Measure Twice, Cut Once

Today is the first day of second semester (Spring Semester)  and I begin teaching four new classes.  I teach at the university level.  My new students will not be as excited as kindergartners going back to school after winter break.  However, my students will still be excited, because starting a new adventure is always a little bit exciting.  One more thought, we begin "Spring Semester" and the wind chill is now below zero.  The labeling of this semester just seems a little weird.

"Measure twice, cut once", my Dad taught me that rule of LIFE when he taught basic carpentry to me.  Back in the 60s, yes the 1960s, we renovated an old abandoned country farm house. We upgraded the "structure" from a corn storage building to a farm house for a family of six. 

Take a look at our converted home.  And, my Dad always measured twice before he cut once. And, I have found the rule applies to teachers, too.

In teaching the "measuring" is the creation or upgrade of each lesson plan.   The plan should be the absolute best it can be; the plan should create student learning: create knowledge, develop understanding, and improve skills.  Yes, my classes start today - but. for three weeks, I have been measuring my lesson plans twice.

At the university, each syllabus contains 15 lesson plans.  The lesson plan covers a time period of three hours. Fifteen lesson plans times 180 minutes is 2,700 minutes of learning time.  I have reviewed, assessed, and hopefully improved every one of those 2,700 minutes.  

In K-12 schools, the organization of time is different, but the quantity of learning time is nearly the same.  

As I measured my lesson plans twice, I worked hard to make each learning activity valuable for my students.  How many minutes did I spend measuring/planning? Too many to count.  I wanted to make every learning activity better than it was last semester. 

Every effective teacher does the same.  We all work long and hard at lesson planning because we care about our students.  We want each of our students to succeed and so do the other teachers at this university and the dedicated teachers in your child's school.

Today and for the next three days, I will make the first "cuts"; I will teach; I will make the first invitations to learn.  I hope my new students are ready for the learning journey and I already believe they are.  

"Measure twice, cut once", I love my Dad and I love teaching.  Teachers Rock!

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Teacher reflection journal: My goal: I will post one or two reflections on my teaching, on student learning, or on the current conditions of education every week.  On a good week, maybe I can post three reflections.  I hope you will follow my blog. Click follow this site on the homepage.  I will do my best to make the weekly reflections informative and entertaining.  

Dr. Robert, Educational Pirate

Dr. Robert: Education Pirate Rebel

"I know how we can save American Education; I know how we can save public schools!  Let's give our unmotivated students another high-stakes, multiple-choice standardized achievement test."

What a bunch of crap!  I am sick and tired of politicians who use the above propaganda as a mantra for fixing education.  Teaching and learning is an art and quality art can not be measured on a test graded by a machine.  I have worked successfully as a teacher, professor, and a life-long learner for decades, and the current state of "helping education" has me ready to puke on most days.

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) has a wonderful title and has hurt more students, teachers, and school communities than any other piece of legislation in U.S. history.  Creative teachers have been reduced to presenting test-taking drill and skill to students who deserve so much more.  Schools are now ranked and labeled as failing on the basis of an assessment, which lacks reliability and validity.  Education is struggling under a one dimensional judgment system, which punishes students and schools for the incomes of their families.

Are you a teacher who wants to build positive relationships with students and to facilitate students gaining relevant knowledge, deep understanding, and skillful performance?  Are you a student who wonders why school chooses to not meet your educational and psychological needs?  Are you a parent who has seen your child cry about being sent to school on state test day?  If you are any where close to answering "yes", then monitor this new blog.

I promise to tell you the truth about learning, students, teachers, schools, education, and quality as I see it.  Let's navigate the sea of crisis together.  Let's be rebels in a sea of mundane conformity.  Let's be pirates and say children are more than, and come before, test scores.

Dr. Robert, Education Pirate