Reflections

I am a member of #compelledtribe. We've been asked to write a post about our goals for the coming year.  I have many goals but took some time to list the ones that are on my mind this week. These are not in order of importance. Depending on the hat I am wearing, some of these goals will change or become more specific. I have additional goals I need to focus on within our school but this list is what I need to do about me and for me .  Learn to Sketchnote Write more Re-commit to health Travel with family Forgive Gain confidence Continue to improve my skills as a school administrator Above all else, be a good Mom Throughout this coming year, my main goals are even simpler.  Live fully  Be present  Do my best  Take a few jumps "Hope that you spend your days, but they all add up And when that sun goes down, hope you raise your cup Oh, I wish that I could witness all your joy and all your pain But until my moment comes, I'l...

I am a member of #compelledtribe. This month's blogging assignment asks us to write a reflection for 2015.  As this year comes to a close, I am struck by how much positive I've had shared with me. It's something I hope I don't soon forget and especially as we move into 2016.  A quick scan of my google calendar and I've found a major event for almost every month! This is on top of my work as Mom and Middle School Principal which includes a myriad of blessings as well. Jan. 2015 - I work in an incredible district with an incredible Board of Education.  I made the transition from wearing two hats to wearing just one in the month of January. It had become nearly impossible to juggle both responsibilities well so it became time for me to give up one of them and they supported the creation of an additional administrative position. [Blog post about Changing Paths ] March 2015 - I presented in Lake Placid with my school's PBIS team about our program and s...

During August 2015, I attended a Google Camp for Administrators. One of the sessions was led by an edtech expert in my region, David Ashdown . I've followed David's work for nearly 15 years. He's always been in the front of technology use and I've stolen many a neat idea from him. He offered a session about Google Classroom and I attended thinking I needed to gather more ideas about this app for my teachers. However, in the session, David pushed our thinking in asking us to consider how we could use Google Classroom as administrators . He shared an example of setting up classrooms for different work groups and committees. I loved his idea! Almost immediately, I set up classrooms for committees in my building. This kept all of the information collected for each group (SDM, PBIS, etc.) all in one folder on the back end of Drive. I also created a classroom for my building. This is where I would post my weekly messages. Under the about tab, I also collected resources ...

At the time, it seemed like a great idea. I was certain I could pull it off. Now, as the deadline for the ¨great idea¨ is nearing, I am realizing that perhaps I didn´t think this all the way through. I have volunteered to learn a song for an upcoming Holiday Concert. Hey, I played the bells (xylophone) just 30 plus years ago. I am sure I can remember how to play a simple Christmas carol.  Or so I thought. Just a few weeks ago, I was loaned a set of bells on which to practice. I took them home fairly certain what I knew "then" would just come rushing back to me "now". That did NOT happen. As I unfolded the music, I realized I didn't automatically know the names of all the notes. A quick google search and I was using post-it notes to mark notes on the bells. (Turns out those notes would need to be revised as I coded those incorrectly!) In the middle of my confusion, I began to understand my arrogance. I assumed that remembering all of what I knew bef...

A collaborative post by Lisa Meade and Tim Dawkins The release of the Common Core Task Force Report from Governor Cuomo’s office has created some interesting news and even more interesting social media posts. While it is tempting to rush through the talking points of this document, we must remember that these are recommendations , not an immediate change in regulations. There are, in fact, 21 recommendations set out by the Task Force in the report. It would be easy to begin predicting all of the possible ways that things could change for us and for our students. But, any prediction, at this time is premature. And as we have seen in the past, however, trying to predict how things will play out in Albany is never an easy call. We were relieved to see that some of the negative examples they shared (teachers being required to use modules in whole, automatically placing students in AIS based on one state test score, not providing IEP accommodations, etc.) did not occur in our bu...

Each morning, I tip toe to the kitchen, make coffee before sunrise, and then take some time before the house wakes up to read. Some of that reading includes catching up on twitter and other social media posts. Maybe it's my age, the time of year, or just my routine that needs spicing up, but I've grown tired of a trend I am seeing online. Since when did it become okay to belittle someone's opinion because it didn't match yours? I've learned over the years that #edvoice matters. People tweet their support of others using their voice and expressing an opinion. I don't always agree with everything I've seen written but I appreciate reading respectful, opposing views. As a member of the New York Educator Voice Fellowship, however, I've witnessed that same courtesy isn't always applied by others. Sometimes, when a new post appears in the Facebook group, harsh comments follow. I've noticed it on twitter too. Some of the comments are on topic wit...

If I believe everything I read about adolescence, I am supposed to remember that this is tough work. Over the last 4 years, I've been knee deep in doubt wondering if I am doing the best with my son. I've worried about what he's been through, what he's endured, words he's had to hear, and if I've given him any advice that is meaningful as he grows up (and in some ways -- away). He is by NO MEANS a perfect kid.  But, being a mom has impacted me as a teacher and then as a leader. Due to some recent events and observations, I've realized that some of the worries I used to have about my son have lessened. Some have disappeared. And some, are just a whisper.  I try to remember what my "mom shoes" feel like when I meet with parents.  I think as parents we have similar worries about our kids. We want them to feel safe. We want them to meet with success. We want them to be forgiven and supported when they make mistakes.   We want them to be noticed for ...