Blue Serials (September 20th, 2015)

September 19, 2015June 4, 2023 ~ Blue Cereal

This week, I recap sobering analyses and frustrated responses to various inanities and quagmires of this illustrious profession…

If you’re not up for it, I suggest merely watching this video and moving on. No worries – see you next week! Touch the future, not the children!

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Are they gone? OK, good – let’s get down to business.

Oklahoma Speaker of the House Jeff Hickman took time this week to spread a fresh layer of loathing and ignorance over Oklahoma public schools.

We live in a time of dramatic false dichotomies – you EITHER think it’s OK to kill black citizens for not showing proper deference OR you hate cops and want them to die instead. You EITHER revile even minimal dress codes for young ladies in high school OR you want them all raped and killed and think it will be their own damn fault, etc. I don’t wish to add another.

But I cannot, at my most broad-minded, come up with more than two possible explanations for Hickman and his ilk in the Oklahoma legislature. Even more troubling to me, I can’t tell which I consider worse.

Either Hickman is so ignorant and deluded as to be unfit to live on his own, let alone hold public office, or he’s a Frank Underwood-level cynic, flinging spraypainted bull$#!+ at the unwashed masses. In other words, it’s difficult to know if he’s trying to further ruin the state, our children, and the future out of complete cluelessness, or if he’s doing it on purpose so he can climb his sad ladder to mediocrity before hell beckons.

Please let me know if I’m overlooking genuine alternative explanations. I’d be relieved – I assure you.

In any case, the silver lining of this $#!+scapade was that it brought forth a few voices from whom we haven’t heard much lately, and stirred up one we’re happy has stuck around.

With All Due Respect, Vol. 3 – Rick Cobb of OkEducationTruths discusses the Hickman interview which stirred the kerfuffle this week. Brilliantly.

Teacher Shortage Is Real. No Claim. – Claudia Swisher, edu-gladiator writ large and Fourth Generation Teacher, with her take on Hickman’s comments and this thing the rest of us call ‘Reality’.

False Claims and Old Ideas – Rob Miller, who may have posted on this subject twice just to make sure he made the Blue Serials roundup this week, nevertheless acquits himself well on A View From The Edge.

The Mercenary Approach to Education – I should note that it worked. Rob secured a mention again this week. There should be stickers! Meanwhile, he’s annoyed – but in, you know, a fun-to-read-and-agree kind of way.

My Open Letter to Speaker Hickman and the House Leadership – Nicole Shobert doesn’t come out of hiding as often as I’d like, but when she does, it’s always worth your perusal. This is must-read. Follow Nicole on the Twitters as @NicoleShobert.

Facts & New Ideas… A Different View – One of my favorite things about Scott Haselwood is his willingness to look past the cliches and platitudes and insist we actually talk workable solutions. No exception here in his reaction to the Hickman inanity.

On a slightly lighter note, I can’t let the Speaker’s palaver distract us from other #OklaEd greatness…

Trust In Me / Ms. Smith Makes Ends Meet… For Now – A double shot this week from Mindy Dennison at This Teacher Sings. In the former, she calls on the power of no less than Etta James to ask why we find it so far-fetched to trust professionals to be professionals, and teachers to teach. In the latter, she wonders why we continue to cry for excellence while starving anyone who dare take up the calling. You really MUST follow Mrs D on the Twitters at @MrsDSings.

Normally I wrap with something worthy of revisiting from months gone by…

But I’m already way long for what’s supposed to be a cute, functional review of the week, AND I simply must include this double shot from my newest #educrush Angela Stockman. She’s a big deal something or other out of New York – but before you judge, keep in mind she ain’t from that one part…

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8 Ways To Tame An Angry Parent – More than a list, this is a complementary mini-counseling session in 1200 words or less. Good advice, good insights, much of it stuff we kinda know when it’s someone ELSE dealing with a difficult situation, but forget when our adrenaline starts to rise.

Schooling The Terrible Teacher: 10 Things Parents Should Never Do – The flip side of the previous post, Stockman nicely balances humanity, insight, and a dose of humor and goodwill in this missive to parents wanting more than to conquer the evil educator.

Check out Angela Stockman on her own page, or as a ‘senior blogger’ (I don’t know what that is, but I wanna be one if I grow up) at Brilliant or Insane. Definitely follow her on the Twitters as @AngelaStockman – trust me on this one.

BE AMAZING, MY #11FF! The need is great, and our gifts sometimes seem so small – but I am in awe of each and every one of you and what you do. Never. Give. Up.

