Man…no matter what my intentions, I always end up putting off writing. My last post was over a year ago and I wrote about the big changes coming in my life. Well, those changes happened all right. Working at New Tech was an amazing experience. The kids were awesome, the staff was amazing and the school was more successful than any of us thought it could be. We even were named an Exemplary campus during our first year. The year offically ends tomorrow, at least for the kids, so it’s ironic that I just discovered this post after a year away.
One of my students pointed me to her blog…so I figure if she can do it, so can I. Since it’s summertime, I might have some time on my hands to write about the events of my busy life.
I also started the PhD program. Good stuff. I work really hard while also trying to work full-time, but it’s a great experience. I’m already 21 hours into the program. Pretty good for the first year.
That’s it for now. I’m sure I will write more as the summer goes along.
Well, it’s been a while since I posted…doesn’t that sound like a broken record. Big changes are in store for me over the next couple of months. I’m leaving my small little East Texas town and moving back to the city…or at least the suburbs. I’m taking a new job at a school district in North Texas…one of the state’s best and I’m a part of opening a new school what will be teaching in a non-traditional way, pretty good for a non-traditional guy. The school will be focusing on Project Based Learning, something that is getting some buzz in educational circles right now. Basically, PBL is letting the students take control of their learning. Instead of sitting in a classroom all day listening to teachers spout the material to them, they go out and find the material themselves and then they do something with that they have learned in a more real-world environment. Of course, it’s a little more detailed and more complicated than just what I’ve explained, but that’s the main idea anyway. I’m so excited to be going to this new school, but also extremely sad to be leaving my current students. This year was one of my best crops of kids and I hate to be leaving them when they have so much potential for college. I hope that the school does a better job of getting college information to them and are not simply satisfied with tracking them all towards the junior college.
At the same time, I will be starting work on a PhD in the fall. I can’t believe I actually wrote that last sentence, but it’s true. I finished my Master’s work and will not continue working on my post grad education work at the next level. I’m going to the University of North Texas which has an excellent education program and I look forward to the opportunities I will have going to school there.
So…changes are about. I will try and write more, a promise I have tried to keep before. I really need to document the next year. It will be busy, but also so interesting that I really should write it all down somewhere.
This is Riley Dodge, from Southlake Carrol High School. He committed to play at the University of Texas, but his dad, who was his coach in this game, was hired as the head coach at The University of North Texas. So the kid switched his commitment. You can’t argue his reasoning.
Anyway, this was a play towards the end of the 5A Texas State Championship game. YouTube makes it a little hard to see, but the replay makes it very clear…just watch the QB right before the snap to see what a gamer this kid is.
This is Chris Knight. He is currently blowing away my ipod with his amazing songs. I’m just upset that I haven’t discovered him sooner. Where have I been?
(You can’t watch this video in my blog. Just double click the image and it will take you to YouTube and you can watch it there. Enjoy.
Well, I did it today. I splurged about bought a new computer. It’s a Sony Vaio, just a much newer, smaller, faster and cooler version of the laptop I bought in 2001. So far I’m happy with this computer, although Vista is still something I’m trying to get used to a little bit. So far, the computer screams and I’m having a good time with it, even though I should probably be in bed right now. The keyboard is also a little different, so I’m having to get used to it too. Over the next couple of days, I hope to have most of my software and files on this computer, and I’m going to try and be extra careful with what I put on this bad boy. Hopefully not too much spyware and viruses for me. Anyway, that’s about it. As I learn more, and I’m sure there are some very cool things on this computer, then I will write about them. Until then, wish me luck with my new machine.
I’ve been working on my Master’s degree for a while now…and I should finish next May. Now I’m looking at other graduate schools to attend for my PhD. Last week, I went to Austin and looked at University of Texas. It’s of course one of the best colleges in the nation, and I’m not sure my GRE scores will be high enough to get in, although I haven’t taken the test yet so who knows. I’m also interested in North Texas University in Denton, a few miles north of Dallas. I have a visit scheduled with them in about a week and a half. I have to decide if I can change my lifestyle that drastically. Most of the programs I’m interested in are full-time, which means I probably couldn’t teach high school. Although most of the programs do offer fellowships where I could teach undergraduate courses or assist with research. I will know more after my visits, but I feel like there is more that I need to be doing in education and getting my PhD can take me down the path I think I want to go. It just gives me even more options to pursue whether I want to teach, do research or help develop policy in the future.
But it’s also very scary. So I’ll just have to see.
For my current issues in education class I’m taking this summer, we are being asked to read the book “Shame of the Nation” by Jonathan Kozol. Kozol has written many books on education and he definitely writes from a liberal slant. No matter however, because whether you are liberal or conservative, the only way you can really take issue with his latest books is if you are a racist.
Shame looks at how schools in America have been re-segregated, despite the fact that most American’s, at least those in middle and upper class communities, don’t know it. I’m only a few chapters into the book, but what Kozol writes about is shameful, depressing and shocking. Many of these students in inner-city and poor schools don’t have a prayer at making something of themselves simply because of the zipcode and race they were born into.
I used to think that our system in America set up everyone to succeed if they worked hard enough. I still believe that is the case, but I’ve learned after six years in the classroom and now through much research and reading that kids that weren’t born in communities like the ones I lived in have so many more roadblocks in their way to success. I can’t say that I would be where I am today if I were born somewhere else and was a different skin color.
I know our system isn’t perfect and that kids will always slip through the cracks. I’m not going to try and suggest that we truly leave “no child behind”. It’s gonna happen. But the system we have in place now, this real No Child Left Behind legislation and other noneducational policies set up children of color and of poor backgrounds to fail. It is almost impossible for many of them to make it out. We have to change.
Wow. It sure has been a long time since I wrote anything on this site. Although I always say I’m going to write more, I never do. However, I might attempt to do more in the future. Who know.
Much has happened over the last year. I had a terrific job offer to go teach at another school and run its English dept. but I turned it down. I’m not sure why I keep turning down jobs, but I do. Something in that Malakoff water I suppose. Anyway, I’ll be starting year number 6 at Malakoff in about a month or so. Hard to believe.
I’ve also been working hard on my Master’s degree in education. I look to be finished sometime next May. I’m toying with the idea of continuing on and earning a PhD but it will also require a drastic lifestyle change…something I’m not sure I can handle or not right now. Anyway, to even think about it at this stage is amazing considering the last 15 years of my life and how school didn’t factor in much.
So, I will try and write more. I know those have been empty promises in the past, but I enjoy writing and actually have some ideas to write about now…especially in education, so who knows. Perhaps this blog will turn into something more than I originally envisioned.
Well, I’ve been gone a while again. No excuses, just haven’t been online. I had a relaxing Thanksgiving break just taking it easy with family and friends.
School is back in the swing of things for a while until Christmas. Our last day is the 21st. The kids are getting rowdy so it will be nice to get away for a while when the break starts.
This is all I have for right now…I’m also testing some new blog editing software. So far it seems to work. We’ll see soon.
