PBS Teachers™
This month's expert is Brett Smith
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Each month our guest experts discuss and invite you to share your ideas about using multimedia resources to address common instructional challenges. These practitioners live and work in your standards-based, resource-challenged world. They share your commitment to creating rich, engaging learning experiences for students and are pioneering methods for infusing their instruction with media to improve learning across grade levels and curriculum topics. Pull up a screen and join us!
The Arts
by Wade Whitehead
Who was your favorite teacher? If you’re like me, this question is an easy one to answer. As I think back over my career as a learner, from elementary school through high school, and including college and graduate school, I can quickly conjure the names and faces of my very best teachers. Great teachers stand out. They’re memorable. And whether our contact with them is brief or sustained, their impact lasts a lifetime.
Great Teaching: The Power of One
One student at a time, great teachers make the difference in our most successful schools. Indeed, research now tells us what we’ve always suspected anecdotally: that teacher quality is the number one school-controlled variable in student learning.
But what is it that the best teachers know? What is it that they do? How are they able to inspire their students as they are? The answers to these questions are complicated and profound. But I believe there’s something simple at work as well that is identifiable and replicable.
Great teachers create and maintain learning environments that fit a variety of learning styles and preferences. They provide an environment of imagination, discovery, and sharing that welcomes multiple solutions, fuels collaborative thinking, and is centered on how, as well as what, children learn. They believe in constructivist thinking, “off the path” development, and old-fashioned listening. Great teachers realize that one size fits few.
The Man Behind the Curtain
All of us remember the scene towards the end of The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy and her friends discover that the wizard is, indeed, a simple man working a series of control knobs and levers. Importantly, this does not signal the end of their story; rather, finding out the wizard’s secret allows Dorothy to participate in the solution to a problem she’s struggled with on her own.
Similarly, we teachers tend to inadvertently exclude our students (and their families) from our own behind-the-scenes thinking. Most of us consistently plan and implement our instruction without consulting and informing students and their families. Nevertheless, it is critically important to communicate with students and their families why different kids should be learning different things in different ways.
One reason teachers should want parents to be informed about classroom design and instruction is simple: a child supported by a team, including teachers and family members, is a child destined for success. Perhaps the best tool I’ve found for communicating this to my students’ families is the poem “It Takes a Fleet.” The poem’s gentle message is that a child’s journey only reaches its full potential if parents and schoolfolk work in tandem to support that child’s strengths and to build his or her weaknesses.
The PBS Parents site is full of amazing resources for involving parents and families as well. From the BookFinder, which allows parents to select an age and theme to generate book titles of interest, to the Parents Guide to Creativity, PBS Parents presents dozens of opportunities for family members to become involved in the mission of customizing the learning experience for every child.
Connecting with Others
Across the country, educators are adapting this sort of thinking for use in their classrooms and schools. Many have been inspired by Peter Reynolds’ book The North Star, a fable for all ages that reveals the truths that all learners are different and that kids carry unique sets of abilities and experiences, which have steady, significant influence on how learning takes places. The book is available free online in both Spanish and English versions.
Educators who are applying the story’s messages to their teaching are profiled in The North Star Happenings Gallery. Through this resource, educators and parents can connect with others who share similar goals and challenges, and who are seeking to imbed the principles and ideals espoused by a one-size-fits-few approach.
Another great site, Can Do!, includes a free online survey that children (and adults) may use to discover their particular areas of strength and ability. The site is maintained by Maribeth Bush, a guidance counselor in Maine, and includes inspirational stories of achievement and effort. Maribeth’s perspective is especially helpful to parents and teachers of children with disabilities, because it focuses squarely on what their abilities are and on what they do well.
A similarly helpful resource is PBS Parents’ Struggling to Learn, a Web site dedicated to understanding and addressing learning disabilities. It includes tips for identifying, understanding, and supporting the needs of students with learning challenges, who often fail to succeed in traditional classroom settings. Truly individualized instruction is critical to these frequently “off the path” students.
PBS’ Misunderstood Minds Web site provides unique resources for parents and teachers of students with learning differences and disabilities. Specifically, it is geared towards helping students who have difficulties with attention, organization, reading, expression, and math. It provides a powerful tool through which parents and educators can experience for themselves what certain learning disabilities “feel” like, and it delineates specific strategies and techniques for reaching learners with more hidden talents.
