The power of choice

There are always more than two roads that diverge in a woods. Robert Frost was partially right. In the 21st century, there are several roads than an individual can take and I am thinking about the power of having options and the benefits for making such a decision.

I CHOSE to spend my spring break working with school and teachers, including interviewing several for the 2013 summer institute for the Connecticut Writing Project. It is amazing to me to learn that in some districts teachers are given choice of best practices to implement with students and how they, in return, offer CHOICE to their students. Middle school teachers who are given more options with their curriculum are reporting, for example, that their students read 30 to 40 books a year. How does this happen? Well, they cultivate a culture of readers and are given options of building libraries and supporting a wide variety of readers. In other schools, however, teachers are mandated to teach particular books at particular times of the year and they share that their student do not read, they are losing their zest for teaching, and they feel stifled. I'm curious how it is that we are not doing research on this phenomenon. I am far more likely to engage with readers who have read a wide variety of books than those who are forced to read one book in which they cheat to get through it.

Herein lies the paranoia about the Common Core.

It is not that students are reading more in schools that provide choice (that is phenomenal). It is not that the teachers in the schools that are encouraged to teach more choice are more motivated and energized to come to school everyday. It is that some leaders of some schools feel it is better to limit what it is that students are learning and who stifle possibilities that disrupt education. That is my Thursday conundrum. How does such leadership get fostered? How can the counter stories be highlighted and celebrated?

I learned that listening to students and encouraging them to do their best work is best practice. Yet, I'm seeing the movement to a particular set of texts with particular curriculum goals being policed in some districts. I'm not sure that is the answer.

We have a lot of conversations still needing to be had. Choice is central. Teachers deserve to have choice, as professionals, for what will work best with students, yet they enter the profession at a time when they are told, 'No, we mandate that you do this." Has anyone looked at whether or not such mandates work? Hmmm, I think that is the wave of research that is needed next (although all the experts I read would side that more is much better than less).

Poor students. If they get into a program that hinders their education - which I'm afraid is more normal than not - then they are being stifled to reach the skills they need. Shame on us for not speaking louder to counter such practice.

That Moment When A Song Comes on The Radio...

and you break out dancing (don't worry, the car was in park).

With the weather welcoming the ability to walk outside, my identical twin, Pam, and I (yes, she's six years older and from a different mother) broke out as we exited the car. Neither one of us have heard that song in forever.

Of course, when we got out of the car to walk it was a giant mud pit. So, we drove to Walmart (or the other way around). I am so glad Walmart unites similar communities across the United States. I found these miraculous Easter wreaths and although I doubt I would spend the money at full price, I would love to buy these as Christmas gifts once they go on clearance. They truly are ridiculously clever.

Okay, that's my post for today. Fingers cross the Musinex gets back to work. I've had it with this cold that continues to find its way back inside of me.

Cored to Understand the Common, Reading Standards Again and Again

I went on a reading rampage last night to get another grip on the Common Core State Standards. I left Kentucky in 2007 and, to tell the truth, was selected as a Humana Scholar in 2005 through BreadLoaf to begin working on the transition of "analytical skills" the state felt were needed. The work was part of my membership with the Writing Advisory Board. This new emphasis on the analytical, of course, eventually turned into the Common Core and now Kentucky is pioneering new assessments of the standards.

The Common Core requires more writing, K-12, and I continue to stand proud when I say, "Writing portfolios in Kentucky helped students to prepare for college and career ready writing." Students wrote in a variety of genres and teachers received much support for implementing best practices for writing through the Kentucky Writing Project via the investment of the National Writing Project. I attest, though, that at the time of portfolio assessment less emphasis was placed on reading critically and analytically, although my students transitioned well to meet these goals when the buzz for more analysis began.

Anyone who knows me realizes quickly that I advocate for higher standards and more rigor. Yet, I also fight for more creativity and playfulness. The articles I read last night in favor of the Common Core emphasized that teachers will need to spend much less time on knowing students as young people developing into adults. More must be placed on curriculum that will help students to be successful after graduation.

