Sometimes 7 is a winner, sometimes 7 is a loser...

In the game of craps, the timing of 7 means the difference between winning and losing.  After listening to Steven Layne last Friday, I realize that students must feel like this in the classroom.  They hear a lot of teachers preach about reading.  Read, read, read, say all of the teachers, but then they will follow with "not that."  Why do we care what our students are reading? I understand that we should censor some of the books.  Fifty Shades of Grey, is not something our students should be reading, but outside of books that are explicit about adult themes, why should we slow them down.  If they only want to read comic books, let them.  If they only want to read graphic novels (which I hate), let them.  We try to tell them that a story from the Puritan days of an adulterer wearing an A on her chest is awesome.  Unfortunately, our students know at least three people in their neighborhood who have committed adultery.  No it does not make it right, but it is not taboo like it was 30 years ago.  We have to change in order to get students to read.  With all of the technology, they no longer need to read, but to learn it is still a staple of education.  Practice makes perfect, and reading, even if it is not something we care about, is good.

Read about igniting a passion for reading:
http://www.stevelayne.com/

This Old Man, He played Six

Technology is wonderful (And all of Jesus' people said Amen).  In all reality, it is wonderful.  However, with today's technology overload, a person can feel inferior or inadequate very quickly.  Everyday, every week, every month; new technology comes out.  I am not downing technology, because it is a great way to educate children.  But when schools start to show us something new, I think we all feel like the old man playing knick knack with sticks.  We are in technology overload (I have been using excel for years and I still don't know how to set up a function in a cell).  So when new things come out, it really makes a lot of teachers step back instead of up.  What is the best practice for technology in the classroom?  Find something you like using and get good at it.  Powerpoint, movie maker, edmodo, blogger, iNow, key note, symbaloo, facebook, twitter, e-mail, test generator, ACT quality core, Laying the foundation test generator, smartboard, apps, drop box, pod casts, ALEX, Youtube, APT Plus, ESPN, Foxnews (oops got off topic just a touch), but you get the point.  There is a lot out there.  My advice as to how to use technology proficiently in the classroom, learn how to use one very well before moving on.  I think sometimes we try to keep up with the Jones family in technology.  If technology is used correctly, it can be a great tool, but not being used correctly can hurt a child's education as much as anything.  As an administrator, I believe we must give the teachers the tools for a technological world but should keep in mind that they are teachers. 

This is a rcent article from a tech teacher.  I thought it was great.
 http://snovalleystar.com/2012/09/19/snoqualmie-valley-teacher-is-featured-in-education-week-blog

Five bad students..

I have been fortunate to mentor a few new teachers during my career.  I wrote earlier of how we can make new teachers feel inadequate.  One thing that I always try to tell a new teacher is a story that one of my mentors at Tuscaloosa County High used to always tell us.  The best teacher to ever walk the face of the Earth was Jesus Christ.  He had 12 main students, his disciples.  Out of the 12: One betrayed him, two fell asleep on him, one denied him, and one questioned if he had risen.  As teachers, we are no where near as perfect as Jesus was.  It is important that we try to teach and reach every one of our students.  However, you can never take it personally when you come up short.  You should rethink and reteach, but in the end, we will never reach 100%. 

Just my thought of the day as I enter into the leadership role. 

Four Score and Technology from Long Ago

Just as Abraham Lincoln was trying to preserve the foundation that our nation was built on, yet trying to change society's view on slavery; we have reached a crossroads in education in our own time.  Teachers that are ready to retire have seen the classroom go from no computers and technology to an overload of computers, ipads, iphones, and apps for information.  Information and answers are only seconds away that once was two days in the library.  This technology is great, but we should never forget that the goal of an educator is the same as it was in Abraham Lincoln's time.  Teaching students to think and problem solve should always be our goal.  When we go to the science lab, I try to accomplish this.  Because of today's technology, it is no easy feat.  In the science classroom, we have two types of technology;  we have technology for use in the classroom that all teachers have and then we have technology for the science lab.  I am fortunate to have in my classroom: an ipad, a macbook, a think pad, two flip cams, a digital recorder, a clicker system, two digital cameras, a smart board, a projector, surround sound, and an elmo.  I am in technology overload.  I love using the smart board.  We can do things and show virtual labs that normally we could not do.  I love using the ipads, I wish they would come out with flash player though, we would be able to do even more.  We will even use the ipads this Spring for the students to play a game at our school that was designed at Hudson Alpcha.  The students enjoy the technology and actually take pride in taking care of it.  However, when we go into the lab, our technology consists of microscopes that are not much different from the ones used in Abraham Lincoln's day.  Technology in the lab has not changed.  It is frustrating to be able to connect with anyone in the world in my classroom, yet struggle to show students any technology outside of computers that a sceintist would use today.  AMSTI and ASIM works really hard to get us technology for our labs.  For this I am very grateful.  So for me, technology has its ups and downs.  Students are comfortable with the technology, however I am afraid if google ever shuts down, my students will have a tough time trying to decide the difference between animal and plant cells. 

