Pencil Vs. Laptop

Let’s have a little competition at school and get ready for the future. I will use a laptop and you will use paper and pencil. Are you ready…?

I will access up-to-date information - you have a textbook that is 5 years old.
I will immediately know when I misspell a word – you have to wait until it’s graded.
I will learn how to care for technology by using it – you will read about it.
I will see math problems in 3D – you will do the odd problems.
I will create artwork and poetry and share it with the world – you will share yours with the class.
I will have 24/7 access – you have the entire class period.
I will access the most dynamic information – yours will be printed and photocopied.
I will communicate with leaders and experts using email – you will wait for Friday’s speaker.
I will select my learning style – you will use the teacher’s favorite learning style.
I will collaborate with my peers from around the world – you will collaborate with peers in your classroom.
I will take my learning as far as I want – you must wait for the rest of the class.
The cost of a laptop per year? - $400
The cost of teacher and student training? – Expensive
The cost of well educated US citizens and workforce? - Priceless

via http://www.raeniles.com/page10/page10.html

Dickinson County Monthly Article

I have a monthly column in the Dickinson County Newspaper...this month's contribution...

An issue that continues to plague schools across the nation is students who choose to victimize others by bullying and harassing them. It is imperative for schools to be able to protect students against bulling and harassment. There are constant examples of the negative effects of this senseless behavior in the news nearly every day.

Many parents and students have asked me what the difference is between bullying/harassment and the common “joking around” students encounter on a daily basis. We define bullying and harassment as targeting students on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, marital status, or disability. Bullying also entails conduct of a verbal or physical nature that is designed to embarrass, distress, agitate, disturb, or trouble other students. Student-to-student harassment may include, but is not limited to:

· Verbal, physical, or written harassment or abuse

· Repeated remarks of a demeaning nature

· Implied or explicit threats

· Demeaning jokes, stories, or activities directed at a student

· Hazing activities.

Students who feel they have been harassed should communicate to the harasser that the student expects the behavior to stop, if the student is comfortable doing so. If the student needs assistance communicating with the harasser, the student should ask a teacher or principal to help. If the student has asked the other student to stop, and that student continues the detrimental behavior, the child needs to tell a teacher, counselor, or the principal immediately. The principal will then investigate the matter.

The abbreviated version is this: if your child asks someone to stop a specific behavior, and the other child does not stop, then your child needs to talk to the principal! The other major point that I have been communicating to our students this month is this, the number one way to stop bullying and harassment in our schools is for the bystanders to stop reinforcing the negative behavior and tell their peers to stop! In the middle school we do our best to have teachers in areas to supervise our kids; however, we know there are places that adults cannot always supervise. These areas can include bathrooms, buses, and in the locker rooms. We must rely on students to do the right thing by confronting the negative behavior, or at the minimum tell an adult. We can’t help a situation we don’t know about.

The final way we can help bullying and harassment in our schools is with parent support. Talk to your kids about bullying and harassment. If your child comes home and says they are being bullied and no one is doing anything about it, it may be a situation that we don’t know that it is happening to your child. Please communicate those situations with your school.

In closing this month, my number one priority at Graettinger-Terril is to ensure our students feel safe in our building. Not just physically, but emotionally safe as well. We have great kids, and great staff, but bullying and harassment can show its ugly face in even the finest of school systems. Through communication with students, parents and teachers, we can all do our part to make our schools safe environments for our kids to learn and grow in everyday.

Dear Mother Nature...

Really?!? Are you that bored? Seriously?!? ENOUGH ALREADY!!!

With that said, some of you may wonder how I come to the conclusion that we have a 2 hour late, no school, or to let students our early. I have to tell you that it is the most stressful part of my duties! The #1 factor I take into consideration is student safety. I don't know if you have ever driven a bus (or remember what it was like driving as a teenager)...but it can be somewhat difficult even without snow, ice, or fog. So between getting up early to check roads, constantly playing meteorologist, and trying to see into the crystal ball, you can see why it may be challenging. Fortunately, I'm in constant communication with Superintendents from surrounding communities, and most often, we collaborate on the decision (that's why you see the "domino" effect).

I know someday there will be a time when you say, "why did we have a 2 hour late", but I hope you understand I want to make sure everyone can get to school (and back home) safely.

Would Your Student Benefit From This?

New Year

New Year's Resolutions are a funny thing...everyone makes them, but seldom do they keep them. Think about it, how many of you made a resolution? We are a week into January, so how is it going for you? What have you changed? Most often, the deadliest words are, "on Monday I'm going to start _____)." The problem is, Monday never comes!

What are your goals for 2011? How are you going to do it? What routines, procedures, habits are you going to wrestle with and conquer this year? Is it losing some weight? Getting rid of a mountain of debt? Getting closer to finishing a degree? (Gee I bet you can't imagine what my goals are...)

WHATEVER you goals are, the time to start is NOW!!! It's a new year, have a new you.

What Not to Do!

Great clip from Dr. McLeod's blog... Enjoy...

My Anti-Creativity Checklist from Youngme Moon on Vimeo.

Turkey Day!!!!

Thought of the Week: We live in a society where it is really easy to be negative. It doesn't help that I have to watch the Lions play football on Thanksgiving day (indigestion is blamed on too much pie, I'm beginning to wonder...). I'm so happy that we have a holiday dedicated to positive thinking and family fun! I tend to wonder though, why we need a holiday to do something so basic like being thankful? What would the world be like if everyday was thanksgiving? Besides being completely obese, I think we would find more positive people doing positive things.

Before you begin your day, take a moment to think about the things you are thankful for (it helps if you write them down). If you can't think of any, IPERS laws are changing, so maybe it would be beneficial to retire now (that was my interior monologue), actually come to my office, and I will give you a great list of positive things for you to ponder. I would also encourage you to share them with your students.

Here are a few of mine:

1) Breckyn (healthy and alive) and Amy

2) A talented and gifted teaching staff who love kids.

3) Jane (need I say more?)

4) our 1:1 laptop program

5) The Bears being 7-3

6) Great kids

7) Positive growth within our district

8)Teresa, who continues to live in her office for the betterment of our district :)

This is just a few! I mean it every time I say it: we have a lot of GREAT things going on in our district! Our building is positive, we are having very few majors, and we are continually getting better every day that we teach.