Every teacher I know has a reason for becoming a teacher, and it generally relates to an educator who made an impact on him or her.  (Sometimes positive, sometimes negative…)

Who was your North Star inspiration?  Who made an impact on your life, and helped you realize teaching was for you?

I know I post a lot of articles, but finding North Star Schools in the news (even when they don’t call themselves North Star Schools) brightens my day.  I hope it gives all of you a dose of daily joy too!

 Of note in this article, about a small learner-centered school, based on cultivating a love of learning and catering to the creative and intellectual needs of the students, is:

“The community aspect is a huge part of our program,” Esch said. “They strengthen each other in different ways … There are so many advantages to the small school setting.”

Question of the day: of course small school settings are preferable, but what are some ways a larger school (which is often unavoidable) can create that community aspect?  Succes stories, anyone?

It’s almost the end of August, and those of you who haven’t started school yet are probably preparing!

Are you using the North Star Approach this fall?  Now’s the time to share your plans, or other sites where you find resources.  How did you, or how will you start off the year?

(In related news, here’s an interesting suggestion for how to develop a better budget to support field trips for hands-on learning experiences!)

A few weeks ago I found an interesting article on the renewed, and slightly altered, No Child Left Behind bill.  The article looked promising.  As the vote draws near, more and more is being written about it, and everywhere I look I find more stories, many from teachers, about the affects of the bill on technology and creativity, and therefore hands-on learning.

 This morning I read an article concerning a tech teacher. When I was in school, we spent tech class drawing blueprints and building spice racks, but not these days!  According to Bob McDaniels, a tech teacher in Pennsylvania, tech now ALWAYS means technology - even when building a spice rack, students start with the computer.  This struck me for three reasons.

1. It’s immensely practical - a word all too seldom used in school.  It combines the joy of building with research, and in Bob McDaniel’s case, scientific research (he says the students, for example, research birds in order to build the apropriate bird house for the species they select).

2. It’s an odd, and perhaps therefore GOOD, marriage of intelligences.  Tech class (the old form) relied on being good with your hands, and being spatially able to visualize and create.  Technology class (the new form) still holds onto that, but adds research and reading (for an authentic task) and categorizing the information.

3. McDaniels said that according to NCLB, technology education is mandatory - which means that NCLB is what is causing this practical, odd, and good combination of multiple intelligences.  Since when does the NCLB inspire creative classrooms?!

The second article I saw today seemed to me cause for optimism, though wary.  George Miller, a democratic representative in California, plans to propose “more rigorous standards that reflect the needs of 21st-century learners.”

The optimism?  21st-century-learners are hands-on learners, creative, analytical, collaborating learners, requiring multiple froms of assessment.  Every school should be incorporating 21st-century skills in their lessons; FableVision’s North Star Inspiration for the Classroom is currently being revised to that end.

And yet, I’m wary.  The term “more rigorous” is triggering this.  What training are the teachers receiving to help them completely revamp their classrooms?  When will the school districts be given enough government funding to buy new supplies, technology, software, and all the rest to support these advanced standards.  I’m not sure we’re ready to change the standards yet.  First the tools and strategies need to be put in place.

It will be a great day when schools have all the money they need, and the military has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomb.  Not sure who said it, but it’s very true…

What have your experiences been with NCLB?  How has it affected your school?

As we rebuild the North Star Community of Practice site, I’d love to hear from folks who may have used the beta and alpha sites. What did you like on those sites that you’d like to see on this site? What features - in general - would you like to see here to make the site more useful? What would you need to make you more comfortable joining in the discussions - or posting a blog entry? Don’t hold back - we have teams of designers, programmers and creative folk who are ready to “build to suit.”

We’re all ears - and ready to make this a site that takes good care of you. Our goal is to keep you inspired, informed and ready to keep fighting the good fight as your reach and support ALL learners. (Remember - your comments can be short - any feedback is great!)

Paul

P.S.  If you have any trouble logging in, just email me directly and I’ll take care of it - paul@fablevision.com.   : )

The tragedy of the bridge collapsing in Minneapolis last night is a horrifying event - almost too large and frightening to process.  All morning I watched interviews with survivors, each looking more traumatized than the last, each unable to comprehend what he or she had lived through.

But the beacon of light and hope through this was the bus of 52 children and 9 adults, all of whom exited the bus and escaped with only 8 injuries among them, and no casualties.  It certainly makes you stop, take a moment, and think.

For me, it made me remember how unique and special each of those children are, and it made me wonder what effect this tragedy had - is still having - on each of them.  How does such a rescue, such a lucky chance, affect your North Star?

I think this is true of teacher’s as well; sometimes a specific event changes everything, the way we see life and ourselves, the way we prioritize.   Please, share your stories.  Have you experienced anything that moved your North Star?  Have any of your students?