Those who have taught in schools, however, will recognize that it is personal relationships and knowing the unique potential of every student that motivates a classroom to learn. The trick for meeting the Common Core State Standards will be the talent of how well teachers can blend the personal with the analytical. The numerous articles I read last night were strong advocates for the rigor, but fell short with how such rigor will successfully be implemented. Many of them draw on NAEP scores which, interestingly, show Connecticut as both the top scoring and lowest scoring state in the nation. After living here two years, this makes sense. This is a state of haves and have nots. The gaps are because our nation has not worked to close our class system.


The potential for failure will arrive because there's a lack of investment in education, with professional development for  teachers, and in rebuilding American schools. I work often in one urban  high school, for example, and the teachers there do not have reliable technology, provide their own paper if they want copies (but the copiers seldom work), experience tremendous truancy with their student population, and face extreme poverty every day. Driving from my working-class neighborhood through the streets where many of the students reside and to my campus, I'm reminded of the footage I've seen in Apartheid of S. Africa. It's hard to believe I'm in the United States and I'm wondering whether or not  federal and state governments will work to fix this problem (or if we can design assessments to measure how well they are fixing the problem).  Almost every educator I know goes into the teaching profession with passion and a sense of integrity.

Yet, the schooling systems that currently exists has turned to bullying teachers. It's created a culture of cynicism and frustration - behaviors that trickle down to the kids. If we do not invest in educators and treat them as professionals, I argue it is unlikely that they will have any of the tools to fulfill the Common Core State Standards. In recent years there has been a movement via Teach for America to take highly educated and successful students from prestigious colleges (super achievers, if you will) to do educational work in high needs schools. Yet, the departure rate for these teachers after two years is large making it obvious to me that the "highly educated" and "successful" need more than school smarts and skills. They often leave for other jobs and opportunities.

I ask, "Why?"

Probably because these teachers report what more experienced, veteran teachers have been saying for a long while. If we are to improve education and bring students forth with common standards, then we will need more than a core. It will require more professional development for teachers and administrators, better funding, extra support, and more encouragement. Standards provide a skeletal structure, but it is educators that flesh out what works with actual kids.

If I were to still teach in a K-12 school, I know I would do my best to help  students meet the standards, especially in writing. What I don't think I could achieve, however, is maintaing such rigor without  support. I would need more time to plan, greater opportunities to collaborate with fellow professionals, abundant tools and resources available in my school, more financial support to stay current in my field, and encouragement to see every child as the individual they are. I'm afraid, however, that without such support teachers will continue to be harassed. They will burn out even faster than they have in the past.
In the last six years, schools have lost funding. They are expected to do more and more with less and less.

I ask the following: Would you go to a dentist who only has a toothpick to work with? Would you trust a taxi-driver that has flat tires, is out of gas, and has no sense of direction? What about eating at a restaurant that has failed health inspections, that doesn't clean its floors, and that smells like urine? 

The answer, I image, is "probably not." Then why are we expecting students to learn in conditions that are not conducive their needs? Why aren't we pouring more resources into our schools?

Car locks, Child Safety, and the Oz man

I left the viewing of OZ muttering, "Now there is a solid two hours of my life I'll never get back."

I'm not sure classics are meant to be disturbed and although there were glimmers of some magic, the plot line and corny story structure was a tremendous buzz kill.

But none of that compared to actually getting to the theater. What a night!

I picked up Lois and Luis, and knowing the little guy likes to open the door while we drive, Lois suggested I put the child safety lock on. I tried. But what I apparently did was maneuver the lock into locked position so the door wouldn't close. Long story short, we drove to a gas station to see if the attendants could help us (it was also a service garage). The man who spoke no English was dumbfounded and trying to explain what the problem was to him, I inadvertently did the same thing on another door. I had two doors that were locked but wouldn't close. He couldn't help so we decided to go home. Of course, Lois had to hold one door shut and the dude gave me a string to tie to the other door which I had to hold with my hand while driving. I have rope burn. We laughed the entire way because the drama caused Luis to cry in hysterics that we weren't going to see the movie.

