore, teaching 21st Century Skills requires that teachers learn to be facilitators of learning instead of the sage on the stage. In addition, teachers have to experience 21st Century Skills in their own learning and practice so they can find balance and purpose as they guide their students along that journey.

We learned to ride our bike by riding it, falling off, and getting back on to try again. When we fail, we learn. We ask for help. We talk to our friends and watch how they ride a bike. We figure out what we did wrong. We get a new idea. We try again. These are the benefits of project based learning when that experience includes the 21st Century Skills that are needed in adult life.

As the budget crisis in Kansas worsens with each political pot shot and bill that further restricts the autonomy and financial backing that schools require to operate effectively, remember school isn't, nor should it be, the way we remember it. After all, we have changed with the times, and we must encourage and allow schools and educators to do the same. Probably the most important 21st Century Skills we can use today are perseverance and effective communication as we demonstrate our civic and ethical responsibilities to educate our youth. Let's encourage our young people to "get out of Kansas" during their learning- not literally, but to see and experience what's out there, so we can use their knowledge and skills right here IN Kansas and see the "Places They'll Go!"

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Living the Dream: The Little Engine That Could

1/26/2015

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In the last couple of weeks, I have been reminded of and inspired by the power of perseverance for problem solving, achieving goals, and even surviving. I have so much respect for those who dream, get knocked down, and then get up to finish despite all odds.

I think back to when I was a kid and how the story of "The Little Engine That Could," by Watty Piper, served as a teachable moment and a motivator for me when I would repeat to myself, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can," and finally as I succeeded, "Look! I thought I could!" It seemed like such a silly thing to say to myself, but it was a reinforcement to the perseverance "gene" that I find absent from so many people today. I wish more of us used self talk that encourages and helps us push ahead, instead of the excuses and negativity that makes it so easy to give up. There are many lessons to be learned from this children's story that was first written in 1930 and has since been the inspiration for many similar stories.

The Yosemite Climbers' recent feat was amazing. Almost everyone who goes to Yosemite and looks up at the 3,000 foot sheer cliff of El Capitan proclaims it's beauty but in awe says, "I'll have to find another way to the top." But these veteran climbers said, we can do it - and we'll use the free climb method where we won't even use the anchored rope supports that others before them had used to conquer the seemingly unconquerable. They planned and prepared for several years for this 19 day event. It was supposed to take 12 days, and despite the setbacks along the way, they kept going, helping and encouraging each other to take one more step forward. Even the President of the United States tweeted, "You remind us anything is possible."

My husband and I recently saw Angelina Jolie's movie, Unbroken, based on the life (and a book of the same title by Laura Hillenbrand) of Louis Zamperini, a bad boy turned Olympic athlete, who went on to survive against amazing odds during World War II. He was lost at sea following a plane crash, afloat in a life raft for 47 days, only to be captured by the Japanese. He endured wretched conditions, torture and survived it all, defeating horrendous circumstances and the atrocities of war. He persevered because of his attitude and mostly because his will was stronger than all the obstacles that he faced. He inspired his family, his fellow soldiers, and now a nation as his story is brought to life in print and film.

As a lifelong educator, I have witnessed many students and players over the years who pursued their goals with passion and perseverance. Their shining moment was one of joy and true accomplishment that I was privileged to share. There is no greater joy for a teacher or coach or even a parent than to see the look on a the student or child's face when they finally achieve that sought-after goal whether it's the first time they tie their shoes all by themselves, 3-step over all 1o hurdles without falling, or drain that winning shot to seal the come-from-behind win. It's probably not even comparable to surviving the carnage of war, but it is the culmination of hard work and seeing it through to the end.

Just because we have the desire, the goal, or even the will doesn't mean we won't be faced with obstacles or even detractors. People may not believe in us, but we must continue to believe in ourselves. A recent high school classmate of mine posted a video on Facebook about firemen and commented how proud he was to be a firefighter himself. He also noted that many people probably thought, as he was growing up, that he wouldn't amount to much, but he did and he was rightfully proud of his career path. He is a perfect example of where there is a will, there is a way. Traditional school might not have been the best predictor of future achievements for him, but when he tapped into his passion, he overcame any shortcomings he might have had and found the success of which he dreamed. And yes now, he even teaches others about firefighting!

