Tiny bubbles...

Julie and I

Sir William Osler once wrote, "No bubble is so iridescent or floats longer than that blown by a successful teacher."  Tonight I was asked by Richard Pho a student from my class of 2004, to give the keynote speech at the Framingham High School National Honor Society induction ceremony.  I was honored to present another student, Lindsay Ortmeyer, with her certificate and it was a reunion of sorts as I exchanged hugs and photos with former students Ting Ting Ge, Julie Clancy, Mark Li,  Mahad Gudal and their families. Teachers blow many bubbles each day.  We watch them float away and once in a while one or two float back to us, mature and beautiful.  Tonight was one of those times...

MassCUE Here We Come...Thanks Framingham Ed Foundation

Technology is alive and well at Dunning School!  Thanks to a generous grant from the Framingham Ed Foundation 8 teachers attended the MassCUE conference at Gilette Stadium in Foxboro today.  The Patriots practiced on the field while we learned about new ways to engage students in our classrooms.  We are creating a professional learning network to learn with each other.  It is an outgrowth of my Just One campaign to spread technology in a grassroots campaign. I am so proud to be part of a group of teachers willing to take risks and learn together.

Last month I had an opportunity to put my money where my mouth is when, to spite a hacking cough and hoarse voice, I shot my first commercial! I can add reading from a teleprompter to my growing list of new experiences as MA Teacher of the Year. When the MTA asked me to speak out against Question 3 for the MA Coalition for Our Communities it was a no brainer - we must vote NO! Spread the word!  That is what I hope my commercial will do.  Here is a preview:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0SyZG1NqsU

Dunning Reads for the Record

Lexi, Dasha and Alex Read

Mark Nieker, President of The Pearson Foundation brought Read for the Record to the STOYS when we attended the ECS Conference in Portland.  I am proud that my principal, colleagues and the students at the Charlotte Dunning School enthusiastically signed on to participate today to join thousands of children, educators and adults attempting to set the world record for the largest number of children reading the same book on the same day with a participating

500 Dunning Students Read

adult.  How exciting to see over 500 students and teachers reading this year's chosen book, Ezra Jake Keats' The Snowy Day. Read more about it in the Metrowest News Article.

   

5th Graders Lead the Reading

Next Steps - Day Four - Al Roker, Magnolia Cupcakes and Bittersweet Goodbyes

We were up early this morning to get to the Today show armed with our signs promoting Pearson's initiative for students across America to read a million books on Thursday.  Al Roker and Magnolia baked goods and I thought it couldn't get any better!  Today we spent the day making our Why I Teach videos.  It was a lot of hard work but I am hopeful that they will help to promote our profession.  There are so many incredible stories to be told.  I am amazed that there are still things we do not know about ourselves even after a whole year.

Toys R Us or is it Toys are we?

Dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe was great fun, one more visit to Magnolias for red velvet cupcakes and then we met to sit and chat one more time.  It is hard to let go - we have become a family of sorts.  The energy from this group of consummate professionals knows no bounds.  I have been so enriched by their presence in my life.

Next Steps: Day 3 - New York City: The City That Never Sleeps

We are here in the Big Apple! After a delicious lunch of New York pizza (oh how I have missed it) we headed out for some sightseeing.  How fun to share the city of my childhood with new friends who have never been here.  It is somewhat like seeing the city through the eyes of children; their excitement is contagious!  Tonight was so much fun - to celebrate our last trip together we were treated to gastronomical ecstasy at Carmine's Italian restaurant.  After seven courses we were praying for the arrival of a wheelbarrow pedicab to get us to the theater to see Billy Elliot.  We are staying in the W hotel in Times Square; it doesn't get much better than that!  Tomorrow we make our videos but first we are off to the Today show. Judging from my view from the 28th floor - NYC is the city that doesn't sleep but sleep I must...

