Education
Where Can I Get Some Grit?
By Guest Blogger on March 25th, 2013
Photo Credit: http://blog.elementsofcinema.com/2010/12/true-grit-on-tcm/
All the cool kids have it, or at least the successful kids. This ability to keep battling in the face of challenges seems to be the talk of the education industry. Paul Tough is talking about it in his new book. Angela Lee Duckworth is talking about at TED. Brian Williams is even talking about it on Rock Center. Apparently it’s the secret sauce. But where do I get it? Because I’d like to soak my son in it.
I understand the concept of teaching kids perseverance, self-control, and the importance of struggle in the learning process, but that’s not easy stuff for a fourth-grader and I need him to learn from his mistakes now, before I make another trip to the emergency room. Continue reading
Presenting Before the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education
By Guest Blogger on March 18th, 2013
On February 14, 2013, I testified at a hearing titled, “Raising the Bar: How Education Innovation Can Improve Student Achievement,” before the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
Several witnesses were present to provide personal and professional insight into the advantages of digital learning and technological innovation. The experience was an exciting opportunity to see how personalized innovative learning models are being recognized at the local, state, and now federal level, resulting in more choices for students and families. Continue reading
Leap of Faith
By Guest Blogger on March 14th, 2013
There is a reason that I am at Florida Virtual School (FLVS) – my aunt made me take a leap of faith. In 1997, a friend interviewed for Florida High School, an early name for FLVS. When she came back from the interview, she said, “You need to go interview – this is made for you.” So, I went to meet with Julie Young and heard about the plans for this radical new thing called a virtual school.
After being offered a position, I went home and agonized all night. I had a nice teaching job where I knew what was going to happen tomorrow, and I had a pretty good idea what was going to happen next year and the following. This was radical – no one in the country was trying to create a public virtual school. It could fail before it even started. Continue reading
Learning Forward – Part 1: Reflections on the 2012 Learning Forward Annual Conference
By Mary Mitchell on February 27th, 2013
Photo credit: http://www.learningforward.org/
This is the first of an eight-part blog series in which I will explore the Standards for Professional Learning released by Learning Forward in 2011. Learning Forward is an international nonprofit association of learning educators that aims to improve instructional effectiveness through standards-based professional learning (PL). Continue reading
The Student Data Backpack from the Practitioner’s Point of View
By Guest Blogger on February 21st, 2013
Recently, I spent a little time reading the Digital Learning Now Smart Series whitepaper: DATA BACKPACKS: Portable Records & Learner Profiles. This topic is of interest and importance for the following reasons:
FLVS is committed to keeping the student at the center of every decision that we make. How can we be sure we are making good decisions if we have limited data?
The current process for retrieving the student data we can get is extremely time consuming, lengthy, and really just stinks all the way around. Continue reading
February is American History Month!
By Guest Blogger on February 19th, 2013
Teaching American History Grant Cohort Members, Ca’ d’Zan Mansion
I am a history teacher, a lover of American History, and also member of the Florida Virtual School Teaching American History Grant. During the past four years, my grant cohort colleagues and I have visited historical places in the United States. Our studies began in colonial times in Williamsburg and St. Augustine; included slavery and the Civil War, for which we visited Antietam and Gettysburg; and continued with the progressive era where we stayed in Florida and visited Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota. In honor of this month, I wanted to share some great historical places in Florida, perfect for kids and adults! Continue reading
National School Counseling Week
By Guest Blogger on February 5th, 2013
Yesterday marked the first day of National School Counseling week (February 4–8, 2013). In anticipation of this weeklong event, I’ve been considering the question, “What makes student counseling services unique and valuable?” School Counselors endeavor to make an impact on student lives and act as change agents to affect positive outcomes. The unique service provided by Professional School Counselors is to critically examine a problem while focusing attention toward providing the most relevant options for families. The advice offered is valuable in that it leads all parties toward resolution.
Various students have contacted me over the years for assistance with academic advising, planning for college, dealing with peer pressure, or working through emotional concerns. One particular student comes to mind. Continue reading
New Year’s Resolution for Education – Quit Whining!
By Guest Blogger on January 17th, 2013
Well it’s that time of year again, when we all decide what sort of gluttony is killing us and try to give it up (at least for a few weeks). The New Year’s resolution is obvious for some. If your couch has more wear than your sneakers, start exercising. If you can’t see your desk through the clutter, get organized. If you wake up and the bathroom scale says 400, step away from your stockpile of Twinkies.
But what happens if you wake up and find you’ve become average? That’s what most American students, teachers, and administrators will see in the bathroom mirror this year, and my suggested resolution is to quit whining. Continue reading
Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!
By Guest Blogger on January 14th, 2013
The fifth annual statewide literacy event takes place January 14–18, 2013! The Florida Department of Education hosts this amazing week of activities, including participation from students, educators, authors, artists, and community leaders. On Monday, January 14, First Lady Ann Scott, Department of Education Commissioner Pam Stewart, and author Susan Snyder will participate with the students from the Villages Charter School to kick-off Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! Schools throughout the state will begin the Million Minute Marathon to achieve the collaborative goal of reading for 30 Million Minutes! There will be activities held daily to encourage literacy, including a Voluntary Prekindergarten simultaneous reading of Hot Rod Hamster by Cynthia Lord.
In addition to the state-level activities, school districts are also hosting local literacy events. Florida Virtual School is honored to host many unique interactive virtual events in conjunction with the Florida Department of Education. Continue reading
Giving Students a Voice
By Guest Blogger on January 10th, 2013
Everyone has an opinion on how to “fix” 
education, ranging from the erudite proffers of national experts to the local, hands-on solutions from educators and community members. Education reform is a year-round hot topic that has no shortage of ideas and commentary.
Among the many people weighing in on the future of our educational system, the one missing voice seems to be that of our students. Oh, there is an occasional good news student success story that is shared or an educational-focused editorial authored by a student. Rarely though are there intentional programs to give students a voice in changing their experience. Continue reading