Philosophical Differences

How do you settle differences between 52 principals on philosophy of education? G/T pullout or push in? 9-week vs. 6-week grading periods? Professional development vision?

Change

"The world we have created is a product of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking."
~Albert Einstein

Positive Daily Parent Report = Checkbook

We are experimenting with and kicking around the idea of having a checkbook as our daily parent report. At this time we have a "mark" system where students receive marks for making poor choices. The emphasis is on negative behaviors.

• 2nd-5th grade will have an individual checkbook register and will record deposits (for doing positive things) and withdrawals (for making poor choices) in their register. Each teacher will have a classroom chart so the teacher may have a record of the poor choices in order to report these on the report card under behavior.
• 1st grade will use pennies and will transition to nickels, dimes, quarters as they are ready.
• Kindergarten will have a class penny jar and will earn money and give back money as a class until the 4th six weeks when they will transition to an individual plan

Made to Stick

Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath is an incredible book! I love how they have placed numerous keywords per chapter in the table of contents so you don't have to freaking tab everything. The way they tell stories is easy and humerous. Such a great read.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the tradewinds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." --Mark Twain

What if . . .

What if . . .

• We could have wi-fi on the school buses like a district in South Carolina?
• We ran a report of all taxpayers over 60 and asked their opinion on things. They have been a "forgotten" stakeholder who have time on their hands for assistance such as volunteering, mentoring, or tutoring.
• A class made an app together. It is a way of writing and critically thinking about a real world situation.
• We had a "Napsterfication of learning" --Graham Brown-Martin
• We used QR codes on district announcements, mailouts, and things going home from campuses?
• We had a New Tech High School like Coppell ISD?
• We had an app for iOS and Andriod like Comal ISD?
• We looked at a different system like the FB page or app or twitter for disseminating information?

Mobile 2011 Conference

I am currently at the Mobile 2011 Conference in Phoenix. Interesting content. Really good keynote speakers who make you think. Ready to present tomorrow! We have our 5th graders and teachers ready to answer questions from participants via Edmodo.