Blue Serials (1/10/16)

Happy New Y-

Yeah, I’m sick of hearing it, too. Let’s just move on.

My time and energy outside of my darlings in my actual classroom have been largely devoted to #OKElections16, and trying to create a resource for those ready to get serious about changing a few things in this state. I’ll spare you my whining, but I confess it’s not nearly as much fun as my typical carrying on. I am, however, committed to do this until November 2016 – not for me, of course… but for THE CHILDREN!

Fortunately for all of us, there’s SO MUCH GREAT EDU-BLOGGING HAPPENING RIGHT NOW! Probably more than you can keep up with on your own, and many by folks MUCH cooler than me.

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Here are a few you absolutely shouldn’t miss from the past week or so…

My Daughter Is Not A Widget – Steven Singer on gadflyonthewallblog was not impressed by a recent scolding of public schools by the CEO of ExxonMobil. Singer rejects the suggestion that our children are goods produced only for consumption by a competitive marketplace and the convenience of the powers-that-be. In fact, he takes it rather personally, in one of the best bursts of poignant edu-outrage I’ve ever read. Be poignant and/or outraged with @stevensinger3 on the Twittering. 

My Word for 2016 – Rob Miller on A View From the Edge just had to respond to a challenge about ‘one word’ for the coming year. The result contains great perspective, intentional hope, and a mindset many of us could stand to emulate a bit, but don’t tell him I said so – we don’t want to encourage any more positivity than absolutely necessary. Follow @edgeblogger on the Twitters, or you suck.  #oklaed 

#OneWord: Purpose – Rick Cobb on OKEducationTruths responds to the same challenge with a slightly different approach. I’ll warn you in advance, though, that it’s also pretty positive and inspiring and determined and such, so… be prepared. Follow @OkEducation on the Twitterings, or you double dog suck.  #oklaed 

Students, Not Standards: Calling for Solidarity in 2016 – P.L. Thomas on The Becoming Radical calls us to help students learn themselves, to find ways to help them fall in love with reading even if it’s different than our reading, and to recommit ourselves to teaching students, not standards. Which, come to think of it, is the title of the piece – so that worked out. Follow @plthomasEdD on the Twitters and stretch your paradigms a bit. 

Simple Sabotage (h/t CIA) – Peter Greene at Curmudgucation looks at the recently declassified CIA handbook on sabotage and discovers a guidebook to most #edreform and #eduslation. Who knew? Oh, that’s right – all of US did, but no one wants to believe us that THEY’RE DOING IT ON PURPOSE! Of course you already follow @palan57 on the Twitters, yes?

Finally, Rob Miller of A View From The Edge issued an #OklaEd blogging challenge recently with the theme of Hope and Despair as we enter 2016.

I haven’t responded myself as of yet, but holy hotkeys – those who have! There’s simply TOO much talent in this state – I feel like a match in the sun warehouse. If I missed anyone’s response to the challenge, let me know – it’s not intentional.

Despair and Hope in Education – Scott Haselwood, aka @TeachFromHere, on his fancy new saucy blog’n’web TeachingFromHere.  This one might be my favorite. #oklaed 

Hope/Despair Challenge – Jennifer Williams, aka @JennWillTeach, on JennWillTeach.  Willliams is a kindred spirit, Charter #11FF, and kinda hot when she’s in a snit. I was curious what she’d choose for ‘Hope’.  #oklaed 

Reason for Despair. But Even Bigger Reasons for Hope. – Meghan Loyd, aka @meghanloyd, on For The Love.  Loyd is more appreciated every day, and makes me believe in #unicorns and #rainbows sometimes. I was curious what she’d write about for ‘Despair’.  #oklaed 

2016: A Real Opportunity – Rick Cobb, aka @OKEducation, on OKEducationTruths.  Cobb doesn’t always share my turbid angst, but he’s not far off here – until the ‘Hope’ part, I mean. I’m glad there’s a ‘Hope’ part.  #oklaed

Rethinking D-E-S-P-A-I-R – Mindy Dennison, aka @MrsDSings, on This Teacher Sings.  Dennison uses words all pretty enough, but then adds pictures and stuff – is that even allowed?  #oklaed

#OklaEd Teachers: Reasons for Hope, Reasons for Despair in 2016 – Mrs. Waters, aka @watersenglish, on MrsWatersEnglish.  “{O}ur leaders… enact legislation and policies that end up damaging the most vulnerable students. On top of that, these leaders project their own flaws onto teachers by accusing them of not caring when we ask for more money or better working conditions.”  When you get Mrs. Waters in that kind of lather, you’ve really gone and done the doin’ – she’s normally unflappable!  #oklaed 

Hope and Despair – John Thompson, aka @DrJohnThompson, guest-blogs on A View From The Edge.  Thompson is a veteran educator and writer and sometimes intimidates me a bit, although I’m pretty sure that’s not what he’s going for. He’s just so… legit.  #oklaed

Burritos, Boxes, and Buckets – A Discussion of Hope and Despair – You didn’t think we’d let Miller issue the challenge without addressing it himself, did you? OK, he did it without prompting, but I like to pretend I somehow forced the issue. Makes me feel influential and a bit tough-love-ish.  #oklaed

I don’t hide my annoyances or despair. If you’ve been reading this blog at all in the past year, you don’t have to guess what puts me over the edge. But I like this challenge because it requires hope as well – intentional, chosen, pursued hope.

Pursue hope this week. As you do, keep in mind – AND I MEAN THIS WITH MANY MEANING MEANS – you’re the hope for many of them. Some know it, most don’t, and it means many different things for many different kids. 

But you’re hope for them. Sometimes the only hope. Don’t $#%& it up. 

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