I did an Internet search and lucky for me, after the hour ordeal, I figured it out. I thought I was going to have to take the battery out so it didn't drain (I couldn't get the doors closed), but I read on what Answer.com site that if you hold a door handle up, turn the child locks off, and pray, you can jimmy the locking mechanism back to its original latching space. THIS WORKED! I said to Lois, "Okay, we're going. Get the kid. We'll do a late viewing."

And of course we laughed all night because the though of us driving while holding the doors in place cracked us up. It was supposed to be stress free evening but I managed to screw that up. It didn't help that the movie was a complete clunker, too. I feel bad for the actors that signed on to that flick. Poor devils. I imagine they too had better hope.

Even so, I'm counting my blessings that the doors are now shut. Now, if anyone ever has a similar problem, I know the solution.

Go, Garfield! Lead. Let the rest of us follow...

I posted on my Facebook yesterday a documentary being made about teachers at Garfield High School who unanimously voted to protest the influx of mandated tests placed upon students. With an admiration of their profession and the day to day reality check that such testing is killing learning in schools they chose to destroy another generation of youth.

I'm not sure educators across the nation can be as strong as these teachers although I'm sure the vast majority of them are behind the rebellion. Anyone who works in a school, sans administrators, see the ridiculousness of test after test after test. I know I've written about this numerous times. We do not have the economic pull to fight against the assessment machine, but we do have voice and we do belong to a democracy with a right to articulate the trouble with the current educational system.

I'm hoping politicians are listening to the teaching communities across the U.S. - most have had enough.

It is scary to me to think that we prepare educators to instill lifelong learning in young people but they are entering schools where knowledge, individualized instruction, diversity, and best practices are virtually ignored all in the name of measuring, measuring, measuring. Of course, it is testing season as most educators have little wiggle room to maneuver around the exams. Most are in favor of yearly measurements. What they fight against is the incessant practice of test-prep as only instruction. Yet, with new regulations, their evaluations will depend on them. I'm wondering how we've grown into this location and it's hard not to fall into conspiracy theories. They're that inane, but that is where we are.

Fingers crossed that this, too, will pass...we're almost at two decades, however. 20 years of students lost to the stupidity of schools forced to succumb to poor instruction.

Breaking the Spring in my Step

I am, most definitely, ready for a spring break, although it's not what one might expect.

My last class ended tonight and tomorrow morning I have meetings with New Haven Schools. I'm secretly praying Saturn really does dump snow on us and schools are canceled. Why? Then I have an extra day.

And I am thinking of Cancun, Florida, the Caribbean, and all the other places I never went to for spring break. I want to have a chill week, but it won't happen. My communities extend the university so I have lots to do next week in K - 12 schools. The result, no relaxation. The optimist, however, is celebrating that I do not have to plan classes. That is good.

Actually, my senior year at Binghamton, I took a pseudo-spring break and called in sick to work at Kaufmann's and flew to Ft. Lauderdale. We didn't do the college beach thing, but we hung out with punks and rockers...went to Greyhound races and, I think, we saw Beck. We also drove 28 hours home ... well, I did in a station wagon. I'm not sure how that trip was arranged nor how it came to be. I remember, however, running along alligators and lizards, loving the sun on my skin, and a Jamaican girl who fed dogs chicken wing bones that made them gasp for air. In other words, I was never meant for Spring Break.

I am ready for finishing a couple of books I've started and for hitting the gym. I don't eat well with the schedule I keep. I come home hungry and eat P, B, & J. It hurts my stomach. I also sacrifice the treadmill more course preparation. This, for the next seven days, I hope, will change as I relocate some of my sanity.

And I write this knowing I need to interview teachers next week for the summer institute and be in several high schools. Ugh. Break. Spring. Reality.

Package from the 'Ville came today...

and it put a smile on my face: two long sleeve t-shirts and one flannel vest. I ordered them in hopes they would arrive in time for Syracuse's game, but was glad, too, they didn't arrive because my support was with 'Cuse that day (even though they lost).

