Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Space Camp 2

It's all about the missions at Space Camp.  You practice them to get comfortable in your roles because when you put that flight suit on, it's all business.  Missions build teams, collaboration and when they are completed, a pure sense of accomplishment.  There were so many parallels to what I was learning at Space Camp to my work at school.  Space Camp was indeed growing on me.  I worked with a wonderful team of teachers to form "Team Harmony".  We represented the United States, Singapore and Australia.


I knew about the Parade of Nations for more than a year and agonized over my costume for nearly every month of that year.  I avoided the expected, a Minnesota Twin, a Viking and a hot dish (although this one had captured my creative side).  I knew I could easily pull off a pretty convincing Bob Dylan or Mary Richards.  I had some excellent suggestions from other folks, some were pretty amazing and then it struck me.  I knew she was the perfect blend of Minnesota and of me....


That's right, Betty Crocker!  Right there beside Brad from Wisconsin, Julie from the Ocean state of Rhode Island, and just barely Paul from Michigan. It was a rich and fudgy moment for me to represent Minnesota's hospitality as this American icon.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Space Camp 1


You can't help but be wowed when you walk into Space Camp.  The enormity of it catches you in your throat as soon as you stand underneath that rocket.  I was in for a big, big week.  I can't tell you how happy I was to be reunited with my STOY family in Huntsville, Alabama.  We were joined by a dozen or so international award winning teachers from all over the globe for a week of learning and fun.

International Space Camp is a camp, a historical society, an enormous classroom, and a hands on museum all rolled into one. Meet my fellow camper, Katie Ferguson from the great state of New York. She makes me laugh with her stories of kids in her classroom.  She has that great New York accent that makes it twice the fun to listen to.  We were assigned to the same team for the week which made us both very happy.

Uh-oh! There she is again.  That's Jeanne DelColle from Jersey and we were assigned to the same team too.  Jeanne knocks me off my feet.  She is such a force for the teacher voice in New Jersey and beyond and I am so proud to call her my friend and colleague.  There were 14 of us that suited up as Team Harmony and we were excited about the week ahead. I was curious about how the folks at Space Camp would keep 70 teachers from all different subject areas engaged and enthused for a whole week. I was also curious about what Space Camp had to offer a parent educator from Minnesota.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

A Meeting With Art Rolnick

I was thrilled when Art Rolnick agreed to meet with me this week.  Art is a rock star in the field of Early Childhood, an unlikely one considering that he is an Economist.  Art is the retired Chairman of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank.  He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.  Early Childhood has lots of champions and I consider Art to be a champion among champions.  Art was kind enough to give me a history lesson on early childhood policy in our state and in the nation.  Art believes that investing in early childhood is the best investment a government makes considering the rate of return on investment.  I couldn't agree more.  I have some big decisions to make in the next few weeks and my conversation with Art was inspiring and clarifying.  I hope this meeting with Art was the first of many.

 I have miles to go before I sleep tonight.  I am packing for SPACE CAMP!!  I am probably too excited to actually sleep. I will be sure to journal while I am away so I can share all the details of Space Camp when I get home!  I am off.....to infinity and BEYOND!!


Thursday, July 12, 2012

ECS National Forum on Education Policy, Atlanta GA

When John Merrow is the facilitator of the discussion between teachers and state policy makers, you know you are at the big show. I was so happy to be invited to participate, not just attend, but really participate at the Education Commission of the States national forum in Atlanta this week. John Merrow is the education corespondent for PBS's NewsHour and a reporter with National Public Radio.  He facilitated a forum with legislators and Governors that schooled teachers in the fine art of communicating with policy makers.

It was an intense conference full of 90 second elevator discussions, many explanations about what parent education is, and policy speak...lots and lots of policy speak. So great to connect and share many laughs with my cohort of state teachers of the year. We are a mighty bunch indeed.

It was an honor to be in the audience to hear the Honorable Sandra Day O'Connor speak about the importance of civics learning in the classroom.  She is passionate that children leave school ready to engage in their communities and our nation as participating citizens in our democracy. She is a warm and generous person.  She was more than happy to meet the teachers that were there and she made us all feel proud of our profession.
I was so happy to see that one of the keynotes addressed the need to build bridges with the professionals who work with our nations youngest learners. There was even a breakout session following the keynote to learn more. OK, so there were only four of us in the room with the presenter but IT WAS A START! I was proud to share Minnesota's story of ECFE with policy makers from Hawaii and North Carolina. We had a rich discussion and I left feeling proud of our state and it's long standing commitment to small children AND their parents. Minnesota was the envy of the group.
Here's a sneak preview of my next post.  I am waiting on a picture and for the whole thing to settle in before I post.
The conference carried on all the way to the airport. This is Senator Gen Olson of Minnesota.  I had a few quick conversations with her during the conference but we got the majority of our work together done at the airport over frozen yogurt. The Senator was happy to meet Matt and ask him about the new Social Studies standards in Minnesota.  She told us some great stories of her teaching days most notably her first home-ec class with all boys. Not one single discipline issue, imagine that! It was a fantastic trip!

Monday, July 2, 2012

The People of China

One of the gifts of this trip was an assignment from the NEA and Pearson to go with a guiding question in mind.  It gave the trip focus and clarity. I was drawn to little people everywhere I went.  My curiosity about where they play and who they play with made for very enjoyable days watching kids and their parents and much to my surprise, their grandparents! During the week, most of the little kids were in parks and streets with their grandparents while their parents were at work. The very young were adored. Without exception, parents and grandparents were thrilled to have their child's picture taken.  They encouraged their little ones to speak english and to wave to me. For some, I was obviously the first westerner they got up close and personal with. I spoke no Chinese except to say "hello" but I spoke "parentese". You know parentese, it's the sing song language that adults use around small children and the children in China responded to it.  I spent some time listening for it in Chinese and every time I heard it, it made me smile. I could go on and on about the parenting customs and culture I observed.  It was all so fascinating. What will stick with me though are the relationships that support the little kids in China.
How lucky they are to have four to eight adults who are crazy about them in their daily lives. The elderly in China are just about as lucky as the little kids in China.  They gather daily at playgrounds for grown ups and exercise and dance together.  The pace is wonderfully slow and methodic and folks really celebrate their physical selves.  They were more than happy to let us participate. They were friendly teachers and coaches and their willingness to show us how limber they all are made me smile. I left the parks vowing to practice until I can touch my toes.  On any given day, a 75 year old man in China could beat me  in a contest of strength and flexibility without question and smile all the while doing it.


Sunday, July 1, 2012

China, Take One

I will forever be grateful to the NEA Foundation and the Pearson Foundation for sponsoring me and 34 other teachers on our global fellowship to China!  I have been home for just a bit and the trip just starting to settle in.  I think it will take the rest of my life to make sense of the contrast that is China in 2012. Here is just a glimpse....

China is ancient, really ancient.  So old it is hard to wrap your brain around just how ancient and vast things are. The Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, and the temples are rich with history and completely blow you away.


And China is brand new. Shanghai is bright and colorful and all lit up and most of it's buildings are less than twenty years old.  Wow. The bullet train from Beijing to Shanghai seemed like a ride straight out of an episode of the Jetson's.  Ancient and futuristic, that's China. More later.....