Category Archives: Blogging

Wanted: Teachers

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Maybe it’s because we’re getting ready to post and advertise our teaching positions that are open for next year, but Will Richardson hit a nerve with me in his post The Next Generation of Teachers.

Will talks about a conversation on educational technologies that he had with a group of graduate students in education. Will writes,

The general sense from the group was “yeah, but” once again. Yeah, but we have these kids who are going to abuse these technologies if we open them up. Yeah, but we’re going to be out there on our own if we decide to use these technologies. Yeah, but I don’t have enough time to make this a part of my own practice. Yeah, but, etc. (And please, if any of those in attendance are reading this, feel free to chime in.) At one point I said something along the lines of “you know, there’s a lot of pressure on you in my circles because many people think nothing is going to change until the old guard retires out and you guys take over.” Well, that didn’t float very well. I got the sense that most didn’t want to accept that challenge or felt it was just too daunting. And at another point, after going through a list of reasons why using these ideas were going to be difficult, I said “yes, but you know there is nothing stopping you from changing the way you learn.” Not sure how well that went over, eith

In considering graduate students in education, Will’s post made me really stop and think about the interview process. When I search for a new teacher, do I have a preconceived model of a teacher in my mind? Of course I do, we all do. Is it an outdated model?  I’m going to seriously reconsider what that model is from now on. Like everyone, I look for content expertise, experience, a practical knowledge of pedagogy, technology skills, and a sense that the person will connect with our kids, among other things.

From this point forward, I’m going to seek out candidates who have done something with their lives outside of going to high school, getting a teaching degree, and returning to school. I want teachers who have lived a little, who have shown a deep passion and curiosity for something, heck, for anything. As I commented on Will’s post,

I’m completely exasperated by the collective resistance to change in every arena. Why is it so incredibly hard? Why are so many people completely comfortable residing in the status quo? I agree with Dan, the current teacher candidates probably became teachers because they’re comfortable in the system as it is. I should start trying to hire teachers who weren’t successful in school. I’ll add interview questions that ask, “what did you hate when you were in school and why?” “What do you want to do differently?” “What do you think and what are you curious about?”

I know our teacher candidates aren’t any farther ahead than we are–it takes curiosity, guts, and determination–and that’s available at any age.

Yep, just added those questions to my interview list. So listen up, teacher candidates, I just revealed three interview questions that you can prepare for in advance. But oh yeah, you had to be interested enough in our school and smart enough to use technology to your advantage in order to get here and read this post.  And if you’re too “traditional” to even understand a blog, better luck next time.

LeaderTalk Kudos

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When I write for this blog, G-Town Talks, I write for our students, teachers, and community. I write for my educational colleagues and fellow bloggers. To influence thinking or recognize achievement, to question and wonder, to elicit a response or to bring attention to an educational issue. I write for me too. To get things onto the blog and out of my head so I can actually sleep. And I write for the daily readers who number from 190-717 on the days I don’t write and 1025-1853 on the days when I do.

When I write for LeaderTalk, I’m very aware that I’m writing for someone else. I’m writing for the other writers on LeaderTalk, for Dr. Scott McLeod who organizes it, and for anyone else with an interest in school leadership.  I want to contribute in a way that increases readership for LeaderTalk and it feels like a higher standard.

So imagine my surprise when I hit LeaderTalk from my bloglines account and saw this post Kudos to Kimberly! where Scott says,

Kimberly Moritz’s first LeaderTalk post, Student Apathy = Teacher Apathy, was featured in The Education Wonks‘ 110th Carnival of Education, an occasional roundup of interesting posts related to education. Kudos, Kimberly!

Hmmm. Sounds great. Sounds like I hit the higher standard I was striving for on LeaderTalk. Here’s the kicker. I had to email Will Richardson to ask him why this link is a reason to receive congratulations. Honestly. I sometimes still feel clueless out here. Why? Because I’m just writing to write. When I start to get caught up in the feedburner, technorati, # of readers, clustrmaps, and techie stuff, I just remember Will’s advice to me when I asked about all of that,

Write Kim. Just write.

Okie dokie.

Head Barely Above Water

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I don’t even have time to write and tell you why I haven’t had time to post. All is well, busy with student issues, strategic planning, emergency preparedness, evaluations, budget planning, bell schedules, and can’t even think of what else. Instead of trying to come up with a post, think I’ll go read a bit and invest in a little much needed input. Too much output lately. It’s either read everything I can find or go on a mad on-line shopping binge. Healthier to read.

HR Manager Lisa emailed me to ask why I hadn’t written. When I replied that I barely had my head above water she said I was lucky because she’s sprouting gills. Truth be told, we’re all in the same boat.

Student Apathy=Teacher Apathy

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So my palms are sweating a bit because I just submitted my first post, Student Apathy=Teacher Apathy,  to LeaderTalk, a blog by school leaders for school leaders. As a contributor, I’ll be writing on the third of each month. I’m in some very good company as a blogger and so felt the anxiety of producing a good post, one that would be up to everyone’s expectations. Dr. Scott McLeod over at Dangerously Irrelevant put it all together.  

It was a different experience from writing here on G-Town Talks. This is my own blog and if readers don’t like what they see, they don’t have to return. This was harder because I realize reader expectations may be different from what I have to offer. And I care about the opinions of the other contributors, they are most of the people I read every day.

