Category Archives: Professional Development

Collaboration, not Isolation

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Education, Education Policy, Professional Development, Teacher Leadership

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Some days I feel like Sisyphus, carrying the same basket of
laundry upstairs just to have it end up downstairs to be washed, or picking up
toys just to have them appear on the floor as if a godly punishment for
hubris. Again and again, day in and day out. Some days are better than others.
However, this week, it was especially Sisyphistic.

Yep, that’s right. I just used that adjective. Check it out
on Google in a month and see if it has caught on with the teenagers, “Hey
Jennifer, you are looking totally Sisyphistic with your physics textbook.”

Anyway, I do have a point. And an education
point at that. It goes like this . . . 

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Increase of Online Courses in School

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Current Affairs, Education, Professional Development, Social Issues, Teacher Leadership, Web/Tech

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I have to admit, I have a bias here. I feel comfortable around technology and use it for education and social learning. I teach two online courses and use technology in my classroom for podcasts, vidcasts, and instruction; my students use technology as well for more than word-processing. So when I saw that Michigan was leading the way in online courses, I had to read the article, oh, and by the way, the article is online. 

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The Return to Teaching

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Education, Life in the Classroom, National Board Certification, Professional Development, Teacher Leadership

I am again looking forward to the classroom. I feel like it was long ago when I was there. I miss the interactions between students, watching young people make meaning of the world around them. I miss the opportunities to improve compassion and skill and purpose. I miss working with teachers who, by default, are amazing people with amazing talents to impact the learning of children.

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WASHINGTONIOUSLY Awesome: NBCTs fill the classrooms!

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Education Policy, Mentoring, National Board Certification, Professional Development, Teacher Leadership
Picture 2 I remember when I signed up for NBPTS. I was filled with the excitement of the challenge, the excellence. I remember when I received my NBPTS box. I was filled with sheesh, what have I gotten myself into. Now that I have gone through the certification process, I am a stronger teacher which, ultimately, benefits my students.

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ProCert or ProCertifiable?

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Education Policy, Professional Development

According to OSPI, “The Professional Certificate (ProCert) is designed to help teachers demonstrate they have a positive impact on student learning. It is an individualized, classroom-based process that focuses on increased skills to impact student learning rather than credits. ProCert expectations apply state-wide, focus on student learning, and emphasize closing the achievement gap and reaching student learning goals. It is fully aligned with Washington’s expectations for K-12 student learning. Through ProCert, teachers demonstrate their competency in the 3 standards of Professional Certification: Effective Teaching, Professional Development, and Professional Contributions.” http://www.k12.wa.us/certification/Teacher/procert-program.aspx

Beginning in 2001, new Washington teachers have had to complete the ProCert program (or National Boards) to be able to apply for continuing certificate. Isn’t a university-educated and trained teacher “professional” enough? Isn’t holding a Washington state certificate “certificated” enough?

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Education is NOT a Business

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Education Policy, Professional Development, Social Issues

In Travis’ response to the policy meme, one of his top five began like this: “Education is not a business model. This will lead to the downfall of education, being caught up in a maelstrom of bureaucracy. In addition, business is not even an appropriate comparison for education.” What follows is an article on the subject that I first wrote for the TLN column in Teacher Magazine.

Like most households where teachers reside, there are many conversations about education policy talk in our home. My husband and I also discuss the Dilbert-esque policies implemented at the major manufacturing firm where he works. Not surprisingly, it’s fairly easy to find some common threads.

Not long ago we began to flesh out an analogy between public education and lean manufacturing, a concept now being pursued by many industries. In general terms, lean manufacturing concentrates on reducing costs by utilizing standardized processes and consistent raw materials that together minimize wasted resources, including time. Any variation in raw materials or processing requires adjustments in order to have the same output at a consistent cost.

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Washington, a TON of education

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National Board Certification, Professional Development, Teacher Leadership

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Washington state is awesome, awe inspiring. I have just left a facilitator training for NBCTs interested in facilitating candidates who are pursuing National Board certification. I left the training pumped, excited, invigorated! Washington is changing how education is viewed and this change is strengthening the learning of our students.

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Clean Out Your Teaching!

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Education, Life in the Classroom, Professional Development

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I read a book recently that dealt with Lean Production, a Toyota Production System, where one of the goals is to take useless or wasted items out of the manufacturing system. The Japanese have a term for that cluttered refrigerator and the teaching for which the metaphor stands. Muda (無駄) is the Japanese term for any activity that is wasteful and does not add any value to what you are doing. I encourage you to use this summer and take out the muda in your teaching.

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