"Reflecting" in order to move forward with Parent Engagement

In order to move any initiative, program, or practice forward you must always begin with the “reflection” piece. As a reflective practitioner I am using part of the summer to learn more about and reflect upon the parent engagement piece of the total school community here at Francis Howell Middle School. To help me with this reflection, I’ve joined 99 other educators from around the world. We are participating in a six week intensified book study. We are gleaning our understanding from Anne Henderson and Karen Mapp, authors of Beyond the Bake Sale.

Joe Mazza is leading out and facilitating our study via #PTcamp, Voxer, GoogleDocs, and ApprenNet.  We’ve learned that there are four types of schools: Partnership School, Open-Door School, Come If-We-Call School, and the Fortress School. The chart below, from Beyond the Bake Sale, provides a clear explanation of each type of school.

In moving our school forward to become a full-fledged Partnership School, we must do the following:

·         Review the current role of our parents within the school setting in the areas of: Volunteering, Student-Led Conferences, Parent Development, Building-wide leadership (Building Improvement Group), Celebrations, Fund Raising, and Community Service.

·         Assess, review, and evaluate PTO and its role within the school

o   How can we take PTO to the next level?

·         Assess, review, and evaluate the Parent Involvement Team (PIT). Our PIT team is part of the National Network of Partnership Schools with Johns Hopkins University.

o   How can we take PIT to the next level?

·         Develop and implement a long-range plan

o   Set it into motion utilizing the skills, talents, and knowledge of each school community group.

This reflection, a growing and changing process, will  take time. In looking at the next three to five years, we can begin now by reflecting on our current practices so that we can move towards becoming a Partnership School.  I am looking forward in engaging as many parents, staff, students, and community members in this process. After all, shouldn’t we include our parents in the “complete” educational experience of their children?

"To Vox or Not to Vox?" that is the Question

Lately I’ve been reading quite a bit on the flutter of tweets, blog posts and chats that are focused on the prospects of “Voxer”. As always we are all over the place in regards to our thoughts, ideas, and opinions. I just want to put it “out there” that when I first heard of Voxer (last fall) I was very apprehensive and skeptical. Now after using it for my professional PLN collaboration, I now see its value and worth through a completely different lens.

Voxer is an application that uses the traditional “Walkie Talkie” format of communication. Voxer has transformed this communication style to blend in with today’s communication needs. Both audio and text features are readily available. So you can send an audio message, a text message, or send a little of both. All audio and text messages are archived within your individual or group list. You can access your Vox reports (as I like to call it) at any time. You can also set up push notification so that you are notified when you receive a Vox.

Here are a few ways to incorporate Voxer into your communication plan:

Book Study: Right Now #PTcamp (under the leadership of @Joe_Mazza) is studying “Beyond the Bake Sale”. We have 100 adult learners participating. This is just one of many tools that we will be utilizing for the book study.

Chat Moderator Team: This is an effective and efficient way to share information with your moderator team. Thanks to @LauraGilchrist4, our #MOedchat team is now using Voxer. It allows us the time to Vox with each other, reflect, and continue our work.

Leadership Team: create a group (for your Admin team, Department Chairs, Grade Level Chairs) so that you can share out information.

Personal Use: Your family can all communicate together. It’s also great to simple “hear” the other person’s voice! This increases the personal contact.

I am just asking that you try it out. You may enjoy using Voxer and again you may not. I think it’s important to at least investigate the possibilities of Voxing. You never know who you may be able to reach or connect with by using Voxer as another 21^st century communication tool. Take time to answer William Shakespeare’s timeless question (modified for us today): To Vox or Not to Vox?

I Love being an educator because...

I get the opportunity each day to open windows of opportunities …listen to students tell their story …to learn something “new” in the classroom from my teachers …to lead out change …and to see the proverbial light bulb turn on!

I also owe my educational career to the exemplary teachers in my life: Mrs. Steinhoff (3^rd), Mrs. Sanz-Agero (5^th) Mr. Davis (6^th Science) Mr. Oliver (6-12 band), and Mr. Mauer (History). They all set the bar high, they were beyond reproach. Their expectations, love, and passion for teaching were real, sincere, and genuine. They were my “champions”. They instilled in me the belief that I could set challenging goals, overcome obstacles, and become the Leader that was within Me!

 

Today, and every day I learn something new from my students, staff, and administrative team. This is great because I love learning. I am an administrator because I was “called to teach”. I firmly believe being an educator is my true purpose in life. I get to cheer on the learners in my school. I get go celebrate the successes and I get to implement innovation and change.

 

Each August I get to begin the journey again! It is fresh, new, innovative, and exciting. Where else would I get the chance to positively impact so many of tomorrow’s leaders? I get to share in “dream building”, character development, and the cultivation of the “Leader in Me” within all of my students.

 

I love being an educator because each day, week, month, and year I get to experience the “magic" known as education! I love being an educator because I have the best professional mentors in the world – my students and teachers!

Blaze a new trail...

Ralph Waldo Emerson is one of my favorite authors. His writing is truly timeless. He tells us, “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” I firmly believe what he is telling us. It is our duty and responsibility as educators to blaze a new trail for our students and adult learners.

Captain Kirk, of the Starship Enterprise told us, “…to boldly go where no man has gone before.”

Albert Einstein notes, “The only source of knowledge is experience.”

Alan Key explains, “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”

So as you plan your summer for rest, relaxation and renewal (learning from your PLN) take the time to figure out what you can to take your “game” to the next level this fall.  Here are a few ideas…

Book Discussion: Join a book study/discussion. Learn alongside your colleagues this summer. I am fortunate enough to be working alongside @DJrschug, @JoyWright91, and @AnthonyDeblasio as we plan a July Book Study for Danah Boyd’s It’s Complicated. The summer is the perfect time to sit back and enjoy a good book, and take some time to discuss it with your PLN.

Coordinate/Participate: in a combo chat. Join up with another chat this summer. Several states, groups, and organizations have already started this trend in PLN collaboration. Check it out. Several chats are being set up as you are reading this blog post. One example: #Moedchat and #Txed are working to host a July combo chat!

Learn a new social media skill: Take a look at Augmented Reality. Try your hand at LiveBinders or Evernote. Or simply see what you can do with flipagram and Tellagami. They are all powerful tools that can enhance the work you do with students and colleagues.

Write a Blog Post: This is the best way to share out what you are doing, learning, and accomplishing. We learn from each other and a blog post is the best way for us to learn from each other. I know I enjoy seeing what my PLN is doing in the way of blogging!

Become the Lewis and Clark of the 21^st century as you blaze a new trail this summer. I look forward to “reading” all about your journey!