Rush the Iceberg

Good things will happen…

And….

Bad things will happen…

I remember how ecstatic I was when Liz Danzico of Bobulate wrote a blog post based partly on one of my posts. I was also ecstatic when Anna Smith of Developing Writers wrote a blog post based partly on another post.

These posts fired me up more than any comment received on this blog. More importantly than my fragile ego being stroked, the posts linked other thoughts to my thoughts – sometimes about education, sometimes not. In addition, the posts further deepened my thoughts and showed me where I could have added nuance and such. They also showed that there is a world orbiting outside of our Education Blogosphere.

Turning comments off of blogs is picking up steam on many of the tech blogs I read. A reduction of spam and time spent deleting, blocking, and moderating comments has been a big positive for these writers. Matt Gemmel was the first writer I came across with this idea, you can read his post HERE.

Matt Gemmel states his goal for turning comments off on his blog: “High-quality, well-considered feedback and responses written on other blogs, rather than impulsive retorts and/or snarks.”

I now echo his goal.

To be honest, I do not always read people’s comments on some of my favorite writers’ blog posts. The main reason is because I do ninety percent of my reading through an RSS reader (a work-around to my school’s internet filter that blocks just about everything!). Another reason is that much of the comments are simply agreements that do not add to or further the discussion.

Yeah, there are exceptions, there always will be. Exceptions rarely make convincing arguments. Write a blog post about the exception and send me the link.

I could see much more cross-pollenation in the Education Blogosphere happening if we were to implement this concept. Imagine reading a great post by John T Spencer or Dina Strasser and not being able to comment on them. Rather, you would end up writing a response post on your own blog, enabling your readers to discover new writing from different voices.

It certainly would help cure the mythological Writer’s Block.

I’m going to give it a try… If you decide to write a post responding to my thoughts here, please send me a link or say something to me on Twitter!

I just read a great blog post by Marco Arment, creator of Instapaper. The title of the article speaks to a simple truth: “Whatever Works for You”.

If you remove the concept being a “fanboy” for technology and replace it with being an EdReformer on blogs and Twitter, you would have the blog post I have had in my mind for months, yet could not fully express.

Here are my two favorite paragraphs in the piece:

Previous-me tried to persuade everyone to switch to my setup, but I now know that it’s not worth the effort. I’ll never know someone else’s requirements, environment, or priorities as well as they do. I don’t know #$%! about Windows or Outlook or architecture.

You should use whatever works for you. And I no longer have the patience or hubris to convince you what that should be. All I can offer is one data point: what I use, and how it works for me.

Before you start with a reactionary “yeah, but…”, please understand that I am all for sharing ideas, resources, and inspiration. I am not biting the hand that keeps me sane. Rather, the militant EdReformers are on my mind. Yeah, Joe Bower, Gary Stager, and Michelle Rhee are on my mind…They all have their place in our edusphere, but I think extremism, in any direction, is misguided and lacking nuance.

I’m curious to read your comments…

Steve Jobs is known for saying “real artists ship.”

For too long, the inherent message of this quote has been an anchor, rather than wind in my sails.

You see, I began spending a great amount of time blogging and tweeting about all things education: I took up residence on Education Beach.

I interacted with many wonderful educators, parents, and education consultants of various motives. I have been jealous of some and annoyed by others.

Some were watchtowers, peering down on all educators below them.

Some were lighthouses, offering guidance to safe harbor and shining light into ignored corners.

Some were ski boats, quickly moving onto new technology and theories, ultimately skimming the surface.

Some were sailboats, letting the winds of change direct them, rarely tacking against the wind.

Some were rowboats, forging their own path while being aware the tide influences them.

Some were sun-bathers, browning themselves in the hopes of looking better, remaining the same teacher on the inside.

I have been AND known them all. Eventually I found myself reeling between the Scylla of Conservative District Realities and the Charybdiss of Progressive Education Idealists.

This grew ever frustrating.

Then my son was born and new realities emerged on the horizon.

Distraction, survival, and joy were the new ports of call.

Then one day, while the eyes of Hurricanes Jocelyn and Casen passed overhead, I realized something:

My hobby is education.

My art is teaching.

I am an artist that ships daily in my classroom with my students.

“What” is tangible…

“Why” is abstract…

“What” is a noun…

“Why” is a verb…

“What” is humanity….

