Learn, Teach, Tech.

Unused Wi-Fi?

2012-02-09T18:24:00.000-08:00

The Minneapolis Star Tribune recently published an article about unused Wi-Fi in the city. You can read the story here.

Here's the background: Over the past 3 or 4 years, the city of Minneapolis has invested in and rolled out Wireless Minneapolis. The goal is to have every inch of Minneapolis covered in a wireless signal. It's ambitious but something that is extremely awesome.

The article stated that the city is paying for bandwidth that it will never use. Thankfully, it is being stockpiled for use at a later date.

Why is it just sitting? Why aren't we putting all this unused Wi-Fi to work to benefit people? Why? Why? Why?

Here are my thoughts:

Donate the unused Wi-Fi to the school district. Teachers don't have access to You Tube in the classroom. This might be due to trust issues. However, it is also because of bandwidth issues. If every teacher uses You Tube, it will hog bandwidth. If we connect to the unused city Wi-Fi, then there is no issue and teaching is that much better.
Give public school students and families free access to the unused Wi-Fi. Wouldn't it be great for teachers and students to know that they don't have to worry about internet access outside of school? Students would surely watch some You Tube videos but they could also complete Moodle assignments, blog what is happening outside of school, or *gasp* collaborate with classmates outside of the classroom.
We have an awesome park system in Minneapolis. It truly is incredible. Why not create outdoor classroom spaces in these parks?
Wireless Minneapolis donates the unused Wi-Fi to the school district. The schools open up their computer labs in the evenings for families and students to come in and work. They agree to provide a staff person or two to monitor the equipment.

And my ultimate dream:

Create a partnership between the Minneapolis Public Schools, Wireless Minneapolis, and the good people at Google Education. Here's how it works: Google gives students a great deal on a Chromebook. Minneapolis Public Schools underwrites the cost and shares it with the family (perhaps on a sliding fee scale based on Free/Reduced lunch eligibility). Wireless Minneapolis gives each public school enrolled family a Wireless Minneapolis account. This is a win for everyone involved. Google makes money and has a feel good story. Minneapolis Public Schools shows that it is advancing tech-literate students. Wireless Minneapolis showcases it network and possibly makes future subscribers. The City of Minneapolis shows a huge commitment to the young people of Minneapolis.

There. Let's' think outside the box. Let's improve the future for young people Let's use resources that we have for the good of the City.

Huh?

2012-02-09T17:50:00.000-08:00

I don't really want to say where I saw this but I assure you it is real. It exists. It is taped to a door. There are many sheets of paper to rip off, like a desk calendar. If you can't read the bottom, it says:

"Pass the test, go to Valley Fair free!"

Please share this. This is what is wrong with education, in so many hundreds of ways.

24/365

2012-02-04T12:45:00.001-08:00

"Workshop End"
January 29, 2012
iPhone 4

23/365

2012-02-04T12:43:00.001-08:00

"Big as Your Head"
January 31, 2012
iPhone 4

22/365

2012-02-04T12:42:00.001-08:00

"Hmmm..."
February 4, 2012
iPhone 4

I Know Them Better

2012-01-27T11:00:00.000-08:00

I Know Them Better

The monitors flicker and shine.
Shades down blocking all reality.
White walls, white computers, white ceiling, white floor, keyboard mouse.
Florescent light rains down on young minds.
Lips tremble and mumble.
Anxious fingers tap and click.
Chairs slide, feet shuffle, eyelids dance from word to word.
Read. Decide. Click. Next. Wait.
A score from a mouse?
We can't help you?
Collaboration at it's worst.
Proctor pacing, watching, stopping.
Multiple choice defines you?
One hour, 42 questions, on a Friday afternoon?
Telling ME about Them?

20/365

2012-01-27T06:20:00.001-08:00

"Agreed"
January 27, 2012
iPhone 4

19/365

2012-01-27T06:19:00.001-08:00

"Technology?"
January 26, 2012
iPhone 4

Issues!

2012-01-24T17:36:00.000-08:00

Today was the unveiling of the new MrKnaus.com. I was excited, nervous and anxious. I saw a few students on the stairs going to class and several of them said they had already looked at the site and had questions. Imagine. Students looking at a classroom website during non-class hours. Be still my heart!

I quickly found out that I had it set up quite wrong. I had all the warm-up pages together, all the lesson plans together, and all the exit slips together. Thankfully, I was using Weebly and it was a simple as dragging pages around to make it work. Problems happened about half way through moving pages around. Weebly went down. It was only down for about 30 minutes and I think it may have just been my account. That impacted my plan for one of my classes (with a district director observing). We plowed through with other things though and survived.

Now I have all the information for one class listed together: lesson plan, warm-up, sample blog and exit slips. It seems to be a better fit.

I also pointed out the links to Facebook and Twitter even though they don't show up at school. So far, I've got no new followers on either page. I hope that a few take it on as they were the students were the ones who requested it.

18/365

2012-01-24T14:27:00.001-08:00

"Fishing for People"
January 22, 2012
iPhone 4

17/365

2012-01-24T14:26:00.001-08:00

"Arising"
January 24, 2012
iPhone 4

16/365

2012-01-24T14:24:00.001-08:00

"Left Behind, Again"
January 24, 2012
iPhone 4

Starting Fresh

2012-01-24T04:42:00.000-08:00

Today is the start of Second Semester! I'm starting a bunch of new things. Some of them borrowed from elementary school, some of them technology pieces. All of them to try to engage middle school students.

I've moved most of my website things from a hodgepodge of different sites to Weebly. There is still a lesson plan blog but it moved from Blogger. There's a Warm-up Blog but it moved from the student blogs. I've also updated my homepage to be simpler and more easily redirect students to Weebly. You can see it at mrknaus.com.
This is where I'm taking a risk. I've got one class that consistently doesn't turn in homework. They know how to do it and they get it. However, they don't get it turned in. I've created a classroom Facebook page and classroom Twitter page. I'll be posting assignments in both spots. The majority of my students have Facebook pages. This seems like a great way to connect with students. We'll see how it goes. I put links on my Weebly page.
Texting goes right to the students pockets. I'm going to be using Google Voice to send out text messages to those students who are willing to share their cell phone number. This seems to be the best way to connect with students and really make sure that it gets to them. Using Google Voice allows me to do this without using my personal cell phone.
For the first time in my life, I've created a Room 254 Newsletter that will go home on Mondays. This is the first assignment for the quarter. Parents have some things to fill out on the back and turn in.
I'm going to send home a robo-voicemail this afternoon for each student. Just to let them know who I am, how to contact me and what the homework for the night is.
Competition. I'm setting up groups in each class. Each group can earn points. The group with the most points at the end of 4 weeks gets some sort of prize. I think I will do this with each class too. They will earn points from homework completion, being on time, perfect attendance, cooperating, and other things.

I just realized that this is a lot of things. The only things that are truly new are the competition, the newsletter, and texting. I've been doing all the other things right along but will be putting more effort into them now.

I'll be updating everyone on the results and pitfalls in the coming weeks.

Picture Project - 15/365

2012-01-19T13:36:00.001-08:00

"Paperless Classroom"
January 19, 2012
iPhone 4

Picture Project - 14/365

2012-01-19T12:44:00.001-08:00

"Inspiration"
January 19, 2012
iPhone 4

Picture Project - 12/365

2012-01-19T11:31:00.003-08:00

"Screaming Arrival" or "Instant Timeout"
January 18, 2012
iPhone 4

Picture Project - 13/365

2012-01-19T11:31:00.001-08:00

"Apology?"
January 18, 2012
iPhone 4

Hi, my name is Ben. I'm a Teacher Leader

2012-01-12T13:30:00.000-08:00

[This post is not in any way intended to offend my principal or assistant principal. I know that they are simply doing their job.]

Hi, my name is Ben, I'm a teacher leader.

On December 20th, my principal and assistant principal were both standing at my door during one of my classes. As a teacher, this isn't something that you want to see. I quickly scanned through the past couple days and couldn't think of anything that warranted this visit. Of course, that's the first thing that I thought of though. How am I in trouble?

I quickly got the class started on an activity and went into the hallway for a "chat." As it turns out, they both consider me a "teacher leader." Now, I'm no dummy. I know what this means. My reply, "What meeting do you want me to attend?"

I spent December 22nd in a meeting with all the principals, assistant principals and invited "teacher leaders" for a 6 hour meeting. We discussed how to get all the area schools on the same page in terms of curriculum and expectations. Six hours.

I understand the administrative point of view.

However, here's my point of view: I'm considered a high quality "teacher leader" whose opinion you value (this is tough you to define; it could be so many people). I'm valued enough to be pulled out of my classroom for a whole day two days before winter break when I'm trying to finish up projects. I'm valued enough to be replaced by a guest teacher.

I very intentionally don't have a principal's license. I very intentionally don't apply for any administrative positions. I want to be in my classroom with my students. Not sitting in a meeting planning things that will probably be flipped flopped several times.

Hi, my name is Ben. I'm a teacher leader.

Yesterday, I had our district AVID director and two associate AVID district directors in my classroom. I also had the Minnesota AVID director. My AVID classes were chosen to be observed by district leaders for the Minnesota director. My students and tutors had the opportunity to demonstrate all the great things that are happening in the AVID classroom. I had the chance to talk with the MN director about what is working, what isn't working, and the things that we've done this year.

This, to me, is a much more acceptable way to treat the teacher leaders. My door, literally, is always open. I've gone through three Jenga pieces this year propping my door open. (Those little Jenga pieces are perfect for holding my door open. Go figure.) Anyone is welcome in my room at any time. I'm not going to change my instruction because I know you are coming. I'll gladly talk to you about my struggles and successes. I'll openly tell you what I don't like and do like. I'll intently listen to your feedback.

Hi, my name is Ben. I'm a teacher leader.

Two scenarios. Two different ways to treat teacher leaders. If I truly am a teacher leader, I know what I prefer.

Hi, my name is Ben. I'm a teacher leader.

Picture Project - 11/365

2012-01-11T18:41:00.001-08:00

"Relax Teacher"
Knaus House Basement, 1/11/12
iPhone 4

Picture Project - 10/365

2012-01-10T19:36:00.001-08:00

"Huh?"
Webber Park, 1/10/12
iPhone 4

Picture Project - 9/365

2012-01-09T14:50:00.001-08:00

"January Stroller"
Backyard, 1/9/11
iPhone 4

Picture Project - 8/365

2012-01-08T17:40:00.001-08:00

"3 Years Old"
School, 1/6/12
iPhone 4

Picture Project 7/365

2012-01-08T17:38:00.001-08:00

"Looking Up"
Kids Hair Maple Grove, 12/27/11
iPhone 4

Picture Project - 6/365

2012-01-08T17:33:00.001-08:00

"Everlasting Mandala"
School, 1/4/12
iPhone 4

Picture Project - 4/365

2012-01-08T17:30:00.001-08:00

"Double Brew Day"
Bad Ass Brewery
1/4/12, iPhone 4

Picture Project - 5/365

2012-01-03T16:56:00.001-08:00

"Pouty"
Mall Of America, 12/27/11
iPhone 4

Picture Project - 3/365

2012-01-03T16:50:00.001-08:00

"Happy Princess"
Living Room, 1/3/2011
iPhone 4

Picture Project - 2/365

2012-01-02T06:02:00.001-08:00

"Sea Of Food"
Basement of Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Christmas Eve, 2011
iPhone 4

Picture Project - 1/365

2012-01-02T05:58:00.001-08:00

Words With Friends. My best word so far and a great way to kick off my first 365 Picture Project. (I still lost the game to The Wife.)

