Lighter moment

Ok, enough seriousness. Remember this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oACRt-Qp-s&feature=related

Through the window, off the wall, nothing but net

No excuses

I have a few excuses myself. But after watching the following Nike commercial, I have no one to blame but myself when I don't put in the effort to accomplish something:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obdd31Q9PqA&feature=player_embedded

Example #1000

The following is example number 1000 for why we need to change our methods in teaching. It is just so obvious that we are in a different world which is changing more rapidly than ever. We are going to sit them in chairs and teach how we did 20 years ago? That would be a crime. Copy and paste the following link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AWYIit1uNk&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Appreciate this article

I am done with my ranting. Just get back to the focus on the important things in school; kids and teachers. My wife shared this article with me. It gave the energy and perspective I needed
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011703089997

What is the value?

What is the value of an education? It is hard to define. Some people find value in students progress through the various levels of school successfully. Others think it is in test scores. Some think it is what college students get into. But it is this time of year when we look at budgets and teacher pay that we forget about student success. We think about taxes and our pockets.
I don't believe that the value of education should be put in line with our personal finances but it is. When will we change the system and stop basing salaries and education budgets on our taxes and ability to pay. Don't we limit our children's future by our willingness to pay for their education?
We do want our children to be more successful than we have been, right?

Being a teacher

"You are never going to make a million dollars," friends and family told me when I got into the field of education. Although I have moved into the role of administrator, I still am a teacher and I haven't made a million dollars. Don't plan to in the near future.
Being a public school teacher is rewarding as you work with a variety of learners and always have to stay fresh. I work in a middle school and am constantly amazed how many different situations present themselves. You have to be fresh to work with middle level learners.
It is budget time and teacher contracts and benefits are under scrutiny in these challenging economic times. It is encouraging to see that the economy is slowly coming back. Yet, the public outcry against the proposed contracts or even the existing one is everywhere. I can understand that people are frustrated when they see people getting a small increase in pay when people are losing their jobs. When bonuses that have been a staple for private sector people have dried up, frustration sets in. Teachers getting 2 or 2.5 percent increases are seen as extravagances. Any increase on the tax rate is too much.
I have to disagree with those who choose now to go after the benefits teachers have received for years along with the small increases negotiated this year. "Teachers work only 185 days" or "Health benefits shouldn't be paid for teachers" or "Their base salary is way too high" are the cries that are heard when it comes to teachers. I find it hard to listen to these arguments when teachers have been underpaid for their work as compared to people in the private sector. Teachers don't receive bonuses. It takes upwards of 215 days to actually get the 185 days in for a school year. Forced shutdowns called February and April vacations do not mean paid vacations. Everything you do is under scrutiny of hundreds of self selected supervisors who believe since they pay taxes, they set policy.
I moved to the town I live in because of the educational system that is in place. I recognize that it does indeed cost something to have such a system. I know that I should make a little more each year and I know that helps to cover cost of living increases (including taxes). I understand that having good teacher and a good school comes with a very reasonable cost and I am willing to pay for it.
I do wish everyone were still getting their bonuses and pay increases in the private sector. Schools aren't the place to find your lost income.

What is important?

When I think about schools, the most important thing you can focus on is climate. Professional climate is one thing we often overlook and we as adults end up treating each other like the kids often treat each other. It is without care or concern. If we cannot treat each other well, why should we expect our kids to behave well. Why would we have a good climate?

How crazy

How crazy will the Garden go when Ray makes the record breaking three?
Wish I was there.

Winter Weather

Can you make it through a winter without getting a little depressed? This would be the year of challenge. I have managed to stay focused on the important things each storm: Spend time shoveling, doing work and spending time with the family on these extra days.
I do like June better than January.

Why do you...

Why do you do what you do for a career? There has to be a worthwhile reason. Money, quality of life, or maybe a calling in your life could all be good reasons. I think more and more about this as I get older. Why do I do what I do? What do you think?

Jeopardy

Watch Jeopardy with a competitive family. Lot of fun

About the kids

When we endeavor to do anything related to kids, it has to be about the kids. Whether it is coaching sports teams, teaching life lessons (like sharing), or even go skiing with the family, it has to be about the kids. We have to put our egos aside or our personal success aside and focus on the kids. Why is it that so many adults lose track of this?

New Year's Resolutions

SO does everyone come back to school with a New Year's Resolution of getting something done? The last six days have been as hectic as any I have had this year. I believe people are just trying to start off the year on the involved foot!

Ancient Aliens

I am sitting here watching "Ancient Aliens" on the History Channel with my kids. Quite an afternoon! Hard to believe we are the only life forms in the universe who sit around watching this kind of show.

When the game was ours

Just finished reading my first book with reading glasses. Another sign of getting old I dare say. "When the Game was Ours" is a great retrospective of the Bird and Magic Era, highly recommend it. There really will never be another era like that where two very similar players (and yet different) created a league like the did. Magic had more championships but looking at the stats that Larry had, scary. I wish I could have appreciated it more when I lived through it.

When is it time?

When is it time to step away from the game? As a person who loves the game, there is a time to step away gracefully and enjoy the spoils of your success. So many have not, trying to find the thrill of the game at a point where the game has passed you by. Jordan, Mays, and now Favre are all examples who had their chance to go out on top but couldn't say goodbye. Are we any different? Are their any pursuits we continue after the point of no return? Hoop for me. I am not good about the stretching thing. I don't know when to back off on the defensive end when a younger kid is taking it to the basket. Now I am having MRI's and hobbling around. Maybe it is time....