Next Steps Conference: Day Two - A Kiosk of Opportunity

Today has been a continuation of reflection - how has our year gone, what have we learned, what will we do with our learning?  We have been challenged all day to think about what it is that defines a leader.  To me a leader is one who inspires others, without judging.  A teacher leader is one who has or sees the vision and can mobilize and build bridges between the vision and colleagues.  A leader has courage to explore issues and avenues they care about, and can speak up and spur others on to take risks.  A teacher leader leads by example.

Late this afternoon while touring downtown Princeton, I sat down on a bench to soak in the intellectual culture in the shadows of the beautifully gothic architecture on the Princeton Campus when I spied a kiosk on the corner plastered with so many flyers you could not even see the background.  Concerts, lectures, art - so many possibilities.  This is what life feels like now.  The future: a kiosk of opportunities ripe for the picking.  What to choose, what to choose...

"All teachers can lead." - Next Steps Conference at ETS in Princeton

A tornado or an oven?  That was the choice as I got into car service from Newark to Princeton after enduring numerous cancellations and delays yesterday at Logan Airport. I am not a happy camper when I am tired and hot.  Luckily after a good night sleep I was ready for the day this morning.  Today we TOYS began a bittersweet week called Next Steps.  What will we do from here on in with our positions, our knowledge and our connections?  Will we stay in the classroom?  Go into politics?  Become leaders in our fields?  Quoting Rhode Island teachers in "The Teacher Leader," Roland Barth said, "If schools are going to become the places where all children are learning in worthy ways, all teachers must lead." Introspection is so unsettling but healthy at the same time.

Today's provocative discussion centered around content knowledge and what teachers need to know to teach.  I wonder if it is not what the teachers know that we need to be looking at but the organization of education.  If an elementary teacher needs to know ALL the content just think exponentially what he/she would need to know.  All the content in math, science, social studies, reading, writing, health and child development not just from their own grade level but from grades 1-6!  Do lawyers need to know divorce law, patent law, and criminal law and be experts in their practices?  Do doctors know how to be brain surgeons, dermatologists, neurologists, and orthopedists?  It is unrealistic to expect an elementary teacher to know all of this!  If we truly want teachers to be knowledgeable in the content areas maybe it is time for the elementary structure to change.

After a day examining these intense issues we were treated to an amazing dinner tonight at Rat's Restaurant at the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ.  The garden restaurant was inspired by  the Wind in the Willows.  It was just beautiful and the food was delicious.  The menu was created by chef Kevin Sbraga, recent winner of Top Chef!

Words of Wisdom from Top Educators - Jae Goodwin, Massachusetts Teacher of the Year

Hey that's me! I am proud to join some of my TOY colleagues across the nation on Oprah.com. http://www.oprah.com/world/Words-of-Wisdom-from-Great-Teachers When I read all of their "words of wisdom" I am humbled.  There is great teaching going on across our nation and here is an opportunity to let the public in on it: 
Why not make your own opportunity?  Pick up the phone and call your local newspaper or make a comment on a local blog.  C'mon teachers let's show them what we've got!

Vote NO on Question 3 - Jae dips her big toe into politics!

Traveling around the state touting my mantra, "Use your voice" teachers have asked me how to do it.  Here is a way...  Sign up at http://votenoquestion3.com and spread the word to colleagues and family about Question 3. You can even get a stamp on the website for your facebook page or blog.  Question 3 would roll back the state sales tax from 6.25 percent to 3 percent. Nobody wants to pay more taxes; the recession has taken its toll on all of us in all aspects of our lives. A lower sales tax at first glance is appealing but we must look at the long range impact it will have, especially for the children of Massachusetts. For the past few years we have used stimulus money to help balance our state budget but what will happen next year when it has run out? That reality coupled with a loss of 2.5 billion dollars from a yes vote on Question 3 could decimate our educational system and result in the loss of many jobs. Please join me in voting NO on Tuesday, November 2. 

Holy Cow - Oprah!