Blue Serials (September 13th, 2015)

September 13, 2015June 4, 2023 ~ Blue Cereal

Greetings, #11FF – I bring you encouragement and perspective from the edu-blogs. And Hawkeye:

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I’m a sucker for superhero movies, and for the little guy trying to work above his pay grade to save the world. Scenes like this? I tear up, and often there’s actual snot involved. It’s embarrassing.

Here are some of the best moments from this past week to dry your tired tears, my darlings… in case you missed them:

Run Them Through the Dream Crusher – Perhaps Arne and Coleman and others are onto something with this ‘tough love minus the love’ approach to educating children. Let’s stop mamy-pambying these little kids and get them ready for the ‘real world’ – one full of rejection, harsh realities, and a whole lotta beat-down. Rob Miller on A View From The Edge dances joyfully through this diatribe, and reminds me why he IS the current ‘must read’ among all things edu-blog or #oklaed. I love this one.

If you’ve ever actually cared about children, the future, or ‘Merica, you simply must follow Rob (closely) on the Twitters at @edgeblogger.

Literacy and the Electives Teacher – Meghan Loyd at For the Love is frothing a bit herself – which I, for one, never saw coming! She has a few thoughts on literacy, our mindset towards ‘electives’ and those who teach them, and pizza rolls. This is not her most tender or careful post so far, but I must confess… I love the sauce she’s slinging. Loyd is TOTES #11FF, so follow her on the Twitters at @MeghanLoyd.

Walkmen At Garage Sales – Donuts in the Lounge is a relatively new #oklaed blog featuring the ramblings of Mr. Link Lowe. This past week, he pondered how quickly we’ve become used to – maybe even bored with – the technological miracles all around us. “Guess I’ll *sigh* transport to Venus and grab a few more Live Forever pods *yawn* before the Holo-tournament…” Ponder Mr. Lowe (without getting bored) on the Twitters at @MrLoweOfficial.

Baby-Proofing a Middle School Classroom – OK, this is actually from two weeks ago, but I missed it. My bad! MiddleSchoolStationConductor is new to me, but obviously I’ll be keeping up with this one from here on out. #OklaEd Middle School Social Studies teacher (you can understand my immediate attachment) Tina Lunday discusses trying to see our classrooms – physically and experientially – through student eyes. Show Tina some edu-love on the Twitters at @TMLunday.

The Drive Episode 8: Literacy – Scott Haselwood TAKES OFF THE SUNGLASSES for this one, which either means it’s time to get SERIOUS, or that it was raining as he taped. Perhaps it’s both. This week on Teaching From Here, after a nice plug for the #oklaed chat every Sunday evening from 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. CST, he expounds on the subject of last week’s chat – literacy’s many facets.

Scott’s emphasis this week is on the value of non-traditional literacies – artistic literacy, computer literacy, musical literacy, numeracy, etc. As a bonus, he cites some of my favorite #oklaed bloggers – @MeghanLoyd and @MrsDSings – as support. What I wouldn’t give to have the three of them around the table with pretentious coffee and hard-to-pronounce edibles so we could wrestle with this one a bit more. I think there’s more we could do. More approaches to consider. We have much to continue learning from one another – which, I suppose, is the whole point… yes?

And Seriously Worth A Revisit or Eleven…

Is There Really A Point To It All? – No, Dad Gone Wild was not having an Existential Crisis – or if he was, he didn’t write about it here. What DID promp some angst was our current obsession with ‘excellence’ and being ‘career-ready’ and the bestest bestly bestness best.

Maybe the next generation will do nothing but create exceptional businesses and tackle exceptional challenges. They will read only exceptional books and listen only to exceptional music. I certainly hope not because they’d miss out on the joy of dancing around the living room to “Shake It Off” with your five-year-old or chuckling at an old episode of “Benny Hill.” It’s just that I look at this constant drum of high achievement, and I can’t see a translation to real life. I can’t help but think that we are squeezing children for their data points while leaving them ill-equipped for life. In fact, my Spidey sense tells me that we are setting unrealistic expectations and setting children up for failure… The truth is, that while we all seek excellence, the majority of us will live average lives and there should be pleasure in that. This average life has served me well.

I would kiss this man on the lips if (a) I had any idea exactly where he is and I could get there, and (b) I wasn’t pretty sure the message he’d receive would be very different from the one I’d be trying to send. Oh the complications of communication in the 21st century! Find and follow DGW on the Twitters at @norinrad10.

