Diane Albanese’s Musings

  Just trying to help out. That was my motive to sign up for the workshops to develop alternate student assessments.

Maybe a little curious too-I wanted to see more of what was going on in Delaware, the cutting edge of the nation’s reform movement. True, I am in a classroom every day, but that’s like being in a foxhole in the war against educational mediocrity! Sometimes no light shines down here.  Volunteering to work on new assessments would get me to the table of reform.   I wanted to be a part of that conversation.

The Race to the Top is by and large about what we teachers do in our classrooms every day. It isn’t often that I get to talk with other Language Arts teachers from around the state to discuss our methods and our concerns.

We were invited by the Delaware Department of Education to design assessments that would help to determine student growth. My team of 8th grade LA teachers worked on writing that related to a science article. During the four day workshop we exchanged so much information and it really changed my thinking about my classroom practice.

This was a professional development opportunity that was relevant and valuable. Teachers together creating tests based on our own students’ writing samples, having intense conversations about the nature of writing, and taking away from the table a sense of propriety – we will own this test.

Too bad for the teachers who did or could not participate. I heard that some school districts actually prohibited their teachers from signing up!  They missed a valuable lesson. The perennial struggle to improve education now has a face and a place.  We came away so much better because of  the time we were given for face to face deliberation, collaboration, and shared wisdom.

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Learning so much!

1. Teachers care about their profession!
2. Teachers can organize and stand tall in the face of oppressive legislators and laws.
3. We are united
4. Many teachers devote all their time to helping insure that we get a fair deal.
5. We are more similar than different.

On the floor of the NEA 2011 Chicago convention. I’m a newbie and I am excited to be here. So many saavy people! So much excitement. But for the first  time in a long time I feel as if our cause and the cause of educating America’s children, will be heard above the for-profit and privatization message. WE ARE THE ONES who care about kids, all kids and we are having debate on how to influence policy, expenditures, and direction in this coutry.

Just too much! I am so tired and yet I blog.

ISTE 2011 was all that and more. I cannot express how invigorating it is to be with that many people who CARE about students and technology. My favorite thing was being able to just talk to people. Everywhere. At the bus stop, in line, at dinner, in the sessions, getting coffee, at the lounges, in the exposition hall, at the student showcases and posters. Just so much conversation and ideas. Processing it all is JUST TOO MUCH right now.

One thing I just despised – no really – the no-show Steven Covey show. Principles? He didn’t have the decency to show up at this conference. The showed us a BORING video of his talking bald head.  What were the folks at ISTE thinking, have him address all of us like the GREAT WIZARD of IT??? It was a blemish on an otherwise good conference experience.

Philadelphia cooperated right down to the cheesesteaks.  Great ambiance this city. Loved the history and the people.

I didn’t get to meet Sue Waters – my Edublog guru. Then I tweeted and found out she was not here! She just skyped herself into a session and then vanished. Oh well. Illusive and mysterious she shall remain to me.  Still, I adore her and the Edublog group. THANKS EDUBLOG!

I’m off to the even bigger conference, the NEA in Chicago. Leaving my techie nerd side here in Philly and cloaking myself in my fierce political advocate cape.  SuperTeacher onward!

My one goal in coming to ISTE in Philadelphia was to connect my classroom with a classroom far away to share writings and reflection of my students. I was so lucky!  In a Tweet, I asked for help and got a Tweet back from an ISTE conference attendee from Australia who had a 7th grade class that would fit with my needs. We hashed out details over a quick lunch today, and it looks like we are well on our way to collaborating with our students to share projects, ideas and stories. I am so psyched!

The pix is my new friend Mr. Paul, a teacher in Perth, Australia. We both have classrooms with plenty of computers and students who are eager to reach out globally.  This could be the start of something BIG!

I can only think that these incredible opportunities at ISTE are like so many seeds being sown in my brain.  Teachers need this: a chance to come up close to people and ideas that are fresh, different and eventually effective.

The last ISTE that I attended was two years ago in Washington. I took back enough inspiration to fuel the authoring of an on-line course for Delaware teachers. Don’t tell me Face to Face conferences are passe’!  They are necessary as long as we are social and human!

I meant to read blogs and tweet comments, but as life and some beach time have gotten in my way, I find myself barely able to throw things in my suitcase and head out to  Philadelphia for the ISTE Conference tomorrow.

I’ve been to ISTE before so I know what to expect, and I know that the possibilities are endless  - face it – ISTE always rocks my teacher world. I am amazed at how much is “out there” and how much I don’t know.

So let me go find my chargers and pack up my stuff. See you tomorrow!