Bob Feller

Seeing the death of Bob Feller makes me harken back to a better age of baseball. He was a Cleveland Indian for life even after the game. An ambassador for the game, Feller was a shining example of how a professional was to act in support of the team, city and its people. He came out of high school to play the game. He served his country in WWII. He is a Hall of Famer. It is doubtful there will be people or players like him again.

Can I pick em?

I watch football each week after making picks on the games and I am very conservative with my picks. I take favorites. I am managing a .500 record. Thank goodness it is all for fun and not for money! I will stick to my day job.

Painting

I used to paint houses for summer work. Really I did. I periodically paint a side of the house here at home but today I had fun painting. I bought a birthday adirondack chair for my wife. Now I don't have the reputation as being too handy at home. In fact, my wife revels in giving me a hard time about the lack of "handiness" for the lack of a better term. I believe we all bring certain skills to the table and I am truly not the best at the fine motor skill thing but I am bound and determined to do a good job on this task. Stay tuned for updates.

Winter

Thanksgiving means winter is here to me. Golf clubs are on their way out of the car. Skis are tuned up. Coats have been changed to winter ones. This change in time of year means a change in perspective of the weather, length of day and what types of activities. The gym becomes my outlet for a tough day. It is always a challenge to deal with this transition.

Trust me I am trying

I am having one of those periods of my life where I am trying very hard but not getting ahead. Trust me. Things are building up and I feel like I cannot make a dent in the pile of things to do. I have made lists and piles and even asked for help. No luck. I am trying very hard, staying late and getting nowhere. Trust me. How do you get ahead when you have no idea how to get there?

My 100th Post

I am not the best writer in the world and don't pretend to be. Sometimes I have things to say and sometimes it is better to just stay quiet. This blog has served as therapy sometimes and sometimes it has been work to keep writing. But I made a commitment to keep a journal when we went through Rachel's Challenge (keep a journal was one of her challenges). It has been a good experience since I haven't kept a journal since I was in college. Back then it was just song lyrics or great quotes but now it is thoughts and observations. I know people do more than I do with their blog but this is what I can do and still manage time for the family and golf (not much longer this year) on a Veteran's Day. So here is my 100th post. Here's to 100 more.

Last Practice

We had our last football practice tonight. Actually it was my son's last practice but I was there. Although he will have more time starting next week, it is also sad. Another season ending means he is that much older. Sometimes I wish I could freeze time and keep him at this great age. Each of these moments makes me feel older and a little sadder.

When is good good enough?

I feel like there are people out there who are never satisfied with success. Now that can sound like they are striving for better all the time but there are times when we need to celebrate the success we have and focus on those areas that we need to accomplish. Adding more to the equation, we lose the momentum in the areas we need to work on. The challenge is staying true to the work, not the distractions. When we spread ourselves too thin, we don't do anything well.

Falling into Fall

I do enjoy fall as the scenery is breathtaking and the crisp air is refreshing. I wish we could somehow stop time and enjoy this couple of weeks with daylight, cool temperatures, and the color. Fall also brings a rhythm to life as the beginning of school is past and we have established some routine and predictability. The balance of the season and routine make it a great time to be here.

NECAP testing

First day of NECAP testing today as we go through two reading tests. The school puts everything on hold for this. I am split on this testing thing. We do have occasions in life where we are measured and the world has to come to a halt. This is the first ones in life I guess.

Yankees Clinch

The Yankees clinched a playoff spot yesterday. I don't hold much hope for the playoffs though unless they can get solid pitching 1-4. Playoff baseball is a lot of fun to watch though so I look forward to that.

The most difficult thing I have to do

Being a middle school principal has its difficult moments but it is nothing compared to being a parent. I am not talking about the early years of diaper changing, making sure they are sleeping, or making the well balanced meal. Or even the taxi service during their middle years. Or even the dealing with them miles away at college or whatever. I am talking about the situations when you can't help them find their way or step in when they could use an advocate. Having to stand idly by when they are not getting a fair deal or have to make a difficult decision. Parents have to step back and let their kids fail or succeed on their own. Kids have to learn their own lessons and make their own way. When someone figures out the best way to keep out of the way, let me know.

Overload

How do you recognize when you are on overload? Things are coming to you so fast you don't know where to turn next. Do you pick one thing to try and accomplish it? Do you pick up a little of each thing and just try to get through it all? Do you just shut down? I am not sure as I have tried each of the above. I will keep plugging along through the challenges going on.

Excitement for first day

I love the first day of school when the kids come in with bright eyes and excitement. They are looking to see what the new year is all about and who is their teacher and who is in their class. New clothes, new materials, and the prospect of a new year. It is all fresh, exciting, and full of possibilities. I wish we could bottle up all the positive energy for those times we need it. I hope I can sleep tonight.

First Day with Teachers

So here we are meeting for the first time and I am still nervous. I have done this three times before but there is still a part of me that gets nervous when I present change or vision or even a schedule. There are people that will pick up the "tells" but hopefully the message is still clear and forceful where it needs to be.

