Edclick

Edclicking

By Dr. Harry Tennant

Dan S. Martin's Principal Rider

by Dan S. Martin
Blog RSS feed
Share this blog with email Share this blog on Facebook Share this blog on Twitter Share this blog on LinkedIn

Show recent posts

Show posts with most recent comments

Keywords:

212 Degrees (1)
21st Century (1)
21st Century Enlightenment (1)
50 States & Capitals (1)
A Lot On My Mind (1)
A Vision Of 21st Century Teachers (1)
A Vision Of K-12 Students Today (1)
Abbeville (1)
Academic Vocabulary (1)
Academic Word List (1)
Accountability (26)
Accountabilty (1)
Adequate Yearly Progress (1)
Advanced Placement (1)
Advanced Placement Testing (1)
AIM (1)
Airbrush Art (1)
Airfare (1)
Alcohol Use (1)
Alexandria (4)
Alexandria International Airport (1)
Alice Project (1)
Alpine ISD (1)
America (1)
Animation (1)
AP (1)
Apple (1)
Apple Ad (1)
Arabic (1)
Arizona (1)
Arkansas Association Of Educational Administrators (1)
Armed Services (1)
Art (2)
Assessment (17)
Assessments (3)
Assistant Principals (3)
Assistive Technology (1)
Atom Crasher (1)
Atomic Danger Education (1)
At-Risk Students (3)
Attendance (1)
Awards (1)
AYP (1)
Baldwin County Public School (1)
BBC (1)
Behavior Manager (1)
Big Bend Country (1)
Big Bend National Park (1)
Bilingualism (1)
Bill of Rights (1)
Biology (1)
BIP (3)
Bi-Polar (1)
Black Hole (1)
Blick Art Supplies (1)
Book Clubs (1)
Books (1)
Boredom (1)
Brain Health (1)
Brian Stephens (1)
Budget (9)
Budget Cuts (16)
Budgets (17)
Bullying (7)
Bullying Prevention (1)
Bunkie High School (1)
Bus Behavior (2)
by Harry Tennant (11)
California (5)
Campus Climate (1)
Career Education (1)
Cartoon (4)
Cell Phone Policy (1)
Cell Phones (3)
Census (1)
Census 100-Year Interactive Map (1)
Census 2010 (1)
Center for Digital Education (1)
Center For Public Policy Priorities (1)
Central Intelligence Agency (1)
Change (1)
Changing Education Paradigms (1)
Character Education (3)
Charter Schools (2)
Cheating (1)
Check It Out Education Content (1)
Chemistry (1)
Child Abduction (1)
Child Nutrition (3)
Child Safety (3)
Child-Driven Education (1)
Child-Friendly Web Browser (1)
Choice (1)
CHOICE Program (2)
CIS (1)
Citizenship (2)
Civil Rights (1)
Civil Rights In America (1)
Class Size (1)
Class Sizes (1)
Classroom Management (1)
CNN (4)
CNN Student News (2)
Collaboration Manager (3)
Collective Bargaining (3)
College (1)
Commercials (1)
Common Assessments (1)
Common Standards (1)
Common-Accountability (1)
Common-Standards (5)
Communication (9)
Community Engagement (1)
Community Service (1)
Competition (1)
Compliance (3)
Computer Sciences (1)
Concept-Based Teaching (1)
Conferences (1)
Congress (1)
Conjunction Junction (1)
Content (1)
Continuous Improvement (6)
Corporal Punishment (1)
Corporations (1)
Cost Cutting (1)
Counseling (5)
Counselors (4)
Crisis Planning (1)
Culinary Arts (1)
Curriculum (2)
Cursive Writing (1)
Customer Service Orientation (1)
Cycle Of Education (154)
Dan S. Martin (3)
DanClick (16)
Data First (1)
Day 46 (1)
Day 47 (1)
Day_10 (1)
Day_11 (1)
Day_12 (1)
Day_13 (1)
Day_14 (1)
Day_15 (1)
Day_16 (1)
Day_17 (1)
Day_18 (1)
Day_19 (1)
Day_20 (1)
Day_21 (1)
Day_22 (1)
Day_23 (1)
Day_24 (1)
Day_26 (2)
Day_27 (1)
Day_27_through_Day_40 (1)
Day_4 (1)
Day_45 (2)
Day_46 (2)
Day_48 (1)
Day_5 (3)
Day_6 (1)
Day_63-66 (1)
Day_7 (1)
Day_8 (1)
Day_9 (1)
Day1_Day20 (1)
Decatur ISD (2)
Denton ISD (1)
Detention (1)
Differentiation (1)
Discipline (67)
Discipline Histories (1)
Discipline Manager (1)
Discipline Questionnaires (1)
Discipline Under IDEA 2004 (1)
Distance Leaning (1)
Distance Learning (1)
Documentation (8)
Dogs (1)
Doodling In Math Class (2)
Douglass ISD (1)
Dr. Gary Gindt (1)
Dr. Harry Tennant (1)
Dress Code (3)
Drugs & Alcohol (1)
Dunce Cap (1)
Earth (1)
Earth At Night (1)
Earth From Space (1)
EdClick (181)
EdClick.com (4)
EDS (1)
education (4)
Education Budgets (1)
Education Content (2)
Education Cuts (1)
Education Financing (1)
Education Funding (1)
Education Funny (19)
Education Poll (1)
Education Priorities (1)
Education Reform (1)
Education Ride 365 (126)
Education Ride 365_Day 1 (1)
Education Ride 365_Day 2 (2)
Education Ride 365_Day 3 (4)
Education Ride 365_Day 4 (1)
Educational Games (1)
Educator Pain Points (1)
Educators Travel Network (1)
Edutopia (1)
ELA (3)
Election (1)
Elections (1)
Electoral Process (1)
Electronic Devices (2)
Electronic Instruction (1)
Electronic Signatures (1)
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (1)
Elephant (1)
Encyclopedia Of Life (1)
England Air Base (1)
English (8)
ESEA (1)
Ethics (1)
Ethnicity (1)
European Union (1)
Exam (1)
Excel (1)
Executive Branch (1)
Expectations Of Students (1)
Extended Day (1)
Extended School Day (1)
Facebook (1)
Fairness (1)
family (1)
Favorite Teacher (1)
Federal Budget Visual (1)
Federal Funding (1)
FERPA (1)
Fighting (4)
Finances (1)
Fine Arts (1)
Flash Card Exchange (1)
Flipped Clasrooms (1)
Flocabulary (1)
Florida (1)
Foreign Language (3)
Fort Meigs (1)
Fort Worth ISD (2)
Founding Fathers (1)
Freedoms (1)
Gaming Concept In Discipline (1)
Gender-Specific Schools (1)
Geography (5)
George Lucas Educational Foundation (1)
Georgia Aquarium (1)
German Education (1)
Global Warming (1)
Go Paperless (1)
Gold Wing (4)
Google Maps (1)
Gossip (1)
Government (5)
Government Spending (2)
Graffiti (1)
Grammar (1)
Grants (1)
Graphic Organizers (1)
Great Courses (1)
Hair (1)
Hands On Anatomy (1)
Have We All Had A Student Like This (1)
Health (3)
Health Care (1)
Help Desk (1)
Hispanics (1)
History (10)
History For Music Lovers (1)
Holiday Celebrations (1)
Holy Savior Menard Central Catholic High School (1)
Homework (2)
Honda (4)
Honda East Toledo (3)
Honda Gold Wing (1)
How Stuff Works (1)
Huck Finn (1)
Humanities (1)
IDEA (2)
IDEA 2004 (2)
IEP (3)
Impact Aid (1)
In Memorium (1)
In The News (52)
India (1)
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2)
Innovation (1)
In-School Suspension (2)
Inspiration Software (1)
Instruction (3)
Instructions (1)
Integration (1)
Intelligence (2)
Interactive Body Game (1)
International Assessment (3)
International Education (1)
International School Of Indiana (1)
International Space Station (1)
Internet (2)
Internet Influence On Teens (1)
Internet Safety (1)
Internet Security (1)
IQ Testing (1)
Irving ISD (1)
ISS (4)
ISS Monitors (1)
ISTE 2012 (1)
Jamie Oliver (1)
Japan Earthquake (1)
Jeopardy! Quiz Game (1)
Jump Math (1)
Just Funny (1)
Juvenile Justice (1)
Katrina (1)
Kennedy Center (1)
Kepler (1)
Kid's Book Clubs (1)
KIPP (1)
Labor (1)
Lafayette (2)
Lake Pontchartrain (1)
Language (1)
Language Study (1)
Laptop Use (1)
Large Districts (1)
Last Lecture (1)
Law Suit (1)
Lawsuit (1)
Layoffs In Education (1)
Learning Curve (1)
Legistlation (1)
Lego Grant (1)
Legos (1)
Liberally Lean From The Land Of Dairy Queen (1)
Libraries (1)
Lifelong Learning (1)
Linking People (1)