With that said, the arrival made me nostalgic for my second home that I love with much pride - Louisville. Although I grew up near Syracuse, I grew-up, grew-up, in Kentucky as an adult. Here, two degrees at the University shaped me, great friends entered my life, and hundreds of students taught me how to teach. They made all the difference and I became who I am because of the influences they made.

I miss the Irish Rover. I miss Alice and Charlie. I miss room 301. I miss going to games and the threat of tornadoes. I miss the humidity. I miss driving throughout all the neighborhoods that make that city what it is.

My ol' principal, Ron, texted me to say he's thinking about coming to NYC to support the Cards in the Big East tournament. I'm thinking it would be smart for me to do the same. I now have the right clothing, as I picked up a lot of 'Cuse wear while home and now can, once again, represent the 'Ville.

Am I a traitor? Nope. I just have more places to represent.

This was me yesterday...

...when I heard there was a possibility that a winter storm might come to Connecticut. There was a 50/50 chance it might blow out to sea, so I stood on my front porch and began offering it advice over the Long Island Sound. I did my best to encourage it to travel towards the Atlantic.

Throughout the day, however, I believe the giant "suck" of the northeast inhaled and drew the storm back inland. We're not expecting a harsh hit like we experienced NEMO, but they didn't predict that hit either. The though of more delays to our community has me frustrated and aggravated.

The focus on The Weather Channel has centered on DC and Boston. Their predictions look like the coast line of Connecticut will only get a couple of inches with the possibility of high winds. The chances for snow, however, are 90% and it will begin while I'm teaching a graduate course. I'm hoping this will not cause panic in the students as I need and want to see them tonight. There is a slight chance it will be rain, but the track continues to be updated with more sour news.

Does my dad's birthday, March 6th, count as the beginning of March and does this mean it will go out like a lamb. Either way, Happy Birthday dad...in honor of your day I will do the snowblowing down here.

Let it Melt! Let it Melt! Let it Melt!

I told my mother, yesterday, that there should be more spring songs to sing when the snow actually goes away. Although I'm stoked to sing "Let it Snow!" when it first arrives, I'm more pumped to see it trickled way into streams when it actually gives ways to growth.

I saw the first daffodils sneaking through the soil this weekend and I know my outdoor running shoes were equally stoked. I was able to pace ten piles on the pavement and felt I was doing my part in the Stratford community to punch out the slush so it was easier to evaporate on the sidewalks. I'm ready for buds, blossoms and sunshine (and I think the rest of southern Connecticut is feeling the same). It's great to see everyone outdoors stretching their legs and getting ready for spring cleaning and the hope that arrives with summer. I know the cycle will return, but for now I'm happy to shed the boots for a pair of shorts and Sauconys.

I actually got runs in, as well as walks. It just feels good to be outside and able to move without hunkering under a hoodie or a jacket. Viva la spring!

Yesterday, back to the grind. Today, grinding with happiness.

I'm very thankful I took the weekend to be normal. By that, I mean I spent time with friends and family, didn't read or grade, worked very little on time, and had much face to face time. I loved it.

Monday, however, I paid for it and a slight depression overcame me. No matter how many minutes I spent to catch up with lost time, I felt like I was accomplishing nothing. Returning to a 14 hour day and spending every second on reaching goals is what it took, but I didn't feel any i's were dotted or t's crossed. Perhaps this is I'm more optimistic for Tuesday. I have three meetings and a class to teach.

I did get groceries. That's an accomplishment, and I taught Lois how to use her IPad to make music. She's a riot. I also worked with a colleague to interpret our student evaluations (nice to have that community mentorship). But, I didn't solve any of the giant snafus that have surfaced (and note: I'm whining here, can't you tell?)

Alright, today is another day. We shall overcome. If not, oh well. I continue to tap dance as fast as I can.

One last stop before leaving Syracuse...