Education revisited

Sitting in my back to school administrator meeting, I find it truly interesting that we bounce back and forth from philosophy to "nuts and bolts" type of work. This is the beginning of school in a nutshell. We bounce back and forth with getting the school open and setting a direction for the school year. It is exciting and frustrating all at once.

St. Augustine 2010

Just back from a whirlwind tour of St. Augustine Florida and all its tourism, history and heat. We survived upper 90's weather with a health dose of 80-85 degree water and air conditioning. I do not know how Ponce de Leon drank that water. The Flagler history there was mind blowing. Golf at the King and the Bear was phenomenal. Good time, good city and good to be home where I can consider a pair of sweatpants tonight because 66 is a bit chilly.

Sunny day

So here I am at work and looking out at 75 and beautiful. How do people do it? How do they work through this weather? I can't and I am out of here.

Game 6

Teamwork and knowing your role, that is why the Celts are here. Wouldn't it be great if everyone understood this in all they did?

Beat LA

I do not watch too much regular season pro basketball but when the playoffs come around I do. I love the Celtics run they have made and I have hope that older men can still play a little ball.

Energy

Is there an inverse proportion for student energy at the end of the year and adult energy? These two weeks of school are always the most trying and exciting. Hold on!

Time

I realized over vacation that I would really like to control my time. Time for work and time for fun under my control would be really living. I feel controlled rather free to enjoy the things I need and want to do. We are overbooked in my house and finding time to enjoy the better things of life is a challenge sometimes. Like now.

Homework

SO where do you stand on homework? How much should students be doing? Are students supposed to be spending hours after a full day in school and after all their activities? I am having serious thoughts about homework. What are your thoughts?

Week before vacation

What is it about the week before a vacation? The energy level goes way up as if some part of us is already on vacation. Wittingly or unwittingly, I always seem to schedule a million things to do and almost make it like I have to go on vacation to recover from the crazy week preceding it. Interviews, school board meeting, practices for my kids, and all that goes with being a principal normally is enough to send me over the edge. Our memory is short when it comes to year to year for this type of thing. I for one never learn.

If

If someone writes a blog and no one reads it, does it make a point?

March Madness

I love the first weekend of the NCAA tournament. It is a time when David can beat Goliath. We see all these teams we haven't seen all year and root for them. Murray State? Yea I had them. Old Dominion? Them too. Missed St. Mary's though. It is just plain fun to watch.

Choose your attitude

I had a conversation with a parent this morning who was trying to convince his son that we indeed get to choose our attitude each day. He was suggesting to his son that if he wanted to be in a good mood today that he just had to plan on it. Is it that simple?

I believe it is. I believe that people are who they want to be. They are in the mood they most feel comfortable in. They let things drag them to the negative sometimes because it is easier to do.

There are some people in the world who have many challenges and yet they manage to smile and have a positive attitude. There are those who don't have many challenges but make some for themselves and have a negative attitude. It really is who they are and what attitude they choose.

So I am going to choose what mood I am going to have each day from here on out.

Education in the 21st Century

So when the White House asks, "what does education in the 21st Century mean to you? What would you answer? I am really struggling with this right now in my own thinking. Dealing with meeting the mark on standardized tests is our reality, but the preoccupation with this is not. Technology needs to be integrated and not the end all. But a better prepared student for this changeable society, that is what should be striving for. Check out this blog that will shed a little more light:
http://ow.ly/1dZiZ

Snow and short memories

If you love New England, you have to appreciate the year to year snowfall. This year it has been sparce. It has been a month since we had snow. 4-6 inches of snow is remarkable this year and we close school with the threat of this snow even if it came in after school. Last year, it was part of life each week. We do have short memories when it comes to weather and how to handle it. Drive slow and deal with the snow, don't be afraid of it.

Bill of RIghts

So we are studying the French Revolution and the Declaration of Rights of Men tonight. A long reading assignment coupled with several challenging questions is the work we are engrossed in. When did reading a section and answering questions be put forward as a good practice even a best practice? How do kids really engage in overblown and pompous writing and reading? Have them discuss it or challenge their own understandings of rights. Get down and dirty with the topic and give them something really to consider rather than read about history from 400 years ago that doesn't really relate to them.

How we doing?

Do you ever feel like the world is spinning and you want get off? The image of being on a merry go round and trying to jump off. I wonder if I can keep my balance when I land. I wonder if we only have so much resilience that we have over stretches of challenge. Outlets for our frustration such as family and exercise, least that is how I do it. How do you do it? Answer the question below:

Curriculum 21

So I just received the new ASCD book called "Curriculum 21: Essential Education for a Changing World". Having read the introduction, I realize that we are teaching a curriculum that is better suited for when I was a kid and not what about the world is now. Have we missed the boat on the last 50 years in Social Studies? Could we a do a cursory coverage of colonial America versus and look at 9/11 in a more in-depth way? Just a thought.

Face to Face

So, I am guilty. Guilty of getting caught up in the technology. Caught up in the gadgets and the websites and the social networking. Guilty of connecting to places and things thousands of miles away and not within my own sphere. I have to keep remembering the need personal need to connect with people face to face. Have a conversation while reading their mood and needs. Talking about everything and anything. I need to put the Blackberry away.

