Will our focus on math and reading leave everything else in the dust?

Here in Kansas, reading and math assessments have taken precedence with state assessments (counting towards a school's adequate yearly progress or AYP) and are the focus of the newly implemented Multi-Tiered System of Supports.

As a science teacher, my students take state assessments, and my classroom units and objectives are all aligned with the standards.  We have a target score for the percentage of students who should be proficient or above, but our scores, no matter how good (we had a 92% proficiency last year) or bad, do not make one bit of difference on the school's AYP, and therefore, do not matter to anyone else.  Forget about Social Studies, they haven't had an assessment at the high school level in years.  I think that this trend in only focusing on reading and math will have disastrous consequences on a well-rounded education.

I can understand why though.  If you cannot read well or compute well, it is hard to reap the benefits of studying other disciplines.  In that light, it makes sense that if a student can master these things, then the rest should be fine.  However, science and social studies offer something real and tangible to read about and to compute.  Without a focus on practicing the application of these skills, students will not be able to sit at the round table of future problem-solvers and policy makers.

I am mostly worried about my own three daughters.  I want them to have an appreciation for history, the critical thinking of a scientist, and a truly well-rounded, "suitable" education.  Kansas is currently debating the definition of "suitable" in terms of our educational opportunities here.  According to the US Dept. of Labor, the top ten fastest growing occupations from 2008-2018 are one accounting/finance and nine science based jobs.  Well, Kansas educators, I think that a "suitable" education is one that leads to being prepared for competition and contribution in both the workplace and society at large.  By focusing on just reading and math, our kids just will not be there...in my opinion.

Our new science courses were in the news!

KOFO News about Forensics Class!

Role Models for Dreams

How can we as educators expect our students to dream, 

if we do not also model that for them?

Too many times, I have heard pre-service teachers say that education is their "backup plan".  If the real dream doesn't work, their plan is to "just go teach somewhere".  That logic, in and of itself, shakes my core.  It implies that education is desperate for teachers (which it is) and will take anyone (which we SHOULDN'T but unfortunately, in some areas, we do).  We are scraping for GOOD teachers, though, who want to make this their vocation, and commit to it for the long term.  My feelings on the matter are that you should never enter this job unless you have a true passion for it.  Educating the future should never be a Plan B.  To you, it should be THE most important thing.  Being a teacher was a dream come true for me.  It was truly a calling for me.  The first of many...

People get very uncomfortable when you do not stick to the status quo.  But it was indeed a couple of students (you guys know who you are) just four short years ago who pushed me and acutely pointed out that I talked to them about their dreams and was failing to go after mine.  They pointed out my double standard and I haven't been the same since then.  That's when I started going after every dream on my list.  Around that same time, I read Randy Pausch's book, "The Last Lecture", which also served as a great inspiration.

So now...some people look at me funny.  It could be my two different colored eyes, millions of freckles, or the red hair, but all the same, they look at me funny.  They are uncomfortable trying to process how a "teacher", which for some is a title to be pigeon-holed and pegged into a narrow hole of very clear, set professional and personal duties, can also live other dreams.  Take me, for example.  I have co-written two books, work as an education consultant with another colleague of mine, have a country/blues band (Platinum Vine) that plays for private parties mainly, have three children and a very happy marriage, and will release my second album of songs this year.  Oh, and yes, I'm a self-proclaimed, nerdy-lovin-every-minute-of-it science teacher. :)

I've checked quite a few dreams off of my list to this point.  However, I am only 33 years old and have plenty more to go!  I like to share those with my students and my children.  When my little girls talk about their future, I always remind them that they can be many different things and do not have to only do one thing.  So, now I ask you?  Are you a role model for dreams for your students?  If not, why not?

By the way, on June 10, 2011, my band's album, Platinum Vine, was just posted online for sale at digstation.com and cdbaby.com. Yeah...dreams can still come true after eleven years of teaching, eleven years of a happy marriage, three beautiful daughters, a mortgage, and a minivan. :)

Mr. Sayler INSPIRED me to do this!

EdModo!

I am having a blast starting the use of EdModo in my classroom!  Coolest thing I've seen for sometime!  I hope my students enjoy it as much as I do!