Lit2Go (1)
Literature (2)
Louvre (1)
Lovejoy ISD (1)
Magnet Schools (2)
Make Money (2)
Makes You Think (1)
Mandeville (1)
Maps (3)
March On Washington (1)
Mark Twain (1)
Math (3)
Math Curriculum (1)
Mathematics (2)
Matthew Taylor (1)
Medical Privacy (1)
Meetings (1)
Mentoring (1)
Mercury (2)
Merit Pay (3)
Merit/Demerit System (1)
Messenger Satellite (1)
Meterology (1)
Michelle Rhee (1)
Military (1)
Military Budgets (2)
Military Funding (1)
Military Spending (2)
Mind Map (1)
MindWare (1)
Minnesota (1)
MIT Open Courseware (1)
Mitra (1)
MLK Day (1)
Mobile App (1)
Mobility (1)
Moment Of Silence (1)
Money (1)
Money Out There (4)
Moon (1)
More Education Needed (1)
Motivation (2)
Motorcycle Humor (1)
Motorcycle Travel Network (1)
movies (1)
Museum Of Childhood (1)
Museums (1)
Music (1)
Music Library (1)
Nacogdoches (2)
Nacogdoches ISD (1)
NASA (5)
NASA For Educators (1)
NASA Middle School Aerospace Scholars (MAS) (1)
NASP (1)
Natchitoches (1)
National (1)
National Association of School Psychologists (1)
National Child Identification Program (1)
National Rankings (1)
National Science Digital Library (1)
National Service (1)
New Jersey (1)
New Orleans Schools (1)
New York (1)
No Child Left Behind (1)
Nobel Peace Prize (1)
North Shore (1)
Northwood High School (1)
NPR (1)
NSDL (1)
Nutrition (3)
N-Word (1)
NY Times (1)
Ocean Portal (1)
One-Room Schoolhouse (1)
Online Courses (1)
Online Learning (3)
Paddling (2)
Pam Shanteau (1)
Pamela Shanteau (12)
Paper Referrals (1)
Paperless (1)
Parent Accountability (1)
Parent Communication (4)
Parent Conferences (1)
Parent Education (2)
Parent Involvement (13)
Parent Meetings (1)
Parent Portals (1)
Parent Resources (2)
Parent Universitys (1)
Parent Volunteers (1)
Parental Involvement (8)
Parenting (4)
Parenting Handbook (1)
Parenting Magazine (1)
Parenting Skills (1)
Parents (2)
Parent-Trigger (1)
Parent-Trigger Law (1)
Pass It On (36)
Pass It On Education Content (34)
Pass It On Education Resources (5)
Pass It On Education Tool (1)
Pass It On Education Tools (57)
Patrick Cates (1)
Periodic Table of Elements (1)
Personal Finance (1)
Personalized Education (1)
Personnel (3)
Photo Of The Day (25)
Physical Exercise (1)
Physics (1)
PISA (2)
Plano ISD (1)
Play Fighting (1)
Pledge To Flag (1)
Pledges (1)
Poetry Terminology (1)
Political Correctness (2)
Political Science (1)
Poor Districts (1)
Population Growth (1)
Positive Discipline (1)
Posters (1)
PPRA (1)
Pregnancy (1)
President (1)
Principal Rider (6)
Principals (2)
Principal's Message (1)
Priorities (1)
Prisons (1)
Professional Development (2)
Professor Zimbardo (1)
Progressive Education (1)
Propaganda (2)
Protection Of Pupil Rights Amendment (1)
PSA (1)
Public Opinion (1)
public schools (1)
Public v Private Schools (1)
Quiz (1)
Quiz Answer (1)
Race (1)
Race To Nowhere (1)
Race To The Top (1)
Raising Teenagers (1)
Random Education Facts (2)
Reading (1)
Reform (1)
Rehabilitation (1)
Remediation (1)
Republican Politics (1)
Response To Intervention (3)
Retirement (1)
Rhode Island (1)
Rick Perry (1)
Right-Only Scoring (1)
Room For Debate (1)
RSA Animate (5)
RTI (5)
Rumors (1)
Safe And Savvy Browser (1)
SAT (1)
SAT Testing (1)
Save Money (4)
Scholarships (1)
School Budgets (1)
School Buses (1)
School Calendar (1)
School Choice (1)
School Climate (5)
School Communication (1)
School Counselors (2)
School Day (1)
School District Zoning (2)
School Finance (17)
School Finance Reform (3)
School Financing (13)
School Food (1)
School Forms (1)
School Funding (6)
School Length (1)
School Lunches (1)
School Operations (1)
School Reform (5)
School Security (2)
School Size (1)
School Violence (1)
Science (14)
Science. Astronomy (1)
SeaWorld (1)
Segregation (1)
Seth Stephens (1)
Sexting (1)
Sexual Harassment (1)
Skip Harrison (1)
Skype (1)
Slidell (1)
Smart Phones (1)
Smithsonian Ocean Portal (1)
Smithsonian Virtual Tour (1)
Social Media (2)
Social Studies (7)
Sociology (2)
Socrates (1)
Solar Walk (1)
Southwest Texas (1)
Space (3)
Space Shuttle (2)
Spanish (1)
Special Education (8)
Special Education Diagnosticians (2)
Special Education Psychologists (2)
Special Needs (1)
Spell Checker (1)
Spirit Air (1)
Sportsmanship (1)
Spray-On Tanning (1)
Spring Break (1)
SSCISD (1)
STAAR (11)
Staff Development (2)
Standardized Assessment (3)
Standardized Assessments (3)
Standardized Testing (7)
Standards (3)
Standard's-Based Accountability (1)
Stanford Prison Study (1)
STEM (1)
Steve Johnson (1)
Street Maps (1)
Stress (1)
Struggling Students (1)
Student Accountability (1)
Student Death (1)
Student Engagement (1)
Student Expectations (1)
Student Folders (1)
Student Health (2)
Student Options (1)
Student Suspensions (1)
Student Whisperer (1)
Student Work (1)
Students (1)
StudentsFirst (1)
Study Tools (1)
Substitute Teaching (1)
Success (2)
Suicide (2)
Sun (1)
Survey (2)
Tagxedo (1)
Taking Care Of Business (1)
TAKS (5)
Tanning (1)
Taxes (1)
Taylor Anderson (1)
TCEA (1)
TEA (3)
Teacher Appreciation (1)
Teacher Award (1)
Teacher Cuts (6)
Teacher Experience (1)
Teacher Licensing (1)
Teacher Merit Pay (1)
Teacher Pay (1)
Teacher Professionalism (1)
Teacher Quality (1)
Teacher Ratings (1)
Teacher Retirees (1)
Teacher Training (1)
Teacher Unions (2)
Teacher Vision (1)
Teacher Voice (1)
Teachers (7)
Teachers Unions (1)
Teacher-Student Communication (1)
Teaching (2)
Teaching License (1)
Teaching Overseas (1)
Teaching Tools (2)
Technology (13)
Technology In Schools (1)
Technology Use (1)
TED (1)
Teen Cutting (1)
Teen Drinking (1)
Teen Driving (2)
Teen Health (1)
Teen Leadership (2)
Teen Pregnancy (3)
Teenage Employment (1)
Teenagers (1)
Tenure (1)
Terrorism (1)
Tessellations (1)
Test (3)
Test Answer (1)
testing (6)
Tetraxis (1)
Texas (30)
Texas Computer Education Association (1)
Texas Declaration Of Independence (1)
Texas Education Agency (3)
Text Messaging (1)
Texting (2)
Thanksgiving (1)
The California School Guide (1)
The Email Cycle (1)
The National Gallery Of Art (1)
The Secret Powers of Time (1)
Think Different (1)
Thinking Skills (1)
Thomas Jefferson (1)
Trade School (2)
Translations (1)
Travel (5)
Travel Maps (2)
Trends (33)
Triple Filter Test (1)
U.S. Government (1)
U.S. Hispanic Population (1)
U.S. History (3)
U.S. Population (1)
U.S.S. Alabama Battleship Memorial Park (1)
Unions (1)
Universe (1)
US History (1)
US71S (1)
Useful Mac App Spotlight (1)
Value Added (1)
Value-Added (1)
Values (1)
Venn Diagrams (1)
Vi Hart (1)
Video (1)
Violence (3)
Virtual Experiences (1)
Virtual Tour (2)
Visual Literacy (4)
Vocational Schools (1)
Volunteers (1)
Wealthy Districts (1)
Weapons (1)
Weather (1)
Weatherspark (1)
Web 2.0 (1)
Webinar (1)
Website App (1)
What Make A Good Student (1)
Where Good Ideas Come From (1)
White House (2)
White House Virtual Tour (1)
Wisconsin Protests (1)
Word Clouds (1)
Wordle (1)
Writing (1)
Writing Prompt (1)