Keep rising up, #11FF! You are changing lives one way or the other; let’s make them good ones.

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Dolph & Lana Break The Rules

September 9, 2015June 4, 2023 ~ Blue Cereal ~ 1 Comment

I don’t like very many people.

Well, that’s not entirely true – I like most people… in small doses. At a distance. At the right times. For a bit. I’m the guy in staff PD who took the personality test and ended up at a table by myself on the far end of the media center with 117 peers assuming I must have lied on the questionnaire because I seem nicer than that.

But among the small circle of folks of whom I cannot tire and who energize me just by sharing the room is a friend from way back in middle school and his stunning wife. I’ll call them Dolph and Lana for reasons likely amusing only to me.

Both did fine in high school – one public and one private – and graduated easily. Dolph has a degree in journalism and a photographic memory, while Lana holds a ‘music ministry’ license she doesn’t like to talk about. But neither are committed to what I used to think of as ‘normal’ careers. They don’t have ‘real jobs’.

Don’t get me wrong – they’re not unemployed. They don’t require public assistance or loans from family and friends. They’re one of the more fiscally responsible couples I know, even managing periodic vacations and rather enigmatic social lives.

Oh, and they have a two-year-old, who almost makes me like kids. We’ll call him Hogarth.

Dolph is a musician, a painter, a freelance writer, and a producer. Occasionally he’s a graphic designer. I know, I know – these are collectively often used as euphemisms for “deadbeat”, but I assure you, he works long hours at a variety of things, all of which he’s ridiculously good at and mostly enjoys.

He’s also one of the most involved fathers I’ve known in this life. It’s weird.

Aside from his actual family, there’s nothing Dolph loves more than the endless hours spent crafting his original songs into reality and posting them essentially for free on Spotify or other outlets. Considering how insanely talented he is (I blame an imbalanced universe unconcerned with equity), it’s surprising how many hours this consumes to do well.

Those hours, however, pay very little, so he also applies his talents to producing music for others – which is rewarding in its own way, but still actual work. It’s not always fun, and it’s not usually easy. He plays in a local cover band doing music he doesn’t always like for crowds which aren’t always appreciative. This is the musician equivalent of a ‘day job’ – it pays the bills while still keeping you near your chosen craft and first love. He writes for periodicals which aren’t always reasonable about events he wouldn’t otherwise attend or people with whom he wouldn’t necessarily choose to spend his free hours – because that’s how ‘work’ works.

Turns out even in the world of live music, painting, or writing, there’s an element of ‘grit’ and self-management required in order to thrive. One must be organized. Responsible. Creative, but rational. Able to communicate and to truly appreciate other points of view. To go around the leaf.

But he does it, and he does most of it really well. In the process, he hones and stretches skills he applies to the stuff he loves. He takes care of his family, provides for them comfortably, and still lacks what I used to think of as ‘a real job’. More on that in a bit.

Lana has been preoccupied with the lad Hogarth lately, but she too is a mashup of surprising talents. She paints, sings, and co-taught at one of the high-end private schools in these parts until the little person came along. You know those rare people who can explore the world of high-end teas or local sushi trucks and fill you in without making you feel stupid or proletariat about it? That’s Lana. Any suggestions she’s particularly gracious or sophisticated prompts pshaw-ery and eye-rolling.

She doesn’t see it. She’s just doing what people do, right?

She currently works at home for a media company promoting independent film projects and other specialized artsy fartsy things. I not actually sure whether this is an innovative approach targeting enigmatic tastes and interests, or if she just manipulates us on Facebook for a living. No matter – I adore them both, and they’re incapable of ever being truly evil.

None of what they do involves Algebra II, or Oklahoma History, or success on standardized exams. Some of their ELA classes may have been useful to a degree, and a few extra-curriculars stir fond memories, but by and large I’m not sure high school offered either of them much of substance – even though they both conquered it easily.

Dolph and Lana have found a way to do what they love for a living, not as part of that small sliver of the mega-successful covered by TMZ or E! or populating magazines in the checkout aisle, but as normal people who refuse to accept the unspoken ‘rules’ inculcated by public education, most universities, and society in general.

They’re not standardized. They’re not career-oriented. They’re not perpetually preparing for whatever’s coming NEXT. While they have a quirky diversity of interests and tastes, they rarely put in time or effort mastering subjects they couldn’t possibly care about. Their work ethic is unimpeachable, but both have passed up fiscal progress in order to live where they’re happy TODAY, and do that about which they’re passionate NOW.

In short, they’re doing everything completely wrong.