Others are dedicating time to the concept that different children learn differently as well. The newly formed Constructivist Consortium is specifically dedicated to using technology to empower learners and to open-ended thinking. From in-person workshops to conference appearances to online forums, the Constructivist Consortium is reinventing what it means to discuss success in an individualized learning environment.
The North Star Community of Practice site is dedicated to connecting educators, parents, and others who believe in multiple paths to success. The Community is frequently visited by educators and parents who want to support the learning experiences of their children. This makes for a fascinating mix of questions and responses that translate into usable and effective teaching and learning tools.
Others have also created online resources that can be used for differentiating instruction, which fall neatly into Howard Gardner’s intelligence categories. These can be used to enhance or amplify learning in virtually any content area and include:The Next Step: Activation
Unfortunately, teachers who think outside the box, or even who think differently inside it, are frequently islands unto themselves. There can be very little professional incentive for ingenuity in the teaching profession. In fact, the paradigm, as it exists, can even seem to discourage the very kind of creativity and kid-centered thinking that an individualized learning environment requires.
It is critical that any teacher who seeks to differentiate instruction realizes one thing up front: that customizing the learning environment isn’t easy. It requires creativity. It requires constant upkeep. And it means that the classroom teacher must relinquish some decision-making to parents, families, and, yes, students themselves.
But the rewards of differentiated instruction are vast and powerful. Families are invested because they’re in on the secret. Students are engaged because their strengths are used to build weaknesses. A fleet — school, home, and child — sails together towards a common destination. And that, after all, is what great teaching is made of.
What are you doing to differentiate instruction and reach every child? Please share your experiences, thoughts, and questions.
More like this: Multidisciplinary,
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Hi Wade,
Great article! What a treasure-trove of Web resources you provided. I can’t wait to check out those with which I’m not familiar.
Your article got me to thinking, too, about what made my best teachers so memorable. The commonality they all have is how important it was to them to engage their students…whether by dressing up as a ’60s activist while we were studying the Vietnam War, making up silly stories to help us remember Latin conjugations, or allowing us to create games to learn and remember concepts. Now that technology can be added to those types of experiences, students have even more opportunities to be thoroughly engaged in learning if their teachers embrace those new tools.
Thanks again for your wonderful article & list of resources!
Posted by Elizabeth Ross Hubbell, 11:04AM 07/02/07
Elizabeth~
You’re exactly right. Great teachers are focused on what motivates and inspires their students. Technology can be used to enhance the type of custommized personal and instructional connections that the best educators have always managed to establish in their classrooms.
Enjoy the resources, let me know how I can help, and thanks for your post!
WW
Posted by Wade Whitehead, 12:35PM 07/02/07
Wade,
What a fantastic article! Like you, I do have very unique teachers who stand out among many in my memory. I strive, every day, to be like them….to communicate with my students as if each child is the only one in the room…to make them feel enormously special and understood. Those rare teachers had a magical gift of making us want to please them, to impress them, and to make them proud of us. A truly fantastic teacher makes each child feel capable of accomplishment, and helps them achieve it. Thanks for reminding me and others that we have such power.
-Sissy
Posted by Sissy, 3:54PM 07/02/07
Sissy:
I think it’s fascinating that you feel you’ve been “handed the torch” by the best teachers from your own learning experience. Carry it proudly, and preserve its importance.
I also notice that you’ve figured out that the best teachers somehow make every student feel as if they are the only one in the room…by providing a route to success that meets their particular preferences, needs, and strengths.
I’m inspired by your commitment to kids, and your determination to teach the way they learn.
WW
Posted by Wade Whitehead, 4:37PM 07/02/07
Thank you for the great sites. As a teacher who is always trying to engage my inner-city students who often feel defeated before they begin, I sometimes feel that my teaching is disjointed, inconsistent or unpredictable because I use strategies that come from my reflections on their reactions to previous lessons. I often feel alone in my school - the teacher who is “out there”. I feel a sense of competition from others or sense that others think I must be critical of them because I do things differently. I would love to find a blog for teachers like myself to gain encouragement and ideas. I’m just here trying to find ways to engage children.
Posted by Laurie, 1:58PM 07/04/07
Thank you for such an uplifting posting. Great teachers really do change the world one child at a time. And, as you so wonderfully expressed, they have the remarkable ability to engage each student and celebrate individual talents and abilities. They exude the wisdom in the Yiddish proverb, “All my children are genuises.” As a parent I so appreciate all of the resources listed in addition to learning more about how to join the fleet! I’m coming aboard! THANK YOU!