Twitter versus Facebook

SO what do you use? It is the topic of the week among my friends. I have not even scratched the surface of Twitter but I think I will like it more than Facebook due to the amount of information available. But Facebook is all the rage and I strive to be cool.... Twitter it is.

Snow Days and unfazed

We have officially reached the point in winter that when it snows for two straight days and a dusting turns into 4 inches, we are unfazed. Living in New England can be a drag sometimes but when you see how beautiful the last couple of days have been you don't mind. Shovel the light dusting away and go!

Time Flies

It seems like we were just starting the school year and here we are in the middle of January. Time flies when you are doing good things. WE are really doing good things everyday with kids, parents, and community members. This really is a good school and community of educators to work with.

Hoop

We accomplished a rare feat this weekend, my kids both had basketball games and both teams won. This rare occasion has not happened this year as one team or the other has struggled at one time or another. I do have competitive kids but usually they can let it go pretty quickly when they don't win but I will say it was a kinder and gentler household this weekend.

Playoffs?

I love the first two weeks of the NFL playoffs. You get an idea of the teams that will be the ones to beat. Last year it was Arizona. Who will it be this year? Who will hit their stride at the right time? Hanging around to catch the games makes a cold day a little better. January doesn't hold a lot for those who don't ski but this weekend, at least there will be football.

Happy New Year

The end of a year and the beginning of a new one always brings about nostalgia and resolutions. Shouldn't we just try to live a good and balanced life all the time? I think we try to but the challenges of that life make it hard to stay balanced. Strength of character will see you through it all but who knows where to find it all the time.

I cleaned my office and organized my thoughts this week. I played with the kids and hopefully will be skiing this weekend. I am ready for the best year yet.

Christmas

So here we sit the week of Christmas with so much to do and so little time to do it. Christmas is a wonderful time for family and friends but we get caught up in the preparation and the going. Party here and party there, go to the in-laws, go to the store, it all becomes a little too much. When do we catch our breath and allow for the spirit to seep into our mind and body and do we truly enjoy the holiday? I hope to find out.

C'Mon Man

Every Monday Night, my son and I watch the segment "C'mon Man" on ESPN Monday Night Football coverage. It is a review of teams that just don't get it or plays that guys make that are so bad all you can say is "C'mon Man!" Wouldn't it be great if we could do that in life when someone just blows you away with their ineptitude? When someone pulls a Tiger Woods or a parent forgets to pick up their child from a dance or even a student treats another poorly just because they can. "C'mon Man! would be so great!

Put away the clubs

So I left at 3:00 and ran around nine holes before it got dark Friday. My last round of the year. To be greeted by 3 inches of snow on Sunday morning, I realized that basketball season has begun. Sore muscles and bruised egos are next in line.

Slow Down

Thanksgiving was great. I actually took a couple of days to slow down. The rain helped slow down the activities but I made a "subconscious" effort to slow down. I spent time playing with my son and daughter. Not so easy with a 15 year old who seems to being going at 90 miles an hour all the time herself. We are overbooking ourselves and our kids. We are trying to better ourselves and our kids at the expense of really enjoying life and family. I am in favor of reaching potential and getting the most our of life but "the most out of life" is enjoying what we have right in front of us. Family and friends.

Vision for 2010-2011

I am asked to create a vision statement for the upcoming year when it comes to our budget. Here is this year's:

The vision for Rye Junior High School has changed very little in the past year. Preparing students for the world ahead of them is our highest priority. High school is the first step from here and the world after that can take on many different forms depending on the student and their individual skill areas. How do we meet the various needs of the students who walk through our doors every morning?
Students are developing at different rates in their three years at Rye Junior High School. Whether the changes come physically, mentally or even socially, RJH is positioned to meet the needs of all its students. We establish programming, opportunities, and a building to reach each student at their own level. Students challenge us each day to give them an understanding of the ever changing world by their questions, needs and dreams. Teachers respond by creating new lessons, activities, and assessments designed to push students to higher levels. They integrate technology in new and exciting ways. Research is being done both electronically and with traditional methods to allow students to find the answers they want and are asked to uncover. We work to develop the “whole child.” To quantify development is very difficult. Although we have measurable outcomes academically, the three years at RJH is a journey and the pace at which students get to the end varies dramatically. Each student hits his/her stride at different times. Think of your own journey and when you hit your stride.
Additions to the school, we have a couple that allow us to move forward at a more rapid pace. A newly finished library greatly expands our ability to teach integrated research in a suitable location. There is plenty of learning space while allowing the library to continue to function as a traditional lending library. Internet access and expanded collections allow students to have adequate resources to complete their work and read the most current literature. This space will once again be the hub of activity in our building but will allow for more access and enhanced learning opportunities. With funding from the Rye Education Foundation, we were able to create a One to One Netbook pilot in the seventh grade. This immediate access to technology for teachers and students has allowed students to grow more proficient with technology as they are using it on a daily basis in more than one classroom. Increased writing, research and data analysis promotes higher level thinking and greater skill development, not only in technology but in their core classes. Continuation of this pilot would be optimal for student learning for a modern world.
But these are tough times economically and continued expansion of programs is difficult. Our strength is in our teachers and their skill sets. We continue to pursue professional development opportunities for all and allow teachers to grow and develop. We have initiated the Professional Learning Communities model to bring a focus to learning and not teaching. Data analysis is part of our weekly conversation. How are our students progressing? What areas are they proficient and what areas need greater concentration? How does our curriculum allow for student progress? These are conversations that are the focus of common planning time. We are thankful to have the resource of our colleagues and their collective wisdom.
Moving into the second decade of this century, we are still committed to the ideal that all students can learn what they need to be successful in the years to come. We are preparing students for the world around them and the world that is to come. It is our mission and our responsibility.