Governor Markell is committed to “getting something done” with the rising cost of health care for state workers this year. He is urging lawmakers to approve of a plan that cuts the state cost of employees’ benefits by $100 million over five years.  He suggested possible changes to the basic free health insurance, prescription drug plan, decrease of benefits, raising eligible retirement age, eliminating early retirement, changing the number of years of service required to get a pension and requiring employee contributions for all earnings.

Teachers and support staff need to pay attention!  Teachers’ salaries and benefits have always been a political football that is bantered about in the budget process but paraprofessionals have salaries that are at the poverty level.  The state’s benefits and pension packages are the main reasons that so many qualified paras stay on the job. Markell’s proposal is preposterous!  To cut paraprofessional benefits is to tip a sinking ship.

The teachers’ union, Delaware State Education Association, is saying that everything is up for discussion. Nothing is sacred. Pensions, benefits, co-pay and health care – it’s all there on the table. DSEA will debate and discuss the options with Markell. So the dance begins. Teacher compensation is once more on the table. Two years ago it was teacher salaries now our benefits and maybe even our pensions are on the chopping block.

I realize that these are troubled financial times and that the governor and state legislature must balance the budget but I can’t help but think that something is way out of whack here. Teachers are among the state’s most educated workers. We have an intricate pay scale that increases as our education and experience grow. We work our contract hours and most of us work beyond that to implement the most recent educational initiatives and quite frankly, just to keep up with the latest demands.

I often stay late at school to grade papers. Some teachers come in early every day to write lesson plans and to prepare for the day. Other teachers take papers home, work on the computer, and put in far more than an eight hour work day.  Teachers dedicate themselves to the job but mostly teachers dedicate themselves to their students. It’s personal.

We are counting on a stable and reliable salary and benefits. That’s what is expected and that is what is fair!

Why not look at raising taxes on the wealthiest people in the state?  At $80,000 our state income tax levels out. That means that the wealthiest in Delaware pay no more taxes than the people who earn $80,000 or below.  Why not look at equalizing the pain of budget cuts and spreading it throughout the system? Why not look at efficiency of running our schools?  Cut down on the spending! Eliminate some of the administrative positions! Reduce administrative salaries and reduce the number of people who occupy those positions. Teachers are necessary but multiple, highly paid administrators in each school district are not.

Finally, have a conversation with the health care industry to reduce costs to the state. There is so much that can be done that would allow us to have good health care without compromising our pensions or our salary.  Governor Markell, just think it through, do your homework, and come up with some viable alternatives.

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The Death of Creativity: Teaching in a Data Driven World

Just before Christmas break I was talking with some of my eighth grade girls about the next thing we would do in class. With wintry weather all around, I mentioned that we should make snowflakes, write poetry on each one and then hang the flakes from the ceiling of the classroom. You would be surprised to know how many students have never made a paper cut out snowflake and just don’t know how to do it. You would also be surprised how few students have ever attempted writing poetry!

The girls were excited: many of them enjoyed the recent contest to decorate our classroom doors for the holidays and they do extensive crafts at home.

When we came back from holiday break the girls wanted to know when we were going to do the snowflake lesson. In dismay I admitted that I had not put them in my plans. The snowflake poetry lessons never did work out. I just could not bring myself to spend a day on cutting out paper and writing creative poetry when there are so many skills to be nailed down before the state tests.

The teacher accountability mandate is so overwhelming that it is difficult if not impossible to squeeze even one half hour of creative repose! Even one half hour of a craft related lesson that would reach some students who are turned off by endless skill work was improbable. This loss is the tragic by-product of an educational system that is data driven and goal oriented.

Teachers in Delaware must keep nose to the grindstone. There is an inferred regiment that must be followed in order to incorporate all of the skills and raise test scores.  There is precious little time to teach all of the basics to all of the children and then have them all score high on state tests. Sadly, I have found it more and more impossible to enrich my classroom with crossover lessons that include some art and music.  We may write a little poetry but then it’s on to the next reading skill. Reading is a tested skill, writing is not.

Math teachers feel the same pressure. Teach to the test. Other teachers follow curriculum that may eventually be tested so the urgency is not felt in some grade levels for some subjects. For example, Social studies is not tested in the eighth grade so the teachers at my level have a reduced sense of importance for their subject and the students know that it is not tested so their attitudes can often be uncaring and extremely unmotivated.

Sad when the only reason to learn a subject is because it counts on a state test. I can remember when all subjects counted and students knew that.  In the era before the state test, students worked for class grades. Sure, some subjects were favorites and some were not, but the ultimate goal was to get a good grade on their report card and be rewarded by parents who were involved and supportive.

Teachers make decisions every day – what to teach and what to avoid but I am determined to find a way to infuse what I know to be creative and nurturing in my classroom. Don’t be surprised if there are snowflakes in my students’ future.

