An Act From Our Talent Show - Way to go Josh!

Thanks Ms. Swank for sharing this video with me!

Talent Show Is A Big Hit!

Last night, I had the pleasure to attend the 2nd Annual WLMS Talent Show. The show was amazing and the talent on display was truly remarkable. I am happy to report that a portion of the proceeds raised last night will be donated to the American Cancer Society and the rest will be used by our Family Involvement Team (FIT). The FIT members work to engage parents and students here at WLMS. For more information about this great group, please contact Ms. Berla or Ms. DuPree at our School.

Congratulations to all of the performers and a HUGE thanks to Ms. Lebowitz and Ms. Deforge for directing the show.

I also want to thank Ms. Berla and her Lady Gaga Dancers (Ms. Warner, Ms. Drakes, Ms. Simpson, Ms. Hughes and Ms. Gadziala) who performed last night. It just goes to show that not only can our staff teach...but they also have incredible dancing talents, too.

Way to GO!!!

The Power of Blogging...

I have become virtual friends with a middle school principal in Pennsylvania. We have never met in person, but collaborate online using our blogs and an occasional phone call. In addition to being a talented administrator, he is a Redskin fan. This makes him talented and very intelligent! ;)

It is awesome to have made a friend through blogging. Here's to my friend Mr. Nunkester...Check out his blog, Nunk News at http://nunknews.blogspot.com/. Also check out this article on Nunk News and other principals who are using blogs to increase communication with their school communities.

Education World ® Administrators Center: Principals Blog to Share and Archive School News

Google's Philosophy - Modified for Educators

http://bobafettucini.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/apple-google-and-skynet/

Google’s Philosophy

Ten things Google knows to be true

1. Focus on the user and all else will follow.

2. It's best to do one thing really, really well.

3. Fast is better than slow.

4. Democracy on the web works.

5. You don't need to be at your desk to need an answer.

6. You can make money without doing evil.

7. There's always more information out there.

8. The need for information crosses all borders.

9. You can be serious without a suit.

10. Great just isn't good enough.

If we take Google's philosophy and morph it to an educational setting, it would look something like this:

An Educators Philosophy

in the

Information Age

Ten things we know to be true

1. Focus on student needs and all else will follow.

2. It's best to teach a few things really, really well.

3. Fast is better than slow.

4. Collaboration, commitment, curiosity and creativity are important traits to foster in our students.

5. You don't need to be at school to learn.

6. You can make a lot of money if you get a good education and are creative.

7. There's always more information out there.

8. The need for information crosses all borders.

9. You can be serious without a suit.

10. Great just isn't good enough.

Do our schools reflect our best thinking and do we put into practice

what we know to be true? If not, when will we start?

What do you think?

Source: Modified from Google and the Principal's Blog

Catching Up or Leading the Way: American Education in the Age of Globalization

This past Friday, I had the good fortune of attending the annual Maryland Society for Educational Technology conference in Baltimore. At this conference, I got to hear Dr. Zhao speak about the importance of celebrating what is working well with American education and he provided a warning to those who are leading reform efforts here in our state and beyond. We need to make sure in our effort to nationalize education goals and programs, that we don't eliminate opportunities for our students to engage in meaningful problem solving and opportunities for them to practice critical thinking skills. Here is an excerpt from the MSET program about Dr. Zhao's presentation:

At a time when globalization and technology are dramatically altering the world we live in, is education reform in the United States headed down the right path? Are schools emphasizing the knowledge and skills that students need in a global society—or are they actually undermining their strengths by overemphasizing high-stakes testing and standardization? Are education systems in China and other countries really as superior as some people claim?

Dr. Yong Zhao addresses these and other questions in his new book of the same title. Born and raised in China and now a professor at Michigan State University, Zhao bases many of his observations on extensive research and firsthand experience as a student in China and as a parent of children attending school in the United States. His unique perspective leads him to conclude that “American education is at a crossroads” and “we need to change course” to maintain leadership in a rapidly changing world. To make his case, Zhao explains:

• What’s right with American education;
• Why much of the criticism of schools in the United States has been misleading and misinformed;
• Why China and other nations in Asia are actually reforming their systems to be more like their American counterparts;
• How globalization and the “death of distance” are affecting jobs and everyday life; and
• How the virtual world is transforming the economic and social landscape in ways far more profound than many people realize.

Source: MSET - https://www.msetonline.org/

Information from http://zhao.educ.msu.edu/

Congratulations to Julie Prince - HCPSS Middle School Counselor of the Year!

Congratulations to Julie Prince, one of the Clarksville Middle School Counselors, for always doing an outstanding job in her role as counselor, mentor, program developer and mediator. You are so deserving of this special recognition and honor.

This past Wednesday evening, I had the privilege of attending our county's Student Services recognition celebration. During the reception, each recipient of an award had the opportunity to speak to the entire group assembled. When it was Julie's turn to speak, she began to share how she took inspiration for her job from the 1970's TV show The Love Boat. She explained that she considers herself "Julie, the Cruise Director" of her middle school. Just like the character Julie on the Love Boat, she welcomes her new students when they come on board in 6th grade, she helps students and staff feel comfortable with the programs and events that take place in the school, she plans and coordinates activities to promote positive relationships, she checks-in with students to make sure they are being successful, and at the end of the three year journey she makes sure her students depart happy and healthy and prepared to face new challenges.

I can honestly say I never thought of school counseling in these terms, but I think this analogy is very fitting. I am a huge fan of school counselors and know just how important the role they play is in a successful middle school.

Way to go Julie...I love you and I am very proud of you!