Yankee Baseball

So far the Yankees have lived up to their payroll. After years of people pointing to chemistry or the lack of it, it is clear the mix of players have made a difference in this playoff run. So the question is, what is the biggest factor in winning a playoff series. Clearly, you have to have the players and especially the pitching. But what about that player with all the intangibles; Nick Swisher, Bill Miller, Bucky Dent to name a few. Not the highest paid player but the ones who get it done despite their paycheck. Those are the difference makers and the ones I cheer for.

Get back to what is important

I am mired in reports and tasks. So many things that are dictated to be done that I can see an end. I realized this morning that I had gotten so far afield of what I do this for that I left my office and went to classrooms. I saw teachers doing great things and kids engaged in their work. I had to smile and was re-energized for a while.

Tell her that its human nature

I probably won't go see the Michael Jackson movie. It is just sad to hear "Human Nature" and remember how great his music was and how innocent he was. It was so long ago and he was even older than me but I will remember him with his brothers in the Jackson 5. I was young, it was easier to enjoy the music without knowing what would become of him.
I probably won't see the movie.

The Test is Here

The school has fully undertaken the NECAP test today. Kids are actively engaged in the test and you could hear a pin drop. It is too quiet in the building.
Life in the modern school includes this accountability measure, ours in NH is the NECAP test. Is this a measurement for the school and the children or is it a clearer picture of our society as a whole? Are kids coming to school ready to engage in their learning? How do they know to do so? Are parents supportive of the school and its practice? This question is answered in how students engage in the test.
Take out those students with specific learning issues. They are going to struggle with standardized tests and have struggled forever. But those who do not have learning issues, their level of engagement is partially due to the messages they get in the home. It is partially due to who students are as individuals. It is partially due to the nature of tests. It is partially the school and its presentation.
Will we solve the engagement issue at school? I have no idea.

Rainy Saturday

How about Sunday with the NFL on instead of Saturday with youth soccer games and end of year barbecues? Can somebody get control of the weather please?

Frost

I am not the person who wishes for colder weather but I may welcome a little frost tonight. Other than slowing the growth of my grass, I will be glad to have the frost take care of these mosquitos. EEE has been a concern for too long and it will be great for kids to go outside in the afternoon with no fear. I usually love September but this year it has been a cautious infatuation.

Communication Breakdown

In the day and age of multiple communication methods, how do we guarantee we stay in touch? Funny question huh? You can text me, email me, tweet me, check me out on my Facebook, call me on one of my cellphones, or even call me at the office. The problem seems to be that with all the options, no one does it the same way. You have to keep an inventory of the specific methods of communication for specific people. This is my latest challenge.

Friday On My Mind

Why is it that my whole mood changes with the prospect of the weekend? I do love the kids and teachers in my school and have fun with much of what I do here at RJH. But the prospect of the weekend and not working always brightens my Friday. Would I work if I didn't have to? Probably not.

Derek Jeter

Living in NE it is tough being a Yankee fan. It has gotten harder over the last few years. But after the last couple of days, I know one thing for sure. Derek Jeter is a throwback to a day gone by. He is professional, hard worker and great player. I am glad he is on my team.

Ted Kennedy

Sitting here watching Ted Kennedy's funeral makes me realize that no matter what you accomplish it comes back to family and the lessons you can teach your kids just by doing. Teaching is through doing not saying. I have to remember that,

Around the Corner

Here we are just around the corner from the first day of school. Looking at the weather for the next few days, I take solace. Cooler weather does not have students hoping for another day at the beach. September is the toughest month to go to school as we remember the glorious days of summer and see 70 degree weather. Can we find some time to hold on?

Summer Over?

So the question right now is when are you going back to school? When I reply, the standard answer is that "summer is over!" It is almost said with glee.
I have never had a traditional 9-5 job. Since I was a 5 year old, I have had more flexibility in the summer than the 9-5ers. As an administrator, I spend a good deal of the summer in the office doing the behind the scenes work to get school ready to start. It is quiet (except our building project this summer) and very productive. I enjoy the summer because a great deal gets done. I miss the kids being here at school but it as everyone has said, they will be back soon.
For me, summer isn't over. I have much left to do here at school before everything will be ready. But I will still find time to hit the beach and the course. I just have to stop listening to the gleeful comments...

Kids at the Beach

So we went for a bike ride to the beach. After the obligatory complaining from the nine year old for the 1.8 mile ride, we arrived at the beach as the tide was coming in. Armed with no toys or sand castle equipment, we commenced riding some waves, fighting the shrimp, throwing rocks (playing fetch), and just plain having a great day. The 1.8 miles back to the car to rack the bikes was not nearly as bad as the nine year old envisioned.

Quest for youth

So I started my day yesterday by doing a little run. Nothing crazy but a couple miles. Pruning trees in the front yard followed by a bike ride and a little tennis with my family (or should I say tennis ball retrieval). Cap it off with hitting golf balls with the kids at 7:00 pm and it was an early bedtime. I am sore today and feeling all the years I have been on this planet.

