The Second Day of School

As the new school year begins, I have these big overarching questions hanging over me.  I ask myself and anyone that will listen, What are we doing?  Why are we doing it?  What are we doing it for?  

Big and general yes, but what good are small and specific questions.  These questions came about the second day of school as I was sitting and consoling a crying Kindergartner.  She wanted to go home, normal for immature students.  Because there was only about 40 minutes before the end of the school day, I was going to sit with her and stay until the parents are here to pick her up.  So, is the case with criers, you have to distract them from why they are crying with miscellaneous familiar conversation, What is your brothers name?, How old are you?, Who brings you to school?, etc.  

Over the course of the 40 minutes, this five-year old, on the second day of school, was able to tell me the names of most of her classmates, what students were doubles, two of the same names, who the smart kids were and who weren't so smart.  She came forward with the truth on a few lies she told earlier during her emotionally distressed period, "I lied, I do have friends."  Then the full blown conversation comes forth about family, friends and anything else that comes to mind.  Also, during this conversion, the student says on at least two occasions, that she is bored.  This is the statement that makes me ask the above questions.  

A students, at the age of five, who, on the second day of school has assessed the class and her classmates says she is bored, I have to listen and ask those questions.  Some of the other reflective  questions I ask are, How do we capture and maintain the interest and intelligence of this five year old?  Why is it that students like this in Kindergarten don't have the same kind of verve in the subsequent grades?  What do we do to them?  It reminds me of a quote "Children come to us, in schools, as an explanation point.  And they leave as a period." 

I come full circle and ask those big questions, What are we doing?, Why are we doing it?, What are we doing it for?  Please help me answer these questions.  It is a big dialogue, and I need as much input as you can give me.

Back to School

It's August.  

Being a third generation educator, August is Back-to-School season.  It is a time to wind down the summer.  A gradual feeling of the beginning of the end, of long days, of late nights, of flexible schedules and of sleeping until you feel like waking up.  Some of the minor joys of being an educator and sharing the youthful schools-out-for-summer feeling.  But August, Back-to-School season, is also a time to mentally prepare for the next school year.  As an elementary school principal, I'm back at the school site making preparations and plans for the coming school year. Talking to potential parents about the new school year, to contractors about finishing up to have a school ready for students and a few other odds and ends.  

This year I have focused on book that I bought last year but just have time to read, Reinventing Project-Based Learning.  Your Field Guide to Real-World Projects in the digital Age by Suzie Boss and Jane Krauss.  I was bitten.  This book is the reason I started the blog.  The book spoke to me as an educator.  The idea of collaborating with others to develop a project or learning was something I have been starving for.  As an administrator, we are more isolated than teachers.  My first thought was I must do this with my staff.  My thoughts were on how to roll out this book in the limited time we have for Professional Development.   I'm the type that likes to build additions to the ship while we are sailing.  My staff, as a whole is not.  So, I've had to slow down and soak it up myself before sharing this.  

So, I will be blogging my thoughts and invite comments and suggestions on them.