There are so many other examples of perseverance that I have witness and could share that would inspire you and help you believe that anything is possible. But alas, there is not enough room in this blog space.... I would have to write a book - now there's a thought! How many times have we given up when we were so close to completing our goal or task? Edgar A. Guest is credited (although there is some controversy over this) with penning this poem that shows us the importance of perseverance:

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow–
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out–
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit–
It’s when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

Look around you and find your inspiration that helps you keep going when the going gets tough so you can become The Little Engine That Could who turned failure inside out!

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What's Next? New Challenges and Unforeseen Changes

1/13/2015

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Here we are, a couple of weeks into 2015. "How have you been? Have you recovered from the holidays and avoided the dreaded flu? How are those resolutions going?" and now what I really want to know is, "What's next?"

I'd like to update you on my progress but I'm pretty sure you aren't interested that I got my grading done, did some house cleaning, and made some headway on organizing my office. I will admit, the Christmas decorations are still up, but the tree is down. I love decorating the tree, and even taking it down, because it allows me to be nostalgic, recalling the meaning of each ornament and the lifetime of memories that they represent. There is a story with each ornament drawing us closer to someone we love, a special event, places we've visited, or something we collect, all serving as reminder of days gone by. All the ornaments are beautiful or precious in their own way, but there are no longer any ornaments on our tree whose sole purpose is simply for decoration. Our life is full and so is our tree; reflecting great love and fond memories.

This walk down memory lane leads me to my real focus on "What's next?" Nostalgia has its place, and represents a valuable part of us, but we can't live in the past. As we turn the calendar, it reminds us that life is to be lived forward. If you put forth a few resolutions to begin the New Year, you have probably already stumbled on that path to improvement by now. It's OK. It's part of the process. Get back up, reflect, revise, and start moving forward again. Failure can be some of our best lessons during the learning process... as long as we don't let failure stop us in our tracks. I sound like a teacher or a coach, right?

We often plan for our future....the development and desire to achieve goals keep us focused and moving forward in the "right" direction. Aimless wandering may be fun for a brief vacation, but it's not an effective life path. Attaining long term goals requires a short term plan too. What can we do now? I really like the concept of a 30-60-90 day plan. Even if my goal is a year away or longer, there are steps that I can take right now to ensure I'm on the right path! In education this might look like checking for understanding or formative assessments. As a traveler we might call these check points. Regardless, they let us know how we're doing and if we need corrective action or just to proceed full speed ahead. What can I do in the next few weeks to get started? What will come next? No matter what it is you hope to accomplish, this kind of steady, deliberate focus will result in progress toward the end goal. If you want to lose 50 pounds, can you do 10 in 30 days and how will you accomplish this? in 60 days? in 90? If you want a better financial situation, what can you pay off or save in 30 days? 60 days? 90 days? If you want to clean up your house or yard, what can I do to break up these tasks into manageable chunks and make them doable? The length of the time between these check points isn't the key to success...making the task/goal manageable and holding yourself accountable is.

But we all know that sometimes it's just not that easy. Sometimes life throws you curves you weren't expecting or detours that force you to change your strategy, timeline, or even your goal. Now what? Try as we might, we can't control everything that happens to us. We can research options and make the best decisions possible at the moment. We can anticipate obstacles and plan for their occurrence. We can exercise and eat healthy food to reduce our risk of illness or injury. But life sometimes throws us a curve ball we weren't expecting in spite of our best efforts. Maybe an accident or illness puts the brakes on our best laid plans. What if we lose our job or get our hours cut? What if a trusted relationship ends? Even as I write this the timing couldn't be more perfect since my husband just walked into my office and told me the transmission in his Jeep is bad and must be replaced. (sigh) How we respond to that curve ball will determine whether we take a hit, or get a hit.

