Reviewing my Syllabi using Wordle

Here's my old syllabus from last semester's Econ class.



Here's next semester's Government syllabus.



Notice any changes? I'm incorporating social media into my classroom more, integrating Twitter and Paper.li to help them follow current events. I also feel more positive this time around, less about what students "MUST" do, and more about encouraging them to grow.

Rigor & Love: Finding the balance

We had a Senior Bash for the last day of advisory today. The juniors brought food and we celebrated the accomplishments of the seniors in our advisory. I bought "GRAD" glasses for each of the twelfth graders to wear (the letters R and A went around their eyes), dedicated a few words to each one, and thanked them for a great year. They then decided to take turns saying something back to me, sweet and funny words that reminded me that what they appreciate most are not the academic lessons I taught them, but the emotional support I provided.

The students reminisced about the days when I was their World History teacher, and two of them commented, "I thought you hated me back then."

I was struck by these statements, and asked whether there was something in my words or actions that made them feel this way. Although they could not think of specific examples, I made a mental note to reflect on my demeanor and the way I make students feel. I'm still trying to find a balance between having high expectations and creating a classroom environment in which students feel comfortable. During my first years of teaching, my students definitely felt loved, but I'm not sure that I taught them much or kept them accountable. Over the years I've become a lot more strict and better at facilitating meaningful learning, but worry that I might be seen as unapproachable by my more timid students. I need to work on finding the right balance, and will make this one of my goals for next year. I will maintain high expectations, but will make more of an effort to encourage and inspire students from a place of love rather than frustration.

I appreciate my students' honesty and am grateful for the opportunity to reflect and become a better teacher. We grow with honest and encouraging feedback, and I need to remember to provide more of this for my students. I will be better about accepting that my students are works in progress, and will be warmer and more positive as I help them improve their academic skills and personal development.

Reform the LA Way: Televised Interview

My principal, Esther Soliman and I were interviewed by LAUSD School Board President Monica Garcia about pilot schools, small public schools with autonomy over budget, staffing, curriculum, governance, professional development, and scheduling. Some people confuse us with charter schools, but unlike some charters, we have no application process, admissions criteria, or extra requirements for maintaining enrollment status. I've met people who work at charters that kick students out if they don't maintain a C-average, or if their parents don't fulfill a minimum number of service hours. We can't implement these types of policies, and work through students personal and academic struggles to produce the most successful outcomes that we can.

Watch the video if you'd like to know more about what we do!

My piece in UCLA Center XChange

My work was recently included in UCLA's Center XChange online journal. I responded to the question: If someone came into your classroom, what would you offer as evidence of the quality of your professional practice and why?

If you'd like to read it, click on the link!

An Educator's Perspective on Quality Teacher Practice

Students inspiring students

What a week! We've had some very successful and inspiring showcases of student work recently.

1) Now that AP Testing is over, my seniors developed and presented College Knowledge assemblies for the underclassmen at our school. They reminded students about college admissions requirements, spoke about the colleges they would be attending this fall, as well as the incredible financial aid packages they had been awarded. The underclassmen were amazed and supportive of all that the seniors had accomplished, and have since begun to see them as sources of valuable advice, approaching them with questions about college. Developing a college-going culture is an ongoing process, and this was a step in the right direction!!

2) Our seniors presented their Service Learning Projects to the rest of the school today, and man, were they amazing. I watched as they became experts on issues related to poverty, and spoke eloquently and passionately about homelessness, personal debt, substance abuse, and education, among other issues. One group of students put on an art show, in which they displayed and sold their artwork and donated the proceeds to a women's shelter. Another group of students created a CD of original music about economic inequality and personal debt, which they then sold in order to donate money to a local organization serving low-income individuals. They spoke with great pride about the service they provided to the community, expressing how much they grew and learned from the process.To watch my students speak with so much confidence and authority reminded me of exactly how amazing they can be.

3) The freshmen were equally remarkable and inspiring, presenting theater pieces, artwork, and writing that openly spoke about their realities and the challenges in their personal lives and surrounding communities. Rather than leave viewers feeling depressed or hopeless, they managed to convey messages of hope, self-determination, and collective empowerment.

As I drove home, I thought about educational experiences of my students and compared it to my own schooling. Much of my learning took place within the walls of a classroom and the pages of books. Although I was encouraged to "give back to the community," it was rare to be assigned a task that required me apply my skills and knowledge to actually help my community. Our students are learning that they are part of a community, that they are responsible for one another. They have a level of social awareness and sense of collective responsibility that I didn't develop till college. I'm so proud of my school for the awesome work that it does!