Keyword Cloud

Archive:
2010
    November (56)
    December (75)
2011
    January (47)
    February (45)
    March (48)
    April (35)
    May (2)
    June (2)
    September (4)
    October (25)
    November (18)
    December (11)
2012
    January (21)
    February (8)
    March (18)
    April (19)
    May (18)
    June (14)
    July (10)
    August (13)
    September (9)
    October (3)
    November (1)

Entries from May 2012
Posts 1 - 18 of 18

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Education Ride 365: From One Beautiful State To Another!



How can one top the beauty of New Hampshire?  I spent Days 149 and 150 near Montpelier and Burlington, Vermont!  The two states are very similar in terms of natural beauty, history, and all-around allure!  A few scenes from Vermont:




















Day 149---165 miles traveled, 3 hours and 11 minutes of moving time, 51.8 miles per hour average moving time, 4hours and 11 minutes stopped time, 22.2 miles per hour overall average, and a max speed of 70.7 miles per hour.  Day 150---151.5 miles traveled, 4 hours and 5 minutes of moving time, 37 miles per hour average moving time, and a max speed of 66.6 miles per hour.

Posted at 4:26 PM (permalink) 2 Comments View/Leave Comment Share this post with email Share this post on Facebook Share this post on Twitter Share this post on LinkedIn
Keywords: Education Ride 365, EdClick, Cycle Of Education

 

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Education Ride 365: Smile, Your Bad Behavior Is On My Smart Phone!



My blog posts on April 17th and 20th covered aspects of student use of smart phones in the classroom.  Recently I came across another thought-provoking report about smart phone use in classrooms.

This time teachers are being urged to use their smart phones to record proceedings in class----> specifically, bad behavior by students.  A major teacher association is encouraging teachers to do what other teachers have been sanctioned for.  At the root of the issue is whether or not the classroom is a public forum, as many other parts of the school have been designated.

                                    

Posted at 3:12 PM (permalink) 0 Comments View/Leave Comment Share this post with email Share this post on Facebook Share this post on Twitter Share this post on LinkedIn
Keywords: Education Ride 365, EdClick, Cycle Of Education, Technology, Smart Phones, Discipline

 

Monday, May 28, 2012

Education Ride 365: Brake For New Hampshire!



New Hampshire is beautiful!  Today---Day 148---was spent exploring this wonderfully green land full of crystal clear water and winding tree-lined roads.





















Pictures don't do it justice.  If you ever get to visit make sure to explore the "White Mountain" area.  Next time I'm getting in that crystal clear water!


Day 147---160.3 miles traveled, 3 hours and 24 minutes of moving time, 47 miles per hour average moving time, 32 minutes stopped time, 39.9 miles per hour overall average, and a max speed of 80.1 miles per hour.  Day 148---200.6 miles traveled, 4 hours and 34 minutes of moving time, 43.9 miles per hour average moving time, 4 hours and 4 minutes stopped time, 23.2 miles per hour overall average, and a max speed of 80.5 miles per hour.

Posted at 10:00 PM (permalink) 0 Comments View/Leave Comment Share this post with email Share this post on Facebook Share this post on Twitter Share this post on LinkedIn
Keywords: Education Ride 365, EdClick, Cycle Of Education

 

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Education Ride 365: Riding, Talking, & Doing Too Much To Stay Caught Up!



Today is Day 147 of Education Ride 365.  The date is May 27, 2012.  Yesterday I was on the motorcycle for over 9 hours and 20 minutes of actual road time, not counting stops.  Today, only 3 hours and 10 minutes.  Numbers can be deceiving.  Some miles are easier than others.  Weather conditions including temperature, precipitation, and wind speed play a part in determining the difficulty of a ride.  So too does the type of the roads primarily ridden: interstate, urban, and/or rural, as well as the number of curves, rises, and overall variations.  The number of other vehicles on the road (congestion vs. open-road), road quality, and the rider's state of rest also are factors determining ride difficulty.  Regardless how you assess it, riding in the elements on two wheels is much more taxing than riding in an enclosed, climate-controlled four wheel vehicle!  Especially when most every day is a ride day.



I last posted (on May 20th) about destinations visited through Day 127 (May 7).  In the 20 days since Day 127, I have ridden 3,383.17 miles through 15 states.  Now, on Day 147 I'd like to update where I slept those 20 days before catching up on a few highlights from those days in posts to come.  My goal is always to post closer to real-time than I have hereto-for been able to do given the demands of riding, other responsibilities of such an ambitious existence on the road, and the regular interactions I am having with educators and non-educators alike regarding the state of education in America.  Each day I explain the Cycle of Education and my mission to a dozen or more people.  At gas stations, coffee shops, restaurants, rest areas, and most everywhere else I stop, folks are curious about the Cycle of Education and this year-long mission.  Thus, time and energy to write are sometimes in short supply!