...to catch up with a good man who thinks like very few individuals I know. This is a spirit who keeps his observant eyes on his world and who is choosing to rethink some of his journey that has been and that still remains before him. It's been a year since we've been able to sit face to face and we had a good conversation. Funny that it was in the middle of a food court at a busy mall, but that didn't stop the depth of the discussion. Sometimes, what is meant to be said (and heard) doesn't need a designated boundary. The good talks can happen anywhere.

The highlight was visiting his girlfriend modeling in a window at the mall. She plays the role of a stiff mannequin wearing a prom dress and obviously couldn't talk. She did move her fingers, however, to let us know she saw we were there. I wanted to go in the store and talk to her as if she was real (which she was), but I was advised not to - I would make her laugh and she'd lose her job.

Now, the future will be the only storyteller of what happens next. Fingers crossed and some Ubuntu, perhaps, before another young man might realize his full potential. The great whatever knows that very few have the creative, innovative mind he has. The trick will be how he uses it - hopefully to become more like his father, a man who died before relocating with his family to the U.S.

It's easy to believe in this kid. My instinct see tremendous hope in the redirection he is trying to make. I have confidence he will make it.

Ready for the day of rest - Exhausted

Busy Saturday yesterday - actually, busy Friday evening through Saturday.

First, I rekindled with the Carrier Dome to see Syracuse look terrible, then show promise, that fizzle out in the last two minutes. Yet, I also saw Louisville look terrible, show promise, and allow Syracuse to hand them the game. It was in celebration of my father's 71st birthday, so it was also worthwhile. The crowd was over 30,000 so that was remarkable - a community of orange fans. The heights, however, were a bit much. Was glad to have Casey and Dave with us, too.

Second, I went to see Nikki perform in Central Square where they increased their score and looked phenomenal. Their show is really good (except the dull matt, strange toothpicks in the corner, and lack of an energized ending). It captivates an audience, keep the viewer entertained and has fun personality. I think they will do well in Dayton. Only time will tell. Was glad to have Mike, Dylan, Cynde and Mom with me.

I'm not sure I could handle too many days like this, however, because I need to read, write and think. I actually sat through a game and a show without opening a single book. Go me! I can have days without nerdy tendencies.

But today, rest.

In The Company of Elizabeth Mowins, ESPN, and Others

I am back in Syracuse. I arrived to accept a position in the Wall of Distinction at Cicero North Syracuse with Joleen Derosiers, Elizabeth Mowins, and Tiffany Parish Hill. The evening was a great experience and it was extremely strange to know that 23 years have passed and, suddenly, I have my fat noggin on the same wall as Richard Gere. I was very proud of my fellow inductees: an authors, an ESPN commentator, and a naval officer.

More importantly I was happy to have Haji, Werdi, Abdi and Lugendo, as well as my family, there to  support me. They made it all possible.

In my impromptu speech, I focused on two words: Newcomer and Ubuntu. I tried to piece together a story of becoming a newcomer to North Syracuse Central Schools, to college, to teaching, to meeting immigrant youth, to returning to SU for a Ph.D, to meeting newcomers from refugee campus, and finally to realizing that Carmellas, the place we hung out in high school, is now a funeral home named, you guess it - Newcomers. I think I will have no idea but to go full circle with my life.

The ceremony at CNS was phenomenally done and I have several thank-you cards to write. But my head on the plaque - HUGE. I mean HUUUUUUGGGGGGEEEEE. Great.

Friday! Friday! Friday! Shout-Out to the Crew, 2012

Last year, the EN 11/12 crew made a ritual of torturing me with this song every Friday afternoon. Our class met in the last block on Fridays and we were always ready to depart for the weekend. The song, although I loath it, has become a rhythm in my head at the end of every week. With it, I think of Austin, Amy, Conor, Sean, Ramon, Biz, Jen, Robert, Madeline, Ermira, Steven, Aisha, Brendan, Chuck, Katie, Kelly, Lauren, Maggie, Meghan, Mollie and Shelby.

And I will be singing this as I drive back to Syracuse.

I am hoping that everyone, everywhere is thanking God that today is one of those days that happen to fall at the end of a work week: FRIDAY. Wusah!