High Level Meeting - Picture #1

2011-12-23T05:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I was in a meeting with principals from schools all located in our "zone." I was invited as a teacher leader. I'll be blogging more about the event. To start, I was blown away by simply looking at our table. It is completely different than that most teachers expect from their students.

What do you see in this picture that is acceptable for adults but not for students?

Flip, Flop, Flip, Meltdown

2011-12-14T18:33:00.000-08:00

I had a meltdown of sorts that ruined my my first 4 hours of teaching. I hate, yep, hate it when an 8:00 meeting puts makes me crabby before the majority of my students have brushed their teeth.

At the beginning of the year, we, the teachers, were told that we would be using the Standards of Effective Instruction as our teacher evaluation tool. It was a huge change but we went along with it. For the past 4, yes, four weeks in PLC we have b eenstudying, dissecting, chewing and spitting out the rubric. We've even done homework for our PLC. I'm guessing I've put about 5 hours of meeting time and 5 hours of homework time into this. In addition, I've also presented part of one session.

It's a good rubric. I think it represents good teaching. I'll gladly be evaluated on it if it is used by someone who sees me teach more than just one time.

The problem is the Flip Flop that we are in the middle of right now. A week ago, our superintendent sent an email saying they reevaluated the program and have told us that we won't be committed to the new evaluation system until next school year.

In a meeting this morning, we were told that our principal was sitting in a principal's meeting where they were discussing whether the evaluation tool will be implemented this year or next.

Flip, Flop, Flip.

And then came my meltdown. There were only 6 of us in the room. I raised my hand said, "This is dumb." I can't stand being told one thing, then another, and then another. I can't run my classroom that way. My behavior expectations can't change from day to day. It just doesn't work. Why is it acceptable for people way above my pay scale to run the business side of education this way?

Flip, Flop, Flip, Meltdown.

AVID Family Night

2011-11-13T18:57:00.001-08:00

For the record, I truly don't like putting together family nights. They are a lot of work and stress and we don't usually get a huge turn out. This year, I have a lead tutor that helps to plan these types of things. For our first AVID Family Night, we came up an idea for a theme:

Make a Few Extra Bucks

It was a brillant theme. It made the planning fun. If you are familiar with AVID, you know that it is about making college obtainable. And once you get to college, having a few extra dollars in your pocket is key.

We started with a light dinner of pizza and salad. Then I did a short introduction. After that we allowed the parents and students to attend two different sessions. We had 6 different sessions happening.

Home Interior Painting
Bead Making and Jewelry
Reffing and Coaching in the Parks
Pizza Crust Mixing
Web Design and Blogging
Photography Basics

We had dinner at 5:30. Session 1 was at 6:00. Session 2 was at 6:30. Everyone was gone by 7:10. It was perfect timing.

We had about 15 students and about 20 moms, dads, grandmas, and older siblings.

So what were the highlights?

A grandma creating an email account and setting up a website.
A student teaching her mom about web design.
Every family taking home at least one pizza dough to cook.
A student tossing pizza dough in the air.
Students looking at a camera that we taken apart to see how it worked.
An older brother rolling paper beads and making a bracelet.
3 students learning to prep, tape and paint a wall.

I'd do it again. Have you done any family nights? I need ideas for our next one in the spring.

Open Ended Statements

2011-11-08T19:55:00.000-08:00

As part of a training today, we wrote and shared open ended statements that we can have students complete. The idea was to go for things that students wouldn't expect. I thought this would be a great place to collect me fro future reference:

The best part of the day is...
If I could take any class, I would take a class on...
The best thing about last week was...
My favorite memory is...
I learn best when...
My family is...
If I wrote a book, it would be about....
If I woke up as a rabbit....
If I sa (famous person), I would tell them...
I'm a star when...
If I could visit any place, I would...
I hate it when teachers...
AVID is important to me because...
If I could give a wish to anyone, it would be....
My favorite place to play is...
On a deserted island, I would want...
I was proud when...
The best teachers...
If I could do Glamor Shots with anyone, I would...
When I was young, my favorite game was...

I'm leaving an extra dot because I want to come back to this list and keep it updated.

Swim Lesson are the Model

2011-10-24T18:31:00.000-07:00

So, I've got an almost 7 year old and a just turned 3 year old in swim lessons right now. As I watched them on Saturday, I had a revelation.

Swim lessons are the model for successful education. Here's why:

The student to teacher ratio is extremely low. No class was more than 5 to 1. I'm assuming the goal is to not allow any students to drown. How's that for a metaphor for the traditional classroom?
The lessons are short. In the 30 minute lesson, they work on at least 5 different skills. No skill practice takes more than a few minutes. It's constantly being mixed up.
There are many activities to accomplish the same goal. Want kids to be able to jump in the pool? One time you sing the teddy bear song, another you do Chicken, Airplane, Solider. Another you say the Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme. Different routes to the same goal.
No child is allowed to sit out. There is a deck supervisor whose sole job during lessons is to listen for crying, rush over, reassure the child, and work up the confidence to get back in the pool. No child is allowed to sit out or cry.
The children are active the whole time. While the instructor is working with one student, the others are practicing kicking on the edge of the pool. To me this kinda sounds like worksheets but it's the whole practice and reinforce thing.
There is no social promotion. Either you master the skills or you repeat the same class. My almost 7 year old is in level 1 for the third time. He can't seem to get the hang of putting his head back and doing a back float. At the end of the 10 weeks, we get a slip of paper that lists all the skills he should have. If more than 2 are not checked, they recommend staying in that class. I suppose I could just move him on but I trust that the instructor knows what he is doing and has my child's best interest in mind. Do I like spending $50 on a repeat class? Not at all. But it's not going to do him any good to move on without basic skills.
The instructors are accessible. I can literally lean over the pool and talk to the instructor before or after the class. They can't run or hide.
Parents can watch everything that happens. I know if my child is trying. I can give an encouraging wink. I can give the evil parent eye saying try harder. I don't always know what the instructor is trying to accomplish but I know if people are being fair and working hard.

Am I missing anything else? I know that parent-teachers read this blog. What other aspects of swim lessons are valuable for education?

Win?

2011-09-27T17:56:00.000-07:00

I'm not the best teacher. I have my moments. Monday, 6th period, around 3:32 was a moment. I had one student who wasn't on task and wasn't following directions. She needed to get her computer put away for our 3:30 dismissal. I grabbed the computer after I had told her 4 times to put it away. She didn't like that. Her friend liked it ever less. Her friend argued with me until 3:40.

Today, this young lady and her friend struggled to be quiet and listen to the 2 minutes of directions I had. When they weren't being quiet, they were being disrespectful to everyone around them. I asked both of them to step into the hallway.

After I had given directions, I went to the hallway and talked to them.

One girl told me that if she didn't follow directions again, then I should call her mom. I told her that I wasn't going to call home again. I had previously called home. I told her that if that first phone call had truly worked, then I wouldn't be talking to her in the hallway again. She struggled to make that connection. I repeated to her that calling home really didn't work because we were talking in the hallway again.

***

One thing I really strive in middle school to impart, regardless of academic content, is the need for young people to be in charge of themselves. That they don't need to worry about anyone else is doing. That they don't want to give away the power that they have. That if they are doing the right things, then they can do just about anything they want. Middle school is when students need to start taking control of themselves, their learning, their futures and their lives.

***

I didn't have any more lack of respect from this young lady. In fact, she even put up a few chairs at the end of the day and said good-bye. She didn't do much work though. In my mind, she was using her time to think about the wisdom that I impart during our brief time in the hallway.

I'll connect with her tomorrow morning and thank her for putting up chairs and being respectful at the end of the hour.

I'm counting it as a win for the day.

Coke v. Pepsi? or Public School Sponsorship of a Charter

2011-09-26T17:57:00.000-07:00

*The thoughts contained in this post and all my posts are my own thoughts and in no way reflect any opinions of the district I work for.

Coca-Cola was first. They had a pretty good thing going. The soft drink industry was pretty much theirs. Then another company came out with Pepsi. They were completely different entities, did not work together and were in direct competition for customers.

Here's what didn't happen: The guy behind Pepsi didn't go to the guy behind Coca-Cola and ask for support in getting started and up and running. I'm pretty sure that Coke would have laughed and said, "No way." It would not have been good business to support, encourage and bank roll someone who wanted to take away Coke's customer base.

***

A couple years ago, Minneapolis Public Schools decided to investigate Self-governed Schools, schools created, implemented and run by teachers. They also investigated sponsoring charter schools.

In my eyes, a charter school that operates in a public school district area takes the customer base away from the public school.

Please don't interpet this as my defending public schools. Please don't take as me defending charter schools either. I'm also not trying to say anything about the free market society that we live in. In fact, I really like that there options for everything in America, even when it comes to education.

This year, a charter school opened in Minneapolis. This is not new or unexpected in Minneapolis. There are plenty of charter schools and a few open each year. This one, in particular, is sponsored by the Minneapolis Public Schools.

Getting back to the Coke/Pepsi analogy. Minneapolis Public Schools is Coca-Cola. The charter school is Pepsi. What I don't understand is why Minneapolis Public Schools was and is willing to give away it's client base. Why?

If this continues to happen, more district sponsored charter schools opening, the district will be out of business. Minneapolis Public Schools won't have anymore students for it's own schools.

***

Am I missing something here? Is my analogy way off? Where did my thinking go wrong? What are the upsides for the district opening charter schools? Please share this post via Twitter, email and whatever. I'm really looking for comments and insights.

Learning: Hops & Beer

2011-09-21T12:56:00.000-07:00

I brewed my second and third batches of beer about a month ago and I'm ready to hook one of them up to the tap in my basement bar. I figured it was about time to write a beer blog.

The last step for the Imperial IPA was to dry hop the beer. Basically, this means putting a bunch of whole hops into the wort (beer before it ferments) and letting the hops aroma migrate from the hops to the wort. It doesn't give any taste flavor but has a huge aromatic flavor that hits the nose as soon as you pour it. Shocking how much the smell affects your thoughts about the beer.

Here's what I learned from dry hopping:

Hops float. I put them in a bag but the bag floated on top of the wort while fermenting. I'm interested to see how much aroma the beer got from having them float on top. In the future, I'll put a small weight in the bag to keep the submerged while the beer slowly ferments away. That will ensure that the maximum amount of aroma gets from hops to wort.
A big bag of hops in the fermenter does not come out easily from a skinny hole in the fermenter. The fermenter is like a five gallon soda bottle. It has a narrow neck. I tried to pull the bag out through the neck but all the hops fell to the bottom and were trapped in the bag and wouldn't come out. I ended up cutting the bag, opening it up and digging out all the hops with a small stick while holding the fermenter upside down. Thankfully, all the wort had already been drained out. If someone had been videotaping this process, it would have been in America's Funniest Videos. For the future, I'm going to try and find a stainless steel tube with holes in it that I can stick in the fermenter and easily pull out when it's done.

Until my next batch, I'm looking forward to enjoying my IPA fresh from the basement! Cheer!

New Chrome Book

2011-08-18T18:34:00.000-07:00

The other day, I got a call from the tech at my building. He had been in a district level meeting where they were trying to decide what to do with 20 Google Chrome Netbooks. He was kind enough to throw my name into the meeting. I was honored.

Now, I am blessed to have 20 brand new Google Chrome Netbooks for my classroom this upcoming school year. It wouldn't be far to just hand them to my students and not have any experience using one, so I did my part, took one for the team, and took one home to figure out.