Blogger Note:
Julie is my wife! ; )

UM's Maryland Day

Jim DeGeorge, President of C of Ed. Alumni Assoc.,
Pat Costantino, Alumni Director and me

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to return to the University of Maryland and co-host the TERP Taught Trivia game during the annual Maryland Day open-house. I had a great time working with Jim DeGeorge, President of the College of Education's Alumni Association, and other members of the university's staff.

Despite the weather, thousands of alumni and visitors came on campus to get information about the great things happening at the UM. I had a blast meeting students of all ages and testing their knowledge about the state of Maryland. I am happy to report that most visitors to the College of Education's tent performed well on this Trivia assessment and as a result walked away with a fabulous frisbee. Who could ask for more?

If you are a University of Maryland College of Education alumnus, we are looking to reconnect with you. Please send me an email if you would like information about how to get involved with the college.

Guys Night Out!

Last night, I had the opportunity to attend Running Brook Elementary School's first-ever "Guys Night Out." An evening to focus on the positive power that fathers/guardians can have if they are engaged in meaningful and healthy relationships with their son(s).

It was a powerful evening! When I arrived, the cafeteria was packed with men and the beaming faces of elementary school boys they had brought with them. After eating pizza and drinking juice boxes, Mr. Todd introduced himself and the other male staff members who were in attendance. He then shared with us all, the importance of fathers and the other significant male figures who play the "father role" in a child's life. He shared this poem:

Life LessonsYou may have thought I didn't see,
Or that I hadn't heard,
Life lessons that you taught to me,
But I got every word.Perhaps you thought I missed it all,
And that we'd grow apart,
But Dad, I picked up everything,
It's written on my heart.Without you, Dad, I wouldn't be
The (woman)(man) I am today;
You built a strong foundation
No one can take away.I've grown up with your values,
And I'm very glad I did;
So here's to you, dear father,
From your forever grateful kid.

By Joanna Fuchs
After the introductory comments were concluded, there was a rotation of various activities planned for both the men and the boys. Most of the activities were designed for both the men and the boys to work together, however, there was also time for Mr. Todd to talk to just the fathers/guardians. Mr. Whitaker, principal of Wilde Lake High School and I were invited to be participants in this portion of the evening. Fathers were invited to ask questions or share concerns. It was great to have a room full of dads talking to each other and sharing encouragement and advice about how to help their boys. Wow...a truly awesome experience for me.

I want to thank Mr. Todd for inviting me to participate in "Guys Night Out" and I want to commend him and his staff for doing such a great job providing this program for our community. I can't wait for next year!

WLMS Pride: Students Perform Well at Destination Imagination Competition

Congratulations to WLMS students Noah Bathras, Alex Berkhimer and Thomas Jessell who finished in 7th place at the Destination Imagination Maryland State Competition. I also want to thank their coach, Mr. Bathras, for helping our students and those from Clemens Crossing Elementary, Harpers' Choice Middle and Lime Kiln Middle. Way to go!

Here is a link to a great story about the competition in the Howard County Times: http://www.explorehoward.com/education/destination-imagination/


For more information about Destination Imagination, here are two links:
http://www.marylanddi.org/Home/tabid/119/Default.aspx

http://www.idodi.org/

Reading Test Dummies - NY Times OP/ED

By E.D. Hirsch, Jr.

In his recent education speech, President Obama asked the states to raise their standards and develop “assessments that don’t simply measure whether students can fill in a bubble on a test.” With the No Child Left Behind law up for reauthorization this year, the onus is now on lawmakers and educators to find a way to maintain accountability while mitigating the current tendency to reduce schooling to a joyless grind of practice exams and empty instruction in “reading strategies.”

Before we throw away bubble tests, though, we should institute a relatively simple change that would lessen the worst effects of the test-prep culture and improve education in the bargain.

These much maligned, fill-in-the-bubble reading tests are technically among the most reliable and valid tests available. The problem is that the reading passages used in these tests are random. They are not aligned with explicit grade-by-grade content standards. Children are asked to read and then answer multiple-choice questions about such topics as taking a hike in the Appalachians even though they’ve never left the sidewalks of New York, nor studied the Appalachians in school.

Teachers can’t prepare for the content of the tests and so they substitute practice exams and countless hours of instruction in comprehension strategies like “finding the main idea.” Yet despite this intensive test preparation, reading scores have paradoxically stagnated or declined in the later grades.

This is because the schools have imagined that reading is merely a “skill” that can be transferred from one passage to another, and that reading scores can be raised by having young students endlessly practice strategies on trivial stories. Tragic amounts of time have been wasted that could have been devoted to enhancing knowledge and vocabulary, which would actually raise reading comprehension scores.

To read the entire article, click here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/23/opinion/23hirsch.html?_r=1&ref=opinion

E. D. Hirsch Jr. is the author of “The Knowledge Deficit: Closing the Shocking Education Gap for American Children.”

Thanks Mark for sharing this with me!

WLMS Staff Defeat Students, Again!

Earlier this month, the WLMS Staff demonstrated that not only are they talented teachers, but gifted athletes. Our staff defeated our students again in our annual PBIS Staff vs. Students Basketball game. Despite alot of "trash talking and jawing" from some of our students, the faculty left little doubt about who owned the WLMS basketball court.

Congratulations to Mr. Walsh and all of the other members of the faculty who helped to organize this activity. To my wonderful students...there is always next year!

National Junior Honor Society Students Prepare Meals for the Homeless

At the beginning of this month, 12 members of the WLMS National Junior Honor Society prepared a meal to be served at the Grass Roots Intervention Center located here in Howard County, Maryland. The menu consisted of several delicious chicken and rice casseroles made from scratch, salad, and apple and cherry pies for dessert.

I want to thank all of the students who stayed after school to help with this important project. I also want to thank both Ms. DeForge and Ms. Baldwin for sponsoring this activity and transporting the food to the shelter. You all ROCK!