I'd like to reaffirm my goal (not promise!) to get caught up and stay caught up on blog posts!  Towards that end:

Day 128 (May 8) I rode from DFW to just east of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Day 129 (May 9) Rode to Eureka, Missouri.
Day 130 (May 10) Rode in St. Louis, Missouri.
Day 131 (May 11) Rode to Columbus, Indiana.
Day 132 (May 12) Rode around the area of Bloomington, Indiana.
Day 133 (May 13) Rode to Howard, Ohio.
Day 134 (May 14) Rode to Canton, Ohio and back to Howard.
Day 135 (May 15) Rode to York, Pennsylvania.
Day 136 (May 16) Stayed in York, PA.
Day 137 (May 17) Rode to Boston, Massachusetts.
Day 138 (May 18) Rode to Northhampton, Massachusetts.
Day 139 (May 19) In Northhampton and Springfield, MA.
Day 140 (May 20) In Northhampton and Springfield, MA.
Day 141 (May 21) Rode to Chestnut Hill, MA.
Day 142 (May 22) In Chestnut Hill, MA.
Day 143 (May 23) Rode to Falmouth, Maine.
Day 144 (May 24) In Falmouth, ME.
Day 145 (May 25) In Falmouth, ME.
Day 146 (May 26) Rode to Albany, New York.
Day 147 (May 27) Rode to Louden, New Hampshire.

Over the next four days I'll ride (at least) to Richmond, Vermont...then on to West Greenwich, Rhode Island.  At least 429 miles. Perhaps you can see the challenge I have in keeping up with real-time posts!

Onward!


Day 128---289.9 miles traveled, 5 hours of moving time, 57.8 miles per hour average moving time, 3 hours and 6 minutes stopped time, 35.7 miles per hour overall average, and a max speed of 78.5 miles per hour.  Day 129---427 miles traveled, 7 hours and 3 minutes of moving time, 60.5 miles per hour average moving time, 2 hours and 5 minutes stopped time, 46.8 miles per hour overall average, and a max speed of 84.1 miles per hour.    Day 130---49.93 miles traveled, 1 hour and 9 minutes of moving time, 43.3 miles per hour average moving time, and a max speed of 74.2 miles per hour.  Day 131---317.4 miles traveled, 5 hours of moving time, 63.3 miles per hour average moving time, 3 hours and 40 minutes stopped time, 36.6 miles per hour overall average, and a max speed of 89.3 miles per hour.  Day 132---167.2 miles traveled, 3 hours and 36 minutes of moving time, 46.3 miles per hour average moving time, 4 hours and 50 minutes stopped time, 19.8 miles per hour overall average, and a max speed of 90.9 miles per hour.  Day 133---265.9 miles traveled, 4 hours and 33 minutes of moving time, 58.3 miles per hour average moving time, 2 hours and 54 minutes stopped time, 35.6 miles per hour overall average, and a max speed of 81.9 miles per hour.  Day 134---147.8 miles traveled, 3 hours and 11 minutes of moving time, 46.3 miles per hour average moving time, and a max speed of 76.8 miles per hour.  Day 135---383.3 miles traveled, 5 hours and 57 minutes of moving time, 64.4 miles per hour average moving time, 2 hours and 3 minutes stopped time, 47.8 miles per hour overall average, and a max speed of 92.4 miles per hour.  Day 136---Rest.  Day 137---481.3 miles traveled, 9 hours and 15 minutes of moving time, 52 miles per hour average moving time, 4 hours and 10 minutes stopped time, 35.8 miles per hour overall average, and a max speed of 86 miles per hour.  Day 138, 139, & 140---128.8 miles traveled, 2 hours and 19 minutes of moving time, 55.5 miles per hour average moving time, and a max speed of 86.6 miles per hour.  Day 141---94.24 miles traveled, 1 hour and 38 minutes of moving time, 57.6 miles per hour average moving time, 53 minutes stopped time, 37.5 miles per hour overall average, and a max speed of 89.4 miles per hour.  Day 142---Rest.  Day 143---149.8 miles traveled, 2 hours and 57 minutes of moving time, 50.7 miles per hour average moving time, 1 hour and 30 minutes stopped time, 33.6 miles per hour overall average, and a max speed of 84.3 miles per hour.  Day 144 & 145---Rest.  Day 146---480.6 miles traveled, 9 hours and 21 minutes of moving time, 51.3 miles per hour average moving time, 4 hours and 29 minutes stopped time, 34.7 miles per hour overall average, and a max speed of 86.6 miles per hour.

Posted at 4:12 PM (permalink) 0 Comments View/Leave Comment Share this post with email Share this post on Facebook Share this post on Twitter Share this post on LinkedIn
Keywords: Education Ride 365, EdClick, Cycle Of Education

 

Friday, May 25, 2012

Education Ride 365: Discipline Efforts In Schools Defined & Explained #5



Every school has a discipline system, in the sense that every school has processes in place for implementing whichever discipline program they have embraced.  The discipline system is not the philosophy (program) of discipline....nor is it the tool(s) used to facilitate implementation of the program and system. 

The discipline system is best understood as a systematic procedural blueprint for how discipline will occur in a school.  This is a major undertaking with many important considerations.  This post is an introduction to the subject and, as such, only scratches the surface.  It is intended to broadly define the outlines of establishing a discipline system and is in no way definitive.  I intend to expand, further organize, and elaborate on this explanation/list as a whole---as well as for each consideration---as this series of blog posts continues. 

A partial list of questions asked and answered when establishing a discipline system include:

What are the consequence options for misbehavior?  Examples include:
  • Parent Contact
  • Coach and/or Activity Sponsor Contact
  • Detentions: Lunch, Before- and After-School
  • Extra School: Saturday School, Thursday School, Friday Night Reflections
  • In-School Suspension
  • Out-of-School Suspension
  • Disciplinary Alternative School
  • Restitution
  • Behavior Contracts
  • Suspension of Privilege
  • Behavior Questionnaires
  • Character Building Assignments

What are the considerations for each misbehavior warranting which consequence is assigned under which circumstances?  Examples include:
  • Type of misbehavior.
  • Context of the misbehavior.
  • Discipline history of the offender.
  • Focus priority of the misbehavior.
  • Ability of the system to support follow-through on the consequence.

How will misbehavior be reported and otherwise logged for review and action?  Examples of questions considered include:
  • What procedure does a staff member actually follow to report violations?
  • Depending on the nature of the offense, what interventions were expected to be tried by the referring staff member prior to formal referral to the office?
  • In what way should those interventions be documented?
  • Where are the referrals and other related documentation collected and organized for review?

How will fact-finding occur?  Examples of considerations include:
  • How can missed instructional time be minimized when students must be called to the office?
  • Must students be called to the office for every teacher referral?
  • Are there ways to better manage high volumes of referrals that may occur at any given time?
  • What procedure should be used for documenting or otherwise establishing the "student's side" of any given situation?
  • In what way can the administrator determine if the student has a Special Education 'Behavior Intervention Plan' or other special consideration of this nature before assigning a consequence without referencing this important information?

How will appropriate communications be made?  Examples include:
  • Under what circumstances and in what manner will parents be notified?
  • How will the referring staff member be notified of administrative action taken in response to their referral?
  • How will other staff members involved in the discipline process be notified of administrative actions taken?
  • Which other staff members should be made aware of specific cases of inappropriate student behavior?  How will this be done?