This week the TOYs were asked for some teacher tips by one of Oprah's producers.  They must have heard that we TOYS are never at a loss for words. Now I ask you, who could pass up this opportunity?  Not this TOY - my comments were emailed bright and early this morning!  It is so important for teacher’s voices to be heard in America.  There is so much negative publicity right now that any opportunity to right the issues and inform the public about all the wonderful things happening in education in America is very welcome. Stay tuned...

Just One - Debuts in Print

Last year when I began as MA Teacher of the Year I was privileged to be invited to give my first speech at the MassCUE conference. At that time I tried out my idea of a "pay it forward" type of campaign I called Just One - a challenge for the teachers in Massachusetts to mentor just one colleague for just one project encompassing technology in some way.  Since then I have taken the idea on the road and this month it will reach all MTA members through my article in MTA Today. My hope is to see technology grow in each and every school as my fellow colleagues take a big dive or a small toe dip into 21st century skills.  Traveling around the state this year I have seen wonderful things happening all over.  Sharing our knowledge with each other has the potential for expanding teacher excellence throughout our state!  Please participate and send me a note with what you've done or better yet call up your local newspaper and tell them!
Want to know more?  Read the entire article:  It's Time for Teachers to Step Out on Technology

Secret on the Newsstand

Today I secretly smiled as I saw the September issue of Better Homes and Gardens on the newsstand. Why? Because hiding inside on page 172 is my back to School Tip for New Teachers! How fun to see myself in print. I am in the company of fellow TOYs from New York, Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin.

Massachusetts Number One in Race to the Top Round Two!

Well we missed out in round one, but Massachusetts (my home state) has come out on top in round two. We have joined the pack and agreed to the Common Core Standards. Happily teachers voices were included in the application conversation and rather than relying only on standardized test scores, thankfully we are beginning to look at student growth models when we think about measuring teacher effectiveness. It will be critical for teachers to continue to make themselves heard as we begin to implement the grant. Speak up! When asked to comment or get involved - please consider doing it! Sitting in the session on teacher evaluation at the recent ECS conference in Portland I was proud to be from MA as I listened to panel member Paul Reville, our own Secretary of Education. There is much happening in Massachusetts to improve teacher prep programs. Ideas such as longer programs which would enable students to get in the classrooms from the first year or mentoring programs that last beyond college graduation could go a long way to preparing our teachers to teach the students of tomorrow. We will need to watch the programs that come as a result of the RTTT funds closely to see what they bring to the education of teachers and students in the Commonwealth.

ECS Conference - Building Bridges in Portland, Oregon

A surprise opportunity to attend the ECS Conference in Oregon allowed me to drive down the Pacific coastline with my son.  The sights were magnificent on our way down to Bandon Dunes where Noah was to play golf and I was to attempt to walk the six mile course.  Observing his interaction with caddy Josh I couldn't help thinking about how much better Noah's game was as a result of input from a course expert.  Policymakers could learn something from golf.  Those in the position to make decisions for our classrooms should listen to the teachers, those who know how to navigate the course best to avoid the bunkers and stay on the fairway to insure those elusive hole in ones so similar to standardized test scores.  Back in Portland I enjoyed grilled halibut and the incredible view from the windows at the Portland City Grill.  I gazed out at the beautiful panorama of the Willamette River and all the bridges that connect the city.  Education is full of bridges: the bridge between school and home, the bridge between the past and present, the bridge between grade levels and teachers and students. The purpose for the teachers of the year to attend the ECS (Education Commission of the States) National Forum on Educational Policy Conference was to create a bridge between the practical and policy. It was a chance for the commissioners to hear the classroom perspective only a teacher can provide. It is so important for us to seize every opportunity that presents itself to create this bridge.  Policymakers must be aware of how their decisions impact our students and our teaching.  I found them to be very open and willing to listen. It is clear that major changes are on the horizon for education in America, especially as it relates to teacher education and evaluation - we must stay in the discussions.

