A few weeks ago I wrote a post about the culture that has come about from the habit of gross over-emphasis on a single year-end standardized assessment. An outgrowth of this culture is the unfortunate belief that the remaining weeks of teaching and learning following the assessment lack meaning and importance. This idea is simply … Continue reading »
Putting our Standardized Assessment Culture in Perspective
As I made my rounds in the halls early Thursday morning, a TMS 8th grade student stopped me and asked me if he could show me an article on his phone. He pointed me to a post from a local news station that attempted to summarize House Bill 5, a bill that just passed the … Continue reading »
Our Schools, Our Voice
From my Principal’s Blog Friday Focus post January 25, 2013 When I go to my daughter’s soccer and basketball games, it is fairly simple for me to assess the progress of her team. If her team scores more than the other team, her team wins. We measure the team’s success in wins and losses, and … Continue reading »
10 Things Great Teams Do
I had the privilege of joining one of our teacher grade level teams today for their team planning. The time with them today was one of the highlights of my week. Their work together today led me to reflect on some of the things I think make this team, or any other team, work well … Continue reading »
The Value of Risk-Taking
The following is a reblog of the Friday Focus post from my Principal’s Blog found on our TMS campus web site: http://tinyurl.com/bkbbexg I had the opportunity today to spend some time with a very fortunate seventh grade class. These kids’ good fortune came in the form of an excellent learning experience designed by a teacher who … Continue reading »
An Open Letter From Your Student: Five Reasons I Loved My First Day Back To School
Dear Educator, I have to admit that I was just like many kids at the end of winter break…not overly enthused about going back to school. But once I got to school today, I realized it wasn’t so bad to be back. In fact, I really had a GREAT day. I want you to know … Continue reading »
2012 in review
This is a pretty neat perk to having a WordPress blog site. I thought I’d share my 2012 stats for anyone who might be interested. For 2013 my goal is to be a little better focused on the purpose of my blog…more about that soon. For now, enjoy the fun report WordPress.com has prepared. Happy … Continue reading »
Real-world Learning With Technology
The content of this post is carried over from my principal’s blog on our campus web site at http://campus.kellerisd.net/schools/tms-046/blog/default.aspx and reflects some of the real-world learning experiences I observed in 8th grade classes during the week of November 2. …I would like to share with you just a handful of examples of student work I … Continue reading »
Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing
A recurring theme I’ve seen in all facets of my life this week is the need to keep the Main Thing the Main Thing. Perhaps it is the “October Onslaught” that brings about the sense of being spread just a bit too thin in us all. This has become normal in a culture that seems to value … Continue reading »
A Challenge for My Four or Five Readers
Some of you may be aware that the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the National Association of Elementary Principals (NAESP), and their State affiliates are celebrating National Principals’ Month. Part of the celebration is for principals to submit a photo and tell why we love being a campus principal. The following is what I … Continue reading »