Rain

When was it that a day of clouds and light rain qualified as a Good Day? We have to tolerate bad weather or is it that we are making the best of it? The other day it was sunny and I actually thought it was too bright! I feel a bit like the groundhog in February coming out of my winter quarters.

Day at the course

Embarking on my first 18 holes since Myrtle Beach, I was not sure what to expect from my game. The morning was overcast but the sun was about to come out when I birdied the first hole. A good start. A ball in the woods and a bogey on the second hole followed by a double bogey on the third and the the feeling of rust was clearly there. Playing the next three holes in even par, I played the seventh hoping to make something happen. I took advice from President Leonard and went for the green in two on the par five. The resulting eagle made the day worthwhile. It also gave me the momentum to play the rest of the way two under par and shoot a 70. Maybe I should take 5 weeks off from 18 holes, who knows what I would shoot?

Talking with Eighth Graders

I have endeavored to meet with all the eighth graders before the end of the year. I am soliciting their opinions about everything from how to make the school better to what their hopes and dreams are for the future. They say the darndest things. It is encouraging to hear what they aspire to do and how things could be better. My hope is that I will get real information that is useful and to validate their thoughts about the world around them. They truly are big fish in a small pond and are ready to move on to the world of high school and all its trappings; independence, challenges, and new friends. I am glad I finally have a chance to do this.

Fresh Air

After two days of rain and limited time outside, I need some fresh air. I cannot imagine living my life without time outside. I need to get outside and breath in the fresh air. Can somebody stop the rain?
Just venting, thanks.

Relax

Stress. We all deal with it. I think it is really about the threshold that people have for what life throws at them. Different things lead people to get overwhelmed in their life but I would venture that it is of their own making. Kids, jobs, and relationships are challenging parts of our life and yet quite often, we put ourselves in that position as a parent, employee, and spouse in the first place. Life is of our own making and we are to make the most of it. At least that is what I think.

Working with your hands

I spent a couple of hours yesterday with my son spreading bark mulch. Actually, he managed the back of the truck while I wheeled wheelbarrow fulls of mulch around the yard and spread it in our flower beds. Cool for him and therapy for me.

When you do a job that is mostly interpersonal and somewhat sedentary, the opportunity to work with your hands and get dirty is refreshing. I can't say I do enough of it. Mind you, shoveling snow fits into this category but I had more than enough of that this year and I need therapy after this winter.

With a weekend of yard work ahead, I should be in a good mental state. My physical state may be a different situation.

Watching Your Child Perform

A wonderful 9 year old pitcher took the mound on Monday. Dressed in his "Rockies" uniform he confidently warmed up and was ready to pitch his one inning of relief in a hotly contested match up against the Cardinals. Starting with a strikeout, he quickly fell behind the next hitter and when he walked him, the nerves showed through. Another walk and some frustration brought his coach (and father) to the mound. "Remember you leg kick and slow yourself down" were the words of wisdom from Dad. The inning continued with a couple of infield hits and a couple of runs given up and the 9 year old was deflated. "No worries" said his coach, "This was your first time pitching against live hitting. You did well." Oh the pressure of being perfect! This 9 year old had to be perfect for himself and everyone watching.
It is hard and wonderful to be a parent watching your children perform whether it be on the field, stage or wherever. You want to take the difficulty out the situation and make it go well for them, but you can't. The effort put into the performance makes it worthwhile. The challenge for parents is to not live vicariously through their child's experiences and allow them to struggle through these performances.
The next time on the mound that 9 year old struck out three and walked one without the dad/coach there. No living vicariously on this occasion. There might be a lesson in that too.

End of an Era

We went 4-0 in our last AAU tournament. Quite a nice weekend to watch my daughter's team (which I coached) win against some pretty good teams. They did so in convincing fashion but it was bittersweet.
Why you ask? It is the last time I will coach her on a team in basketball.
When she was in first grade I started coaching her team. To see her gradually learn the game and enjoy it was quite special. She grew as a player and as a person not to mention in her height. She made good friends, could look at her game with some pride and was part of teams that in the end had fun.
When she started playing at the middle school level, it was the first team she played on that I did not coach. It was hard not to coach from the stands, but I did anyway (Move your feet! Hands up on defense! Don't reach!) It was great to see her apply her skills to a team that I didn't have direct contact with.
We continued to play an abbreviated AAU schedule and extend her basketball season with her friends. We didn't always do well against these all star teams but the girls never got down and they saw how good it could be and how good they could be. I loved it!
Now we are done and she is into softball full steam; basketball camp this summer and onto high school in the fall. High school, ouch. I will miss working on the skills of basketball in a practice session with her but there is still the driveway and the gym possibly.
I know I will pine away for the days of coaching her. I will miss the early days of teaching how to dribble and shoot a basketball. I know I will pine away for the day I could beat her in one on one, whenever she does beat me. Not too far away....

Myrtle on my mind

We are about to make our annual pilgrimage to Myrtle Beach for April vacation. I am very fortunate to have a family that indulges my need for golf and actually plays with me. Friends, family, beach, pool and of course golf are the agenda for April vacation.

We drive the 15 1/2 hour trip to South Carolina. We usually stay overnight on the way down after a day of tracking licence plates from hopefully all 50 states, punch buggies, and water towers (that is my sons interest). It is quite a trip.

