Why Does School Have To Be So Boring?

I knew the day would come where simply playing the game of school would become tedious to Timothy, my 12-year old son. I could tell last year when his conversations about school were always centered on  his grades and never about any exciting insights into things he was learning about. This past week he asked, "Why does school have to be so boring?" 

While I know the short answer is that school doesn't have to be boring, there is really no quick solution here.  As I re-read my post last year about Tim's making the high honor roll, I know that it is time for me to start utilizing my knowledge of constructing a PLN to supplement Tim's education so that he can learn based on his passions.  It will be much easier than putting pressure on his school to do this. Am I wrong? 

Posted via email from bhsprincipal's posterous

Give Me This Day My Daily Blog Post

It seems, I have been blogging less lately. There are a number of reasons that I can think of when I reflect on this fact.  The biggest reason for me is actually due to the amazing posts that I continue to read by the members of my PLN.  Just the Connected Principals Blog alone leaves my head-spinning due to the quality of the posts that my colleagues are writing.

Sometimes my competitive nature comes out and I feel like I need to write something amazingly insightful. Unfortunately, this coincides with my biggest bouts of blogger's block.  So I finally had a moment of clarity last night and remembered that the reflective nature of blogging is what I really enjoy. Hopefully, once in a while my thoughts will be useful to others as well. 

So here I go...

... I commit to blog daily, even if it is just a few sentences.  

Posted via email from bhsprincipal's posterous

This Reminds Me Of My PLN - How About You?

I have been enjoying What Technology Wants by Kevin Kelley. So much of this book makes me stop and think...

Here is a quote from the book reminded of the great members of my PLN as well as those people who have been resistant to the collaborative power of social media. 

"Sharing results is of marginal benefits if you are chiefly seeking a better tool for today. Therefore, the benefits of science are neither apparent nor immediate for individuals. Science requires a certain density of leisured population willing to share and support failures and thrive."

Posted via email from bhsprincipal's posterous

My Children Are Not Being Engaged In School - Are Yours?

So I know my children have teachers who are passionate about students, but my frustration is that they are not passionate about student engagement. How can this be so?  and more importantly,  how can we help passionate educators care more deeply about bringing out their students' passions?

Posted via email from bhsprincipal's posterous