If we use the same strategy to attack this new challenge that we just outlined to achieve our goals, we can turn these obstacles into something that we can overcome. We may have to spend the first 30 days grieving or gathering information. And we must view that as time well spent - progress if you will - and a necessary part of the process. Then we can determine what we will do in the next 30 days, 60 days, and so on. It may push our ultimate goal further out, or change it completely, but if we tackle those obstacles with the same strategic thinking that we originally planned, then we can determine a new path.

So take a moment to look in the rear view mirror and see where you've been, but then get your attention focused on what's in front of you. The windshield is a lot bigger than the rear view mirror for good reason. Where will you be in 30 days? 60 days? or 90 days? How far will you have gone toward reaching that new goal or overcoming the latest challenge? See you down the road! I can't wait to see what's next!

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Where Have You Been? Better Yet, Where Are You Going?

1/2/2015

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It's been a while since we've spoken. You might be asking, "Where have you been?" I've been...well... busy. Too busy to stay in touch? To write a few lines? To say "hello?"

I started this blog nearly 2 months ago, and today it is time answer these questions and to finish it! Yes, I have been busy. Yes, the holidays have come and gone, my grading is done, and yet there is so much to do - to catch up on what I didn't get done while I was being "too busy." But I have missed writing. I felt guilty wanting to blog when so many other deadlines were pressing. I also think I let the search for the perfect topic come between us, when all I really need to do is just sit down and say hello. So here I am. "Hi! How have you been?"

So... Where Have I Been? In between all the projects I've graded, the conferences I've attended, and the presentations I have made, I have been searching for something to inspire me to write again. I considered a lot of ideas, but nothing just sent me rushing to the computer to begin composing a new post. Sometimes Facebook is my inspiration because people share photos or words of wisdom that get me to thinking. "Liking" it isn't enough. But with all the New Year's resolutions and advice that people put forth I've found a couple of gems. I feel like some of those deadlines that have come and gone served to repress my creative spirit, and now the words are starting to fill my head again (not just come out of my mouth!). So this morning when I finally sat down to write, I found this short draft in my blog spot and it was a perfect fit to begin writing what I wanted to say!

Now... Where Am I Going? My first piece wisdom for myself (and others who want to benefit from my experiences): You Can't Do It All! I love being busy but I didn't like some of the results of the last 3 months because I was TOO busy! I wasn't a very good friend or family member. Conversations started with, "Hi, what are you doing?" Working. Grading. I have a conference call in 20 minutes. I will be gone to provide training, attend a conference, meeting, etc. At no time did I say, "I just finished reading a great book!" (I have several on the shelf waiting for me to take a break); or "I invited the grandkids over for a play date" (not a babysitting day); and even worse, I did not ask, "How are you?" I whined too often. I made excuses. I squeezed in lunches and baking days with my friends and family by putting them on my calendar so I wouldn't schedule something else. I stayed up late most nights, too late in fact, grading or picking up, because there just wasn't enough time in the day. My house didn't get cleaned unless we were having company, and the clutter on the counter only moved when it was time to bake or be the hostess. I was still wrapping gifts Christmas Eve! I did a lot of things for others that were important and worthwhile, but.... At some point, I have to say no or at least maybe. I have to realize the world will go on even if I'm not involved in every decision or every activity. I have inadvertently trained people around me to expect that I will do it and that they are not needed. That is on me and I shouldn't complain about being too busy or no one else stepping up. I have to change and be willing to have others look at me funny when I say "I can't do that today." Most of all I have to stop SAYING I'll find some balance and actually start DOING that!