Here are my impressions so far:

Start up and shut down are blazing fast. I don't just mean fast, it's wicked fast. This single feature will save many instructional minutes of every class period.
Log in is simple.
This particular model is about half the weight of my MacBook. (I didn't actually way them, just observation.)
This model won't burn into my leg. It's not cold but warm is way better than HOT. (Again, haven't actually measured it.)
The default theme for the system is boring but adding a theme took me about two minutes.
The tab key moves to each clickable thing rather than to text boxes. I need to figure out how to change this.
Having a search key is cool. When pressed it, opens a new tab for searching.
I like have dedicated back/forward buttons on the keyboard.
I wish the screen was a bit bigger but that small sacrifice is worth the positive trade offs.
The finish on the computer is worrisome. It's matte black and a bit rubbery. I like the feel but I think it might be hard to clean or keep nice.
I love that it goes directly to the internet (connecting was super simple). There won't be any asking the teacher, "How do I get to the internet?" Although, lack of a second browser may be a concern.

But the single biggest, coolest feature of the Chrome Netbook is:

Mail. On any other computer, when you click on an email address, it opens a default mail program. On a MacBook, that is Mail and I can't stand Mail. On the Chrome Netbook, clicking on an email address opens a new tab and shows a full screen Gmail compose screen. When you click send, it sends the email and closes the tab. It's beautifully done and my favorite feature.

I'll keep updating the blog as I get more and more impressions. It's only been 24 hours but I'm pretty certain that this will be my daily use computer.

Learn: Gravity

2011-08-15T13:13:00.000-07:00

I'm new to the hobby of homebrewing. Basically, in a big pot (5 gallon) you mix everything and boil it. Once it cools, you put it in a Better Bottle with yeast that eat the sugar and turn it into alcohol.

The bottles I have, have a spigot on the bottom that allows you to drain it. It's super convient.

After about a week of fermentation, you move it from the first bottle to a second bottle. The purpose is to get your beer off of the sediment at the bottom of the first bottle to avoid bad flavors from happening to ruin to your beer.

My first batch a few weeks ago, went from bottle to bottle really easily. The last two batches over the weekend didn't want to move from first to second.

Enter gravity!

I had the bottles about 2.5 feet off the floor. That simply wasn't high enough for gravity to do it's job. Previously, I had the bottle about 3.5 feet of the floor. It's simply amazing the effect that one foot of height can have on gravity.

So, I learned that 3.5 feet of height is needed for gravity to move yummy beer from primary to secondary fermentor.

Now I know and knowing is half the battle...

Expanding

2011-08-13T15:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

I'm going to expand my blog. I'll still write about education but I'm going to start including more non-education teaching, learning and technology. There is obviously more to my life than just teaching. I truly admire those that can write just about education. I'm not that good. I'm blessed with lots of words in many areas.

I hope that you enjoy the new direction of the blog. I'll be sharing my new hobby of home brewing. I'll be publishing some poetry (which isn't necessarily good but from the heart), motorcycle joys and sorrows, and probably some stuff about my family (where I'm constantly teaching and learning).

Sincerely,

Ben

Blogging?

2011-08-06T18:33:00.000-07:00

I'm stuck. I haven't blogged all summer. I haven't opened Twitter. I really haven't thought about education. I'm not sure if I'm in a writer's funk, fed up with writing about education or too busy with other things to spend time writing about education. However you slice it, blogging has suffered.

I've thought about expanding the range of my blog to include non-education things. For example, I could include:

My new hobby of homebrewing. My first brew, a cream ale, turned out wonderfully.
My motorcycle. I blew out the clutch early this summer and haven't had the time to fix it.
The course I co-taught at Saint Mary's University - Twin Cities (click on 533 or 534).

Maybe once school gets going again, I'll find my groove.

Any advice on expanding the blog? Adding more topics? Finding your writing groove? Inspiration?

Thanks!

Image: Wisconsin DNR, a .gov site.

Summer Learning - Banana Mead

2011-06-23T12:13:00.000-07:00

Two summers ago, I learned how to ride a motorcycle.

Last summer, I didn't formally learn anything.

This summer, I'm learning how to make mead and possibly beer.

Today, I started my first batch of mead. It's going to be a sweet banana mead. I've done a bunch of reading on the topic of mead making. Perhaps too much. I've also talked to and emailed several people about the process too. It's not overly complicated.

I purchased a bunch of brewing supplies from Midwest Supplies. The guys and girls there were super helpful had lots of good advice. So, basically, here's what I did today:

Put everything together. This was easy. There were just a couple of things to screw together.
Wash everything.
Sanitize everything. This is different than washing.
Put 4 gallons of water in the fermenting bucket.
Put 1 gallon of water a pot on the stove. Heat, don't boil.
Add 12 pounds of honey to the water on the stove. Dissolve.
Add dissolved honey/water mixture to the fermenting bucket.
Stir.
Add yeast nutrient.
Add yeast.
Stir.
Put cover on tightly.
Insert air lock.
Put in basement and wait.

So this blog is all about learning: What did I learn?

Yeast like sugar, which honey has tons of, and turns sugar to alcohol.
Sanitizing is key. I can see how anything attached to any equipment could infect your mead mixture.
Mead takes a long time. It will be at least September before I am able to taste the fruits of my labor.
I need a bigger kettle. A 3 or 5 gallon kettle would have made it easier to make the honey dissolve without getting a gooey honey mixture all over the stove. That would have brought my new hobby to a quick end with the wife.
The banana flavor comes in later, just before putting the mead in bottles or a keg.

I'll keep you updated with the fermentation and progress.

And a note for those who know brewing (and I clearly don't):

Minnesota Clove Honey
O.G. = 1.072
Midwest Melomel Kit, substituted whatever was in the kit for banana.

Pictures from AVID

2011-06-19T19:15:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, I plugged my iPhone into my MacBook and iPhoto opened. I realized that I had some pictures from school on there deserved a home online. Then I realized that I hadn't blogged for a while and this would be a nice opportunity to let the world in on my classroom and some of the things that have happened in it. I plan on taking many more pictures next year and doing more blogging about it. Here, however, is a sampling of the pictures on my iPhone:

Cranes for Japan

We spent three days learning how to make cranes, making cranes, packing them up to send to Do Something and Student Rebuild. We sent off 617 cranes of varying colors and sizes. Do Something donated $2 per crane to relief efforts in Japan. So proud of my AVID students!!! I had several students who brought in cranes every morning that they had created at home.

Random Whiteboard Picture

I walked into my classroom one morning after missing my last class the day before due to a meeting. One of my students, and know exactly who, left this on my board. Notice the color mixing on the flowers in the left hand. It's amazing the talents that students have that may or may not be highlighted in the classroom.

Evolution

It appears that the AVID students have evolution all figured out.

7th Grade AVID

I'm pretty sure I know exactly who did this but I love the whole class. They all have this personality. It reads: "Dear Mr. Knaus, The computers are very slow! Sincerely, 7th Grade AVID."

College

We talk a ton about colleges and careers in the AVID class and seeing this on my board would not be surprising. The cool part of this picture is that it is the science classroom. The things we do in AVID are transferting to other classrooms which is just awesome.

Summer Learning

2011-06-08T04:49:00.000-07:00

I need something to learn this summer.

Two summers ago, I took the Motorcycle Safety Class to learn how to ride a motorcycle and to get my license. For many years, I thought it would be great to know how to ride a motorcycle. I had no real intention of having a motorcycle, I just wanted to know how. The course was a great option. For $160 I got two awesome instructors and somebody else's motorcycle to practice on. Pretty sweet deal.

Last summer, I didn't formally learn anything. I spent the entire summer with my kids going to water parks and hanging out.

This summer I want to learn something. Right now, I'm learning towards home brewing. I think it would be great to be able to make my own beer to drink in my own back yard. I've also considered learning to drive a bus. The difference is that I have no desire (even less than riding a motorcycle, which I bought one shortly after the class) to actually drive any kind of bus with people on it but I have a strong desire to occasionally drink a beer.

Do you guys do any learning outside of how to be a better teacher during the summer? If so, what do you recommend?

Bus Duty

2011-06-01T10:59:00.000-07:00


www.freefoto.com (CC by NC-ND 3.0)

I did it. Yep, my first formal request to the principal all year. I requested to not have bus duty in the morning next year. Trivial? Perhaps.

However, after 5 years of doing it, I'm done...and it's not the sub-zero winter mornings in Minnesota that tipped the scales.

I'm done being the one that has to scold children for standing up, yelling, eating candy and doing whatever else the bus drivers deem inappropriate.

Here's how it works. I'm standing outside, a bus pulls up, the driver gets off and says, "I've got two that I need you talk to." What's missing? A good morning? Yep. I always say good morning to the drivers when they talk to me despite the way they started talking to me.

Then, I listen to the driver for a minute. Then I get to talk to the students. "Hey Johnny, you know how to sit on the bus, right? Johnny's head goes up and down. "Okay, if you don't sit on the bus, then you won't be able to ride the bus. Do you understand that?"

Yes, I have started every day like this for the past 5 years. We have 600 students and it's only 2 or 3 every morning. But I've started 2 or 3 student's school days with having to scold them. Some of the little ones go away crying. (I don't do well with the little ones). Not fun.

On the other hand, I do love being able to get a good morning in to the other 597 students.

It's just those two or three. Let me stand outside my classroom door and welcome students to my classroom without having to scold anyone for not sitting on the bus.

[Note: This post in no way reflects on bus drivers. I could not, repeat could not, do their job. The vast majority of bus drivers do an outstanding job and are to be commended on their acts of heroism everyday getting students to and from schools. You have my respect.]

Cleaning Up Google Reader

2011-05-25T10:44:00.000-07:00

I had 178 feeds in Google Reader. That's a lot of reading but I knew that some of the feeds were not current and no longer posting. I wanted to get rid of some of them. I hoped that there was a way to do so. There is. I Googled it.

I found a web apps help page. Basically, the solution involves using the trends section of Google Reader. I won't share more than that because it isn't my idea and I want to give Chris K. his or her credit on the Web Apps page.

My Reader is now down to 140 feeds. Still a lot but they are current.

School as Community Hub

2011-05-24T10:51:00.000-07:00

There are 168 hours in a week. One hundred sixty-eight. 168!

The school I work in is open for students for 40 hours. Just 40 hours. What happens in the building when it's not school? Thats 128 hours a week where we have this huge building with computers, a nurses office, gym space, art and music studios, and about 50 classrooms that are just sitting empty.

IMAGINE!!!

Our community was hit by a horrible tornado. It doesn't take a very strong tornado to devastate a densely populated urban area. School was canceled on Monday. Many of our staff members were at the building calling families or walking the neighborhood despite being told to go home. We care about our community and our families.

Yesterday cemented in mind that a school building needs to be a community hub.

Here's why:

Problem: Lack of shelter.
Solution: Open the school and invite the whole community in. They might not be able to stay the night but there could be buses from schools to formal shelters. During the day they would be safe, dry and somewhat comforted.

Problem: Lack of electricity.
Solution: Our school had power and a generator just in case. Community members could come in and charge cell phones, watch the news, or get information from the internet.

Problem: No food.
Solution: Our food from Monday is going to waste. I know there are strict federal rules on school food, however, I'll gladly have someone smack my hand later if I can get food into the hands of people who don't have it today.

Problem: Boredom
Solution: Have your educators run activities. Open up the gym. Do some crafts. Educators are pretty resourceful people and can improvise things to do fairly quickly.

Problem: Communication
Solution: Open up the computer labs. Have government officials or community resources in the building to help communicate options and action plans.

All of these are just in a crisis or tragedy.

IMAGINE!!!

Imagine what you could do if schools were community hubs. Imagine if families and community members could come in and take an art class in the evening. Imagine if there was structured gym time. Imagine if a classroom was used for a writing lab. Imagine if aerobics was done in the multipurpose room. Imagine if there was a theatre class on stage. Imagine if there was a doctor or nurse in the nurse's office in the evening. Imagine if there was dinner served. Imagine all the things the community would get!