Posted by Barbara B., 8:35PM 07/04/07
Laurie & Barbara:
Thanks so much for your comments.
Laurie, keep doing the right thing. If you feel alone in your quest to meet the needs of every learner, find ways to connect with others who are seeking to do the same. Teaching the way kids learn can be challenging, which is why you may well be the only teacher in your school doing it. Some of the links in my blog will lead you to other educators and thinkers who can support your efforts, and on whom you can lean for ideas and inspiration.
I love the idea for a blog that addresses your needs, and that others could use to interact with you. Edublogs (www.edublogs.org) offers an easy-to-use, perfectly free blog creation and hosting service for educators. I’ve used it on a number of occasions (and actually maintain a couple of blogs there at the moment, including one for my students). You should consider visiting and setting up one of your own. Then, share the address here for the rest of us to see!
Barbara, you’re exactly right. All children have strengths and intelligences, which should be recognized, celebrated, enhanced, and amplified. And you’ve reminded all of us that parents and families make up an incredibly important part of the team that can accomplish that. Your openness to new ideas and your willingness to improve your own practice are motivating and exciting.
Welcome aboard, and thanks for posting!
WW
Posted by Wade Whitehead, 8:25PM 07/05/07
Wade, Thanks for sharing some great wisdom on a very important subject. I appreciate your mention of my book, The North Star, which is soon to be re-published as a 10th Anniversary edition by Candlewick Press. As you know, the book is a tribute to teachers and parents who believe in differentiated learning. I am confident that the decade ahead is going to be kinder to innovative teachers. Personalized media has suddenly gotten red hot - MySpace and YouTube are great examples. Presonalized medicine is also a new hot movement - where diagnosis and treatment will much smarter about who your personal chemistry rather than a blanket treatment that might address your needs. Personalized learning is the next powerful trend. If your instinct tells you that this is the right way to go in the classroom - go for it. There has never been a better time in history to reinvent the classroom. Be a pioneer. Discover the rewards waiting for you and your students.
Posted by Peter, 9:41PM 07/05/07
Hey, Wade! Thanks for the great ideas and inspiration to keep me thinking and growing! As I read the posts prior to mine, I was reminded how, for many, teaching can be lonely. This is especially true when a teacher is trying to step out in new ways to meet the needs of students, and his/her colleagues aren’t supportive. I feel lucky to have a few colleagues in my school who are great about providing support and listening when I have a new idea or question. Your work here at Media Infusion, and other sources such as the “North Star Community of Practice” are excellent places for educators who are looking for similar support, and for those of us who appreciate the opportunity to share ideas.
Life is all about learning and growing. Because I believe this, I really see guiding students to become life-long learners and thinkers as my most important work. In order to be successful in this, I feel that I need to do two things. The first is to know my students. If I know the kids I teach…their interests, their strengths, their challenges, and their needs, then I have a better chance of meeting them “where they are”, and helping them to move forward. As you mention, we can do this part of our job better if we enlist the aid of parents and the students themselves. The second responsibility I have is to constantly work to make myself the best I can be. I have to continually be learning, researching, experimenting, and thinking in order to be on the cutting edge of what is happening in the world and in our profession. Your ideas and resources are great tools to help me to fulfill this second responsibility.
As always, I appreciate your creativity, generosity, and enthusiasm for helping fellow educators!
Posted by Virginia Pratt, 12:42AM 07/06/07
Pete & Virginia:
Wow! What can I say? The two of you have certainly captured the essence of great teaching and creativity.
Pete, you’re right. We need pioneers - on the forefront - who are willing to venture into exactly what personalized learning can, and should, be. If other professions, like media and medicine, for example, are latching on, why shouldn’t we?
Virginia, your passion for lifelong learning and your willingness to accept responsibility for it are invigorating and inspiring. And your realization that parents, families, and other educators all add to the experience reminds all of us to include and encourage them. I hope other readers take the time to digest your second paragraph, which would make a great mantra for anyone seeking to sort out exactly what’s important in our profession.
Thanks, both of you, for your incredibly thoughtful contributions.
WW
Posted by Wade Whitehead, 1:46PM 07/06/07
Wade-Thanks for writing such an inspirational and motivational piece! Although we are not teaching during the summer, teachers never stop planning and thinking about ways to get our students excited about the subject matter. I’ve taught middle school math for 9 years now and am continually looking for new approaches and ideas integrating technology, differentiated instruction, and meeting needs of the learning disabled. You have provided many links and articles to help educators prepare for another school year with fresh ideas and activities, supporting your statement that one size does not fit all.