The second piece of wisdom I am committing to is to Be Present. I know you think that since I'm involved in so many things, so how could I not be present? But I'm not. I play on my phone too much. I am constantly thinking about what else I have to do, and when I'm going to get that done. I am a planner (some would say control freak). I am not as good of a listener as I could be because I often am thinking of a response instead of truly listening to what the other person is saying. When ideas pop into my head, I start mulling those over even if it causes me to be distracted from the task at hand which leads to mistakes or forgetting. (That's different than walking into a room and wondering what it was you came in here to do!) I think the first thing I will do is when I'm talking with others, I will put my phone away - not just down, but out of sight. I think I have a relationship with my phone because I'm by myself a lot during the day and it allows me to check in with the world or provides me with a break from my work through some entertaining game that I rationalize as beneficial to my brain. That is a habit... like chewing fingernails, or opening the snack cabinet every time you walk by. You have to find ways to change your behavior. Put it down. Don't touch it. Do something else. Look at the other person in the eye. Be present.

My final piece of advice to myself is to: Be kind; make a difference; clean my office; get organized; be a better friend, wife, mom, grandma; learn something new; read more books; find time for me; clean my house more often; exercise more; watch what I eat; call my mom; grow my business; blog every week...... Oh NO! These habits are going to be hard ones to break... or should I? Maybe I just need to aim for balance and moderation! Welcome to my world!

I'll be back next week with an update on my progress! In the meantime, have a great week. It's been nice to talk with you again!

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Turning #Throwback Thursday into #Transformation Thursday

10/9/2014

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On this #throwbackthursday, I posted pictures on my personal Facebook page this morning to show the transformation of our home since we we moved in 30 years ago.

We began this journey as a family of 3 in a small bungalow that was once my grandparents' home. It was familiar and big enough for us, but it had its limitations and drawbacks too. We dreamed of more closets, space to stretch out and live in, and of course at least one more bathroom. But we made do and lived there quite happily for several years before we added another kid to the mix and decided it was time for change. Once we took that first step, we have truly enjoyed what we have and where we are, but we are also continually looking at ways to make our home even better. Once the attitude of improvement gets in your blood, it's hard to not look for ways to make things better.

Our building and remodeling project was the talk of the community for a long time (partially because it took a long time to finish). It was exciting to see something familiar transformed into something new. We also turned my grandparents' old farm house into a log house, which also created interest because no one else had done that before. Now if you drive past our house to the east, and look within our community, there are several houses that have a similar look.

Over the years, in anticipation of this large remodeling process, we found "the look" we wanted, and put a great deal of time and effort into finding the best ways to arrange the floor plan, support the existing structure, and meet our goals of increased living and storage space. Of course that had to be done in an affordable way and utilize the resources that we had available. Most of the time we could rely on our own abilities, but sometimes we had to ask for help. Change comes with a price and sometimes that price is simply the expertise (or strong back) of others.

As we worked through the remodeling process, we didn't stop living in the house! We moved from one area to another; covered up the demolition with plastic floor-to-ceiling curtains, and encouraged people to come visit us, unapologetically, during our mess. When ideas were put into action, we evaluated them to see if they really would lead us to our goals. Sometimes we revised them; sometimes we removed them. When we were tired, we rested for a moment, but ultimately, kept moving forward. It would have been so easy, many times in fact, to just stop what we were doing and say, "it's good enough." But we knew we could do better and we pushed ahead, because, as I used to tell my players and students, good is not good enough when better is possible.

Even now, many years after the project was technically "finished," we are really never done. We have worked on the landscaping, repaired the roof (thank you hail!), repainted inside, and continue to regularly stain the exterior as well. New ideas come to mind, so we contemplate what new counter tops would look like or how much a butler's pantry would improve the functionality of the kitchen utilizing some space that isn't really used as much as we once thought it would be. We look for ways to be more energy efficient to reduce costs and leave a smaller footprint. We still wish for more closet space (although we have plenty of bathrooms now!) so does that mean that goal was never realized, or is it time to cull some dated items from our closets?