What is the process for recording which consequences have been assigned to which students and when those consequences are expected to be fulfilled?  Examples include:
  • In what manner will lists be created?
  • Which staff member(s) will maintain the lists, including who is credited as fulfilling an assigned consequence and who is overdue?
  • How/where is this information logged for future reference, for instance when sharing a student's discipline history with a parent?
  • How are corrections, postponements, and other such extraordinary adjustments communicated and represented on the master list?

What is the procedure for establishing consequence follow-through and escalating (or otherwise handling) student failure to satisfy assigned discipline consequences?  Examples include:
  • Which staff member(s) will be responsible for determining fulfillment of assigned discipline consequences?
  • What is the "cost" when a student fails to fulfill a discipline consequence?
  • How will that "cost" be communicated to the student and recorded to make sure the reassigned consequence is ultimately fulfilled?

How will discipline histories be created and accessed when needed for review of each student's interactions with the discipline system?  Examples include:
  • Do administrators have the benefit of reviewing each student's discipline history prior to addressing a new referral as context for making a more informed decision regarding the most current referral?
  • In what way can a student's parents view a telling picture of their child's discipline history?
  • How can data on any given student's previous discipline history be accessed and represented to support current and future disciplinary actions as needed?

In what way can discipline trends and progress be analyzed to direct a continuous improvement effort regarding the overall discipline climate at a school or in a district?  Examples include:
  • On what basis can a school or district determine the relative state of success of their discipline program?
  • Is the school or district able to quantify and disaggregate data regarding the frequency, nature, location, and other relevant data points regarding discipline incidents occurring over time?


This is blog entry #5 of an unknown number of coming blog posts providing information aimed at improving a school's efforts to promote appropriate student discipline.  Click a number to the right to view prior entries in this series: #1, #2, #3, #4.

Posted at 9:26 PM (permalink) 1 Comments View/Leave Comment Share this post with email Share this post on Facebook Share this post on Twitter Share this post on LinkedIn
Keywords: Education Ride 365, EdClick, Cycle Of Education, Discipline

 

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Education Ride 365: The Small World I Share With Einstein And You All!



My exploration this year of the 50 states covering at least 50,000 miles reinforces the fact that our country is extremely large.  It has also offered me more than a few "small world" moments!

In a recent post I wrote about my explorations of the Mississippi River, including a visit to its headwaters in Minnesota's Itasca State Park.  I saw no more than a couple of dozen people my entire time there.  One lady on the trail was wearing a TCU sweatshirt.  Texas Christian University is located in Fort Worth, within an hour of where I live.  Missing home a (slight) bit, like most every traveler does, I struck up a conversation with her!  We seemed to share an association---a tie to the DFW metroplex---but as it turns out she was not at all connected to Texas and didn't remember how she acquired the sweatshirt.  It was a "not such a small world" moment, soon followed by a true "small world" moment!



As I was snapping a photo of an informational sign along the path, I noticed another passing couple waiting to have a word with me.  I stopped and we introduced ourselves.  They recognized me, or at least the Cycle of Education, from days earlier and hundreds of miles away in Fargo, North Dakota.  They explained that the Cycle was parked outside of a Starbucks much of the day and they took note.  I often set up shop at Starbucks when on the road and remember the day I had it parked there. 



One feature of the Cycle's paint job that caught their attention in particular is the representation of Einstein's formula E=mc².  They recently sent me the two photos above, including the one where she is holding his business card up right next to the formula painted on the Cycle.  It turns out that her fiancee's business moniker is E=mc².  Ironically enough, fearing a "small world" moment of too much exposure, they asked me not to use their names in the post and blacked out sensitive information in the photo! 

 

As large as our country is, as many people as roam its surface, we are still often connected in so many ways we often aren't aware of.  During these travels, I am building a large network of associations---both inside and outside of education.  I am regularly reminded how intertwined our paths can be. 

Einstein offered the world a formula for how matter is turned into energy and energy into matter.  Hmmmm, if only I could offer a formula for how associations among people can be turned into energy...and vice versa!  Yea, right!  Perhaps I can offer a formula for how attention to continuous school improvement can transform students into the type of citizens we need to safeguard the future prosperity of our country!  Yea, right!  Alas, perhaps the best I can do is to continue riding, continue exchanging ideas and learning from others, and be prepared to actually create the synergies I'll have to leave up to more brilliant people to ever offer a formula for!

Onward!

Posted at 5:14 PM (permalink) 0 Comments View/Leave Comment Share this post with email Share this post on Facebook Share this post on Twitter Share this post on LinkedIn
Keywords: Education Ride 365, EdClick, Cycle Of Education

 

Monday, May 21, 2012

Education Ride 365: Standardizing A Paradox





"Paradoxically we are embracing standardized tests just when the economy is eliminating standardized jobs."

-Robert Reich

Posted at 8:46 PM (permalink) 0 Comments View/Leave Comment Share this post with email Share this post on Facebook Share this post on Twitter Share this post on LinkedIn
Keywords: Education Ride 365, EdClick, Cycle Of Education, Assessment, Standardized Testing

 

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Education Ride 365: Catching Up On Featuring Kind People Along The Way!



After a most pleasant week in Minnesota, on Day 116 I departed for a southern dip back down to Dallas for cycle maintenance and family visits.  There would be several stops along the way.  My first stop was at the home of Deb and Harlyn Jasper in Hospers, Iowa.  Harlyn is a longtime employee of the primary manufacturing business in town, while Deb works at the business they owned for several years before relieving themselves of that pressure!  They still feel very attached to the Chit-Chat Cafe, but would rather have the freedom to travel more frequently without worrying about business ownership.



One night during my visit, we rode to a neighboring town to meet a couple dozen of their friends for a yummy dinner.  I was interviewed by the local paper about "Education Ride 365" before departing on Day 118 for a stay near Lincoln, Nebraska at the home of Ronny and Carol Aden (below).  



Ronny and Carol live in a small town outside of Lincoln called Cortland.  Earlier in his life, Ronny was involved in the pioneering days of the high tech industry and now, after retiring, he enjoys driving a school bus for the Norris School District that supports a number of small towns in the area.  We visited the school.  It is a very nice facility with a great reputation.  It is centrally located between the towns it serves, with all campuses situated on a single piece of land including many acres of undeveloped property intended for future expansion as needed. 

I remember hearing of a school bus accident in Nebraska in August of 2009 that occurred because a stop sign at an intersection had been stolen resulting in a pickup truck crashing into the side of the bus, toppling it and causing a fire that sent two adults and thirty-three students to the hospital.  Thankfully all of the student injuries were minor, however the adults suffered more serious injuries.  Ronnie was the bus driver that day.  He has recovered and is now proudly driving his replacement bus, which is parked beside his rural home when not in service.

The Cycle of Education's front tire had traveled over 20,000 miles by this point (a high amount for a touring motorcycle tire) and was basically --like my head--- bald!  I was hoping to make it back to Dallas before replacing the tire because I had a new one sitting there at my brother's house.  The hydroplaning I felt in heavy rain while in Nebraska caused me to rethink this decision, but I held out.



Thankfully it dried up before I left for my next stop right outside of Kansas City in Harrisonville, Missouri.  Dennis and Judy Kraemer own a motorcycle I was drooling over!  While at their home, Judy tried to talk me into buying it.  Dennis, on the other hand, was happy to hear how my budget would not support my desire, because he is loathe to part with the beauty.  It is a 1976 Honda Goldwing that is in pristine condition with just over 16,000 original miles on it.  Over the last few years it has won numerous best of show awards and is one of only two thousand made in what was only the second year of production of the Goldwing line that has spanned thirty-seven years, from 1976-present.  The Cycle of Education is a 2004 Goldwing.