With an ever changing world, it is sometimes hard to be creative in teaching our students, especially with the advancement of technology every day. We cannot be afraid to try new methods and techniques, we must talk to our administrators about our ideas and needs in classrooms, and get parents involved as they are also great resources that we must remember to utilize.
I’ve enjoyed reading all comments, as this is my first blog that I have entered, and am excited to read on and gain new insights to better educate my math students. Unfortutanely, math never seems to be the favorite subject of children or adults, but I am determined to change that view in every student that comes my way. Thanks for the motivation and support to do so!
Posted by Pamela, 10:02AM 07/08/07
Dear Laurie,
I, too, am one of those “out there” teachers. I have been since I began teaching 14 years ago. I have been fortunate to receive several grants & awards which has only widened the gap between myself & my fellow teachers. I feel in complete isolation from them. I know what I am doing is right for my students, their families, and myself - although it may not fit everyone’s teaching style.
I would love to blog with others who are also struggling with this isolationist view. (My husband would also appreciate it - he is a very patient listener, but really has no clue of what I’m feeling.)
Please post your blog address here if you take Wade’s idea of beginning one. If I don’t find it by July 15th, I’ll try to start one. (Thanks, Wade, for the info & great links!)
I am so excited to hear of others of us who thoroughly embrace the idea of “fleet” teaching/learning. I love the idea of sharing - experiences, ideas, questions, etc. It has been so long since I’ve felt welcome to express my ideas & stories.
Looking forward to more,
Posted by Bobbie, 9:46AM 07/09/07
Pamela & Bobbie:
Welcome!
It’s true that the teaching profession often offers little or no support for its most creative, out of the box thinkers, and that we tend to rely and trust on time-tested (and not necessarily innovative) practice. If we’re ever going to navigate our true potential, this must change.
Thankfully, we’ve got educators like you, who are willing to push the envelope, and who are brave enough to forge ahead, even when you feel like the only person doing so.
As I thought through your ideas, I decided a “next step” was in order. So, I’ve set up a blog for “Off the Path” teachers, parents, and learners, where we can continue to explore these questions and ideas.
Let’s really get this conversation going…
WW
Posted by Wade Whitehead, 10:39AM 07/09/07
Hello Wade and thank you for sharing your enthusiasm, experience, and resources! It is reassuring and affirming knowing other educators who teach “outside the box”.
My favorite teachers were happy, thought provoking, engaging, respectful and approachable. Not once did I feel foolish for asking questions — which only increased my desire to learn. I learned from them that not knowing something was a powerful motivator, and nothing to be ashamed of.
After 14 years of teaching students with special needs, I am more excited now than ever! Part of that excitement is access to available technologies (My classroom wouldn’t be complete without my Smart Board). Technology has provided more active learning opportunities, which benefit all of my students, regardless of their differing abilities. To top it all off, we have so much fun. I had to say we because if the teacher isn’t having fun, chances are the students aren’t either.
We often tell our students “you learn something new everyday” and I am very firm believer in that. We must keep our own minds sharp and open to new ideas. I can’t wait to incorporate the links, resources and ideas you generously supplied.
Wade, thanks again for sharing and I look forward to the journey.
Posted by Tracey Dalton Mercier, 4:19PM 07/09/07
Tracey:
I wish we had more teachers like you.
Joseph Joubert once said “To teach is to learn twice.” Your students are so fortunate to have a teacher who believes this, and who makes it happen.
I agree with your observations about technology. It provides incredible opportunity and makes learning fun. And for students with special needs, it often makes the difference between understanding and not.
Thanks for learning while you teach, and for teaching while you learn.
WW
Posted by Wade Whitehead, 8:54PM 07/09/07
Cheers to you, Wade, for taking the initiative to start the “off the beaten path” blog! I plan to keep it in my favorites and check it often. I hope some of the other “posters” above will check it out and participate.
Posted by Virginia Pratt, 10:14PM 07/09/07
Hi Wade,
Thanks for an excellent article that provides a “one place has many” for differentiation resources. All of our students can benefit from the “one size fits few” philosophy. I have saved your page and links to share with my English department at our first meeting this year. Did I miss a link to your article at TLN? If you haven’t already shared with that community, please consider doing so.
Posted by Cindy Linn, 6:58AM 07/11/07
What a wonderful and informative article. I am a newly qualified teacher who has landed an interesting position as lead teacher in a remote, K-8 school in Montana. Differentiating instruction is vital for me as I will be teaching 5 different grade levels. You mentioned several excellent resources I haven’t used in a while. Thanks.
