The first day of school for many arrives Tuesday morning. Some have been in school a few weeks, and the long weekend brings the first chance to take a deep breath and remember that you have a life outside the confines of the classroom. (I guess you can determine where I fall in the groupings. Several weeks of the early alarm has not gotten automatic yet. I may or may not be groaning every day at 5 am.)
New beginnings are always a good thing in my book. Today is a new beginning of this site, Highlights for Teachers. The goal for this site is to provide a place for you to find good information, sound advice, silly stories, and a general compilation of all things education. Highlights for Children was a favorite periodical of many growing up. I believe no childhood to have been complete without a visit to the doctor's office and a review of Highlights. In the same way Highlights brought a smile with information to children awaiting a dreaded shot, I hope that this site will provide you with a smile amid a stressful and ever changing educational climate.
New beginnings give us a chance to evaluate who we are, what we have been and who we hope to become. Teachers, sports teams and Christmas tree stand attendants are all seasonal workers who must measure their successes or failures based upon the previous season. The current state of affairs requires teachers to measure their successes based upon data from assessments. Data is king. However, some successes, some of the most important ones, are unable to be quantified with metrics. A student who tells you they want to grow up to be like you is a success, and one we treasure, but does not have a data category. What data value can you place on a student who gains self-confidence, but doesn't show adequate yearly progress? Someone who learns to show integrity or courage will not show an increase in their assessment scores. Data has no room for stories. And because data is king, many stories are never told, nor are they celebrated.
However, as we begin this new year, let's not let data steal our joy for the stories. As I'm looking to create a climate where learning that can be measured by data flourishes, I'll also be looking for the stories that can not be quantified with data. At times, we can get so consumed with meetings and data and documentation for virtually everything we do in a day's time, that we lose the special thrill a student's story can bring to our hearts. Don't let the busyness of the schedule or the data focus rob you of your capacity to focus on the stories of children who will never be the same after the last school bell rings this year.
How about you? I'd love to hear your stories. I'll be sharing some of mine as well. Let's take this chance to purpose together to focus on the reason we became educators. For me, that reason is the love of children and the desire to impact children for their benefit and for the benefit of mankind. I'm guessing you joined up for similar reasons. So, let's take a minute or two every day to rejoice in the victories that can't be measured on a form.
Happy Labor Day to all!
Hope to see you soon!
First published August 28, 2020
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