On Day 122, I rode to Tulsa (OK) and stayed in a hotel directly across the street from Oral Roberts University.  It is amazing how beautiful a divinely-inspired, well-financed college campus can be!



After exploring the campus, I joined good friends Ken Roper and Heather Dane (previously featured on my blog) for a ride with their local club south through Oklahoma to the crystal clear Lake Murray in south-central Oklahoma.  They were a nice, welcoming group of folks!



Once we arrived at the lake, after wandering through some nice rural roads, I split off from the group and finished the sweltering early-spring day making it to my youngest brother's home in Garland, Texas. 

It would be little more than a weekend later before I concluded my short visit home and headed right back up near Tulsa to Ken and Heather's home as a first stop on my way up to New England for yet another leg of Education Ride 365! 


Day 116---292 miles traveled, 4 hours and 27 minutes of moving time, 60.1 miles per hour average moving time, 4 hours and 16 minutes stopped time, 31.7 miles per hour overall average, and a max speed of 82 miles per hour.  Day 117---Rest!  Day 118---230.3 miles traveled, 3 hours and 37 minutes of moving time, 63.5 miles per hour average moving time, 2 hours and 33 minutes stopped time, 37.3 miles per hour overall average, and a max speed of 81.9 miles per hour.  Day 119---35.74 miles traveled, 47 minutes of moving time, 45.3 miles per hour average moving time, and a max speed of 71.4 miles per hour.  Day 120---231.3 miles traveled, 4 hours and 9 minutes of moving time, 55.6 miles per hour average moving time, and a max speed of 83 miles per hour.  Day 121---83.56 miles traveled, 1 hour and 52 minutes of moving time, 44.6 miles per hour average moving time, and a max speed of 80 miles per hour.  Day 122---257 miles traveled and a max speed of 91.3 miles per hour.  Day 123---320.4 miles traveled, 6 hours and 20 minutes of moving time, 50.6 miles per hour average moving time, 4 hours and 24 minutes stopped time, 29.8 miles per hour overall average, and a max speed of 81.3 miles per hour.  Day 124, 125, & 126---163.4 miles traveled and 4 hours and 8 minutes of moving time.  Day 127---171.8 miles traveled, 3 hours and 43 minutes of moving time, 46.3 miles per hour average moving time, 6 hours and 11 minutes stopped time, 17.3 miles per hour overall average, and a max speed of 71.6 miles per hour.

Posted at 7:21 PM (permalink) 0 Comments View/Leave Comment Share this post with email Share this post on Facebook Share this post on Twitter Share this post on LinkedIn
Keywords: Education Ride 365, EdClick, Cycle Of Education

 

Friday, May 18, 2012

Education Ride 365: What Starts As A Trickle Can Become Mighty!



What starts small can quickly grow into a powerful force.  The Mississippi River is one of nature's examples of this truism.



I decided to seek out the source of the Mississippi while in Minnesota.  Where my family is from---Southern Louisiana--- the Mississippi River is a huge part of the culture.  The river drains waters from most all of the United States between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachians into the Gulf of Mexico near New Orleans.  It is the fourth longest and tenth largest river in the world.



Its origin is humble.  Before collecting all or most water runoff from 31 states, the Mighty Mississippi River tumbles over the few rocks you see above.  The placid lake to the left is in Itasca State Park.  It was cool, damp, and gray the day I visited.  This is it, the source of something great!



The two shots above and the one below are merely three different angles of the spot where settled lake water tumbles over perhaps a thirty foot run of rocks you can walk across to begin its 2,552 mile journey that has played such a big role in our country's development.  Like so many things in life, what starts as a trickle...



I left the park and decided to further explore the origins of this river over the coming days.  It doesn't take long before the Mississippi is joined by other tributaries.  The first major river that merges with it is the St. Croix River, which runs along 124 miles of the Minnesota-Wisconsin border.  The St. Croix River is dammed (below) in St. Croix Falls to supply energy to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. 



Wisconsin's St. Croix Falls and its neighboring city in Minnesota, Taylors Falls, are charming cities.  The two pictures below are of the churning waters a couple of miles below the dam in Taylors Falls.



This area is very much worth exploring if you are ever in this region of the country!



I followed the St. Croix south along the border until it converges with the Mississippi River (below) just a few hundred yards beyond this 19th century iron bridge.  Incidentally, the steamboat companies were furious and sued the railroad companies when they first erected these bridges.  They labeled them a "public nuisance" and a threat to commerce!  A then-young Abe Lincoln represented a rail company in one of the proceedings.



I followed the river beyond the convergence point as it winds down the southern half of the Wisconsin-Minnesota border.  The photo below is from Winona, Minnesota after I followed the "River Road" south on the Wisconsin side, then back up north on the Minnesota side.  It is a beautiful drive (ride) on both sides.  I highly recommend it!



So much in life that starts small grows into something larger and much more grand!  Hopefully we can all enjoy the small things in life and, in whatever sense, find a way to make them as mighty and majestic as the Mississippi River!

Posted at 7:08 AM (permalink) 0 Comments View/Leave Comment Share this post with email Share this post on Facebook Share this post on Twitter Share this post on LinkedIn
Keywords: Education Ride 365, EdClick, Cycle Of Education

 

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Education Ride 365: Hard Drive, Hard Ride, And Some People Along The Way!



Well, finally I have been able to retrieve the data off of my failed hard drive!  Thank goodness, because I am behind on featuring the people and places I've become acquainted with since Day 105 of Education Ride 365.  It is now Day 137 and since my last travel update I've been in twelve states and covered thousands of miles!

It is always a challenge to balance the actual experience versus documenting the experience.  Whether to ride the miles or stop every time I see a good picture.  Whether to have a more lengthy and deeper conversation or try to document more of these conversations.  Whether to travel rested or risk life and limb traveling haggard and spent.  Like life itself, traveling on a motorcycle 'discovering' thoughts on education from across the country requires compromises and a constant search for balance!

I don't get to feature every person, every place, nor certainly every insight.  Instead, I feature a representation of my experiences and insights knowing that the actual experience is more important than documenting that experience.  Getting to truly know the people, understanding their perceptions and perspectives, and feeling the adventure of this journey matters more than recording it all.

On Day 106 I left Rapid City (South Dakota) on a long ride to Anthon, Iowa.  This was a day when cruise control was both a blessing a curse.  Having cruise control on a touring motorcycle is always a blessing.  Having cruise control on any motorcycle when the rider is sleepy is a curse!  Traversing South Dakota across a fairly barren and featureless interstate and on through the cornfields of Iowa is a long, straight-forward ride.  Given favorable weather, ease of navigation, and less than thrilling scenery, lethargy can easily set in.  The curse of cruise control I alluded to is my cycle powering on at 70-plus mph irregardless of whether or not I am sufficiently awake to operate it.  Several times I thought about how nodding off could be overcome for a minute or so before the cycle would lose its line and veer out of control. 

I was pleased to make it to Anthon and the home of Ben & Sue Wilson.  They are very kind folks with informed opinions on education and life in general.  Unfortunately, they are an example of my failure to document every aspect of this journey.  I left without a picture and, as always when I do this, I regret that omission.  From their home, I headed north to Fargo, North Dakota and the home of Jim and Twylah Blotsky.  I did not take the most direct route to North Dakota, instead preferring to explore a more rural route north through Iowa and into Minnesota, before turning west to Fargo.  After doing so I somewhat regretted the effort.  I didn't see much variance of landscapes along the way and the roads of NW Iowa were plain awful.  The ones I rode offered a bumpy seam every ten feet or so.  No fun!