Imagine if all 168 hours of the week were utilized by a school building.

IMAGINE!!!

Image Credit: Leo Reynolds, http://flic.kr/p/6yZd6G

CC by NC-SA-2.0

A Tornado in Town

2011-05-24T09:56:00.000-07:00

Sunday afternoon, a tornado ripped through the Northside of Minneapolis. You can read about the storm here, here and here. Fortunately, my house, where my daughter and I were, was about 10 blocks north of the storm and the damage. My wife and son were hold up in the Mens department at Target which was well away from the storm.

The story is really the students. We didn't have school yesterday because it wasn't safe to get students to school. Today, the students are here. They are telling their story through their blogs:

Tornado Blog Posts and more Tornado Blog Posts.

We'd love your comments and thoughts.

AVID is Beneficial

2011-05-18T18:34:00.000-07:00

For background, please read this article in Education Week. The article casts doubts about the effectiveness of the AVID program in several areas. You can also read this article on the AVID Center blog that is a response to the Education Week article.

AVID is Beneficial

I am an AVID Elective Teacher that teaches three sections of the elective; one each of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. I believe in the program and I do think that it makes a difference for students who put in the effort to realize what the purpose is.

The students learn note taking, organization (Big Binders), discussion groups, collaborative team work, and tutorials with college age tutors.

It works.

You won't see the results anywhere. You can't test it. You can't look at data and know that it works. It might not even show up in GPA improvements.

Much of what AVID does is the exact opposite of what traditional teachers do. AVID promotes questioning. Traditional teaching says sit, listen, take notes and fill it in on a test. AVID promotes group work. Traditional teaching puts students in rows. AVID promotes healthy debate and critical thinking. Traditional teaching is textbooks.

How do you know it works? Students come to class on time and ready to learn. Students can respectfully engage in debate. Students know several ways to take notes. Students know how ask the questions that lead to deeper learning. Students challenge teachers. Students have a positive relationship with the AVID Elective teacher.

These all create better people, not better students. But...

Is it just the teacher?

I think part of it is the teacher. You have to have a non traditional teacher in the AVID Elective position. Someone who can form relationships with students. Someone who is comfortable with students challenging them and asking hard questions. Someone who can push students to examine who they are and who they want to be.

Yep, I know you are thinking it, every teacher should do all of those things. It's just not the reality. So maybe it isn't AVID. Maybe it is the teaching.

My Recommendation?

Not that any cares or will even listen to my recommendation but here it is: Put AVID into every middle school. The strategies that are learned from AVID in middle school are truly life skills that students can take to high school, college, and their career. Also, don't just have the AVID Elective. Put the AVID strategies into every class that every student takes. You can put AVID strategies into Language Arts, Math, and Music. It fits and makes a difference.

Second, take all the qualities of an effective AVID Elective teacher and hire similar teachers for every position in your building. Traditional teaching methods are not as effective today as the AVID strategies and methods.

Z is for Zzzzz

2011-05-03T18:51:00.000-07:00

Sleeping in class?

I had a conversation with a teacher friend yesterday. He taught high school. He had a student that slept every day in class. He did everything he could to connect with this student. Nothing worked. He then had a conversation with the student. Basically, it boiled down to if you sleep in this class, there is no way that you can get a passing grade. He then asked if that was an acceptable outcome. The student replied yes.

My teacher friend said he was okay with this. Sleeping isn't disruptive and the student made an informed and conscious decision to not learn.

What's a teacher supposed to do?

Y is for Yikes

2011-05-03T18:45:00.000-07:00

13 sheets of paper.

I was in an all day training today. It was for a curriculum that I've been using all year and covered one new thing and a bunch of sharing and reflection. It was a long day.

I've been struggling all year with how to pull more technology into this curriculum. It's writing intensive and there is a folder that students are supposed to be keeping individual written pages in. The folder serves as a table of contents.

I've tried a few things without much success.

Today, reaffirmed that I need to figure out how to incorporate the technology into this curriculum. 13 sheets of paper. 13!

We did a lot of modeling of what the students will be doing. Much of the paper was dedicated to brainstorming, which a good use. However, the actual writing that we did should be online somewhere. Somewhere.

Here's what I am thinking. Students have a blog. Each writing could be a different blog post. Then they create a topic of contents page on a portfolio site that links a title and description directly to a blog post. Argh. Just not sure the best way.

X is for Excrement

2011-04-18T14:34:00.000-07:00

Yep, that's my day. Excrement. I'll be back tomorrow with something more positive.

X is for excrement.

W is for WICR

2011-04-12T18:34:00.000-07:00

I'm an AVID teacher. There are somethings that AVID does: binders, tutorials and WICR.

W - Writing
I - Inquiry
C - Collaboration
R - Reading

I think this is why I love AVID. I firmly believe in those four things. Reading and writing are the foundations of education. If you can do those well, you can learn content in just about any subject. Lessor known but equally important are inquiry and collaboration.

Not many people make their way in the world without working with other people. Students must learn how to work together. They can't just work by themselves or pick a group for them to work with. In the AVID classroom, I try to instill the value of working with everyone. I constantly tell students that it doesn't matter if you like the people in your group. The important part is that you can accomplish a task together. I tell them that there are 100 staff people in the school I work in and I can't possibly like everyone of them. However, no matter what committee I'm on, what team I work with, or what goal we need to accomplish, it gets done. We make it work. Collaboration is huge for a successful life.

Inquiry. Yep. Ask questions. Challenge what people tell you. I don't know when this skill goes away. My 6 year old still has this skill. Usually, it is "Why?" Occasionally, it is a deeper question. When do young people stop asking questions? Seriously. Once you learn to start asking the right questions, your learning skyrockets.

Writing, inquiry, collaboration, and reading. No content really. But all the things that you need to have to learn content. Love it.

W is for WICR

V is Validity

2011-04-11T04:54:00.000-07:00

Let me say it at the get-go: Poverty is a huge issue in education. I firmly believe this and I know that there are many other issues in education.

This week, students in Minnesota, including mine, will start taking the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment tests.

Now let me pause for your excitement to die down and allow you to refocus.

The reading test is paper based. Students will read a few pieces of paper. Then they will use a good old #2 pencil to fill in some bubbles and write some sentences. The majority of our students have been doing this for years in school and at home. Despite the content that they know or don't know, they know how to take the test.

In math, students will be placed in front of a computer screen to complete their test. None of our students have a computer in front of them all day. Few of them have a computer at home. They have little in terms of computer skills, which isn't for a lack of trying on the school's part.

So now, they need both the content knowledge and the test taking knowledge. Our math teachers have been "teaching to the test" for weeks now. They aren't teaching the math. They are teaching the computer pieces: how to click on things, how to find the calculator, how and where to enter numbers.

Validity. Can the State of Minnesota tell students, parents, families, community members and school leaders that they have accurately assessed math content knowledge in a community where computer skills are lacking?

Please don't get me wrong. I'm in favor of the move to technology; it is the way the world works. However, if the State of Minnesota is expecting students to know the technology well enough to ensure that they are accurately assessing math, then the students need to have the tools on daily basis to learn the technology pieces.

V is for Validity.

U is Ustream

2011-03-30T18:20:00.000-07:00

I haven't used Ustream but I have watched a few things on it. This one is pretty cool: Bald Eagles!!!

Live streaming video by Ustream

U is for Ustream

T is for Teacher ID

2011-03-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

It's spring break week!!! I'm very much enjoying my time with Mr. 6 year old, who is also on spring break. Here's what I've learned this week:

Always carry your teacher ID!

Yep, even when you're not teaching. Or at least very least carry something that says you are teacher. For instance, my dental insurance card says "Minneapolis Public Schools." That is good enough at most places.

Okay, here's why: DISCOUNTS!!!

So far, Ian and I have gotten discounts at 3 places:

Science Museum of Minnesota

This is by far the best discount we've gotten. A family membership is $90. My insurance card got a discount of $30! That's a one year family membership for $60 and that includes one free Omni Theater show every visit. For my whole family to go to the museum and see a show is essentially the cost of the membership. Great deal.

Sea Life Minnesota

Another pretty good deal with my teacher insurance card. A family membership is $90. Teachers get a free membership and it costs $10 per person to add more people. That's $30 bucks for my family. That is the same price as me and Mr. 6 year old going one time. And you get the day at the Mall of America. (Bonus Tip: walk over to Ikea for a cheap lunch and drop the kids off at Smaland while you find more deals.)

Minnesota Childrens Museum

Not a great deal, but still a discount. Teachers get 5 bucks of the family membership. And this is by the far the greatest place to take the family. We absolutely love it there.

*If you've got more, please leave them in the comments so Mr. 6 and I have more to do this week.

S is for Self

2011-03-12T06:15:00.000-08:00

One of the 8th grade AVID girls had a horrible day. She usually has the greatest smile and is generally just sunshine. Her and I have a secret elbow handshake.

Yesterday afternoon, she couldn't seven muster a grin. It appears that the middle school girl drama was to much that day and she was set on leaving our school.

Then she walked into a room with four teachers who know how wonderful she is. We all told her that she is one o the reasons that we come to work everyday and it is true. She smiled, showed us a project she is working on, and named a few names of who is bugging her. We all agreed that she just needs to focus on her and keep doing what she is doing and ignore those who try to bring her down.

Just before she left, I asked her if she needed a hug. She shook her head no, paused, and then gave me a hug.

It's amazing how when you take care of yourself, you Are really taking care of so much more.

S is for Self.

R is for Rewards

2011-02-23T12:18:00.000-08:00

Our school has a school-wide reward system from the good people at PBIS. We have little slips of paper called rising stars. You write a kids name it and what you caught them doing well. Each classroom is responsible for doing something with them. In 7th and 8th grade, we put them in a big box and draw names for Fun Friday each week.

In my classroom, I give out Rising Stars. Last year, I gave out little carnival/prize tickets. I handed them out students, they wrote their names on them and turned them for a prize drawing at the end of the quarter. I did that briefly this year.

Do I believe in rewards? Not really.

However, I don't really expect students to just come to school and learn either. Do you just go to work and work? No, you get a pay check. You get health insurance. You get all kinds of things for working.

What do our students get? They get an education. However, in terms of the development of middle school students, not many make that connection. I don't expect them to either.

Students often tell me that my class is a lot of work. That we are always doing something. I respond yep.

My thought is that if I keep them engaged in activities and gaining knowledge they don't have time to realize all the work they are doing until after the fact.

I also try to do some fun things in my class. We've done Minute to Win It games. They love Stack Attack but Caddy Stack was too hard. We play Boggle, which does have some educational value. Today, I ordered pizza for a small group that helped with 6th grade tutorials.

There needs to be balance in schools between working your butt off to get an education and having some fun to get students to keep coming back.

R is for Rewards.

Q is for Quality

2011-02-18T08:31:00.000-08:00

I just had a conversation with a teacher. He is good teacher. Engaging, creative and caring. He was being observed the other day by a mentor. He had a solid, high interest lesson based on curriculum and student input.

He created a Jeopardy game with categories based on the Revolutionary war. There was also a random category and a category for technology knowledge.

The students were all engaged, learning and, gasp, interested in the content. His mentor told him that she didn't want to use this lesson as a formal observation because there wasn't enough of him teaching.

My initial reaction was that teaching isn't about the teacher standing in front of the students but rather the students learning. It was obvious that there was teaching happening. However, the student learning was huge in this lesson.

Your thoughts?

Q is for Quality.

P is for Poop

2011-02-16T11:16:00.000-08:00

Yep, poop.

Today was tutorials in AVID. One group had the question, "What if there were no animals in the world?" I didn't point out to them that humans are animals. That would have spoiled their thought process, which was on track.

However, there was a series of notes and comments in this group about poop.

