Warner Update
Making a difference, one person at a time
Passion?
I recently read an article that talked about a shift in what people choose to believe. To paraphrase the article it said:
Our society has entered an age where professional opinion and experience doesn't mean what it used to. We are now in an age where research, numbers (data) and cold hard facts are all that really matter.
Personally, I've felt this impact for some time. I'll use the example of Young 5's. What I find perplexing is, I meet with dozens of parents and discuss Young 5's. Of that group of families my perception is only 10% truly care about my professional opinion. Most parents have preconceived beliefs and a few families that are on the fence are seeking out the research or success data to validate their decision.
I've come to grips that I need to have my own professional opinion, backed by research and data.
I share that because I'm currently reading, Visible Learning for Teachers by John Hattie. Hattie is a highly acclaimed researcher that shares effect sizes for learning. He has developed the ranking system for effect sizes in education. You can see the ranks by clicking here.
Check this out...
"The act of teaching requires deliberate interventions to ensure that there is cognitive change in the student; thus the key ingredients are being aware of the learning intentions, knowing when a student is successful in attaining those intentions, having sufficient understanding of the student's prior understanding, and knowing enough about the standard to provide meaningful and challenging experiences so that there is progressive development." - John Hattie (Visible Learning for Teachers pg. 19)
Make no mistake...John Hattie is pointing directly to Tier 1 instruction with this statement. He goes on to say -
"To create such an environment, to command a range of learning strategies, and to be cognitively aware of the pedagogical means that enable the student to learn requires dedicated, passionate people. Such teachers need to be aware of which of their teaching strategies and techniques are working or not, need to be prepared to adapt to their learners, and share the experience of learning in a manner that is open, safe, and enjoyable with their students and their colleagues." - John Hattie (Visible Learning for Teachers pg. 19)
If we pull apart the word passion that is the critical word in this paragraph. Passion reflects the thrill and frustration of learning. I imagine you got into teaching to see the thrill on your students faces. However, we've all done this long enough to understand that it won't always be the thrill, sometimes we will see the frustration. We need to embrace this frustration. Frustration is a sign of passion. It means we care.
I hope you'll check out Hattie's research on Effect Sizes and I hope you will also embrace the thrill and frustration your students should be showing each and every day.
Next Week At A Glance:
Monday, Oct. 1st: Happy BDay to Brad Lenhart
Monday, Oct. 1st: M-Step Data Walk in the AM with Dan Luciani (grades 3, 4, 5)
Tuesday, Oct. 2nd: Bible Release 9am
Wednesday, Oct. 3rd: 5th Grade Camp Trip
Wednesday, Oct. 3rd: No Assembly
Wednesday, Oct. 3rd: PLC
- With your grade level partner discuss and fill out Pyramid of Support sheet
Thursday, Oct. 4th: Michigan Breakfast (3rd Grade)
Thursday, Oct. 4th: Grades 2-3 Curriculum Day at Admin
Friday, Oct. 5th: No Staff Meeting
Friday, Oct. 5th: Happy BDay to Jeff Kinney