Jim and Twylah have a beautiful home and are respectable in every regard.  We shared interesting conversation, wonderful food, and an interest in the same kind of music!  That is a lovely combination!  How did I get out of Fargo without a photo of Jim and Twylah?

On Day 110 I headed to Ottertail, Minnesota.  Everything in Minnesota seems to be centered around lakes!  It is not a myth.  They are everywhere and are beautiful!  Jon and Marge Ewy live on one of these beautiful lakes.  What a peaceful piece of property they have.  Birds are everywhere and there is not a thing about their home that is not peaceful!  Sitting on their porch watching spring arrive on the lake that thawed earlier this year than most reminded me that a beautiful home is so much more than the structure the inhabitants reside in.



I pulled out of Jon and Marge's place on Day 112 headed a short distance to White Bear Lake, Minnesota.  Mark & Sally live at the top of a winding driveway in a majestic home hidden high up on a heavily wooded lot.  There were no roads to their home site when they built there....everything was hiked in!  Oh, I can't express how much I liked this piece of property!  They do too, but are attempting to sell it to move to the mountains of Colorado.  A mere 20 minutes from St. Paul, their property is as peaceful and secluded as one can seem!



Mark is the loving owner of the beautiful dogs I featured a few posts ago.  He and I have quite a bit in common.  I really enjoyed my time in White Bear Lake, Minnesota!  While there, I explored the Minnesota/Wisconsin border over a couple of days.  My next travel post will document these explorations.

To conclude my week in Minnesota, on Day 114 I made my way to Burnsville.  Bob Thaden welcomed me into the home he has owned for quite some time and now occupies part-time.  His wife Patti worked for Northwest Airlines for years and relocated to Atlanta when Delta bought Northwest out.  She and Bob now shuttle between these two cities.  Bob is a quality fellow and made my final stop in Minnesota (for now) an enjoyable one! 

From Minnesota I headed south, back towards Texas for motorcycle maintenance and family visits.  I'll catchup on more folks I met along my way south in a coming post.

Thanks so much to all the gracious old and new friends who are making Education Ride 365 possible by hosting me many stops on this trip!  I appreciate you all!


Day 106---469.8 miles traveled, 6 hours and 39 minutes of moving time, 70.5 miles per hour average moving time, 1 hours and 17 minutes stopped time, 59.1 miles per hour overall average, and a max speed of 79.2 miles per hour.  Day 107---79.36 miles traveled, 1 hour and 30 minutes of moving time, 52.9 miles per hour average moving time, and a max speed of 72.4 miles per hour.  Day 108---423.7 miles traveled, 7 hours and 24 minutes of moving time, 57.2 miles per hour average moving time, 2 hours and 7 minutes stopped time, 44.5 miles per hour overall average, and a max speed of 84.9 miles per hour.  Day 109 & 110---127.6 miles traveled, 2 hours and 37 minutes of moving time, 48.6 miles per hour average moving time, and a max speed of 75.3 miles per hour.  Day 111---Rest.  Day 112---383 miles traveled, 7 hours and 41 minutes of moving time, 49.8 miles per hour average moving time, and a max speed of 80.5 miles per hour.  Day 113---119.2 miles traveled, 2 hours and 41 minutes of moving time, 44.3 miles per hour average moving time, and a max speed of 74.6 miles per hour.  Day 114---143 miles traveled, 3 hours and 9 minutes of moving time, 45.3 miles per hour average moving time, and a max speed of 75.1 miles per hour.  Day 115---178.6 miles traveled, 3 hours and 57 minutes of moving time, 45.2 miles per hour average moving time, and a max speed of 79 miles per hour.

Posted at 10:45 AM (permalink) 0 Comments View/Leave Comment Share this post with email Share this post on Facebook Share this post on Twitter Share this post on LinkedIn
Keywords: Education Ride 365, EdClick, Cycle Of Education

 

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Education Ride 365: Discipline Efforts In Schools Defined & Explained #4



In my attempt to establish a more precise nomenclature for discussing school discipline efforts, I have begun to distinguish the meaning in this context between tools, programs, systems, and implementation.  I am introducing each first, before later expounding on each as a distinct yet essential facet of promoting a healthy school discipline climate.



A school or district discipline program will guide the system that will be implemented with supporting tools.  Discipline programs largely reflect a school or district's philosophical approach to discipline.  For instance, to what degree is the approach intended to be:
  • reactive versus proactive?
  • instructive versus punitive?
  • discretionary versus prescriptive?
  • uniform versus ad-hock?
  • mild versus harsh?
Often these broad questions of degree depend upon the school context in which they are applied.  For instance:
  • what are the school's needs? 
  • what has been done before?
  • what level of parental and administrative support exist? 
  • which grade levels are included?
  • what are the personalities and beliefs of those creating the program?
The discipline program is, in a sense, the philosophy that will guide development of a system that can be implemented with appropriate tools.  As this series continues in future blog posts, best practices of each of these facets will be discussed.


This is blog entry #4 of an unknown number of coming blog posts providing information aimed at improving a school's efforts to promote appropriate student discipline.  Click a number to the right to view prior entries in this series: #1, #2, #3.

Posted at 7:53 AM (permalink) 0 Comments View/Leave Comment Share this post with email Share this post on Facebook Share this post on Twitter Share this post on LinkedIn
Keywords: Education Ride 365, EdClick, Cycle Of Education, Discipline

 

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Education Ride 365: Dan's Best Friend!



Education Ride 365 has me traveling the country from January 1 through December 31, 2012.  That is a long time on the road riding a motorcycle solo.  Sometimes I miss familiar things.  One constant no matter where the Cycle of Education takes me, however, is the joy and instant bond that can be established with dogs encountered along the way.  Never being too far away from a dog means never being too far away from an instant friend willing to offer unconditional acceptance and companionship!  What joy dogs bring people!

On this blog I have, and will continue to, feature great people I have met along the way during this yearlong journey.  Here is a salute to all the dogs who have eased my way, with a photo of me with two favorites I met in Minnesota:


Posted at 1:05 PM (permalink) 0 Comments View/Leave Comment Share this post with email Share this post on Facebook Share this post on Twitter Share this post on LinkedIn
Keywords: Education Ride 365, EdClick, Cycle Of Education, Dogs

 

Friday, May 11, 2012

Education Ride 365: 'Bored' Of Education A 20th Century Relic!



In my last post I mentioned the school paddle as an antiquated tool of school discipline.  A relic of the 20th---and earlier---centuries.  Interestingly, though, as I ride across the country on 'Education Ride 365' it is amazing how often I hear folks bemoan the demise of the paddle as a tool of compulsion.  If only we could bring the paddle back into use---many propose---we could instill discipline back into these kids!



I can say Mr. Phipps made an impression on me when he gave me three "licks" right outside of my eighth grade science classroom in response to my spitball attack on the space shuttle as it flew across the reel-to-reel projection screen that day in 1983.  No warning, no call to my parents, no administrative permission---> just three firm whacks on my fanny, a few repressed tears, and me limping back to my seat as amused classmates enjoyed the entertainment value of my pain over the educational value of the filmstrip.



I remember PE teachers in earlier grades who brandished their paddle daily as a means of intimidation proactively communicated.  They named them with such creative monikers as the "Hard Lesson" and the "Attitude Adjuster."  Some had holes drilled in them (using drill presses from our school's woodshop class).  These coaches bragged that the holes cut down on "wind resistance" for an even firmer whack!  Tough guys!