No poop on the sidewalk.
Cars wouldn't get bird poop on them.
We wouldn't have to clean up poop.
Parades wouldn't those little sweeper cars to clean up horse poop.

Other than that, great discussion about the effects of animals. They even got into vegetarianism.

Love middle school!

P is for Poop!!!

O is for Oh, That F-in' Test

2011-02-15T10:51:00.000-08:00

For the past year, I've been toying with the idea of starting a self-governed school. The past two months I've been working with a small team to write a letter of intent and full application. While I firmly believe that the model we are working with is strong and will create successful citizens of the world, my passion and desire to follow through are dwindling quickly.

I received and email from a colleague that was working with us initially. Below is part of the email:

The fastest way to get students to pass the test is through direct instruction, "sage on the stage". While they possibly can pass the test, we are then only developing a generation of test takers, not a generation of future problem solvers or critical thinkers. Basically they are not gaining knowledge using this method, only a very narrow skill set that applies nowhere other than standardized test.

Oh, that F-in' test. I can't argue against anything in that paragraph. I wish I could.

I firmly believe that, in math for instance, with a high quality teacher teaching directly to the test, our school could meet the NCLB standards. That's not what it is about.

So, right now, for me, it boils down to this: What good is this is school going to do that I am proposing? There are two outcomes:

We teach directly to the test and get enough students to pass at the required NCLB level.

We teach to create problem solvers and critical thinkers with a wide skill set.

I'm not sold on the fact that both can be done in the team allotted for a new school to be successful. If not, what's the point in creating a successful model for future success when it will be shut down in just three years because we aren't passing The Test? It will just be labeled another failing school.

This post is extremely negative and I apologize for that. I'm just seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

O is for Oh, That F-in' Test

Peer Coaching: Relfective Practice

2011-02-07T10:28:00.000-08:00

[This post is part of the homework I am completing for peer coaching.]

I read the first paragraph and the concept of time stuck in my head as peer coaching relates to me. Specifically, this quote stood out for me:

Reflection happens any time one thinks about what is working for students and what is not. (p. 185)

Any time. As for coaching, it is a formal process and can't really happen anytime. It needs to be slotted into an existing busy day. That said, it is still valuable because often times, you need to have another set of eyes in your classroom to see what is really happening. On the other hand, teachers need to incorporate reflection into their teaching at all times. For instance, in the shower, I think about what went well or what I need to do differently that day. I write a blog that post I share positive and negatives. I have a Twitter feed that allows me to connect with teachers around the world and get ideas and share issues. Any time. In addition to periodic coaching.

Another part of this article that stuck in my mind is the unconscious act of teaching. Most of what I am able to do in my classroom, I do without thinking when the students are there. Not all of it is good but it is mostly unconscious. There are times when I stop and think, but it is for the benefit of the students so that they know my thought process but the outcome has already been decided. Coaching is that second set of eyes that can reinforce things that are happening that are good and offer suggestions for things that might be not so good. This might also open my eyes to things that I am doing that I might not even know that I am doing.

I'm intrigued by the "write portraits of one another's teaching" (p. 186). A portrait of my teaching. I think this would be a great activity to use with the students as feedback about my teaching. This is not related to peer coaching but I believe that feedback from the students is equally important because they are the customer and end user of my product. Perhaps I could had out a "canvas" and have each student add a picture, word or sentence that describes my teaching.

Lastly, the concept of questioning is in this article too (p. 187). I teach questioning in my AVID classes with great regularity. If you can ask a great question, you will learn, no matter where you are. That is a believe that I hold dear. In this paragraph, it also eludes to Visual Thinking Strategies, where the facilitator asks questions but does not judge what the responses. I think, in terms of coaching, that this is a huge piece. There must be a comfortable and professional relationship between two people to be able to have a successful coaching relationship. There isn't a place for judgment in this relationship.

N is for Nope, Not This Week

2011-02-03T12:11:00.000-08:00

Evil 4, Good 2.

And that was by Tuesday. And it's 2 only if you can't the surprise Chipotle for lunch today in the Good column.

Evil:

Leaky roof in my kids bedroom, probably due to an ice dam that is going to cost 250 bucks to remove.
We had to put our 10 year old dog down this week. She was struggling to walk and her breathing was get shallow.
Lost one of my amazing AVID tutors.
My son got hit with the tip of skate blade just under his eye. Urgent care said he had a small scratch on this eye. Could have been a lot worse.

Good:

My wonderful wife is now Godmother to her cousin's new baby girl.
I was able to score a Chipotle Bowl for lunch today.

It's a bad week when Chipotle shows up in the good column.

N is for Nope, Not This Week.

M is for Make My Day

2011-01-28T13:35:00.000-08:00

I've been super motivated this month to be positive. I've actively sought out ways to be positive and try to make someone's day. I've tried really hard to do this at school, at home, and pretty much anywhere I go. Here are some examples:

At Best Buy. I needed to hook my MacBook to a LCD TV via HDMI. I picked out what I thought I needed. The blue shirt guy told me he thought it would work but he wasn't positive. He came back with a dress shirt guy who was an expert. He ensured that I had the right things and knew how to hook it all up. I talked to the manager at the check and said that the two guys that helped were awesome. I should have gotten their names.
At school, a teacher has been stuck covering a class this week. She has whipped that class into shape this week. I made sure to tell here that she is making a difference. In addition, a student told me the class was better. I told her to be sure to tell the teacher.
I'm currently sitting in Fun Friday with students who earned the right for some free time. 'Nuff said.
On the phone, I spoke with an awesome lady, Casey, who helped me sort out my student loan mess. She fixed all my problems and we even had a great conversation about funding education and teacher salaries.
I've also made a huge point at home of speaking to my kids calmly and respectfully even when they are melting down. It's not easy but it's working.

What are you doing to Make someone's day?

Peer Coaching: Empowering Questions reflection

2011-01-24T11:38:00.000-08:00

[This post is a homework assignment for the Peer Coaching class that I am taking.]

For this assignment we read Empowering Questions for Coaching Conferences by Stephen G. Barkley.

I'm an AVID teacher. One of the biggest tenets of AVID is inquiry. In the classroom, the students spend a great deal of time working on questioning. In the beginning of the year, we spend a few weeks learning about Costa's levels of questions. Then we spend time every week ensuring that we still understand the levels. The 7th and 8th graders, who are on their second year of AVID, get it. They ask awesome questions. In my eyes, a great question is better than any answer and is something that makes the world go around.

This article confirms that believe for me. Whether it's a 6th grade student or a 8th year teacher, the ability to ask the right question at the right time is the key. I think that this a great aspect of the peer coaching course. Teachers rarely make enough time to ask questions of themselves, certainly not of other teachers. Being able to sit down before and after a lesson to have someone ask questions about your teaching, your lesson, your philosophy, or your expectations is critical.

This is something that I do on my own for the most part. Usually, when done formally, it is a reflection piece. For instance, here I wrote about a lesson that completely bombed for many reasons. I need to do more of the pre-conference questioning with myself. I think I do some of that in my head but it is much more informal.

As for having another person involved? That's a big time commitment in a teaching landscape that is already crunched for time. I'm interested to see how the pre-conference goes with the social studies teacher.

That brings me to another question? Does this have to be a formal affair? I speak with this social studies teacher daily. We ask how the day went and we get into specifics of each class or student and how it related to the content and method of the delivery. I learn from what he tells me about his lessons and I learn from what I tell him about my lessons. It's really informal but it is tremendously beneficial.

L is for Loss

2011-01-18T12:18:00.000-08:00

Today, I lost. Yep, a loss. And not a NHL overtime loss that still gets you a point. I was soundly defeated in regular time.

Why did I lose?

My new table arrangement was a mess. It didn't flow once students were sitting down. Students were in the wrong positions to learn. I moved the tables back this afternoon and moved some other things around to improve flow.
The 6th graders weren't ready for the responsibilities of working independently. I don't know when they will be. We've been working on it.
The 7th and 8th graders were chatty today. They have days like that and I've learned to accept it to a small extent. They've never been chatty on the same day though. Perhaps it was coming off a long weekend.
We used paper. I know. Paper! It was a disaster. I need to figure out how to integrate Google Docs or their blogs into this particular unit that we are working on. I forgot how much I hate instructing and using paper in the classroom.
My lesson wasn't the strongest. It could have been better. It was strong last year and I thought my modifications were good for these groups. Perhaps I should have just left it along. Dang.

On the up side, I've got a 4 hour training tonight to do some more reflection.

L is for Loss.

This is a picture that a wonderful young lady drew on one of the tables in the AVID room. Yep, that is a direct reflection on today's day in AVID.

K is Kindergarten

2011-01-18T12:11:00.000-08:00

Okay, watch this video first.

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Geoffrey Canada

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor & Satire Blog

March to Keep Fear Alive

Now, let's talk.

I am very interested in what Mr. Canada is doing in the Harlem Children's Zone and how he is looking to expand it beyond Harlem. In all honesty, I agree with many of his thoughts:

Provide family services in the school building.
Provide parenting classes for pregnant women.
Hire the best teachers.
Extend learning beyond classroom walls.
Give everyone all the resources that they need to be successful.

However, I don't think that we can place all the blame on teachers and teacher unions. Are there teachers that, in my opinion, aren't effective? Sure and I wish I had a way to quantify that opinion.

In the video, Mr. Canada states that we start testing in 3rd grade and we immediately see a difference between races in terms of scores.

What would happen if we tested students when they entered kindergarten? Would we see difference?

Would it matter the race of the student? I think there would be differences between children that were read too and those who weren't. That isn't a race issue. There are children of all colors that do and don't have parents that read to them.

I think that this is where Mr. Canda's Harlem Children's Zone is right on. We need to start educating all colors of children long before kindergarten. This is why we need Baby College for expecting parents and early childhood programs. We need to put books in kids hands and read to them. We need to give them experiences and get them places. We need to show them things, sing to them and talk to them. This gets every young person in the right spot for learning.

K if for Kindergarten

1:1 Successes?

2010-12-20T18:02:00.000-08:00

I'm looking into creating a school. One piece of the school is creating a 1:1 environment for every student K-8. I'm not sure what it will look like (laptops, netbooks, iPads, iPod Touches). In the comments, please share your advice, stories, pitfalls, thoughts, criticisms, concerns and anything that will help in the planning process.

Thanks!!!

J is for Jesus

2010-12-16T18:53:00.000-08:00

Okay, it's actually God but I needed a J. I hope God and Jesus will forgive me.

Yesterday, the AVID students created holiday cards. They had to create one card and give it to one person at Cityview who has impacted their life. In the card, they had to include a message about why they were writing to that person. I was extremely impressed with the designs that students came up. I was even more impressed with who they chose to write to. They was a card for the principal, the science teacher who has been at school for 2 weeks, the entire engineer staff, elementary teachers, a reading teacher, and many more. It was a great cross-section of the adults at school.

One student always seems to stand out. It usually a different student with each assignment. One 6th grader came up to me and said, "Mr. Knaus, I can't give my card to my person." He handed the envelop sealed card to me. On the front he had written, "GOD." I almost starting crying.

I say small prayers all day, sometimes in the middle of a lesson. I don't always remember that God is in the classroom. He's there. He helps. The students feel him. I need to feel his presence more often.

What a tremendous experience that I was able to share with that student. I told him that I would make sure that God got his card. I'm taking it to church with me on Sunday and giving it to Pastor Jeff.

J is for Jesus.

I is for Inspired

2010-12-14T05:23:00.000-08:00

I'm working with a small group of teacher leaders, community members and others to write a proposal for a self-governed school. Part of this school will be wrap-around services. Our vision is to have medical, dental, mental health, employment, insurance, sports, performing and visuals arts, and much more all inside the school building. All of this would happen before, during and after the school day

It seems like we needed to have some "street cred" to really back up our plan. Other school ideas I've seen or heard about have all cited examples in other cities. For instance, one plan is citing a successful program in Chicago. I've never traveled to see any school in action.