Three's Company....

Just like Jack had to constantly be aware and think on his feet when dealing with Mr. Roper, an Administrator must also be able to think quickly and be creative when dealing with the school.  This weekend, I was in charge of ACT testing at Huntsville High, a student with very sever test anxiety had an accident in the testing room.  I had to make a quick decision that allowed the student to continue testing while not interfering with the rest of the testing room.  I had to make a split minute decision while taking in all information and guidelines that are set forth by ACT.  I did not have time to call ACT and ask what to do or call the Principal and ask how she wanted me to handle it.  After everything was taken care of, I felt like I made the right decision for all students involved.  At the same time however, I critiqued myself and found one thing that I would do different if the problem ever arises again.  I truly believe that this is learning.  None of us are ever too old or ever too perfect to change or learn.  I am excited about this new phase in my life.  I know that along the way there will be mistakes, but having an open mind and a willingness to admit mistakes will allow me to grow and become the best Administrator that I hope to be. 

And Then There Were 2....

Now that you know why you are following me, it is equally important to understand why I want to be an Administrator.  Notice that I capitalized Administrator, not sure that it should be, I could ask my wife which is an English Teacher, but that would be considered following and not leading; I feel as though Administrator and Principal should both be capitalized because they need to stand out.  I have always wanted to be a leader.  When I was in high school, I wanted to go to the Air Force Academy.  One of my favorite quotes from the Academy was "Lead, Follow, or get the He** out of the way."   A little rough and perhaps offensive to some, but a great quote to live your life by.  I have been a follower, in my mind loyal, there have also been times that I simply had to get out of the way because I could not follow and would only be hindering progress.  I now want to live the rest of my life leading.  I feel that the experience that I have acquired with 13 years of teaching at five different high schools, under six different Principals, and six different Superintendents; has put me in a position to share ideas that have worked and to punt ideas that did not, straight to the curb.  I feel that at times, I have been a teacher that was exemplary and at times a teacher that should have left the business.  My 13 years of teaching have not been without bumps in the road, and I feel as though these life experiences have been just as important as the smooth times.  I sit back and see how we run new teachers out of the world of education.  We make them feel as though they are inadequate.  We give them little help, and throw so much on them, that a 20 hour work day is still not enough.  We give new teachers the classes that the rest of us do not want and we expect them to have the results that a veteran teacher would have.  The madness does not stop with just new teachers.  In education, we keep asking teachers to do more, both in and out of the classroom and then give teachers higher standards to reach each year.  We do all of this without leading and teaching our teachers.  We expect our teachers to learn on their own time and money, while expecting them to teach children and parents regardless of the situation.  Teachers naturally do not quit.  I have been so impressed with how teachers rise up and do the best they can do.  Teachers put other people's children at the top of their "to do" list everyday.  Teachers really do care, and they are unbelievable at their jobs.  Yes, I know, your child had a bad teacher.  There are several out there, but there is not a single profession that can profess to have nothing but great employees.  Ask our Federal Government, ask our State Government, and ask our churches.  They all have bad employees.  But most of us have not lost faith in these entities.  We continue to put our money and time into making them all the best they can be.  I feel as though with great leadership, I can help teachers reach their goals while returning the world of education back into a profession that we love.  I know that education will continue to progress in ways that add stress to the teachers, but I know with leadership that is at the front and stands out, we can make this a profession that you smile when your child says "When I grow up, I want to be a teacher."    

In the beginning......

Before you care to read anything written by the infamous Scott McMickin, I find it necessary to learn a little bit about me.  After all, following someone as great as me, might make you important.  So the first question I am sure that you have is, "Why are you so great?".  To begin with, I know I am great, because I have always been told this.  So far, never by words but by expressions.  Yes, I see that expression you have on your face right now.  It says:"Scott, you are awesome!!!"