Great blog post by local school leader!

http://connectedsuperintendent.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/stop-the-testing-madness-and-focus-on-what-the-finns-have-already-proven-works/

When will American leaders start actually looking at other countries success instead of just using it for their own agenda. Too many leaders just using the stats to compare us and show how poor we are doing in comparison.....why not do something really novel, study thier system and apply some of those strategies to our system? Seems obvious, but hey, I am just a lowly teacher in this American system! It's time to stop playing profit games with our kids future, when will we finally realize that is all that is happening?!

Technology.....

Technology in education seems to be what everyone is TALKING about.  I just cannot figure out why we have not moved from talking about it, into DOING it.  I will be the first to admit that I am not a huge technology buff, but I have decided to quit making excuses and start getting involved in the technology movement.  I feel as though the kids deserve it, who cares what I think about the work involved with it, or the things I "need" to learn first!  I just took an online class about blogs and wiki's, created a twitter account, and started DOING......and here I am.  I see too many teachers that blame the administrators (and yes they do need to get on board) but when will we as teachers just decide to do it, with or without the support we think we need, there are things that can be done.  Forget dipping your toes in and deciding if you want to.....just JUMP ON IN.  I am a perfect example, I just created my twitter account and blogs and I feel as though I have learned SO much in just a few short weeks.  I now have a blog, a flipboard, a Twitter, a Diigo and a few others!  I am sure I will hit some speed bumps along the way, but at least I am on the road to hit them....much better than standing on the sidewalk watching everyone fly by!

Madness in the Middle

I created this blog as a place to discuss topics of middle school teaching and everything that goes along with that!  I have recently opened my mind to all the technology that is out there, and decided no matter what I have access to in my school district, it is time to quit making excuses and "go after it".  So, this will be just the first of many posts about the good, the bad, and the awesomeness that goes along with teaching students each day!