So last week on Thursday, very early in the morning, I boarded a US Airways plane to New York. I spent 48 hours in New York City. The purpose of this trip was to build our "street cred" and see a wrap-around center in action.

Two people on the team visited the Dunlevy-Milbank Center in Central Harlem. This is part of the Children's Aid Society. We met Casper Lassiter, the center director, who actually answers the phone! He was quite simply amazing. We talked for about an hour about what they do and how to recreate and implement what they are doing in Minneapolis.

We also had a tour of the building and grounds. We met the majority of the staff. I knew that having the right people is key but this was reinforced dramatically with this visit. Mr. Lassiter and his staff made an instant connection with everyone who walked in the door. Nobody just walked in. Many people got hugs.

Our team got to see their holiday party in full glory. They had at least 75 volunteers from a local firm that staffed at least 50 tables in the gym. Each table had a different craft project or activity. There was even a Santa visit! While we were there, there were at least 400 young people that came through. Some were from other centers. Some were with parents. None were alone. Everyone had someone.

I will never forget the looks on the young peoples faces. Just smiles. It didn't matter who they were, where they were from, or who their parents were. They were happy. They were part of the community.

It was amazing.

But there was so much more:

A community medical/dental clinic that had two entrances (inside the center and from the street). They are open during the day and two nights a week. I need to figure out how they are funded. They see roughly 15 patients a day. When we were there, a 20ish white women walked in. It was a clear reminder that you never know your target audience and need to be open to everyone.
A pool where they did swim lessons, have a swim team and use it for just general recreation. They run life guard trainings and have it staffed when the center is open.
A gym that runs all kinds of recreation activities. They have a recreation therapist on staff that plans activities. They also run a basketball team and, I think, AAU.
A teaching kitchen for students and adults to learn about nutrition. It sounds like they have cooking classes.
A computer lab with audio recording studio and a video studio. It is open and staffed but they also run classes. For instance, they have a programming class for adults.
There is teen center that is a comfortable lounge that teens can safely hang out in. Flat screen TV, couches, games. Good times.
Outside, there is a fenced in basketball court, a fenced in miniature school pitch with artificial turf, a huge picnic area with about 20 tables and open spaces for just sitting.
On the roof, there is a sprinkler pool for the little kids to run around in.

Quite simply this was amazing. The work that they are doing in this center is building community. I felt like I was part of something just sitting in the lobby, even though I didn't look like most of the people there, had a completely different background and was from a completely different state.

I got my "street cred." My vision is much clearer. I know that our team can do this and make it as amazing as it is in East Harlem.

Thank you to Mr. Lassiter for taking the time on an extremely busy to met with us and pass along the knowledge that he has and help us to be successful.

I is for Inspired.

H is for Huzzah!!!

2010-12-13T05:13:00.000-08:00

I've been struggling to write an H post. This one is better said with a screen shot of the Minneapolis Public Schools website this morning:

H is for Huzzah!!!

G is for Garden

2010-12-06T12:58:00.000-08:00

http://tinyurl.com/32vptnq

I'm not a gardener. My wife does a great garden every year complete with strawberry plants, beans, tomatoes and something new each year. However, in my classroom I currently have 8 plants. I repotted a poinsettia that I had from the last Christmas season. It was starting to wither and I thought that it might need a bigger pot. Today, I also potted a new plant that needed a home in my classroom.

Ah, there it is. Gardening in a classroom. Not really. However, the plants play a very important role in my classroom. I have at least one in each window and several in the box of my room. In middle school, students spend 55 minutes in this classroom. I spend about 4 hours everyday. I really think that environment plays a huge role in being successful.

So what am I doing to improve the classroom environment?

Plants - Add color and oxygen
Lantern Globes - I haven't turned on the overhead lights all year. I added 4 large globes hanging from the ceiling. I also have a few lamps. I also keep the shades open all day. Between those, I have enough light to make a relaxed, calming enviroment.
Rug - I have a great square rug in my room. It is one of the first things that you see when you walk in the room. Color on the floor instead of the drab beige tiles.
Fabric on the Walls - I have walls that I can staple on. I've gotten several yards of fabric from the store and stapled them to the wall with a nice paper border.
Tables - No one sits at a desk. Everyone is forced to collaborate and work with a group.
Whiteboards - I have 5 easel whiteboards. They are instantly available to all students.
Laptops - Really? Technology? Yep, part of environment. Students know that I trust them with the technology and that it is available to them.
Stools - I have a science room. In the back, it has science lab counters. I kept bugging my engineers to get me some stools. We have small group work with the counters in the back. I'll also let them sit on the counters if we are doing non-teacher led work.

What are you doing to create a successful classroom environment?

G is for Gardening

F is for Fail

2010-12-05T11:48:00.000-08:00

http://tinyurl.com/ltt-f1

One of my favorite websites is Fail Blog. When I need a good laugh, that's where I go.

However, it is completely the opposite of the reality that we should be fostering in the classroom. Fail Blog's sole purpose is to make fun of people when they do something not-so-smart, embarrassing, or down right dumb.

In my classroom, I want students to fail. I fail all the time. I tell my students. Often times, it is in the middle of the class when I realize that something isn't going quite right and we refocus the work in some other direction.

My students on the other hand are completely worried about getting it right. If they fail, we can correct it and it and make it right. If they try to hide the fail, then it just sits there. Failing is a way to move forward. Let's fail and make everything better.

F is Fail.

E is for Empathy

2010-12-03T05:31:00.000-08:00

Today, I challenge you: Listen to a student.

Really listen. And do it someplace other than your classroom. Poke your head into the health office. Sit with a student on the bench in the hallway. Go to the lunch room. And listen to things other than words.

What will happen? You'll form a connection with that student. Just a couple minutes and you'll impact that student forever. That student will know that you care, you listen, they can talk to you, you aren't just another teacher, you put in the extra effort and so much more that you can't even imagine.

The other day, I saw one of my students with fists balled up, tears streaming down her face and walking away from a classroom without bending her knees. She was angry. I walked with her, not saying anything. I checked in with her after class, just for a few seconds. I just asked if she was okay and told her that I didn't want her to get suspended. She shook her head each time. After school, before she got on her bus, I shook her hand and told her that I was proud of her for making it through the day. She smiled and went home.

I doubt that I was the reason she didn't get into a fight. She's pretty bright and cares about being in school. I do believe that what I did help in some way.

D is for Discussion

2010-12-01T18:29:00.000-08:00

I spend very little time standing in front of my classroom. Less than 5% probably. I let the students do the work. The work I do is ahead of time, setting up our notes, blogs and links.

Two days a week, I have 4 tutors that come in. Students bring in questions based on things they don't understand from their core classes. Sometimes, the questions are just decent. Sometimes they are outstanding.

One question that I had today was, "Imagine what the world be like if there wasn't math." They must be having a hard time in math right now, there were several questions that implied they didn't want math around.

In groups of 6 or 7 and a tutor, one student presents a question, goes to the group's whiteboard and starts Cornell Notes. The presenter then tells everything they know about the question. The group asks questions and gives ideas.

I was very worried that this question would bomb. It had potential to be a teacher bashing session. However, the resulting discussion lasted for almost 30 minutes. They covered map making, gas mileage, making change at a restaurant, banking, and teacher grade books.

The discussion that they had was rich, student-centered, detailed, civil and, at times, amusing. At the end of the hour, I gave the whole class a round of applause. They deserved it. They had 55 minutes of discussion where everyone was on task. It was AWESOME. Especially from 7th graders!

D is for Discussion.

C is for Cornell Notes

2010-11-30T17:54:00.000-08:00

When I was in high school, I had to to take Civics. I think it was 10th grade, perhaps 9th. The classroom was the last room in the back hallway on the second floor. Awesome hard wood floors. Great wood cabinets. Tables in a U shape around the room. I sat on the far side of the room with my back to the windows. I honestly don't remember much from that class. It was the only failing grade I got in high school.

Why did I fail the class? The major reason was that the teacher forced us to take notes a specific way. We were I.B. students. We knew, or we thought we know, how to take notes. I was stubborn and refused to change my note taking strategy to fit this teacher's ideas.

Now I teach an AVID class. One of the key elements of this class is Cornell Notes. When I teach Cornell Notes to my incoming 6th graders, I tell them the story of my high school Civics class. I tell them that if they have a way to take notes that is better for them than Cornell Notes, they should use it.

I model all the note taking we do in class with Cornell Notes. I also model the use of Cornell Notes in other activities.

I think that I differ in the way I use Cornell Notes from the way they are supposed to be used. In the notes section on the right, I allow my students to put in a Thinking Map, a drawing, a word cloud, or simple outline format notes. Heck, if I believed in using glue in my classroom, I'd let them glue in words cut from a magazine.

The students in my school don't really know how to play the game of education. (That could be a blog post on it's own.) They haven't been exposed to note taking systems. The don't know how to use their notes to their advantage.

So, do I feel bad teaching the AVID students to take Cornell Notes? Not really. If they have a better way, they should use it. In addition, the Cornell Notes are a frame. They can fill in the parts with what they see fit.

B is Blogging

2010-11-29T12:17:00.000-08:00

I've been blogging for a while: personally, professionally, academically, and socially.

This year, I started blogging with my students. Why?

Fewer papers to carry around for me and the students.
I can't stand notebooks with their frilled edges of papers ripped out. There is always one student that ruins a stack.
Papers get lost by me and the students.
Papers just end up on the floor or in the garbage bin.
Technology is the hook to get the students writing.
Collaboration automatically increases.
Students reflect more on their own work and others work.
The audience immediately goes from 2 or 3 to millions all over the world.
Students love seeing others read their work
Teachers outside of my class get a sense who the student really is.

What are the drawbacks:

It takes more time to get it rolling than a notebook would. For me, the benefits outweigh this negative.
We have log in issues once a week with our wireless connection that causes problems. That said, the benefits still outweigh this drawback.

You can see what we've been doing by visiting the links below:

(We've been using Kid Blog. It rocks!!!!)

You can also see other classroom by visiting the Comments 4 Kids website. It lists hundreds of student blogs.

B is for Blogging!!!

A is for Antonio

2010-11-28T06:17:00.000-08:00

[I'm starting a journey to blog the alphabet. I needed a hook to get me writing again. A letter a day sounded like a good idea. I'll see how it goes.]

The title for this post changed a few times. I thought it would be "A is for Autism." However, it's not about Autism. It's about Antonio.

Before we get any farther, read this article and watch the video that goes with it.

Great you're back.

Antonio was a student at my school a few years ago. He was in our Autism program but spent about half of his day in mainstream classrooms with a helper. He got to know the students and made friends. Students with Autism struggle in social situations and this was an issue for Antonio at times. Some students made fun of him. Some took advantage of his willingness to do things. Others, understood, cared for, and looked out for Antonio.

His rapping is debatable. However, look at what he is doing. A $20,000 advance? A record deal? T-shirts? Popularity? Social acceptance? Using his uniqueness to his advantage?

Antonio is doing so many things to make his life better and embracing his Autism for his success.

What's the moral here? I'm not sure. For me, I think it is about knowing your students. Antonio could handle being in a mainstream classroom. It sounds like his high school teachers have gotten to know him and pushed the qualities that could make him successful.

Okay, here's the real learning. Autism classrooms are typically small. They have less than 10 students with a teacher and a couple of highly qualified assistants. That works. Every adult knows each student really well in that classroom. They can individualize instruction, meet each student's needs and help them be successful in with any goal.