I think about this entire process in terms of education too. We are often comfortable in classroom or school. We make do, even though better is possible. We know change is messy and uncomfortable so we keep doing what we've always done. But once we make that first change, and we see the transformation that will lead us to new and better ways of teaching and learning, it's hard to stop. The excitement of a building (or improvement) project breathes new life into what used to be routine. When we learn new ways to plan and teach, we have to assess them for effectiveness as it pertains to the goal of improving student understanding. We often need help, and asking for that help or knowing where to find it is a challenge. Additionally, we have to stay within our budget, as well as look for ways to let go of some of the things we've always done so we don't run out of space in our teaching tool bag (or take away from the limited time we have). And lastly it is important to recognize that schools don't stop having school during the change process. We keep teaching and students keep learning while we are putting in new systems designed to improve our effectiveness. When we do dismiss students for a day for teacher work days or professional development, it is an opportunity for those constructing the change to learn, assess, and revise so they can continue to improve and move forward, transforming what was into what it can be.

So take the time on this #throwbackthursday to reflect on and appreciate where you've been, but take those lessons and look forward to bigger and better things. Life is a series of significant moments and experiences that shape our todays and tomorrows.

Maybe #throwbackthursday should really be #transformationthursday!

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Be Royal and Other Teachable Moments for Education

10/1/2014

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Photo courtesy of Chicago Tribune

Last night, I sat in my living room alternating from anxiety to quiet cheering (my husband had gone to bed!) over the many highs and lows of the wild and wholly Kansas City Royals and Oakland A's play off game. This morning, I look back on that crazy game and the season that the Royals have had and think about the many teachable moments that classrooms everywhere could be having today whether you're a fan or not (and how could you not be?).

The first lesson is Never Give Up. Persevere. Find a way. All season long, the Royals have been streaky, finding ways to climb atop the Central Division of the American League, only to slide and have to regain their momentum. In games, they found ways to claw back and beat teams that thought they had a win sewed up. Never giving up requires a belief in yourself and a willingness to continue to look for answers after recognizing that what you were doing wasn't working. It also means moving past mistakes, whether they be player throwing errors or managerial strategic errors. Tuesday night's game was no exception. A base running blunder shut down an early rally. Swinging at pitches far out of the strike zone on a regular basis demonstrated their own anxiety as they tried to make the comeback happen with every pitch. And then there was that first pitching change that had us all scratching our heads. How many times have we given up as students, or in relationships, or at work because we let the obstacles overshadow the fact we had the ability to dig down a little deeper and still achieve the goal? How many times have we made an adjustment that just didn't work, so we stopped trying to find more solutions and instead just said, "Oh well," and let it go? Not the Royals.

The second lesson is Utilize Your Strengths. All season long (and last night during the national broadcast) we heard about how the Royals aren't home run hitters... in fact the worst team in Major League Baseball. Yet we found a way to win 89 regular season games, so there had to be some sort of talent there. They call it the small ball game. Dinking and doinking hits (as Rex Huddler the Royals TV commentator would say) and running wild on the base paths. We don't seem to possess natural power but we can run, and run we did all season long (leading the Majors in stolen bases). Last night alone the Royals had 7 stolen bases and 5 in the nail-biting last few innings! The A's designated hitter hit 2 home runs last night, accounting for 5 runs. And they lost. So power isn't always the answer. The key is to take advantage of your strengths to minimize your weaknesses. If a student isn't a great test taker, then be the best writer, analyst, or discussion leader possible. Learn the material in ways that you understand it thoroughly and can apply it. Then every now and then you'll hit that test out of the ball park, but in between times, you are still winning games in different ways.

The third lesson is teamwork. We accomplish a lot more when we work with others rather than trying to do everything ourselves. No one has all the answers all of the time. While last night's game ended with one player getting the winning hit, it was the team and their loyal, maniacal fans that kept the possibilities of a win alive all night long even when the scoreboard showed it might be an early exit to the first post season appearance in 29 years. You could see the players encouraging each other and planning strategy. The fans were on their feet, doing their part cheering wildly and chanting, "Let's go Roy-als!" over and over. They rallied together and won together, and had they lost, they would have lost together too. They own their mistakes and give credit to others when they succeed. They feed off each other and the energy generated by the roaring crowd. Relationships matter on and off the field, in and out of the classroom, and in the work place. You have each other's back. You try out new ideas and help find ways to succeed together. You celebrate successes and encourage and comfort when things aren't going well. It's easy to support a consistent winner. It's the sign of a true commitment to show unconditional love and support through the droughts and disappointments of "close but no cigars." And in the end that belief, camaraderie, and support gives us the tools and the motivation to persevere and emerge as winners.