And yet, by any meaningful definition, they are wildly successful. Happy. Interesting. Useful to themselves, their families, and their friends. Giving back to their culture, their community, and contributing to the economy.

Crazy fun to be around. I don’t even know what we DO most evenings we’re together. They just… happen.

Not wealthy, certainly, but hardly impoverished. Not famous, but beloved – they know everyone, everywhere, and it’s ridiculous how many people want to be their bestest friend evers. I’m telling you, it’s weird to watch.

I’m not sure how you teach that, but I’m pretty sure it’s not the way we’re doing it now. I don’t know that it requires abandoning traditional subjects entirely, or burning every last textbook and desk. But I respectfully suggest that Dolph, Lana, and Hogarth are not outliers. They’re better at real life than most, but they’re not freak-of-nature unique.

How many responsible, happy, fulfilled and fulfilling adults find their ways in spite of rather than because of the bizarre endurance test we call high school? How many of those who succumb to our system grow old endlessly chasing that elusive point at which they’ll be allowed to enjoy or care about what they’re doing NOW?

I’m sure I don’t have an easy or clear solution, but before we continue our efforts to go faster and further down the road of #edreform or ‘excellence’, perhaps we’d do well to check our GPS and clarify exactly where it is we’re hoping our students will go. Personally, I’d trade most test scores, a ton of future earnings potential, and a healthy slice of ‘college & career readiness’ for a few more Dolphs and Lanas.

RELATED POST: Demolition Man

Blue Serials (September 6th, 2015)

September 6, 2015June 4, 2023 ~ Blue Cereal ~ 2 Comments

Ah, early September – what a great time of year. The ‘new’ is wearing off of back-to-school, we’ve already messed up at least THREE of the things we promised ourselves we’d do COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY this year, and we’ve yet to see our first meager paycheck for the school year…

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You’d think I’d revisit some of those ‘Why I Teach’ or ‘Hey Look I’m A Teacher-Martyr and Somewhat Morally Superior to You’ posts – some of which I’ve even WRITTEN.

Sorry. Not this week. This week is mostly sobering… but important. Let’s be thankful, however, for the miracles of the interwebs and social media which allow us to share, join, inspire, and challenge one another all across the edu-world.

See? That sounded kinda motispirational, didn’t it?

No?

OK, here’s another mixed blessing – now that so much of #oklaed has started a new school year (the part we tend to love but which is crazy hectic), AND still love Supt. Joy, AND have an amazing #oklaed chat every Sunday evening at 8:00, they don’t seem to be blogging their little hearts out. Come on, people – let’s not let a silly thing like forming new relationships with the future of ‘Merica interfere with my weekly summaries. Priorities, PLEASE.

But OMG the GREAT STUFF that WAS created this past week! In case you missed it, here are some essentials…

Nurturing Your Natural Strengths As An Introvert – While not specifically about public education, there are still many well-intentioned teachers out there who don’t fully ‘get’ introverts or the special flavor their stress takes on in a school setting. I love how well Elan Morgan covers introvert self-care here. You can follow Elan on the Twitters at @schmutzie. or check out her regular website Schmutzie.com.

Imagine – I’m so glad Rob Miller didn’t go with some variation of ‘Watching the Wheels’, although he’d have had to change fewer words to make it apply to some of us. THIS, though, is pretty nicely done. If for some strange reason you’re not subscribed to A View From The Edge and following @edgeblogger on the Twitters, let’s just pause a moment and go take care of that NOW.

“And so this is summer… and what have you done? Another grade finalized… the part-time gig at Sears is just begun… School is over… if you want it….”

Can Tech Fix Teacher Shortage? – Not to ruin the ending or anything, but – well… no. Not a chance. Peter Greene at Curmudgucation explains why, only better. And funnier. And a bit longer than this – but not much.

For Special Education Students, A Hefty Dose of Corporal Punishment / The Punishment Gap: Schools Discipline Special Ed Students At Higher Rates – These aren’t blog posts and Nate Robson’s not a blogger, but he and the crew at Oklahoma Watch DO keep a close eye on all things #oklaed. As the titles suggest, here Robson discusses troubling patterns in how some of our neediest students are being handled by their schools. Follow Nate Robson on the Twitters at @OKWnate.

Test Prep for 5-Year Olds Is A Real Thing. Here’s What It Looks Like. – I know, I know – ALSO not a blog. But the Washington Post‘s Valerie Strauss is nevertheless essential reading for any of you involved in public ed, or who have kids, or who care about America, or who aren’t horrible people. This piece was largely written by an elementary school teacher describing the experience of dragging her kids through test prep. Patiently. For the machine. Follow Strauss on the Twitters at @ValerieStrauss.