Setting aside the psychology-based objections to educators using paddles on children, in this post I thought I'd share a few of the very practical reasons schools for the most part don't engage in this practice any longer. 

The beginning of the end of this practice came when, responding to pressure from folks who consider paddling young people to be a form of child abuse, many districts began giving students a choice of punishment.  For instance, two "licks" or detention.  Interestingly enough, many students chose to 'get it over with' rather than take the alternate punishment.  You could no doubt guess, however, how this approach fell out of favor.  Imagine parents objecting that the student was bullied or otherwise compelled to choose the paddling because, for instance, the alternate punishment was disproportionally harsh or burdensome.  Or, that the child chose paddling before he/she knew of the 'dangers' or 'pain' involved.  On and on the recriminations from such a choice-option can go.

Another accommodation schools increasingly adopted was to get the parent's permission ahead of time.  What could go wrong then?  "Well I gave you permission to punish him, but not to abuse him.  Just look at this bruising!"  We all know some people bruise very easily.  As you can imagine, definitions of paddling versus child abuse can vary greatly when legal and other grievance processes are in place to tempt a second-guessing (or merely protective) parent.

Well, surely then, a school could have a policy allowing the parent to come up to the principal's office to administer the "licks" themselves.  Not so fast!  For one thing, (ironically) many parents who favor educators using the paddle on children would prefer not to do it themselves.  Beyond this, Child Protective Services may get involved.  Then, is the school complicit with the 'battering' parent?  This is a nightmare scenario schools simply don't need and almost universally steer away from in the 21st century.



ALL things considered, surely it is time to retire any romanticization of this practice as part of the solution to addressing bad behavior in school this century.  Rather, it is time to focus on 21st century solutions to timeless challenges!

Posted at 1:12 PM (permalink) 3 Comments View/Leave Comment Share this post with email Share this post on Facebook Share this post on Twitter Share this post on LinkedIn
Keywords: Education Ride 365, EdClick, Cycle Of Education, Discipline, Paddling

 

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Education Ride 365: Discipline Efforts In Schools Defined & Explained #3



Three-part forms, detention slips, file cabinets, paddles, and other tools of the 20th century used to implement discipline systems are largely antiquated...or at least they are antiquated in school systems that have fully moved into the 21st century.



Change is indeed inevitable, while growth in response to that change is optional.  The tool set schools use to support their discipline system is a perfect example.  Schools that still rely upon the 20th century tools listed above (and more) are missing the growth they can achieve for the same or even lessor cost by largely replacing all of that with a 21st century database-managed system that holds students accountable more effectively with less effort. 

I helped develop such a tool as part of a wildly successful effort to turn around a failing school in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.  This tool was instrumental in growing our school accountability in response to changing challenges AND capabilities.  Once we developed a program outlining our discipline philosophy we used this powerful tool to design a system for its implementation.  Any one without the other would not have achieved the growth we effected.

As this series of posts develops, I will further explain this tool in conjunction with careful attention to the other facets of achieving a healthy discipline climate as a means of helping schools grow in response to inevitable change.


This is blog entry #3 of an unknown number of coming blog posts providing information aimed at improving a school's efforts to promote appropriate student discipline.  Click a number to the right to view prior entries in this series: #1, #2.

Posted at 12:14 PM (permalink) 1 Comments View/Leave Comment Share this post with email Share this post on Facebook Share this post on Twitter Share this post on LinkedIn
Keywords: Education Ride 365, EdClick, Cycle Of Education, Discipline

 

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Education Ride 365: Discipline Efforts In Schools Defined & Explained #2



Tools of traditional school discipline often included three-part forms, detention slips, file cabinets, paddles, and other such 20th century mainstays.  These tools supported systems designed to fit the particular school or district they were used in.  Discipline programs tended to be reactive and punitive in nature.  Implementation of the program was often haphazard and incomplete, a characteristic still very common in schools today.

It is important to recognize the distinction I am suggesting above between these distinct facets of an overall strategy for optimizing a school discipline climate.  The tools are used to enable the system that support the program in its implementation.




Without explicit attention to each of these distinct facets, an optimized discipline climate can only be achieved by chance.  Who wants to rely upon chance with something as foundational to school success as an optimized discipline climate?


This is blog entry #2 of an unknown number of coming blog posts providing information aimed at improving a school's efforts to promote appropriate student discipline.  Click the number to the right to view the prior entry: #1.

Posted at 1:00 PM (permalink) 0 Comments View/Leave Comment Share this post with email Share this post on Facebook Share this post on Twitter Share this post on LinkedIn
Keywords: Education Ride 365, EdClick, Cycle Of Education, Discipline

 

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Education Ride 365: Better A Hard Drive Crash Than A Motorcycle Crash!



Education Ride 365 Update: My hard drive died a bit over a week ago.  It was due to a bad power source, so I was able to retrieve the data.  I have been completing that data retrieval process over the past week and will get caught up on travel reporting posts shortly. 

After a weekend in the Dallas area visiting family and taking care of personal responsibilities, I'm off this morning on what is basically leg 4 of my yearlong journey.  This time I'm headed up to the Northeast United States, as far as Maine.  I'm getting ahead of myself (or at least my blog) though!

Posted at 7:33 AM (permalink) 1 Comments View/Leave Comment Share this post with email Share this post on Facebook Share this post on Twitter Share this post on LinkedIn
Keywords: Education Ride 365, EdClick, Cycle Of Education

 

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Education Ride 365: Discipline Efforts In Schools Defined & Explained #1



Words are powerful.  Using the correct words to communicate a message can make all the difference between mere reception and actual understanding.  I've been thinking about this a bunch as I travel around on Education Ride 365 speaking with folks about education and the purpose of my trip.

EdClick is the company making my travels possible.  I consult with EdClick on software development aimed at bringing operational aspects of schools into the 21st century.  I consider myself to be a systems thinker and, from its inception, I have consulted with EdClick on systems development for improving school operations.

For years my only payment for doing so was use of these tailor-made software tools we developed in the schools I was working to improve.  Recently it has occurred to me that, over the years, I have been incorrectly applying terms to this process that may be resulting in (primarily) mere reception of my message than in actual understanding of the principles, processes, and vision I have attempted to communicate.



Specifically, over the years I have used the words tool, implementation, systemand program almost interchangeably and certainly too loosely.  In particular, I have made this mistake when talking about discipline and the extremely powerful tool EdClick has developed for implementing a discipline system to solidify the very foundation of a healthy school---> an appropriate discipline climate.  Accordingly, I have decided to write a series of posts aimed at clarifying the distinction I am suggesting between these words and the implications for a school's discipline climate promoted by its discipline program.



This is blog entry #1 of an unknown number of coming blog posts that will better articulate what I have thus far only communicated in a manner more fit for reception than actual understanding.  Presented properly, this information can dramatically improve a school's efforts to promote appropriate student discipline.

Posted at 11:33 AM (permalink) 0 Comments View/Leave Comment Share this post with email Share this post on Facebook Share this post on Twitter Share this post on LinkedIn
Keywords: Education Ride 365, EdClick, Cycle Of Education, Discipline

 

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Education Funny: Bringing Excuses Into The 21st Century!




Posted at 11:54 PM (permalink) 0 Comments View/Leave Comment Share this post with email Share this post on Facebook Share this post on Twitter Share this post on LinkedIn
Keywords: Education Funny, Homework, 21st Century

  Posts 1 - 18 of 18