Post Game Thoughts. In the world of education and politics we can learn a lot from the Royals win last night, and the journey that got them this far. There have been disagreements over strategies and performances, and calls from fans for the ouster of the manager or for players to be traded, but in the end, the boys in blue band together everyday and play the game. Success doesn't happen overnight. The last 2 years they have utilized their strengths and put together winning seasons after the owner was finally willing to put some money into obtaining and retaining the talent that is needed to make the goal of winning easier to accomplish. With our political fights polarizing our populace and making it difficult for schools to do what they need to do to effectively provide the best education possible for our students, teachers go to work every day and play the game. They utilize their dwindling resources to the best of their ability, working for a win each and every day. But we recognize that this is a team effort and one that comes with the need to obtain and retain the best educators and provide them with the necessary tools and resources. Most of all, educators need all of our SUPPORT to cheer them on, work with them and not against them. When we support education the way we support our favorite teams, the final score will show a win for our kids and that's what really matters. Be Royal!

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Building (and rebuilding) Bridges

9/21/2014

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In World War II, and probably in other wars too, American bombers sought to destroy the bridges of our enemies. This single act served to thwart their movements and cut them off from supplies and each other. It was an effective strategy and theoretically, no one had to die (although I'm sure many did).

A few years ago, the state highway department replaced a bridge near our house. Who knew how often we drove across that bridge on a daily basis? It was the most direct route to town, to work, and school, and also went right past my parents' house. A detour was provided, but certainly was not the preferred route. My mother often complained during this construction time that we rarely saw each other any more. It was because the detour didn't allow us to easily go to their place even though we were less than 1 mile apart. We had to back track and make the effort or they had to go the long way around to get to us, and apparently we often fell short. Bridges are significant infrastructures. They connect us to others and the services we need. They make our lives more convenient and surprisingly, more meaningful. Sometimes we fail to appreciate those bridges until they are unavailable. When confronted with those large orange detour signs that warn us "ROAD CLOSED AHEAD - BRIDGE OUT" - we realize reaching our destination just got a little more difficult, and we might not be the only ones who feel cut off.

One of my passions in education is moving from knowing and doing. With this in mind, it is important to remember that the very nature of bridges helps us connect, getting us from point A to point B, whether it's through travel, learning, or taking us from knowing to doing. Examining and creating connections to real life or things that are familiar, makes learning meaningful. Personal connections make everything we do more fulfilling as we feel a part of the larger group where we can receive support while working toward common goals.

Personal connections are indeed bridges to understanding. My favorite teacher in middle school and high school was certainly knowledgeable in his field (English) but it was the relationships he built with his students that built the bridges that helped us understand and feel connected. We cared about what he wanted to teach us because he cared about us. He made it a point to know us and make us feel that what we thought and did mattered. When we were seniors, we dedicated our yearbook to him. Simon and Garfunkel's, "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" had been a big hit during my high school days (yes, that makes me old) and we used that theme to honor this man and the influence he had on us. I often use the following quote from Teddy Roosevelt in my workshops and with my students, "People don't care what you know until they know that you care." Caring is the first step in building bridges. This is a valuable lesson we must take with us everyday as we go to work or school, work within the community, and especially when we are with family and friends. Taking the time to build those bridges is truly worth it in terms of how it makes us feel, others feel, and how effective we can be.

New situations would be made easier if we worked harder at building bridges. When we enter a room with unfamiliar people, making those personal connections during introductions helps us remember their name and immediately builds a bridge. Extend that to the work place or a group that you are set to lead. As the new "boss," the first priority should be building bridges, relationships if you will, with the staff/employees/members. It is imperative to take the time to woo their hearts so you both believe they matter, both as people and as workers or members, much like we woo the affections of a potential mate. Those team building activities at the beginning of meetings or class may seem like fluff, but they are important to building those relationships that will make a difference in how well the organization will run. You may have big dreams and high expectations for those you oversee, but to paraphrase Roosevelt, until they know you care, they won't care what you know or what you want them to do. We have great power at our finger tips if we realize that everything we do and everything we don't do matters.

