gerryk's Blog

I agree it's interesting that teachers expect a student to turn in assignments on time, do their best and not be satisfied with mediocre work but teachers themselves are late turning in lesson plans and are satisfied with their own mediocrity. Modeling the behavior would certainly be a step in the right direction.
It can no longer be acceptable for a teacher to use the excuse "I really don't know much about technology."

Teachers who go the extra mile for their students are noticed but you're right they are noticed and usually given more responsibility while the others drift from summer to summer. Accountability can be a big equalizer, make everyone do the work to a high level and don't accept less. The good to great ones always achieve to that level but the others have to reach for it too. If they can't, you help them learn, if they won't, you recommend alternative career paths.

That was a great site thanks for recommending it. I'll use it as "see others can do this, we need to begin moving in that direction" type of motivation. My teachers are just now beginning to explore wikis and blogs. This core group of teachers has discovered there's something else out there besides lecture and work sheets.

Teacher evaluation would be an interesting area to incorporate the NQ. That would shift some focus away from what is done in the single classroom to what have you done for the entire team. Sounds like a way to encourage collegiality and discourage isolationism.

The too much on my plate saying is something I deal with also. Usually it's an organization issue rather than actually being too busy. We all need to work more efficiently but the full plate teachers need to prioritize what's relevant and important. In my situation, their plate would have more room if they implemented technology in the curriculum and allowed the students to share the responsibility for learning.

Hi everyone, I too have migrated but from Group 2. My name is Gerry Kosater and I am the Academic Coordinator for an independent school in Georgia.I have 31 years in education and look forward to learning every day.The book has been very informative. I'm looking forward to more discussion.

We have gone through the same frustrations, the social capital is strong enough to move us forward slightly but not enough to affect and sustain meaningful change. We have tried to build bridges between teachers by holding vertical meetings to discuss curriculum and teachers do communicate better professionally, but there is still too much closed door mentality and not enough collegiality. Holding another teacher responsible occurs much less frequently. We continue to try to expand the core group but nothing in education happens immediately.