So please go check it out and especially look at the posts by the other writers–mine is just one of many voices out there and my colleagues offer thoughts that keep me learning every day.

Does Blogging Lead to Other Opportunities?

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February actually concludes eight months of blogging for me. I’m fairly certain that eight months of any practice cements it as a habit. If only I could incorporate exercise and healthy eating so firmly into my routines.

Something interesting is starting to occur and I’m not sure how to handle it. I’m beginning to receive invitations to participate in things outside of my normal realm. For example, I’ve been invited to present at an upcoming technology conference, to participate in teacher candidate development at a local university, to write monthly on another blog, and to participate in a couple of surveys and studies.  These invitations have all come about because someone noticed me through this blog.

My first instinct is to say “no” to all such requests. I don’t know about all of my administrative colleagues, but my life’s a somewhat delicate balance as it is. Between evening activities for school including meetings, athletic events, concerts and dinners and evening activities with my own children, I can barely get it all in. I’m fiercely protective of the one evening per week I get to swim and the only home cooked meal my family enjoys is at their Omi’s house or provided by a dear friend. How do I fit in additional activities or accept invitations to present? To be really frank, I also hear my husband’s voice asking, “and how much are you getting paid to do that?” to which my answer is always, “nothing, it’s just a good thing to do.”

With at least thirteen years left in my administrative career, I also consider if each accepted invitation will be good for my future. Will it make me a better administrator, adding something to my value as a future superintendent? That’s a good three years away, but everything I learn now should ultimately make me a better leader later.

How and when to accept and how and when to say “no, thank you”?

Don’t Blog With Students

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It’s a mistake to ask teachers to blog with their students. It causes anxiety and worry about too many things. Teachers may worry that their own writing will be judged. They worry about inappropriate comments and linking to undesirable places and people. They also figure they don’t have anything to say.

That’s why I say “forget blogging with your kids.” Blog for you, for your own learning. Read what everyone out there has to say about education, about students, about NCLB, about techie stuff, about learning. Worry about your own growth first. Look for ideas you can use in your classroom. Learn. When you learn and grow, your students benefit.

Then blog with your kids. But don’t do it just to blog. Do it when a question in the class inspires you. Do it on a topic that inspires your students. Blog with your kids when someone wants to dig deeper. Don’t take a simple, well done pen and paper assignment and turn it into a blog project.

Blog with your kids for the right reasons. Don’t do it poorly just to say you’re blogging as an instructional tool. That’ll just turn all of you off to blogging. Do it for yourself first. Get it right for you. Then you’ll get it right for kids.

Presentation Changes

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Readers may wonder why I keep changing my presentation on this blog. I’ve been experiencing some difficulties with the sidebar, so changed the presentation and readers weren’t able to comment (thanks Jonathan for telling me).  Now I’m changing back, hoping it fixes the problem.  If you’re trying to comment and are unable to, please email me at kmoritz@gowcsd.org.

G-Town Talks Blog Policy #001

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Our G-Town students have recently weighed in on this principal’s blog in a big way. Anyone following a post from January entitled “Cheating or Initiative”, has seen the large number of comments generated by our students. It’s been a great learning experience for me and is probably one that would send many principals running. However, through disagreement there’s a lot to be learned. If I didn’t keep the blog, I’m not sure students would have expressed their opinions and I would be left thinking everything was resolved when, for some, it just wasn’t.

As I work hard to be a principal who is approachable, who investigates and listens, one of the things I always remember is that sometimes things that don’t seem like a big deal to me are a very big deal to someone else. It’s important for me to respect and honor each and every student. Oftentimes the decisions I must make don’t please everyone, sometimes they seem to please no one. Because of this blog, students were able to express themselves in a way that allowed for further conversation. That’s important to me.

Here’s one thing I learned though. Sometimes people will say things anonymously, on-line that they would never say in person. And while it may be okay for other blogs, or chat rooms, or message boards, it’s not okay for me. So here’s my first official “Blog Policy”. For me, on this blog, as a public high school principal, it’s important to own what you say. If you want to post a comment, I welcome it, agree or disagree. But if you write, please step up, attach your name to your words, and own your ideas. After all, that’s what I’m doing every time I write here so I’m not asking you to do anything I wouldn’t do. And if you can’t say it on-line, openly, then come and see me, call me, send me an email. I am always interested in what you have to say.

G-Town Talks Blog Policy #001: “Kimberly Moritz, Author of G-Town Talks, recognizing the importance of discussion, differing points of view, and a fair exchange of ideas, believes everyone deserves an equal opportunity to post comments to this blog. Therefore, all will be provided the opportunity to post a comment provided they register their name and email address. Anyone who chooses to post anonymously will not have the comment allowed on the blog.”

Blog Etiquette

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I have been posting to this blog since July. In more than 100 blog posts, I have never stopped a comment from posting until now. I have a topic posted regarding a small group of students in our Physics class. I have allowed all but two comments. As students write comments, of which I am very appreciative, it is very clear about whom they are talking. I will neither now, nor ever, allow comments which specifically malign a student or teacher in our school or community. Those are private conversations I am happy to have, but I have maintained that my blog will not be used to call names or to demean anyone.

Students who comment appropriately will always be allowed, as they have been on the post “Cheating or Initiative?”