“Why” is culture…

“What” is finite…

“Why” is infinite…

“What” is a grade on a piece of paper…

“Why” is learning nuance and paradox…

“What” is a song on your iPod…

“Why” is music stirring long forgotten emotions…

“What” is the poem in your college literature anthology…

“Why” is lines six through eleven jumping into your mind while watching Modern Family….

….”Why” is AND.

….”Why” is WITH.

I tend to have grand ideas that, well, I rarely see through to fruition.

Those ideas that do come to fruition often are ripe for one or two days then rot on the vine.

I hope the idea below does not suffer the same fate…

This week is a typically odd week with various obstacles getting in the way of inquiry and learning.

Monday – Weekly Review = Awesome

Tuesday – District Mandated Benchmark Exams = Saddening/frustrating

Wednesday – Yay! Fun Day! Acrostics and Metaphorical License Plates = Fun

Thursday – District mandated meeting at the district office = Boring and Sub

Friday – Minimum day = Steve Jobs’ Stanford Commencement Address and craziness

As I was writing the obligatory daily agenda on the board, I remembered that I highly value a print rich AND a visually rich environment. However, my daily agenda did not match my values.

I decided to add a visual component:

I admit, this is far short of amazing. However, my students are responding well to this small addition.

I have 196 students and 45 have IEP’s and receive services (ugg) from the RSP department. The RSP students are spread throughout the day and two have already come up to me and told me the like it because they can be better prepared and anticipate the tone and mood for the day.

I hope I continue to do this…I have told a few students to remind me to do this every week! (yeah, I know, things change in the week based on student understanding and all that…)

I installed a sort of inner Steve (Jobs), an Angel of Better telling me to make it simpler, try once more, don’t forget to delight, and remember that greatness is possible.

Neven Mrgan  via Marco.org

This is my new guiding thought in the classroom.

Joy is certain when you are a teacher of middle schoolers.

Below is a sampling of my students’ parents and grandparents’ jobs:

Professor of Russian History
DJ
Player on the Brooklyn Dodgers (great grandfather)
Psychic (grandma)
High School Sweethearts married for 25 years
“Asset Finder”
Grand-daughter of a former teacher of mine/current sub at my school
Inmate in county jail
Refugee of the Bosnian War
Owners of three Burger King’s

There are so many interesting stories each one of my 196 students are beginning to share with me and each other.

People often ask me if teaching the same subject six times a day gets boring. Without fail, I laugh “No!” because “I don’t teach a subject; rather, I teach middle schoolers.”

The depth and breadth of humanity in each one of my classes is endlessly fascinating.

Every day I feel like I get to walk around the grand halls and nuanced corners of  Wikipedia.

Possibilities are infinite.

Frustration is inevitable.

Joy is certain.

This is not going to be a long, drawn out reflection on the events of September 11, 2001. Like most people, I doubt I could ever forget that day – I do not need to be reminded.

Photo Credit: Stephen Davis

This “Never Forget Flag” was made a day or two after 9/11 by two students of mine at Brookhurst Junior High School in Anaheim. They asked if they could have the front page of the newspaper and a bunch of construction paper. This is what they created: simple and lasting.

This poster is placed in the sight line of students when they say the Pledge daily.

While not “truthers”, my wife and I watched the thought provoking movie, Loose Change 9/11: An American Coup last night. The movie raises some legitimate questions regarding what really happened that day. I think it is important to be informed and look at history from different points of view.

I find it interesting that many who do not buy the history they were taught in school do not doubt the information given to them by mainstream news. The commercialization of that day is, to be honest, sickening to me.

Skepticism leads to questions.

I started a Tumblr blog a few months ago and have been trying to figure out what role it takes in my life. My wife has asked me this numerous times to which I stumble for an answer.Last night it dawned on me: it is my commonplace book. I had never heard of one of these until I came across Luke Neff’s excellent Commonplace Book.

I have grown tired of writing great quotes on post-it notes and paper clipping cool pictures I come across.

Basically, my Tumblr is a place where I can post the randomness I come across while online. Most of this “stuff” does not fit in with education or anything like that. Rather, the “stuff” is more akin to scraps of knowledge, quote, photos, videos, songs, and other serendipitous randomness.

My Tumblr, Commonplace Book, has been refreshing in that I do not have to worry about a continuous theme or, interestingly, my voice.