New employees or members would also benefit from our efforts to build bridges so that their experience as a part of our team is beneficial to both them and us. They will learn the required processes more quickly if we have established mentoring relationships and a framework to provide information and support so that their transition to this new role will allow them the opportunity to be successful.

Answering "Why" questions helps build bridges to understanding the need for change. It helps make the "how" and the "what" more meaningful by defining the purpose more clearly. Taking the time to address the "why" questions - proactively if possible - builds bridges by recognizing the individual needs, questions, and concerns of those involved. Leaders, including parents, often start with the 'what" or the "how" and only address the "why" if asked. Again, everyone needs to feel like they are being heard - that what they think and feel matters. As a result our responses to those questions that are voiced matter too. And FYI, despite what you may have heard, "Because I said so" isn't an effective bridge-building response either.

Then there are those times we must rebuild bridges that have been damaged or destroyed by our own words or actions. The Marshall Plan was enacted to rebuild war-torn Europe after World War II. One of the first things that was addressed was to rebuild the infrastructure (roads and bridges) to connect people and reduce their isolation. These were the very bridges that we had bombed just a few months or years earlier and now we were set to help rebuild them. We have all had moments where we have said or done things we wished we could take back, but the damage was done. How we respond will determine if the relationship remains strained or ruined, or if we can find ways to re-connect. We can't undo the damage but we can go forward and rebuild. As our babysitter used to tell our kids, "Sorry doesn't fix it, but you can change that behavior." A few years ago, I reconnected with my childhood best friend, after years of estrangement over some stuff that happened in college (pretty silly as I look back), because she reached out to build a bridge across our strained relationship. I am thankful every day that she took that chance and that I was able to respond in kind so that we could rebuild that friendship. That new bridge is priceless.

What bridge will you build today? How will you be a better friend? How will you be a better leader? How will you make a difference in the lives of others? As you find a way to make someone feel like they matter, remember YOU matter too!

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Kinda, Sorta: How's That Working for You?

9/13/2014

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Did you clean your room? "Kinda, sorta..."
Do you work out during the off season? "Kinda, sorta..."
Did you study for the test? "Kinda, sorta..."

These are responses that I have received from my "kids" over the years (both my own children and my students). In all honesty, it's an answer I have given too, probably more than likely to my doctor or dentist in response to whether I'd regularly exercised, watched my diet, elevated and iced that sprained ankle, done regular breast exams, or flossed my teeth.

Kinda, Sorta Translated. What does that really mean? When my kids told me that, I knew they had done less than expected. Maybe they started but didn't finish. Maybe they gave it a lick and a promise. Maybe they did it once in a while. Kinda, sorta may have seemed like a better answer than "Yes I did" when you knew you didn't do what was expected; or "No I did not" which failed to reflect that you did something, even if it wasn't exactly right. We use it as a way to soften or justify the reality. When I told my doctor that, I was attempting to avoid what he/she already knew. I was more talk than action. Kinda, sorta. Not really.

Kinda, Sorta Understanding.   Sometimes kinda, sorta really does express the level to which we understand or "get it." If a student kinda, sorta understands the lesson, it means they have some knowledge or skill, but not enough for clarity or to effectively apply the learning to other situations. People often stop at our house to ask for directions. I give them the directions they want, all the while knowing that I have something to connect to - a mental map if you will - and they are just listening, trying to keep it in order. I'm pretty sure when they leave, kinda, sorta is all they really understand and the result may be that they are still lost. So to answer the question, "Do you understand?" the correct response might truly be, "Not really." That is our cue to help clarify or reteach the content so that it becomes clear, and meaningful connections are made, so that the knowledge and skills can be used. Then kinda, sorta becomes "I get it" and the lost is now found!