Weather for the next 10 days
Today
Apr 14

Scattered T-Storms

71°
54°

Wed
Apr 15

Partly Cloudy

66°
45°

10%

Thu
Apr 16

Partly Cloudy

65°
45°

0%

Fri
Apr 17


Mostly Sunny

67°
49°


Sat
Apr 18


Mostly Sunny

69°
55°

Sun
Apr 19

Partly Cloudy

72°
58°

Mon
Apr 20


Scattered T-Storms

70°
52°

Tue
Apr 21

Sunny

69°
51°

Wed
Apr 22


Mostly Sunny

69°
55°

Thu
Apr 23


Partly Cloudy

70°
54°

Information Overload

To say that the last few weeks have been stressful might be the understatement of the millenium. I have had so much going on that I don't know which end is up.

So then I come to the NELMS Annual Conference to connect with colleagues and get educated on all that is middle level education and the information is overwhelming. I have had a chance to go to new and exiting session with a plethura of information and I have nowhere to store it. How do I make sense of all this?

There are times when you have to slow down and make some sense of the world around you and put everything in its place. I don't mean shut it down but rather make sense of it all. Technology and all its components is just one area I have a small handle on and with emerging tools and applications, I wonder if I have any handle at all.

I am making a list of things to learn and get some control over and when I do, watch out.

What kind of child?

So is it the child supposed to be when they grow up? My answer is the well rounded child. A child who is able to a little bit of everything; play sports, be successful in the classroom and be a good citizen.

That is the mission of the middle school. We are designed to keep all things in mind in all we do from the classroom to the hallways to the ball field. When in life is it enough to be just successful at one thing? By the time we are done with school, what does the world expect from us? We need to be able to be good at many things.

How do we prepare kids for this? We just do.

Golf

To say I like to play golf is like saying that my teenage daughter likes the Jonas Borthers. "Like" doesn't quite encapsulate the level to which we are infatuated with the two pursuits.

So bad is my infatuation that I look for the 15-30 minutes to chip and putt before I have to pick up a child of mine. So bad is it that I would know all the commentators on the golf channel. So bad is it that I played golf this past Saturday on a rain soaked fairway in 40 degree weather.

I love my family and NH. I enjoy my work and my own learning but golf is my personal quest for perfection. I can infuse all my competitive urges into this singular pursuit for a given amount of time and no one will think less of me. It isn't really supported to be competitive in the workplace, certainly not my workplace.

Don't misunderstand me, I do not spend endless hours on the golf course, contrary to what my wife might say. I find time throughout a busy week to keep the game in tune. When there is a large amount of free time, maybe in the summer, I do manage to fill a great deal of it with golf. It isn't solitary, I will play with anyone. I do prefer my family and friends but if you need a game, give me a call.

Looking forward to the warmer smells of summer and the late night round after dinner. But even now, you may find me playing if the snow isn't flying.

Self Analysis

I have found there are people who in life don't look at what they are doing, how they are treating others, and certainly are not letting people work in their own manner. It is true that sometimes people need a gentle "nudge" to improve or grow but then they are doing it truly because they were "nudged."

I find that we need to instill in our youth the ability to analyze themselves and their work or behavior. The ability to sensor themselves at the right time or to say the right thing at the right time can be as important a skill as learning your multiplication tables. Social development and the desire to succeed in the right way are two very important skills that schools can teach through modeling and certain lessons. It could be all they take from school.

Don't you wish some of the people we work with or are our neighbors had learned these things when they were younger?

Are we the same...

Are we the same as the kids we teach at the middle level? Limited attention spans, messy, and sometimes disorganized? I know I am. Shouldn't we empathize with their plight of adolescence as a result of our own challenges? Just a thought

Vacation: Rest or Excitement?

Can you have a vacation that is both restful and exciting? I don't know if it is possible.

When you don't go away for vacation and fill it with excitement, there is a good chance you will be rested but you will suffer from potential boredom.

When you go away and fill the week with excitement, you run the risk of needing a vacation from your vacation.

I have two solutions. The first is to extend the vacation to two weeks. Just when you are starting to relax, the week is over and a second week would allow you to really do both (have fun and relax).

The second choice is to have a snow day and to work on your blog. I am stuck with the second.

Boston is not fair

We are heading to Boston on Tuesday. Three of us for fun and another to take the Bar Exam. The kids and I are planning to go to the Museum of Fine Arts, the Science Museum and the Aquarium. My wife is answering 200 multiple choice questions over an eight hour period. On the second day she will get to answer essay questions for another 8 hours while we hit the Union Oyster House for some chowder.

It is not fair.

She has spent hours preparing for this and granted, the exam will bring closure for this chapter of our lives. Meanwhile, the kids and I will be seeing the seals and sea lions. Definitely not fair.

She will have sleepless nights and worry between the two parts of the exam. We will be swimming in the pool and Fanueil Hall. Surely, this can't be fair.

What are the three of us to do? Stay in and read? Don't see that happening...

Boston is not fair.

Rock Band

I have a very generous sister in law that give the family wonderful gifts. The problem is she gives the wrong person the great gift.

Case in point, the latest wonderful gift has been Rock Band she gave to my kids for Christmas. Rock Band is the game that allows you to belong to a band and play music at different levels of challenge. Whether it is the guitar, the drums or vocals, you get to rock and be part of a band.