Posted by Cindy, 10:26AM 07/11/07
Cindies:
Thanks so much for your posts. I’m glad you’ve found helpful resources here. Feel free to share others that you use. The rest of us are always looking to add to the toolbox.
WW
Posted by Wade Whitehead, 5:00PM 07/11/07
Yo Wade, as usual, you are the Man !!! While you and I are personal friends and have the common bond of our love for the game of golf, I often feel very different about us both being teachers. Your knowledge and understanding of teaching/education is well beyond what I have been exposed to. And since you know me pretty well, my question likely won’t surprise you - how do I take this idea and put it into practice within the system in which we now work in Virginia ? I sometimes feel my teaching job recently has come down to cramming square pegs( the students ) into round holes ( the SOL’s ) with no regard to the other circumstances that we both know heavily impact the learning of our students. So, any suggestions you might have for “practical Bob”, please let me know. Thanks, BP
Posted by Bob Penn, 11:54AM 07/12/07
Hi Wade,
I just referred the principals in my county to your well-written and comprehensive article. We here in Wetzel County, WV are focusing upon DI and 21st Century Skills and Content. The numerous appropriate links and the thoughtful, accurate commentary are helpful and appreciated.
Posted by Tammy, 2:02PM 07/13/07
Bob:
Your question is a great one. Lots of people spend lots of time talking about what should be happening in schools. But exactly how do we take those sorts of ideas and put them to work in real classroom with real students?
I think it’s important to remember a couple of things. First of all, the SOLs (Standards of Learning) are Virginia’s version of what most every state now has - a description of what kids ought to be learning in different classes, grade levels and such. They delineate, very clearly, what you and I are expected to teach (and, as in most places, our schools systems have developed very specific scope and sequence expectations regarding that instruction). As you state, it’s easy to feel fenced in by standards like these, which don’t necessarily make it easy to differentiate what we’re teaching.
However, I have a suggestions. If you don’t feel able to individualize what your students are learning, try changing how they’re learning. In other words, work to provide multiple paths of discovery centered on the content you’re teaching. Consider creating a menu of activities, from which your students individually “order,” or select, ones that are individually appealing or relevant. Each activity might be worth a different number of points, and each student is responsible for acquiring a predetermined total. If you’re studying the Civil War, for example, you might have a book chapter, a lecture, an audio CD, some United Streaming clips, a journal entry, a map study, a WebQuest, and other challenges you create, from which your students select ones to complete. While they all might be mastering the same learning objectives (based on your standards), they’re doing so in a customized way.
Another suggestion might be to consider providing your students choices for how they demonstrate what they’ve learned in your class. Too frequently, we rely on quizzes and tests to assess students’ learning. I’ve found that student interest skyrockets when I allow my students to create web pages, write and deliver speeches, produce digital movies, write music, create and perform radio shows, produce interactive posters, and invent board games. By providing a rubric that clearly outlines my expectations, I can channel their personal interests towards assessment of their understanding of the standards I teach.
The Internet is a great place to start. Find a message board or blog (like the one I established in an earlier comment). Ask others for help. Be as specific as you want. Read their responses, and connect with them. Let them teach you their strategies for changing the school environment, even in the era of standards and high-stakes testing we’re in. And don’t forget to share your ideas as well, which will be equally valuable to others.
I think the most exciting part of your post is that you aren’t saying this can’t be done. You’re saying you want to learn how to do it. That alone puts you light years ahead of most of our colleagues. And that curiosity and willingness to learn is what will help you navigate your true potential.
Thanks for posting! See you soon.
WW
Posted by Wade Whitehead, 4:23PM 07/13/07
Good morning Wade!! I am your Dad. I have read with interest the comments of your bloggers related to their ideas and teaching interests. Having just retired two years ago from 38 years of teaching in elementary school, I remain very interested in what is going on in Virginia’s classrooms. One of your bloggers is one of my former 5th graders, and that was fun to read! I am now a paid Tutor in my school, and my job is about remediation and reteaching of SOL skills. Only one bit of advice to offer your readers: continue to retool your skills and knowledge of your students. In the last years of my teaching, if I had not learned to implement new technologies, learn new teaching methods to meet the needs of my students….and apply ways to differientiate my teaching, I would have grown stale and not very innovative. I send best wishes to all of you bloggers who remain in the classroom. Try to dialogue regularly with your collegues, keep a HUGE sense of humor going in your classroom, and know you are appreciated for your efforts to teach our children and grandchildren!