Bottom line: Get to know your students and help them meet every goal. Small class sizes (15 students) would help to make this happen.

I Cried

2010-11-16T19:17:00.000-08:00

I cried tonight. At school. In a large group. With district leaders. With families. With staff. I cried.

My school is shutting down because of NCLB. We don't make "Adequate Yearly Progress." Our K-5 program is being replaced by a charter school. Our 6-8 is being phased out over the next three years.

I cried. When three parents repeatedly asked about how the middle school students would get a high quality education. I cried.

I'm a good teacher. No, I'm a great teacher. I make a difference.

What will our middle schoolers get as they are phased out? Limited staffing. Limited access to higher level classes. Limited quality teachers. Limited classmates. Limited support.

As a teacher who teaches to the best of his ability. As a teacher who will sit with a student in the nurse's office and visit them in the hospital. As a teacher who laughs with, hugs, and connects with students. As a teacher who grew up and lives in the neighborhood. As a teacher who knows the struggles despite the color differences. As a teacher who can't stand to see all this garbage. As a teacher who thinks about lesson plans in the shower and at 3:00 in the morning. As a teacher who is witnessing the collapse of something good.

I cried.

College Culture

2010-11-09T11:15:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Readers,

I teach a course called AVID. This course takes the academic middle that wouldn't think about attending college and gets them in a college mindset. It gives these students organization skills, studying skills, tutorials, questioning skills, note taking strategies. It shows them how to be a student.

I want to create a college wall in my classroom with postcards from colleges with stories from college experiences to make college real for my students.

Could you please send me a postcard from a college? Either a college you attended or a college near you. On the back write a short story about college or a nugget of advice about college.

You can send them to me at the address below:

Ben, AVID Coordinator

Cityview Performing Arts School

3350 North 4th Street

Minneapolis, Mn 55430

USA

I'm look to fill a wall with postcards from all over the world.

Thank you,

Ben

P.S. If you include an email address, the AVID students will probably send you a thank you note!!!

Learning Shadows

2010-11-04T06:28:00.000-07:00

I captured this image in my classroom this morning using my Blackberry. I wish I had my real camera and had take a minute to really set it up right but it's still pretty cool, if you ask me.

On my wall, I have purple fabric that we use as display area. Coming out from that is a portable whiteboard that we use for collaborative group work. The sunrise hitting the upside down chairs cast a few cool shadow in that corner.

Thanks for looking.

Lesson Plan Turn-in

2010-10-03T18:51:00.000-07:00

I just got an email from my principal. It was a mass email to the entire teaching staff. There were several bullet points. One of the points said this:

Lesson plans for the week of Oct. 4-8 are due in the principal's mailbox by Tuesday, October 5th.

I have so many issues with this:

I keep my lesson plans in a blog. There is no way to turn them into the principal's mailbox. I'll gladly write the name of the blog on a piece of paper and put into her box.
We are on a strict copy allotment. Copying my lesson plans will take away from the copies that I am able to make for my students.
I have a lesson plan for each day that teach. However, planning a week at a time doesn't make sense for me. My plan changes depending on what happens each day. By Thursday, the plan that I write on Monday is probably going to be useless. In fact, it would downright confusing if someone brought that plan into my room on Thursday expecting to see that lesson.
If I make it very vague and general, perhaps stating a concept for the week, what good is that? It doesn't tell you anything about how I'm going to teach.

So, do you have to turn in lesson plans? What are your thoughts? Any tips to make it more worthwhile?

Okay, enough procrastinating. Off to write a lesson plan...

Everyone Got It!

2010-09-27T17:58:00.000-07:00

Today was our first Tutorial Day in AVID. We have all four of our tutors and a pretty full class. On tutorial days, the students bring questions that they are stuck on from their other classes. They work in small groups with a tutor to solve the problems and gain a deeper understanding from their peers.

In the near future, they will be doing this perfectly. However, today was a day to get the basics: understand the processes, know how to work with a group, and what they can expect from peers and tutors.

My objective was simple:

Students will gain an understanding of the tutorial process, be able to summarize the process and be ready to use tutorials in the AVID classroom.

My classes vary from 6th graders who have never heard of tutorials before to my 7th and 8th graders who did them all of last year. The 8th graders are, by far, the least on task and most vocal group.

At the end of the day, one my tutors, Gregg, turned to me and said, "Well, they accomplished the tasks." After the 8th grade group, my last class, I was happy with that statement. Looking back, the 8th graders accomplished the most. It didn't seem like that during class. I felt that they weren't getting it, that they were just off task.

All 75 of the AVID students could tell exactly what tutorials are. They all got there in a different way but they all got it.

Standards and Objectives

2010-09-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

I've been hearing and reading a lot about differentiation and standards-based grading. I'm slowly becoming more intrigued by this. For me, I don't really care when someone learns something. Sure, 8th grade needs to be Algebra and 7 paragraph essays. However, some people, you might get to those standards at 13 years old and others might get to that standard at 15. Others might get to it at 11.

So, in AVID, next week's standard is organization. It will look different in 6th, 7th and 8th grade. More layers as we good older. However, they'll have to demonstrate mastery of that before they can move on to another standard. Not sure how this is going to work.

Scaffolding

2010-09-23T11:17:00.000-07:00

[Wow, I need to blog more...]

Today's lesson was a continuation of something we've been doing all week-building a paper blog. I have students that are still working on logos (step 1) and some who have all ready written their first paper post (step 4).

In my classroom today, 73 of the 75 students (3 classes) who walked through the AVID classroom door were engaged with the activity at one of the steps. Some students were completing logos. Some students were designing layouts. Some students were finishing the blog post topic (descriptive writing about their logo). Some students were ready to learn the process of commenting.

I was amazed that different areas of the room were working on different things. I stopped class several times to compliment the classes on the engage and learning.

So what did they learn? They now know the parts of a web page and blog. They have a few design skills. They have demonstrated descriptive writing. They have begun to learn about reflection and feedback.

And the two students who weren't engaged? One claimed he didn't know the directions despite me telling, showing and modeling to him. The other went home sick shortly after my class.

I should blog more often. That was kinda fun.

Social Media and the Off Task Student

2010-09-09T17:23:00.000-07:00

Today, I randomly looked up from helping another student and caught a glimpse of another student's laptop screen. I recognized Yahoo Messenger immediately. The young lady said that she was chatting with her mom. Now, me being Mr. Quick-Thinking-Teacher, I said, "I'd love to chat with your mom."

I grabbed the laptop and started typing. I introduced myself, explained what we were doing in class, and what her daughter had chosen to do instead of the correct assignment. Her mom apologized and said that she thought it was free time in my classroom. She was on task the majority of the remainder of the hour.

Perhaps this incident will help students realize that I want them to work independently but that I am also staying on top of their independent work.

I also passed along my email address. I hope that she does email me.

Classroom 2010 - Before

2010-08-14T20:11:00.000-07:00

This week, I had a meeting at school to discuss the specialist schedule. I decided to get into my new room and start working. Then I decided that I should take a couple of pictures before I got too far into it.

I'm teaching AVID again. However, I switched from a traditional square room to a science room that is similar in width to a traditional classroom. However, it is twice as long. The front is classroom and the back is science lab, complete with gas jets, water jets, and those black lab counters.

Alright, so, the 3 pictures:

1. From the front of the room facing the back. I have rectangle tables for the front for group work. In the back, you can kinda make out the lab spaces. The counters stick out into the room.

2. My entry way. It is really about a 10 foot hallway from the pod area into my room. This is one of the two features that I really don't like. I've seen this hallway space turn into a hide and seek area when the teacher can't see that space.

I did hang up one of my hanging lights from Ikea. That's when I realized that I should take pictures. I plan on finding a small table to put along the wall and minimize the space for students to hang out in that area.

3. View from the back of the room facing the front. Notice the IWB, a new Promethean, and the laptop cart with 20 MacBooks. I'm thankful that those didn't disappear over the summer. Also notice all the boxes that need to unpacked.

I'll be posting "after" pictures later next week. I've already gotten more of my lamps hung and gotten some things on the wall. I'm actually pretty excited about decorating and creating unique spaces in the room.

WIn a Prize!!!

2010-08-10T14:13:00.000-07:00

I don't enter contests very often. However, this one seems harmless and there's a good chance that I'll actually win. A teacher friend of mine posted this on her Facebook page.

Teaching Heart is having a Back to School Party on their blog. [An idea I must just steal for my classroom.]

All you have to do for the party is check out their blog. Pretty simply. They are posting back to school things all week. Pretty cool. Here is some more information about Teaching Heart:

Teaching Heart http://www.teachingheart.net/
Teaching Heart Mom http://teachingheartmom.blogspot.com/
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Lyrics in the Classroom

2010-08-08T17:55:00.000-07:00

In the past, I've used music and lyrics in my classroom to make a point, get students thinking or just for relaxation. There are many songs that I'd love to use but just can't due to the actual lyrics. The last such song is Not Afraid by EMINEM. I do enjoy the song, lyrics and beat, however, I could never use it my classroom. I might buy the single and dice it up in Garageband.

Until I get around to that, here are the lyrics that I find fascinating and will use at some point in my classroom, possibly on day 1.

I'm not afraid to take a stand
Everybody come take my hand
We'll walk this road together, through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just let you know that, you're not alone
Holla if you feel that you've been down the same road

(Bridge)

And I just can't keep living this way
So starting today, I'm breaking out of this cage
I'm standing up, Imma face my demons
I'm manning up, Imma hold my ground
I've had enough, now I'm so fed up
Time to put my life back together right now

Why you ask?

The AVID program works with first generation college goers, students in the middle, those often overlooked, and others with all kinds of obstacles in their way. Just about every line in the hook and bridge have some meaning to me.

I feel that most of my students have "been down the same road," even though the roads are not exactly the same. I also feel that they all need to break out of "cages." That cage might be not speaking English, generational poverty, gangs and violence, drinking and drugs, or something else.

In the past two years of teaching AVID, I've seen a handful of students "put [their] life back together." And it all starts with one day in AVID and taking a stand. I can't wait to see what roads my students have gone down and what stand they are going to take. I hope they'll walk the road with me and break out of the cage. Maybe I'll even break of one my cages...

Hot Tub PD

2010-08-08T11:59:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I spent a week at AVID Summer Institute. I had 16 hours of Tutorology (how to run effective tutorials in the AVID elective class) and 16 hours of site team planning (even though we only 3 site team members at the training.

While in San Diego, I also attended a Padres game, saw Inception at a local theater, had incredible food in Old Town, took a ferry across the harbor to Coronado Island to eat at the Coronado Brew Company, discovered numerous great beers (I'll post those someday) and spent about 3 hours (on a few occasions) in the hot tub at the Crown Plaza.

Hot Tub PD

In the hot tub, I talked a lot with Russ, who I teach with. I also meet Diana from the East Coast, Francisco from Northern California, Tenisha from somewhere in the South and another teacher from Michigan.

Francisco connected with Russ, as they both taught GTT, and he is also an AVID elective teacher. Tenishea was a subject area teacher who is teaching her first AVID elective this year. Diana was a high school math teacher who teaches both math and an AVID elective. The Michigan teacher was a high school AVID elective teacher.

In our conversations, we talked about how to structure the AVID elective class. We talked about tricks to make tutorials more effective. We talked about how to get other teachers in our buildings on board with AVID pieces. We talked about room arrangements. We talked about the ideal AVID student. We talked about the struggles of AVID students. We shared our most memorable AVID success. We shared our biggest AVID student success.

Okay, 3 hours and all we did was share. In 32 hours of formal training there wasn't three hours of me talking with other teachers about how to successfully implement AVID.

So, what does this mean for professional development?