One of the highlights was a keynote by John Medina, author of Brain Rules. He was fascinating. He highlighted how so much of the procedures and schedules of today's schools are not set up to jive with how children learn. I am coming away from this speech with much food for thought about my own teaching practice. It is clear that we cannot jam large bits of information into children in chunks. Students need to learn, relearn and practice what they learn if information is to make it into their memories. Teachers and policymakers could learn a lot from John Medina, I certainly did.   
A big thank you to the NEA for sponsoring our travel expenses.

Space Camp - DAY SIX

Today we heard from Story Musgrave, payload commander on the Hubble Space Telescope rescue mission and NASA aerospace engineer and author of Rocket Boys, Homer Hickam. They took pictures with us and autographed their books. I have become so sad to know that space travel could be over in America. It is so disheartening to hear these men speak about the demise of our space program. We were treated to the Omni movie about the history of the Hubble telescope. The pictures are so incredible. I am awestruck by the scientific knowledge it took to create it and what we have learned as a result of the mission. Tonight was our graduation. It was very emotional. We each received our diploma and wings. I am thankful to the folks at the Space Camp for giving us this

unique opportunity and for a very special gift, one free campership. Next year I will be able to send a student to space camp! We have grown individually and as a group - this experience has changed us all.

Space Camp - DAY FIVE

Oh boy - today is THE day... The helicopter rescue and the parachute zip line. There is a lot of electricity in the air this morning. After breakfast we were off to the lake. We could see the towers from afar and my stomach was in knots. As we walked closer to the lake and the "dunker/lifter" I was beginning to have doubts about the whole thing but when would I ever get this chance again? Team Kibo they called. I donned the life jacket and climbed into the helicopter fuselage. It fell into the lake, the water filled up over my head, I pushed myself out the window madly swimming to the meeting spot in the lake where we awaited the rescue helicopter. Swimming to the basket lowered in the water was no

easy task, it is hard to keep going with the jacket weighing you down and blocking some vision, Approaching the basket water was spraying in my face from the propeller and I had to hoist myself in. It was hard and scary but I eventually managed to get in. We were so proud of ourselves. Armed with some new found confidence we climbed the tower to the parachute zipline. Here you don a harness under your arms high above the lake. The counselor pushes you off and you fly backwards towards the water as if you jumped from a helicopter.  It was awesome!

 I am so proud to have gone way out of my comfort zone and accomplished this. I ask my students to take risks and I cannot wait to share this experience with them. Today I modeled what I teach - BIG TIME! Later in the day we had a lovely luncheon sponsored by our new sponsor, Target and welaunched our rockets.  My rocket took off like lightning!  Our Endeavor mission was successful to spite a fire in the cockpit which we in mission control handled like pros. Tonight we had a lovely reception with some well needed relaxation time to reconnect with each other and catch up. 

Space Camp - DAY FOUR

Today our team, Kibo, was charged with creating a mission patch. Each NASA mission designs their own patch. They are often symbolic of the participating astronauts and mission purpose. Thanks to the artistic talents of team member Franklin from Costa Rica, our patch looks great! We worked in teams to experiment with thermal protection and learned about the history of early space flight with Ed Buckbee before we were off to train for our second mission on Endeavor. This time I am in mission control - one stressful place! We toured the Davidson Center Museum filled with many artifacts including space capsules,rockets and even the vehicle that the astronauts lived in while they were quarantined after returning to Earth from the moon. It looked suspiciously like the bookmobile that used to come to my neighborhood when I was a child. Today we made and launched bottle rockets. I cannot believe how high they went - it was great fun! Later in the day we played with some toys in space and after dinner we began working on our rockets which we will launch tomorrow. Again a very exhilarating but tiring day. My plastic mattress is calling my name...

Space Camp - DAY THREE!