Many teachers want to know why I’m running for President of the Delaware State Education Association so I created a series of Questions and Answers about my thoughts and ideas for teachers in the great state of Delaware. This is the first in a series of three.

Questions and Answers #1, with DIANE SAIENNI ALBANESE, Candidate for President of the Delaware State Education Association

“Have a Voice, Make a Choice, VOTE!”

1. Why are you running for DSEA President?

This is a critical and exciting time for teachers in Delaware. I know because I have been writing about teacher issues for more than ten years and I have over 30 years of classroom experience as a teacher from first grade to adult both in and outside of Delaware.

Teaching is my passion and understanding teachers and ESPs  is my strength. My experiences have given me a broad vision and sense of where I believe the teaching profession should be headed.  I want to save and improve the profession of teaching and define it on our own terms for this century.  I want new teachers to enter our profession knowing that they will have opportunities for significant professional development, a fair system of evaluation, and a chance to touch lives.  This is my quest: to strengthen and improve teaching for Delaware teachers.

2. What direction would you recommend for the Delaware State Education Association?

Nothing can stop change, but teachers need to be an integral part of the change that is happening in Delaware.  We gathered in Dover to protest our proposed pay cuts, we stepped up to be a part of the Race to the Top initiative, and we work to fill in the difficult details that remain in our state teacher evaluation system.  Together, at the table of reform, we are the voice of reason, the advocate for our children and for what is effective in our classrooms.  We need to stay collaborative and informed.  We need to do everything we can to remain vital as decisions are made, not only for our pay, but for the core of the educational system that is not broken, but can certainly use some reasonable, knowledgeable reform.

3. What are your strengths?

I am energetic, enthusiastic and willing to listen. These qualities will help me best representative the members of the Delaware State Education Association as your President.

“Have a Voice, Make a Choice, VOTE!”

Voting is electronic. Check for a DSEA email on January 19^th for your ballot.

Talk Back!  Check out Diane’s links for more…

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSA20sxN6SY

Blog: http://dalbanese.edublogs.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Diane-Saienni-Albanese-for-DSEA-President/173386186024135

Twitter: http://twitter.com/dianealbanese

PROVIDED BY DIANE SAIENNI ALBANESE FOR DSEA PRESIDENT CAMPAIGN

For January 7, 2011

Coming off of a nice break from school, it’s difficult to believe that students are under stress. To parents, their children have it easy and you often hear parents tell their children that high school is the “best time of their life.” Not so!

A recent survey from the APA (American Psychological Association) states otherwise. Students can be impacted by the stress of school but more importantly, they can feel the adverse effects of family finances. There is little support to make lasting lifestyle changes for students whose families are in financial crisis.

The APA report from November 3, 2009 states that “Stress related to school pressure and family finances has a greater impact on young people than parents believe, according to a new national survey released today by the American Psychological Association (APA). Building on past research indicating that stress is a top health concern for U.S. teens between 9th and 12th grade, psychologists say that if they don’t learn healthy ways to manage that stress now, it could have serious long-term health implications.”

“Teens and tweenagers were more likely than parents to say that their stress had increased in the last year. Nearly half (45 percent) of teens ages 13-17 said that they worried more this year, but only 28 percent of parents think their teen’s stress increased, and while a quarter (26 percent) of tweens ages 8-12 said they worried more this year, only 17 percent of parents believed their tween’s stress had increased. Similarly, only 2-5 percent of parents rate their child’s stress as extreme (an 8, 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale) when 14 percent of tweens and 28 percent of teens say they worry a lot or a great deal.”

Parents do not get it. They underestimate the impact of financial stress on their children.  Just as parents often under report their children’s use of drugs, depression, and sexual activity, they also often fail to come to terms with stress.

The APA said that “Parents’ responses about sources of stress for their children were out of sync with what children reported as sources of worry. Children were more likely to say they worried about their family’s financial difficulties than parents were to say this was a source of stress for their children (30 percent vs. 18 percent of parents). Results are similar for doing well in school (44 percent vs. 34 percent of parents). In general, children also were more likely to report having experienced physical symptoms often associated with stress than parents were to say their children experienced these symptoms, including headaches, difficulty sleeping, and changes in appetite.”

“Tweens (30 percent) and teens (42 percent) say they get headaches vs. 13 percent of parents. Tweens (39 percent) and teens (49 percent) cite difficulty sleeping vs. 13 percent of parents. Tweens (27 percent) and teens (39 percent) report eating too much or too little vs. 8 percent of parents.”

How to change?  Make changes to the family lifestyle such as such as quitting smoking, getting more sleep, reducing stress, exercising, losing weight and choosing healthier foods. ‘Tis the season for awareness and change that can bring about huge benefits for the year to come.