Don’t Forget Those Soft Skills!

A few weeks ago I was at a school district wide meeting where teachers and parents came together for some frank conversation. A group of teachers representing multiple grade levels and subject matters presented to us (parents) a Teachers’ Wish List… It was the top 10 things teachers wished more parents would do at home to support their (the teachers’) efforts in the classroom. Now of course, standard things like checking homework folders daily, reading to your child and/or making them read every day and getting involved in school activities were among the things wished for. However one big wish

 

Why Public Schools Matter….

Ask yourself the question… What is the goal of education? Is it to gain specific knowledge and skills in order to get a good job or start a business? Is it to learn how be social and civic minded so that you can make the world a better place? What about this one; education’s goal is to teach people essential interpersonal skills and tolerance so that they can form successful relationships with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures. Or maybe, it’s more simplistic than that.  Maybe, the goal of education is simply to help people attain their goals and realize their dreams.

 

Now Is the Time….

Hey there … How is everyone? Have you settled down from all the celebration of President Barack Obama being elected to a second term?  I haven’t.  I am still elated, full of hope, promise and looking forward to the next four years…. Ok, I know it’s a bit corny… (Ya’ll know me by now, LOL) but do take a minute to rejoice with me…. Click to Celebrate!
OK. Are you now finished doing your happy dance?  Good, now it’s time to get back to work…

 

Shaking My Head….

OK I know it’s the holiday season and everyone is supposed to be of good cheer, but again, I got frustrated and had to get this off my chest. I’ve been so busy lately that I am just now getting to sit down to write about it…

 A few weeks ago, I was in the library doing some work. As I was working, an interaction between a teacher and student caught my attention. The teacher was going over incomplete assignments the student had to finish before the end of the semester.  She points out what he had to do and tells him to sit at a table and get started; she was getting ready to give him an exam after that…

 I had to ask

 I made eye contact with the teacher and smiled. She smiled back and we started to talk.

 

The Question

It’s a moment all parents face…. and a few days ago I faced it for the first time… Nia comes home from school and begins telling me about all of her friends who are on Facebook! “Uh oh, here we go,” I said to myself.  Then came… THE QUESTION… “Mommy, can I have a Facebook account?”

 

African-American Parents, What Are You Waiting For?

Ok, Family I need your help… I was asked by my Asst. Principal at Nia’s school to serve as the Parent Council Representative of the local chapter of the NAACP.  In that role, I am charged with bringing together African–American parents in the school and creating an opportunity to share information, network, and discuss issues that affect our children in the school.

 In preparation for this, I began reflecting on my past experiences as a teacher…. Wondering what am I going to do?

 

Now That The March Is Over….

Hey Family,

How is everyone doing? Those following me on Twitter saw my tweet earlier today about having to do lesson plans for a class I got late notice that I will be teaching beginning tomorrow. In fact I started a hashtag, #lessonplanningalldaylong LOL; feel free to add your tweets to share about last minute lesson planning! However, all day long, instead of lesson planning, I’ve been working on my addition to the video archive sprouting up all over YouTube. Now, I want to write a short posting on my blog.

I am overwhelmed! I haven’t marched on the Mall since my days at Howard University when we cut class to attend the Black College Day rallies in the early 1980s.

 

Why I am Marching: Reflections of a Former Teacher

I taught in the public schools for over 10 years.  Coming right out of grad school I was impassioned to share my new knowledge and skills with my first class as a teacher in a school district in East Palo Alto, CA.  I was teaching 2^nd grade. I loved those kids and they loved me… Each day was like an adventure in learning; for me as well as my students.  I remember one day conducting a science experiment with my class that went totally bust!  LOL The intended outcome did not even come close to happening. But instead of panicking and feeling that the lesson’s objectives had been ruined, I regrouped and asked my students to help me figure out what went wrong.

 

Yeah, Technology Changes Lives…

Child using technology

(Original posting February, 2010)

Hello Family

I was on Twitter recently and I saw a tweet where someone asked the question, “Can social media be blamed for the lowering of achievement scores in today’s youth, especially in communities of color”?

I thought for a minute, I figured that most people would believe that although social media may not be helping the cause, it’s pretty much the prevailing view that the causes of  lower achievement scores among today’s youth in communities of color, was in existence long before social media and other new technologies of communication came into existence.

We know that social media is a widely used form of communication and entertainment for youth. Most kids have accounts at many of the major social media sites including Face Book, MySpace, Digg, Twitter and Reddit.  We also know many teachers, parents, mentors and community leaders have profiles on these same social media sites. Some of us use our accounts to teach and inform our youth, while others of us do not.

So then I went on Face Book to catch up with some friends.

 

Arts in Education, A Friendly Reminder

Original Posting
March 15, 2009

As I write this I give humble appreciation to another honored teacher, Professor Henri Edmonds,  HU College of Fine Arts, who transitioned in the Spring 0f 2009, and to my teacher, I love you Professor Edmonds. …. AMEN

Hello Family,

Just want to remind everyone to continue their advocacy for the increased funding of arts education programs in our schools and community based organizations.