There's No Place Like School!

That was a line I thought I would never hear as a teacher. But I did, and it came from one of our students at the Saturn School of Tomorrow, an innovative reform effort back in the early 90's. We tried to bring the best of what we knew that would help more kids learn more all into one school, put the kids largely in charge of their own learning, and have them show us what they knew, what they were learning, and what they had yet to learn. 

The school was so unique we were visited by then President George H. W. Bush, who recognized us for what we were trying to do. The school, sadly, no longer exists, but the students and faculty cast many ripples across the pond of educational change, and those effects are still being felt today. Changing a school is hard, and so is changing the classroom. But you can make small changes that work, and keep adding to them. Before you know it, more students may be learning even more. Good luck!

Here's a link to the video the Saturn students made back then and in their own words. Don't forget to listen for the last line.

http://homepage.mac.com/drdtking/iMovieTheater38.html

The Millennial Generation IS Different!

Here's some views of their world from kids who swim in a far different fish bowl than we did: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42E2fAWM6rA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGLeGWLWNcQ

http://homepage.mac.com/dtking/iMovieTheater121.html

"Welcome Back Cotter"

There ought to be some sort of prize for any 70's trivia buff who could remember that old TV show starring "Mr. Cotter", about a teacher, played by Gabe Kaplan. Check it out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqw1RC3d1d0

I even remember Room 222, another show from those days. Plus some great movies about teaching from which you can actually learn some good and useful do's and dont's: "Ferris Bueller", "Back to School", "Stand and Deliver", "Dead Poet's Society" and I'll bet you could name some favorites too.

I'm going to try to keep this blog up and running for awhile and post some interesting (to me at least) comments and resources and interesting stuff. I'll leave it to you and your comments to steer me in the right direction.

Some helpful sites for adding multimedia

blogspot slideshow embed - Google Search

Using Picasa Web Albums with Blogger : Using Picasa Web Albums with Blogger - Picasa Help Center

Using Picasa Web Albums with Blogger : Using Picasa Web Albums with Blogger - Picasa Help Center

Primping your Blogsite!

Folks....you can add or link lots of cool media stuff(pictures, slideshows, videos, etc) to your blogsite by just clicking on the "Customize" link on the top right of your page. 

Check out my website for some samples: 

Blogs and You!

Welcome to the EGF9 cohort!

Blogs are a great way to introduce yourself and your thinking to your students, parents, colleagues and community.

If you've got something to say, and hope to get the opinions of others on a topic, blogs are a great tool.

Happy blogging!

Tom

Coming down the summer stretch...

The ending is nigh by the fourth of July! I'm sure you've read this old aphorism many times. It means, of course, that the close of the summer session is nearly upon us. 

I want to make this course as informative and useful as possible. Please let me know....before it's too late....if there's anything I can help with.

The course comes with a lifetime warranty, of course. So, you can always contact me long after and I'll do what I can to respond to any questions or pass on any of your great educational discoveries.

Tom