This past year in science...

I typed out an entire blog post that reflected on this past year as a first time science teacher, but I think the pic captures most of how the year went! It was 'live'!!

This past year in science...

I typed out an entire blog post that reflected on this past year as a first time science teacher, but I think the pic captures most of how the year went! It was 'live'!!

Whats that???

I am a self-admitted Geek for early learning, particularly literacy! I am on the trolley with a annoyingly loud 2 year old and her older sister of about 7 or 8 years of age, and their father. Two is on the lap of Eight. In between some random screams, reaching notes not yet created by the Lord, they begin to engage in a "what's that" dialogue. I'm beaming inwardly because I know that *this* is real learning!!

"What's that?"
"Say grass..."
"Grass. What's that?"
"Car"
"What's that?"
Say skyline..."
"What's that?"
"Uhhhh {looking at one of the University of the Sciences buildings and not yet knowing the proper noun} building."

Talk. THIS is what's it's all about at this (and other) stages of a child's life! Early literacy starts here!! Talking with young children, NOT instagramming or tweeting as you hold your infant (a scene that ticked me off yesterday).

The converastion was laden with vocabulary and the idea that things have names. Eventually that will turn into names having characters associated with them that can be read and carry meaning.

I should go over to Eight and ask her to give Two a standardized test and eliminate some choices then write an expose and remember to begin by 'TAG'ing it a 3...or is it 4?

The dialogue continues...
"What's that?"
"Sidewalk."
"What's that..."

I taught the kid who...

A little edu-nightcap-
Every time I watch the news and hear of some problem or another, I comment, "I taught the kid who will come up with that solution!"

Be it a deadly virus outbreak, some catostrophe to which a solution for avoiding it has yet to be discovered, or the next "big thing" in technology, I taught the kid who'll come up with the solution!

Who? Take your pick!

I met @TheJLV today!

I just arrived home from two events. The second event was a book talk/conversation held at an independent book seller on South Street here in Philly. It was there that I met social justice/public education activist Jose Luis Vilson out of New York.

I consider myself very fortunate to have been in the company of a great, sincere, and unashamedly vocal opponent of much of the school "deform" craze, taking this country by the throat, choking the life out of kids, teachers, schools, and communities and calling it good for us (but many of their kids aren't subject to the same "goodies", hmm).

I'm looking forward to reading his book, This Is Not A Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and Education.

What I appreciated most about what I heard tonight was his focus on "the classroom" and on pedagogy. We're activists, yes. But the adult and the "30, 60, 90, 150 students" (as he put it, and is true) we see daily in the confounds of room...ahem...105, or 207...is where is starts! The policies, the politics, the philanthropy or lack thereof, the diminishing funds, and all of the other "stuff" has some (a lot, depending on the teacher) impact on the daily goings-on inside of each and every public school classroom.

I heard him mention shielding our students from the madness; a thought and belief to which I do my level best to adhere!

When the question was asked from a teacher-activist, what should we focus on? Coupled with, "how do we decide what to focus on?" given that there are so many fires in Philly to put out (school closings, mass layoffs, underfunding, lack of nurses/counselors, etc. etc. etc.). His reply? "Bring it back to the classroom." Not making our students these mini-activists, but rather focus on teaching and learning, from there build the conversations and organize.

So many great things said tonight. While I follow him on twitter, read his tweets and have read some blog posts, I look forward to the book and catching up on all of his online work that I haven't read yet.

Out of control!!

I can't right now! This little boy is dead as a result of a "baby daddy" who shot and killed him. He was celebrating his 5th birthday if I'm not mistaken!This same fool shot the mother of his child before turning the gun on himself! WHY for the love of all things sacred are these KIDS being killed left and right in this region!?!?

Not again!

Dear Keiearra, Thomas, and Terrence,
I really am at a lost for words! No words can describe the pain and the anguish your family and this city is experiencing right now! No words can describe the agony of your friends and classmates who won't see you for another "First Day of School". Unfortunately, the teacher won't be calling your names for you to say "here". Instead, in terms of walking, talking, and laughing with your friends in the classroom and school yard, you're "absent" and that makes a whole lot of us sad! Where you exist and forever will exist is in the hearts and memories of those who knew you!

Those guys who stole a car, then lost control, hit you all and ran, they are the jerks and cowards! Instead of working hard to get what they want out of life like y'all did, they decided they'd rather take from people! They took a car, but most importantly, they took you guys away from us and that's not cool at all yo! Real rap! IT'S NOT COOL!!!!! They took!!! They took!!! They took!!!! They took y'all away from your mother, your friends, your family, your neighborhood, your school, your future!!! Those scumbags took from us!!

Don't worry though! We've got some good detectives and prosecutors out there! I hope they take their freedom, if not more than that for taking y'all away from us!

Tonight I prayed. I prayed that all of this nonsense would stop! When I prayed, I cried tonight, thinking about you.

Rest Well Dear Hearts!

~Mr. Steve