Good teachers leaving-how to keep them

How to keep good teachers......................

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/teach-plus/when-teachers-leave-stude_b_2259799.html?utm_hp_ref=education

The highlights:

• It starts with convincing principals that teachers are not easily replaceable.
•  Schools must focus on developing effective teachers into top performers.
• Schools must involve teachers in decision-making; survey data is not enough.
• "More than anything, teachers wanted the school to help us help students learn"

When teachers are not empowered to make changes in schools that would enable us to better serve our students, teachers leave and students lose out. It's time schools across the nation make it a priority to keep and develop their effective teachers and to involve teachers in that process. ~Alexandra Fuentes

Motivating Students???

Accountability:

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/authentic-assessment-accountability-schools-envision-bob-lenz?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29

"...our accountability is not driven by a system of rewards and punishments; it is driven by an authentic system of accountability driven by making the work of students, teachers, and the school public."  

Putting grades on display?  Hmmm, sounds scary-I wonder if you can even legally do that?  This might work for a gifted and talented school, but a school where there are grades of all percentages, I just don't know.  My fear is that too much focus will be on learning the information for the grade rather than actually learning the topic.................GRADES ARE NOT EVERYTHING!!! Just saying.

Mentoring instructors?!!

I was inspired by Liz's blog, so I read the article that she sited.
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/teach-the-teachers-shira-loewenstein?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29

Mentoring is a needed practice that has gone by the wayside, esp. as it relates to mentoring new teachers.  We are so busy that we barely have time for our own lives.

I was fortunate to have a work mentor that provided valuable insight and gave me direction.  Surprisingly, there continues to be things tat I need answers to and are unable to find the answers.  The nice thing for me is that I can email/call my mentor with any issues and they are quickly resolved! 

I challenge you to be the mentor that you never had or to follow the leadership that helped you achieve some of what you have done.  Ultimately, you need to do the work, but it is nice to have someone to lean on.  

We ARE Better Together!!!

TeacherHub.com & Ecards

TeacherHub.com is a site that provides resources by teachers for teachers.  There are hot tips and topics as well as contests. 

Sometimes it is great to realize that you are not alone in your feelings.  Check out the latest ecards that no teacher ever said.  http://www.teachhub.com/top-10-teacher-some-ecards

mini iPAD

OMGosh, Santa came early and brought me the mini iPAD.....so excited!

SPI experience

Getting ready for the standardized patient experience today.  Motivational interviewing techniques and bringing together much of what the students have learned in Survey comes together today.  Isabella is excited to go to UM today!

Somber Day!

I hope we are not heading FORWARD into a real depression! :(