The problem is that Natalie and Ethan's parents enjoy the gift more than they do. Much of the music is from our era. It also is a bit of an escape from studying or dealing with issues.

We all have a need to escape from our world now and then. Thank you Auntie Libby of thinking of the "big kids." Next time you hear "Don't Fear the Reaper" or "Train Kept a Rollin'" you can see me on guitar.

Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?

I have grown up in an era of baseball where money ruled and free agency didn't allow for the tradition of baseball to thrive. You could rent out your services to the highest bidder and lend your services to one playoff run. The next year you could be somewhere else.
In other cases, owners making millions of dollars and paying little for players while fans watch an inferior product on the field. What is it David Letterman said, "Today is opening day and the Pittsburgh Pirates have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs."
But now, we are in an era of steroids, denial, lying and cowardice. Players are juicing to make it to the big leagues, compete at a high level, and even eclipse records. Anything to be the best! This fact is nothing new, anything to be the best.
Human nature and competitiveness make sports so high pressured and make athletes do immoral things. Money and fame bring out the worst in some. I pine for a simpler day if there ever was one.
Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?

Lincoln Again

"The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time"
-Abraham Lincoln

I wonder if when he came up with these quotes or speeches he thought "Oh, that is a good one." He has so much attributed to him that I wonder if he did give himself credit for some of them.

The amazing thing about Lincoln is that he was truly self taught, self-driven and self-sustained. He didn't get anything from anyone. People looked at him in his youth as someone who would never amount to much. As he grew in age and political stature, people thought he gave a nice homespun speech compared to the big machine politics of the cities and the Northeast. Finally as the Election of 1860 came about, they finally looked to him as a moral guide for a generation. A generation that needed a moral guide. This was a guide who built his own future based on his moral principles and hard work.

It was said he spoke with conviction. He spoke with certainty. He spoke with intelligence. I bet he did know when to give himself credit

Week of Lincoln

We are celebrating the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln all week at Rye Junior High School and particluarly on Febraruy 12th. There are a number of activities that are highlighting the man, his perserverence and his Presidency. A pretty amazing story from humble beginings, he is a testament to how someone with an incredible intellect and work ethic could rise to such a stature. My first Lincoln quote is:

The books and your capacity for understanding them, are just the same in all places... Always bear in mind your own resolution to scuceed is more important that any other thing. - Abraham Lincoln

Tough Call

One of the most important decisions a Superintendent has to make is to call off school on a snowy day. This morning as we woke up to very little snow knowing we weren't going to school. Parents were looking at the weather and said the school should have been in session. As I sit know looking at 7 inches of snow and what would have been dismissal time, it would have been tough to get kids home in this weather.
There are a lot of reasons why I don't want to be a Superintendent but his is one aspect of the job that appeal even less than others. I don't envy Superintendents at 4:00 in the morning having to make an educated guess about the weather, New England weather. I don't look forward to my third shoveling stint, but there is no guesswork to that!

Being Off Schedule

I created a nightmare for myself this morning. I fell behind schedule. Now I am all out of sorts.
It is quite interesting how I have become such a creature of habit. Each day the routine is similar, everything should be within a couple of minutes to stay comfortable with the schedule. I wish it wasn't so.
I wish I could just do whatever the day needed. Wake up later sometimes, wake up earlier on other (yea right). The free spirit gene skipped a generation.
I just wish that I could get over the mood that being off schedule gets me into. I would love to learn a new trick or two.

One to One NOW!

With the prospect of economic slowdown, the good news is that prices of everything are going down. This is the time to get our One to One laptop initiative off the ground. The need is clear and the skills our staff possess are more than enough to move our instruction forward. We have been through the discussions and presentations and it is time to trust the future. Our students lag behind each day they are not able to put the technology in play in their work. Enough with the wait, let's get going.

Watershed Moment

There are times in history that are watershed moments. The Election of 1800, the Election of 1860, the passage of women's suffrage, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the release of the Iranian hostages come to mind for moments that changed history. Today brings promise of change. I look past the clearly obvious fact that President elect Obama will be our first African American President but rather to the potential of having a statesman who could have such a positive effect on our society and culture. This is a moment of trial and challenge and how we react as a country (and world) will be greatly influenced by our new president.
It is a day filled with excitement and hope. Maybe it will be a watershed for great things to come.

Assessment

How do we know what students are really learning? If they come home each night and work hard, hand in quality work, and perform on a test or project well, we assume they are doing well and are ready for the next step in school. But what is the material that they are learning? Is it what they really need to know?

There is an assumption that we are preparing them for the next school or step in their life. But I propose that we really are working in many cases without knowing what is essential in the next step of their lives. Are we really preparing them for the life ahead? What exactly is the life ahead?

I would challenge our society to ask, what is truly expected from our learners and citizens?

That is enough for now.

Patriots

Is it really any fun watching the playoffs without the Patriots in them? I enjoyed the season of the underdog and they had their two chances to get in the playoffs, Indy and the Jets second game. I don't blame the Jets for not beating Miami in the last game but I am confident that Baltimore would have had a little harder time with the Patriots offense than they did with Miami. Good games this past weekend but not as fun as if the Patriots were there. Tough being a "homer".