Give me a chance to sit in a hot tub for a few hours with like-minded teachers. Heck, you can even give some conversation starters. One hot tub could be "tutorials," another could be "the AVID student," and another could be "Binders."

I truly feel that I get just as much, if not more, from Hot Tub PD as I do from sitting in a traditional meeting space.

My point is that sitting in a room with a facilitator listening, flipping through a handbook, and doing activities isn't the best way for many to learn. It probably isn't the best use of funding. I feel that there needs to be more flexible thinking in what is high quality PD, the shape it takes and what the learning needs to be. I'm not speaking from strictly an AVID perspective; I think most PD events need to reevaluate what they are doing.

(I've also found that a bar, or beers, has the same effect as the hot tub.)

Oddly Conntected

2010-07-25T06:39:00.000-07:00

I found these two posts via Twitter this morning and thought, "Wow, these two are oddly connected. I'm glad they came on the same morning so I could make the connection."

Here's the first one: Valedictorian Speaks Out Against Schooling in Graduation Speech

Here's the second one: Be Like the Bamboo: 7 Lessons from the Japanese Forest

So, how are they connected?

[I was going to post my ideas. However, let's try to get a conversation started in the comments.]

Teaching: Compliments of Pastor Jeff...

2010-07-19T19:47:00.000-07:00

I was at church on Sunday without either of my children and was actually able to pay attention to the service (not handing out snacks and running to the bathroom). Oddly enough, I learned something from the children's message.

The theme for the day was "do not lead us into temptation..."

Pastor Jeff sat down with the kids. He said that he had a magic ring in his shirt pocket (too hot for robes that day). It was called the Ring of Gyges (guy-geez). This ring, when you put it on, would make you invisible. He's a great story teller. Then he pulled the ring out of his pocket. The little ones gazed in amazement. (His wife rolled her eyes, as it was his wedding ring!)

They went around to each little one and asked what they would do if they had the ring. If they couldn't be seen by anyone. I thought, this is cute. But then Jamar, who is about 15 (and still a kid, with plenty of wordly issues), said, "I would cry." Now, that broke my heart knowing his past.

However, it also made me think, this would be great to use with my middle schoolers at the beginning of the year. Perhaps my thoughts being influenced by a recent Twitter convo with @druinok.

I'm sure I'll get a few goofball answers about robbing a bank or punching their sister. However, I'm equally sure that I'll get plenty of honest, sincere and moving answers that will give me a greater sense of who those wonderful young people are that allowing me to help educate them.

So, there! My first day lesson plan is done. I think I'll video tape Pastor Jeff telling the story. Oh, and I found a Wikipedia enter for it too. I don't care what you think of Wikipedia, I'm going to use it for the story. Click here to read the entry.

Almost Paperless Teaching

2010-07-15T19:05:00.000-07:00

I am very fortunate to teach a class called Technology in the Classroom at a graduate level to adult learners in a master degree program. I teach this course with a dear teaching friend Wendy.

We gave out two pieces of paper, roughly 100 sheets, during this 8 week course. One was an assignment list (first night) and the other was a learning log (last night). Both could really only be done with paper.

How did we do it?

Blackboard. The university uses Blackboard for it's course management and posted much of our work there.
Moodle. I had access to Moodle through a teacher friend. I used Moodle for my content to show the difference between Moodle and Blackboard (other than the cost).
All kinds of Web 2.0 tools:

wikis
blogs
Google Docs
Google Voice
Edmodo

And those are just the paper replacements. We used many more Web 2.0 tools that make teaching and learning so much better!

Next year, no paper. Should be good!

Summer School Fun & Learning?

2010-07-13T08:05:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm sitting at school in the computer lab. Yeah, I know, it's summer but I've got some work to do.

I've seen several classes operating and it's different than the regular school year. There is music playing. There are games being played. Students seem much more engaged and eager.

Why?

There isn't a focus on The Test. Students are just learning. There isn't a big test to take at the end of the summer. Each student has a learning plan and goals to meet but it's different than a big state test. Teachers have prescribed units and themes. They are connected and relevant with the students. The theme runs through regular classes and specialist classes.

For example, 2nd grade is working on the Mississippi river. In music, students are studying the different music from the different regions along the river. In gym, they are dong Native dances from tribes on the river. In media, they are studying interactive maps and will create a Pixie about the river to tell a story.

Collaborative, thematic teaching that is relevant to our students. These 2nd graders live near the river and have all had some experience with it.

This is a good model. How do we implement this in the regular school year?

Copying and Printing Budgets????

2010-07-07T05:04:00.000-07:00

[This post, like all others, contains my own personal views and opinions. They in no way reflect the opinions of the Minneapolis schools or is a criticism of my district. Rather it is my forum to challenge the status quo.]

The Minneapolis Star Tribune published this article this morning:

Fight Erupts Over Minneapolis' Schools Bid

Basically, there is a company suing the Minneapolis Schools over the recent contract for copying and printing at the district's two administrative buildings. There are claims of favoritism. However, this post is not about the contract. It is about the fact that my district more than $1 million a year on copying and printing at it's administrative offices. More than a million dollars. The cost of a full time teacher, if I recall correctly, is about $88,000 (including benefits). That's 12 teachers.

One of the comments on the Star Tribune page summed up my feelings:

This is the 21st century. Why are they spending a million bucks on copying and printing?

Exactly! But what are some of the options?

Have departments use the district wiki server to collaborate on items.
Switch the entire district to Google Apps of Education. Have them share documents that way. You can publish them so that others can read but not change or publish so that you can collaborate.
Use the district Moodle server.
Use any number of Web 2.0 tools to replace many of the paper items that are used.
Provide mandatory training on paperless tools.

Is this going to cost more money? I don't think so. Everyone at the district office has a computer. We don't need to purchase more technology. Google Apps is free. We already have a Moodle server. We already have a wiki server. We already have a staff of IT trainers. We might need to add a few more of these wonderful people, but that is the only expense I can think of.

Lets push the thinking at the a district level. Model what we are expecting in classrooms. Money is not something we, as a district can throw around. We need to be saving more as the district struggles more. We need to use the resources that we have. We need to change our thinking.

[I'm assuming that this printing figure is just for internal printing at the district's offices. Publications to the public, I believe, are printed by an outside agency.]

Videos for Teachers

2010-07-07T04:38:00.000-07:00

Over on the Free Tech For Teachers blog, @rmbyrne has posted a collection of videos about teaching that every teacher should watch. Click here to see the post. I've seen most of the videos but I wanted to share both his blog and these videos. They are great and relevant to the teaching and learning that should be happening in classrooms.

Here's one of my favorites from the group. Sorry for the ad at the beginning but I wanted it to be school safe.

CPS Clickers & The Binder Check

2010-06-17T12:05:00.000-07:00

http://huskynet.stcloudstate.edu

Yesterday, I attended a training lead by the two trainers from eInstruction. They did a fabulous job. However, I struggled with finding a use for the response system in my AVID class and posted this tweet:

"Attending student response training. Tedious grading is now taken care of with SRS system. Just realized I don't do much "tedious" work."

The trainers said that the CPS clicker takes out all the tedious work of the classroom. Later in the training, I realized the most tedious thing that happens in my AVID classroom is binder checks and the clickers could take care of that and free up some paper to stay as a tree.

So how can I do this? Great question and I'm not entirely sure of the answer yet. Here's what I am thinking though.

In the CPS software, I can create a "Fast Grade" assignment.
In that assignment, I can create a numeric question for each category on the binder rubric. For instance, one category is supplies (3 pens, 3 pencils, highlighter) and is worth 10 points. That would be a 10 point question.
I repeat this for each category.
Once I create this assignment, I can keep it in the software for every time that I want to use it.

Now, for the class, I put the rubric on the white board screen, perhaps as a PDF from the AVID curriculum CD. Then I give each student a clicker. I start the assignment. As they grade each others binders they can enter scores for each category. Once they finish one category, the system moves onto the next question. There will be no wasted time using this system. And whey they finish, they can move on the next task in class.

In the software, I can access a spreadsheet that has all the scores. I can see which student scored what in each category. The one thing I'm not sure of is whether the software will add up the categories for each student or not. That might be something that I have to do.

That is how I plan on using student response clickers for binder checks in AVID. I'll let you know how it goes in the fall.

iPad Posting

2010-06-01T04:48:00.000-07:00

This is great.

I'm currently testing out Moodle on the iPad. However, I had to switch to my laptop because I can't copy and paste between applications on the iPad. That needs to be updated.

With Safari, standard browser on the iPad, Moodle doesn't have all the features that we get with Firefox or Camino. That's a bit disappointing.

Typing using the built in keyboard isn't great but it's not bad. And I like the auto correct features. That makes spelling and grammar a bit more irrelevant. On the other hand it is a bit tougher to go back an make changes without a mouse. Hold on, let me change to landscape typing.

Okay, landscape. It's a bit more of a stretch. However it is easier to read the text. The other thing is that I'm not touch typing. I'm looking at the letters on the virtual keyboard as I type and not reading my words.

Let's think teaching for a minute. When I was in middle school, I was forced to take a typing class. I hated it at the time. However, in looking back, it was one of the most important classes I took during those years. It's something that I use every day as an adult. I wish I remembered the teacher, I'd send her a card.

I believe that students need to know how to type.

However, with technology changing, the idea of a keyboard is changing too. There are Blackberry-type keyboards, phone keyboards, traditional button keyboards and, now, even virtual on screen keyboards.

How do we teach typing? I don't think I could ever touch type on an iPad. However, my thumb typing is getting faster the more I use it. Is that an acceptable way? Do we have to teach multiple ways of typing? Do we teach touch typing only? Do we teach typing at all or just let students figure out a way that works for them?

That's lots of questions, what are your thoughts?

The Power of AVID

2010-05-25T18:56:00.000-07:00

[I teach a class called AVID. It's all about getting students ready for college starting in middle school. You can read more about it here.]

At the end of 8th grade, my AVID students have the opportunity to apply for the high school AVID program. I have them all do the application whether they want to be in AVID or not. The application process is a life skill.

This is the story of one student. She didn't want to be in AVID. She had no desire to go to college. She didn't even want to go to high school. In fact, her middle school attendance was not good.

This student came to one day and said, "I'm got accepted to South High School. Mr. Knaus, I need another AVID application." This student bugged me for 2 weeks for another copy of the high school AVID application. She made mistakes on the first one. I told her to bring it back the next day. It was under my door at the end of the day!

This is part of what she wrote on the essay for her AVID application:

I want to be in AVID because it helps me change the way I look at college. It helped me learn a lot about different things. It helped me get organized and keep on task. It's giving me lots of opportunities in life.

Not to shabby for a student who fought and kicked to not be in AVID. I'm very proud of her for what she has accomplished in school this year! Not she will need it, but I wish her luck in high school and beyond.

Paperless Collaboration

2010-05-18T05:48:00.000-07:00

Here's what I am most proud of for the week:

Moodle Forums for Paperless Collaborative Writing

This could the title for an academic paper. I think it might be some day. Hmm...

Okay, so in the grad class that I teach, we have them read online articles between sessions. In the forums on Moodle, they have to post an original thread for two articles and reply to two others. For the first round, I jumped in many times to add questions and spark more communication.

I copied and pasted the contents of one thread into a Word document, where learners usually type papers. I formatted like a paper-double spaced, 12 point Times, etc.

FOUR PAGES!!!

Eight different learners collaborated with 12 separate comments to create a four page paper. Now, imagine the resistance if I were to assign a four page paper every week. And what good would it be. It would be just the learner and me reading it. One perspective versus another perspective.

Four collaborative pages. I love that! And my voice was a very minor player in the discussion.

Moodle forums for collaborative discussion. Awesome!!!