Tater tots, again? Oh boy, I am having major college deja vu! Our balloon launched beautifully. It was terrific to see it soaring gracefully into the hot, steamy Alabama sky. It was a great start to the day! We were off to our Mission aboard Discovery. The launch was perfect, the docking well timed. I climbed through the docking hatch and entered the Space Station to perform my experiments. To spite my constant checking of the time, I almost missed my ride back to Earth! The commander opened the hatch and bellowed my name and I crawled through just in the nick of time. After another southern lunch where I discovered that I do not like okra but quite enjoy banana pudding, it was a treat to meet Ed Buckbee, the first director of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and author of The Real Space Cowboys. He shared stories of early space travel.  Then we learned a bit of what it is like to live and travel in space. I modeled the sleeping bag astronauts wear that is velcroed to the wall so they can sleep. We learned that coke floats out of a cup and looks like bubbles in space. It separates into a fizzy half and a syrupy half so astronauts use a straw in the middle part to get a drink! Freeze dried food does not look at all appealing and using a toilet is quite an adventure. Think bulls eye! Tonight we left Space Camp for a home cooked meal at the homes of a local woman's

group - Ladies of Dumidi. I enjoyed a delicious dinner at the home of Gertrude and Max Nein.  Max , an original Rocketeer, was one of the engineers recruited by the US government from Germany after World War II. He worked on the Hubble Telescope. It was quite interesting to see some of Huntsville and to learn that the town really grew up around the NASA Marshall Space and Rocket Center.

Space Camp - DAY TWO!

One small step for Jae Goodwin... When Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon  in 1969 every child (including me) yearned to know what that really felt like. Today I had my chance to don a contraption that replicated how hard it really was. It was great fun but quite challenging. We were treated to our second guest speaker, my Framingham neighbor, Grace Corrigan. Grace shared Christa's dream for education and I must say it was humbling to listen to her. Many of us remembered exactly where we were on the day the Challenger was lost. Today we began to practice for the first of two space missions which will happen later in the week. I am a payload specialist on the Discovery. I will travel in the space shuttle and once we dock with the space station I will go there to conduct some experiments. Today we had some hands on training about flight when we created hot air balloons in teams. It was great fun. Our balloon is quite beautiful and colorful. I am hopeful that it will launch successfully tomorrow morning. Tonight after yet another meal which was designed for growing, carbohydrate loving children, we were off to see the Star Wars exhibit. How fun to see the models that were used for filming as well as the costumes. 3CPO is MUCH bigger than I thought! I am having a great time but I am exhausted. Long full days, fried food, late nights and those plastic mattresses do not result in a rested camper.

Space Camp - DAY ONE!

Yesterday I arrived in steamy Huntsville, Alabama to reunited with all my fellow TOYs. The highlight was receiving my official flight suit. It is traditional to wear your wings upside down until graduation! It was a great reunion and this morning we traveled by bus to Space Camp. I am on team Kibo! We spent most of the day in teambuilding activities and we were treated to our first guest speaker, astronaut "Hoot" Gibson. In the evening we donned our state costumes and participated in the Opening Ceremony and parade of states. Thanks to Ocean Spray, I was dolled up in a pair of waders typically used by the cranberry growers in Cape Cod. I have a new respect for those people after experiencing the weight and heat they generated. Our dinner celebration in the Galaxy Room gave this "yankee" the opportunity to taste such southern delicacies as hush puppies and collard greens. Later we gathered back at our dorms to exchange gifts with each other. Each TOY brought pins and gifts representing their state for each other. Fellow TOYS enjoyed my Craisins and Cranberry juice that Ocean Spray was kind enough to supply for me. It was great fun! One highlight was the salmon smoked in teriyaki by my friend Jackie Johnson from Alaska. Not only did she and her husband smoke it, but they caught it too!

10,9,8,7,6,5 Days to Space Camp!

Steamy Alabama days, dorm rooms with plastic twin sized mattresses?  What could make this attractive?  Space Camp!  I am getting so excited to blast off on Friday.  Stay tuned for the details of my mission...