Posted by Edgar Whitehead, 11:35AM 07/14/07
Tammy:
Thanks for the response, and for the great work you’re doing in West Virginia!
WW
Posted by Wade Whitehead, 1:13PM 07/14/07
Ed/Dad:
I’m so proud of your post. The fact that a retired teacher is even reading a blog signals something interesting and important. Being innovative isn’t always about coming up with your own ideas; rather, it’s about willingess to try something new, and about willingness to adapt and change.
As you state, professional dialogue and discourse are essential to this process. I know firsthand about the incredible teaching teammates you had, especially during your last few years in the classroom. I know they kept you motivated and inspired, and I know you did the same for them. As previous posters have noted, it’s tough nowadays to carve time for this sort of collegial interaction (and most schools certainly aren’t scheduling time for teachers to interact). Your reminder of the significance of learning from others helps us all as we seek to discover the secrets to great teaching.
Thanks as well for the reminder to keep a sense of humor in the classroom. My friend Frank Charles Winstead says to always pack this critical attribute in the professional toolbox. It’s essential to survival in the teaching world, and is necessary for success.
Thanks again for posting, and I’ll see you soon!
WW
Posted by Wade Whitehead, 1:21PM 07/14/07
Wade,
I really enjoyed reading your article. I couldn’t agree more with your dad. After 35 years, it’s too easy to stick with the tried and true. But new thoughts, ideas, and even challenges are what keeps people like me around. I’ve already checked out some of your sites and I’m going to be checking with you for other ideas this year. Each child is so special - they all deserve the best we can offer. As for my favorite teacher, it was Mrs. Bessie Price, my first grade teacher. I worked as her summer aide after my freshman year in college and when I married 9 years later, she was our honorary grandmother. Her love and patience made a lasting mark on me. For 30+ years she was the funny, kind, non judgemental and never expected anything but the best possible from each student, whatever their abilities. She loved and challenged each of us. The SOL’s can so easily trap us into a dull repetitive curriculum, especially with ongoing remediation and reteaching. Thank you for all your efforts to share wonderful ideas and resources.
Posted by cindy eades, 3:13PM 07/16/07
Cindy:
I’m so pleased that you stopped by!
Thanks for your timely comments. As I observe those who seek the “holy grail” of teaching, I often think we simply need to look at what great teachers, like Bessie Price, have done for years. As you share, she simply expected every single student to navigate his or her true potential. That’s a prety amazing standard, but is such a simple one to communicate.
In the swirl of modern methods, contemporary theories, and “21st Century” thinking, let’s not forget what teachers like Ms. Price knew and valued. Some things, in the end, never change.
WW
Posted by Wade Whitehead, 4:53PM 07/16/07
Hey Wade,
I enjoyed your article very much. I can still picture my favorite teachers from past years, remember why each was special to me, and thankful that our paths crossed. I know first-hand that you are a master teacher who constantly strives to find new ways to deliver instrustion. Years from now as these students at Crystal Spring Elementary School look back on their education, they will picture you in their mind and remember your creativity, enthusiasm, humor, and fairness. I also enjoyed delving into the websites you mentioned in your article. What are your thoughts on how administrators could assist teachers who are “out there” and not feeling “alone in their school” as one of your previous bloggers commented. I am so glad that our paths crossed.
Posted by dave merritt, 1:19PM 07/17/07
Hi Wade,
I enjoyed your blog not as an educator, but as a parent. It is comforting to know that there are teachers so passionate about our children. Thank you for your sharing your knowledge and insight. You are awesome!!!!
Posted by Ginny Smith, 4:27PM 07/17/07
Dave:
Thanks for the great post, and for the compliments. It really is my pleasure to teach at Crystal Spring, to work in Roanoke City, and to call myself your colleague. I’m glad you’re finding my links helpful.
It’s so unusual (and inspiring) to hear an administrator asking for tips on reaching out to teachers who feel isolated in their schools. Of course, administrators themselves often feel like they’re working alone. And, like many of our most creative teachers, our best principals often are.
There are, however, a number of things a building administrator can do to keep classrooms teachers connected. I’d start by realizing, as you do, that teacher quality is the number one school-controlled variable in student achievement. Its impact far surpasses anything else we can change. Recognize and celebrate quality teaching. Showcase it at every opportunity. And encourage your staff to seek collective and individual opportunities to amplify the effectiveness of teaching in your building.
