Independence Day

This page will celebrate the great accomplishments of children. We read about children who survive unbelievable obstacles. We hear about children that are doted with great talents. We want to highlight children who are outstanding and special in some way. We believe that every child has a uniqueness that can be highlighted in a positive and inspirational way. I want to dedicate to Mattie J. T. Stepanek. He touched my heart with his poetry in Heartsongs. I cannot imagine the pain his mother Jeni Stepanek must have felt. She has passed away from the same disease and I am sure is with all her beloved children. She left us with Mattie's story and his legacy in her book Messenger.

The video will speak for itself. Two weeks into the school year is probably the most appropriate time for all teachers new and more seasoned to think about the purpose of the educator. Please send in your comments regarding this message and tell us about your anecdotes relating to the topic.

Back to school is just around the corner. The start of the school year is filled with excitement, anxiety, and expectation. School districts have had to reorgnaize their staffs and faculty in order to cope with the state of the economy. Some districts will open new facilities and school buildings. Other schools will struggle with last year's overpopulated classrooms and smaller budgets.New curricula will be introduced or adopted. New teachers will replace retired or more experienced teachers. Test scores will be analyzed and used to inform instruction. Some students will begin the year in new school uniforms. Some districts will have consolidated resources. All kinds of changes will take place. Protocols for the Swine Flu will hopefully be in place. There is never a dull moment and there are too many areas that need continuous supervision and evaluation.

Challenges and opportunities are always present in the education system. It is pivotal to allow all stakeholders to come together to make the school year a productive and memorable one.The task requires competence, confidence, and commitment. The three C's are the main ingredients to attain success. The new 3R's on the other hand should probably be recoined as respect, reflection, and renewal.

Respect has to be observed at all times by all of us involved in the education process. Teachers deserve to be respected by all. Children should learn to be relfective learners and teachers should be responsive and reflective about how their children learn. Parents need to get on board to help their children succeed. Renewal entails teachers letting go of the strategies and techniques that do not work. Renewal is about sharing the best practices and sharing them with colleagues. Renewal is not always about accepting and implementing the new buzz words but embracing the ideas, strategies, and teaching models that truly work. Renewal is about renewing the spirit of education. We learn and we come alive. When we learn we feel we can conquer the world. Positive Prose believes that we can accomplish great strides in education if we learn to listen to each other and learn from each other. During this school year we need to make sure that all of us are asking critical questions. We need to work together when we come up with the responses and make sure that we help change the world.