Kinda, Sorta Efforts. Too often, kinda, sorta is more of a reflection of the time or effort we put into a task. I used to tell my basketball players that we had to "walk our talk." It didn't do us much good to talk about what we were capable of accomplishing if we didn't act in ways to prepare us for that journey. We lose focus or become complacent and then kinda, sorta stop attending to details, or making what should be a regular behavior, irregular. We stop doing our best and settling for something less. We procrastinate and make excuses. Success that ends with a quality product involves purposeful intent, hard work, and consistent effort. Kinda, sorta  just isn't the same thing. Not really. Not ever.

Educators expect students to do their best on assignments or tests, and actively participate in class activities/discussions. They are typically not thrilled with kinda, sorta efforts. Not ever. Yet teachers can fall into the kinda, sorta trap too. When new instructional strategies are presented, teachers are asked if they have implemented them. When their response is "kinda, sorta," you'd be correct to assume that means they tried it once and haven't given it another thought. So when their students are not showing the intended benefits of that new strategy, one only has to look inward to realize our kinda, sorta implementation probably netted those kinda, sorta results.

Kinda, Sorta Results. The results we get from "kinda, sorta" are not really what we want and certainly not what was expected. What if your surgeon kinda, sorta took out your appendix or put in that stint? Or what if your hairdresser kinda, sorta cut your hair? Would we be happy with those results? Of course not. We want to look good, feel healthy, achieve all of our goals, and be successful! But if we are honest, most of us would admit that we would like to get the best results with the least amount of effort. If we try, isn't that better than not doing it all? Kinda, sorta. Not really.

Would you be happy with your child's teacher if they just kinda, sorta taught the lesson and then sent the child home for you to help them with their homework? Of course not! This works both ways too. It is important that parents facilitate the child's completion of the task instead of kinda, sorta doing it just to say they got it done. We have to teach our children at home and at school from an early age that kinda, sorta just isn't going to cut it in real life. Not ever.

Kinda, Sorta Lifestyle. Unfortunately, kinda, sorta can become a way of life if we're not careful. There is less pressure on ourselves if we choose to be good but not great, or act in ways to just "get by." The farther away we get from doing it right, the harder it is to get going again. I use these blogs to hold myself accountable sometimes. This one is no exception. My exercise program has been less than regular over the summer. I was busy with hosting workshops and then went on vacation. Oh yes, there's that new bad habit I have of drinking coffee first thing in the morning and playing on my phone while I watch the Today Show. That would be OK if 30 minutes didn't quickly turn into 2 hours. So my one time religious habit of 30 minutes on the treadmill every morning as soon as I got up has turned into a "sometimes" event. So when I fill out the paper work at the doctor's office and they ask me if I exercise regularly, lately I'd have to say "kinda, sorta." How's that working for me? Not good. Not really. And honestly, not ever.

Eliminating Kinda, Sorta.   To get that kinda, sorta mindset out of my lifestyle, I must decide that what I want and what I'm getting just isn't in agreement and that only I can do something about that. My keys to making this change: Focus; Motivation; and Action. So this week, I have been better. Not totally focused, but moving in that direction. My once a week exercise became 4 days this week. Progress. Kinda, sorta is turning into most of the time. Will I be perfect in this endeavor? Of course not. But I'll be a lot farther away from kinda, sorta than I was a month ago if I just keep making movement a priority.

What kinda, sorta thought process or activity do you need to eliminate from your life? How's that working for you now? Get the results you want by getting focused, deciding a course of action, and making it happen. Don't let that kinda, sorta response slip back in. Not now. Not ever.

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Vicki's Blog

The Winter of Our Discontent....Looking Forward to Spring

Lead This Horse to Water But Don't Throw It Under the Bus!

21st Century Teaching & Learning: Oh the Places You'll Go!

Living the Dream: The Little Engine That Could

What's Next? New Challenges and Unforeseen Changes

Where Have You Been? Better Yet, Where Are You Going?

Turning #Throwback Thursday into #Transformation Thursday

Be Royal and Other Teachable Moments for Education

Building (and rebuilding) Bridges

Kinda, Sorta: How's That Working for You?

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