As well, I recommend scheduling time for teachers to get out of their own classrooms to observe other teachers, both inside and outside their own school. Simply watching and listening in a different classroom for thirty minutes can provide so many new ideas for any teacher. As a building administrator, you can allow this to happen by arranging release time, and by scheduling follow-up discussions with folks who participate.
Of course, I’m preaching to the choir, since you’re an administrator who remembers what it’s like to teach, who seeks opportunities to interact with kids, and who believes that no school is successful without involved, interested families. I encourage you to share your own ideas and strategies, so that other principals can learn from them. If you impact just one colleague, it could make a difference for dozens of teachers, maybe including one or two who feel alone in their school.
Fellow posters, what ideas do you have for improving the school environment for teachers? How do you make sure everyone is involved? How do you nurture human capital in your buildings? We’re all interested, and we can all use help.
I hope to read more ideas soon.
WW
Posted by Wade Whitehead, 8:16PM 07/17/07
Ginny:
Thanks so much.
There are so many wonderful things happening in schools today. Educators are more knowledgeable than ever about content and the learning process. Technology is moving at light speed. And parents realize, perhaps at a new level, the importance of supporting a quality education in the schoolhouse.
It’s exciting to ponder what happens when schools and families unite on behalf of kids. Thanks for being a part of the team, and for taking the time to post.
WW
Posted by Wade Whitehead, 8:19PM 07/17/07
Hi Mr. Whitehead,
It was really great having you for a science and ss teacher. I really miss you. I learned so much from you. It was also tons of fun in 5th grade. I have two World War 2 encyclopedias for you. They have a lot of interesting things in them. I bet the new 5th graders will love it there. Tell Mrs. Witt and Mrs. Francis I said hi and thank you. Have a great summer.
Posted by Sarah Caplan, 9:26PM 07/18/07
Dear Mr. Whitehead,
I think you are a great science and ss teacher. I am going to Alaska in one week. We’re staying there for two weeks.
I really can’t wait to see you and the other fifth grade teachers. I will miss you when I am in sixth grade.
Posted by Josh Caplan, 10:59PM 07/18/07
Sarah & Josh:
What a treat to have you stop by!
For those that don’t know, Sarah and Josh are brother and sister. I had the distinct pleasure of teaching both of them in the fifth grade last year.
I really appreciate the compliments. The two of you brought so much enthusiasm and excitement to my classroom every day, and you constantly inspired and motivated me with your questions and ideas.
I can’t wait to see the books you mention. And I hope to see both of you very soon.
WW
Posted by Wade Whitehead, 11:39PM 07/18/07
I believe that teachers can be a great impact. I agree with your article that when you say teachers make a difference. There has to be a variety of teacher’s that are creative, supportive, and use technology to enhance children’s creativity. I enjoyed reading your blog.
Posted by Delyla, 3:21PM 07/19/07
I have enjoyed reading the comments of all of the posters so far on this blog. Ed’s response really made me think! The posts/responses between Dave and then Wade also grabbed my attention.
I was glad to see that an administrator had posted on this blog. The administrator in a school can make one of the biggest differences in how people are valued, how their talents are recognized and capitalized upon, and how school personnel collaborate. The school where I teach used to be a site-based managed school. Because of changes in our district, we are not site-based anymore related to budget and spending. We have, however, maintained our school planning and management team. We meet at least once monthly with elected representation from grade levels and school committees, classified staff, administration, and community members. Even though the “voting membership” is limited, any staff member can attend at any time to raise concerns, listen in, provide comments/feedback, etc. This has been instrumental in helping our school continue to be a “Learning Community.” If a school has a good administrator, that person usually is quite aware of the strengths within the staff, and will cultivate and rely upon the expertise in his/her own building…and this helps as well.
So the question becomes, what about those places where the administration does not seek out the opinions/ideas, etc. of the staff, or doesn’t work to capitalize on their strengths? It’s harder to make people feel empowered, valued, and included…but it’s not impossible. Here are some ideas:
-start recognizing others yourself who you see doing good things
-find others whose work you admire, or who you enjoy working with and start doing some collaborating together
-offer to share something you are doing with another teacher
-speak with the administration about starting some kind of monthly “recognition” program…even if it’s as simple as a time to recognize acts of kindness between faculty members at a faculty meeting
-try to plan some special type of social gathering…early in the school year, at the holidays, or at the end of the year for staff and spouses/guests so that you begin to build a sense of community.
