tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45969838602256425.post1127526251645284859..comments2024-02-09T07:57:45.221-05:00Comments on Leading Motivated Learners: Is This The Best Way?TonySinanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00624064743310267544noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45969838602256425.post-73432847591281460532013-04-12T12:06:49.292-04:002013-04-12T12:06:49.292-04:00So well said Tony!So well said Tony!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45969838602256425.post-24752595078037159962013-04-12T11:56:35.390-04:002013-04-12T11:56:35.390-04:00WELL SAID JEFF!!WELL SAID JEFF!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45969838602256425.post-26933488927060310032013-04-11T21:38:57.637-04:002013-04-11T21:38:57.637-04:00Keep pushing. Be willing to have the proverbial &q...Keep pushing. Be willing to have the proverbial "sit in" as so many brave educators are, about the best service to children. Continue to work towards solutions for developing globally literate adults and not mere test takers unable to make meaning of the world around. Allow for opposing view points, but do not yield your position to mediocrity in your leadership, from teachers or for parents. Lives are stake and I am with you. <br /><br />Looking forward to the Supreme Court case of New York State DOE vs. Antony Sinanis, where they ban the standardization of children. Much respect!<br /><br />Khalilah H.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45969838602256425.post-44860038347145905062012-04-03T20:10:47.995-04:002012-04-03T20:10:47.995-04:00Your words are profound, Tony. The saddest part t...Your words are profound, Tony. The saddest part to me is that I actually do like the idea very much in principle. If there was such a system that could pinpoint the growth of a student attributed to a teacher, then I don't know how any of us could logically argue against it. However, for all the variables you so eloquently listed, no researcher has yet been able to find such a magic formula. As such, I worry a great deal about the precedent set by NYC and how teachers and admins will be compared within and across districts on such disparate data as to be truly comparing apples, oranges, and even zebras. Rest assured, however, that politicians and the media will attempt to make such meaningless data the focal point of our lives. Can't wait!Joe Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05040604384765960641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45969838602256425.post-50734620307078844812012-04-01T22:45:55.320-04:002012-04-01T22:45:55.320-04:00Your blog is certainly well written, but your abil...Your blog is certainly well written, but your ability to express has always been impressive. The idea that test scores, a snapshot of a moment, being used to define something so much more vast than any one moment has always been an objection to me. The concept of summative assessment is a good one, but only when executed within a structure that allows for all the variables that you mentioned. I believe that this is at the heart of one of the problems with having decision-makers making widespread choices, yet not having the years of experience on the front line of teaching. It does boggle my mind that there isn't a set of criteria that requires these people to have actual hands-on experience teaching before making decisions impacting students and staff within a school/classroom setting. There's a sense of something counterproductive with this model.<br /><br />I believe the solution requires a universal shift that is of such great magnitude within the entire educational system of this country. That definitely includes undergraduate/graduate institutions as well. There truly is an epidemic of stress within our culture and it clearly interferes with the real learning that is even more essential than ever. And I definitely include emotional learning as part of that essential education. When someone or some institution stands up to say that this is not how it will be anymore and we will not perpetuate this narrow view of success any longer is when this heavy weight will be lifted.<br /><br />In spite of all of the chaos that has been added to our challenge of educating, I am still so incredibly proud to call myself a teacher and know that I'm making a difference in the lives of my students. They make a difference in my life too. Test scores, evaluations, and tax caps aside, I am a teacher and proclaim it proudly!! Navigating through these incredibly rough and somewhat foreign waters becomes the added challenge. I gladly accept it and remain optimistic that when the dust settles, a greater sensibility will be ever more present.<br /><br />Keep spreading the good word!!Jeffrey Shanzernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45969838602256425.post-86903542682181827062012-04-01T13:25:17.193-04:002012-04-01T13:25:17.193-04:00Well stated! It's such a difficult shift to ma...Well stated! It's such a difficult shift to make as an instructional leader--you want to do the right thing by your students and staff, which is sounds like you've been doing. At the same time, the new reality affects the lives of your teachers, so you can't honestly tell them not to worry about the assessments. It's such a tricky situation to negotiate and I admire your willingness to share this struggle. We need to be authentic when sharing our thoughts on these issues. <br /><br /> I do believe that strong teaching leads to solid understanding, which usually results in positive test scores because students are able to reason and think critically not because they learned some testing tricks. <br /><br />I recently helped proctor a similar test in Maryland and was deeply disturbed by the degree of stress a 6th grader expressed to me during a break--he was so worried about the implications if he didn't do well. He was literally shaking. <br /><br />In our system 70% of our teachers are in non-tested areas, making these new teacher evaluation systems even more complicated. <br /><br />Great first blog!Katrina Stevenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08790099344550154344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45969838602256425.post-31760161319897908802012-03-31T13:33:29.723-04:002012-03-31T13:33:29.723-04:00Great thoughts here and kudos for starting a blog....Great thoughts here and kudos for starting a blog. It is a great place to share your ideas and get honest feedback from peers. <br /><br />You hit one key element that too many lawmakers and decision makers lose site of and that is students nor teachers are not motivated by test scores. At the end of the day, they mean very little. I do not do test prep, and I don't ever plan on doing it. If you teach with a strong focus on student growth, that will always better serve your students than a test prep packet. <br /><br />Keep up the good work and keep blogging!Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12252463873478820840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45969838602256425.post-54495766703217859932012-03-31T08:04:31.295-04:002012-03-31T08:04:31.295-04:00Wonderful thoughts! I agree with your ideas that i...Wonderful thoughts! I agree with your ideas that including this information in a teacher evaluation leads nowhere. Your staff is lucky to have an instructional leader that praises real teaching and learning....a leader that DOES NOT advocate teaching to a test! Good luck with your blog! I started one just last month and it has been a powerful reflection piece for me! Enjoy the process!Kate Conleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06514773139832730991noreply@blogger.com