And one of my favorites from the days gone by…

Use Your Arms! – First Generation #11FF Sherri Spelic makes me so jealous. Here she challenges us to look past our own platitudes and seek ways to help our students build true agency, true efficacy. I wish i could write like this. Subscribe to Edified Listener and follow Sherri on the Twitters at @edifiedlistener.

Be amazing this week. Find that one kid you don’t really like much yet, and try to figure out what’s amazing about them as well. It will lower your stress level down the road.

Blue Serials (August 30th, 2015)

August 30, 2015June 4, 2023 ~ Blue Cereal

You may have noticed that I’ve been a bit perturbed by bureaucracy and its silly ilk recently. No surprise, then, that this struck me as amusing when I rediscovered it this weekend:

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Hope springs eternal, however, thanks largely to these golden word-gatherings you may have missed this past week:

Just One Day At A Time – Life As A Sleeper was one of the first blogs of which I was really aware. Blue Cereal didn’t exist and most of my social media activity involved hockey. Audrey is a fellow Dallas Stars fan and knows her stuff – with fervor and attutide, just the way I love it. The first time my wife and I visited Dallas for a game, she was part of a small group who let us hang and made us feel welcome. We walk in very different worlds, but as I became aware of her blog back in the day, I was struck by the balance between how very real she was able to be while still writing well and looking professional. I am now blessed to know many of you for whom this is the norm, but it was new to me. She made quality blogging seem like something real people could do. She was the person I first asked about the logistics, the difficulty, etc., and while I doubt she even remembers who I am, her willingness to answer my stupid questions and encourage my audacity still amazes me. I love this piece. Follow Audrey at @lifeasasleeper on the Twitters.

No Enemies – I was unfamiliar with Mr. Rad’s Neighborhood before this week. Tulsa Supt. Deborah Gist tweeted out a link to this post, I happened to see it, and… the magic happened. Mr. Rad here laments our tendency as a profession to seek out enemies and arguments and ditches in which to die when when we have more than enough on our mental and emotional plates already. Perhaps once we’ve defeated ignorance and swept away pedagogical wickedness in high places, we can go back to bickering over whether that kid from TFA working her *** off in the room next door is the devil in flats and sensible accessories. I have a new #educrush on Mr. Rad and will be following him on his Tumblr, er… thing (I’m old – I don’t know how to do the Tumblr or say its things) and on the Twitters at @MrTomRad – you should, too.

The Drive, Episode #6: Equity – Math and #edtech guru Scott Haselwood continues one of the quirkiest #oklaed series of which I’m aware, as he, well… drives around and talks about what’s on his mind this week. I don’t really do podcasts or vlogs, but this one has drawn me in for reasons I can’t quite put into words. Sure, I started because I like Haselwood and his regular blog, but I don’t normally silently stare at men in dark glasses for 10-12 minutes at a time as they discourse. In this installment, he considers the digital divide in its many gradients, and while he refuses to pontificate, asks some very reasonable questions regarding possible solutions. Convoy with Haselwood on the Twitters at @TeachFromHere – and use the restroom before we go. You know how he hates to stop right away.

First Day Experiment – JennWillTeach is CHARTER #11FF from back in the day, so you know wisdom flows from her loins like golden flakes fly from Midas’s fingertips. As she returns to the classroom, she risks and reflects by – get this – WANTING THINKING AND LEARNING ON THE FIRST DAY. More importantly, though, she turns to #BlueCereal Education for wisdom and inspiration. I will never lead you astray, children – I am old, I am wise, I am blue. Follow @JennWillTeach on the Twitters.

And one of my favorites from many years months gone by – quite deserving of another read (perhaps even memorization, or a nice engraving of some sort)…

On Teacher Well-Being: An Introduction – Dan is the real deal. One of the most gracious people with whom I’ve had the pleasure of interacting. Those of you who know me in person have a hard time imagining even a remote connection between my personality and ANYTHING with ‘Zen’ in the title, but I read it – I hear it – I own it – I love it. Sometimes I even calm down for a few minutes. Impressive, no? In this post, The Zen Teacher lays out how and why teachers simply MUST look out for and take care of one another. Turns out this is a tough gig. Follow @thezenteacher on the Twitters.

Keep being amazing, children. You are more than you can possibly imagine.