The big thing is…people DO need to feel important and included. This is something Wade and I have discussed on more than one occasion. Every person working in your school has an impact on student learning and achievement. Just one example…if the custodian doesn’t feel valued, he/she might not do as good of a job cleaning, which may make a teacher irate, who may then unwittingly take out his/her frustration on the kids in the first period class. Just an example, but you see the importance….
Sorry to go on (and on)…but the posts above have certainly “hit a chord” with me. I think the dialogue is great!
Posted by Virginia Pratt, 8:49PM 07/19/07
Virginia:
Wow! You’ve really got some great ideas.
I think an important part of your post is the suggestion that teachers must be willing to take initiative…that they must be interested in reaching out…and that they can, and should, be involved in proactive, involved thinking in the schoolhouse.
I’ve always believed that people shouldn’t complain about anything they’re willing to tolerate. That’s why we teachers have to create our own opportunities for advancement, or participation, or decision making. While a great number of administrators are taking the first step, many are not. Perhaps more initiative by creative and resourceful teachers would impact this.
I encourage everyone to reread Virginia’s second paragraph, since it contains a great example of how a school community can work.
What other thoughts, examples, suggestions, or question do the rest of you have? Does anything Virginia says get your brain moving? Can you compliment, enhance, debate, or otherwise add to her ideas? If so, let’s hear it…after all, my month as guest blogger ends in just ten days!
Hope to read some new posts soon…
WW
Posted by Wade Whitehead, 9:51PM 07/21/07
Hi Wade—I am a home educator in Alabama. Naturally, one of the key components of homeschooling is the desire to tailor/individualize instruction to the needs and gifts of our children; however, the cost of homeschooling can be overwhelming. Thus, the internet can be a great but overwheming resource. I really appreciate all the great sites you have outlined in your blog. Many of them I had not previously checked out. I will be sure to pass along your blog to all my homeschooling friends. My thanks go out to you and others like you who work so hard to educate so many.
Posted by Holly Coe, 10:04PM 07/21/07
Holly:
It’s great to hear from you!
Home schooling can be an incredible challenge, and can present amazing opportunities as well.
The Internet is such a great resource, but you’re correct that it can be daunting to navigate. I’m glad to hear some of my links have been helpful, and look forward to hearing others that you find particularly useful.
Thanks to you for taking teaching and learning so seriously, and for seeking as you are to inject them into an individualized, technology-rich environment.
WW
Posted by Wade Whitehead, 8:18PM 07/22/07
I would like to access some of your highligthed resources at the end of the article, but none are linked. Could you check to see if they are linked? I will check back tomorrow, as I am very interested in learning more about differeniated instructional practices.
Thank You.
Posted by Nancy Brekke, 3:06PM 07/25/07
Nancy:
Thanks for posting! I’m glad to hear some of the resources sound useful.
In my post, each resource is a hyperlink itself. All you need to do is click on any red text, and your browser will take you to the web address automatically.
As well, you can access my links using the blogroll, which is found to the right of the blog text itself. It’s the large, purpleish rectangle with red text inside.
If you still have trouble viewing any resources, please let me know, either by posting here, or by emailing me at wade@wadewhitehead.com
Thanks again…I look forward to your feedback once you’re able to navigate the links.
WW
Posted by Wade Whitehead, 5:38PM 07/25/07
Everyone:
Thanks so much for an exciting month of interaction and ideas. It’s truly been a pleasure to hang out at Media Infusion for the past few weeks.
I leave full of new ideas and electronic resources, courtesy of all of you who posted, who wrote, and who otherwise contacted me with questions and possibilities. Let’s continue to develop the best way to reach every child…and let’s persist in our collaborative effort to draw other educators and parents to the discussion.
I encourage all of you to visit Media Infusion at least monthly, and to continue to connect with like-minded thinkers and doers. Big thanks go to Jenny Bradbury and her team for creating and maintaining this incredible resource, which continues to shape my understand of what teaching and learning can, and should, be.
Signing off, for now…
WW
Posted by Wade Whitehead, 3:54PM 07/31/07
Thank you, Wade, and thank you to everyone who contributed during the last month. We really appreciate your thoughtful comments and spirit of collaboration.
We hope you’ll enjoy Bob Sprankle’s August post, “Four Weeks to a Flatter You,” and that you’ll continue to share your ideas and questions here at Media Infusion.
Jenny
Posted by Jenny Bradbury, 9:11AM 08/01/07