EAST PAULDING MIDDLE SCHOOL
February 29, 2016
quote of the week
UPCOMING EVENTS
2/29/16 - 2nd Formatives Begin
3/1/16 - Teacher Work Day (Get Out and Vote Day)
3/1/16 - Voluntary Transfer Window Closes
3/3/16 - PCSD Job Fair
3/4/16 - TOTY Assembly
3/8/16 - Faculty Meeting - 7:45am
3/11/16 - Faculty Breakfast
3/14 - 3/18/16 - Conference Week - 1 Hour Early Release
THE BATTLE AGAINST BECOMING A "MONOTUNE" SCHOOL
First of all, I want to let you know that despite my awesomeness (yeah right, whatever....I know you are rolling your eyes....so am I!), I am not sponsored by Android and I prefer Apple. So as you read this and watch the video below, please know that I was not paid or compensated in any way to share the most recent Android commercial with you....now that we have those particulars out of the way, here goes....
I absolutely love piano music. Piano is part of my family, and while I don't play very well at all, I am still in awe of the music it produces and those who can truly bring music from the keys.
I say all of that because I want to share the video below with you. The Android commercial that aired during the Super Bowl and that has continued airing in a shortened format truly grabbed my attention. Not only did it grab my attention because of the sound, it grabbed my attention more so because of the message.
While it is challenging the world to celebrate differences, it has a distinct marketing message. But what about those hidden messages? You see, when I watched the commercial, I immediately thought of education and teaching. I thought about how educational reforms, evaluation instruments, and testing can seem to streamline us into "mono-tuned" robots. But just like the piano, the differences in each one of us as educators is what makes the things that happen within our building so great. If our goal was to be the same, teaching and education would be boring, and most importantly, we wouldn't provide "the music" to help students be successful. And while I encourage you to be unique as a teacher, I also want to challenge you to be unique and avoid becoming "mono-tuned" with how you teach and the strategies you use within your classroom.
Just like 88 different keys on the piano working together to make one beautiful sound, we have a building full of different educators working together to reach one common goal. If we all taught the exact same way or if we always delivered instruction and content the exact same way we would lose our audience.
Which teacher would you enjoy the most? Which teacher would your child learn from the best?.....the "mono-tuned" teacher or the teacher who could play "the music"?
I hope you all have a great weekend! Thank you for all that you do! I love it here!!!
I absolutely love piano music. Piano is part of my family, and while I don't play very well at all, I am still in awe of the music it produces and those who can truly bring music from the keys.
I say all of that because I want to share the video below with you. The Android commercial that aired during the Super Bowl and that has continued airing in a shortened format truly grabbed my attention. Not only did it grab my attention because of the sound, it grabbed my attention more so because of the message.
While it is challenging the world to celebrate differences, it has a distinct marketing message. But what about those hidden messages? You see, when I watched the commercial, I immediately thought of education and teaching. I thought about how educational reforms, evaluation instruments, and testing can seem to streamline us into "mono-tuned" robots. But just like the piano, the differences in each one of us as educators is what makes the things that happen within our building so great. If our goal was to be the same, teaching and education would be boring, and most importantly, we wouldn't provide "the music" to help students be successful. And while I encourage you to be unique as a teacher, I also want to challenge you to be unique and avoid becoming "mono-tuned" with how you teach and the strategies you use within your classroom.
Just like 88 different keys on the piano working together to make one beautiful sound, we have a building full of different educators working together to reach one common goal. If we all taught the exact same way or if we always delivered instruction and content the exact same way we would lose our audience.
Which teacher would you enjoy the most? Which teacher would your child learn from the best?.....the "mono-tuned" teacher or the teacher who could play "the music"?
I hope you all have a great weekend! Thank you for all that you do! I love it here!!!
Android: The Making of "Monotune"
Click for info on the PCSD Voluntary Transfer Process
The Voluntary Transfer Form is now available. For questions, please contact HR and we will be happy to assist. This link is also available on the INTRANET.
PL Follow-Up From Friday
Thank you for your participation in Friday's PL activity. Mrs. Davies was very complimentary of our staff, your professionalism, and your willingness to listen, ask questions, and provide feedback.
With that, I wanted to follow-up with a few things we talked about after school.
Lesson Plans - Isn't it amazing how important they are? When you don't have a lesson plan to go by (or you have a poor plan), it is difficult to truly see the intent behind what the teacher is doing.
Differentiation - To know if you are truly providing differentiated opportunities, remember to ask yourself these 3 questions:
1. What is the need?
2. How did I identify it?
3. What did I do to address it?
When visiting classrooms, those who are observing should always be able to see Standard 3, Instructional Strategies, and Standard 7, Positive Learning Environment.
I appreciate the feedback we have received regarding this PL session. I am hoping we can continue to bridge the gap and tackle TKES as a team!
With that, I wanted to follow-up with a few things we talked about after school.
Lesson Plans - Isn't it amazing how important they are? When you don't have a lesson plan to go by (or you have a poor plan), it is difficult to truly see the intent behind what the teacher is doing.
Differentiation - To know if you are truly providing differentiated opportunities, remember to ask yourself these 3 questions:
1. What is the need?
2. How did I identify it?
3. What did I do to address it?
When visiting classrooms, those who are observing should always be able to see Standard 3, Instructional Strategies, and Standard 7, Positive Learning Environment.
I appreciate the feedback we have received regarding this PL session. I am hoping we can continue to bridge the gap and tackle TKES as a team!
Electronic Sign-In - the old method is dead
Don't forget to sign in electronically each morning!
Electronic sign-in
Happy Birthday!
3/3/16 - Deanne Soeder
3/4/16 - Ian Lewis
Happy Birthday Video
follow epms on twitter - @epmsraiders
Contact Information for Tom Alverson
Email: talverson@paulding.k12.ga.us
Website: http://www.paulding.k12.ga.us/Domain/29
Phone: 678-350-8027
Twitter: @epmsraiders