Turnaround Schools
Creating Cultures of Universal Achievement
Book Study for Emeline Carpenter Academy of Technology and Science
July 4, 2014
Preface
My light bulb moment was the MLK quote of seeing the Promised Land as I can clearly see Emeline Carpenter Academy of Technology and Science becoming the model elementary school for all others to follow. This school year will be monumental due to the hard work and dedication that each of us will exhibit on a daily basis.
The journey that we are beginning today will not be easy but if it was easy everyone would do it. Please enjoy July 4th and look for our first newsletter Monday morning.
Reflection Time:
Please take some time to reflect on the preface and tell me what jumped out at you as a key word, phrase or sentence?
Action Time:
Please go out and purchase your favorite Kool-Aid packet and use it as your bookmark! More details coming soon.....
"... beat academic odds and successfully prepare themselves to attend college." I watched the keynote speaker at ISTE 2014 on YouTube. In her speech she talks about how she used to hide in the library. That it was her sanctuary. In those four walls she read every book she could get her hands on. She was poor and books were her escape. Because of her love of reading she went to college, became a librarian and broke the cycle of poverty in her family. She beat the academic odds. Our ECATS library WILL be that for ALL our students.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being the BRAND! I know that you are going to be a HUGE asset this year! Thanks in advance!
Delete"Our childhood experiences inspired our commitment..." This really speaks to me as we are all products of our experiences, they are what makes us unique individuals. Our experiences led us into education and our student's experiences will shape their future. Jeff King "learned" about loyal friends, good neighbors, and being an equal contributor to society. I presume that this was not only taught through traditional education, but also experienced first hand. John Dewey's quote, "Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself" comes to mind in creating that ability in our students to observe, experience, analyze, reflect, and make changes that will create a positive change with every experience.
ReplyDeleteI agree. This is why we must create environments that allow students to experience education and facilitate their love for learning. Experiences will take you a long way! Great job Mr. Moore!
DeleteEducation is the core of our society...it is what determines what each and every one of us will "be when we grow up". As an educator, I have always felt as though it was my responsibility to believe in the abilities of my students even when no one else was watching. My classroom was a safe haven for my students where they could explore who they were and believe in who they could become no matter what their "story" was...every students story, every adults story makes them, makes us, who we are. "...confront a broken system and dare public elementary schools to demand that their most disenfranchised children rise above their challenges and courageously pursue the dream of a college education". This statement is so simple, yet so very powerful. When we begin to see ALL students as deserving of the best education we can give them instead of making excuses, these children can't learn, these children come from a broken home, these children have a parent in jail, etc., etc., and begin to see the true potential in every child, then we can begin to prepare all children to be ready for the tremendous opportunities education can bring, allowing them to see their dreams of education as not just dreams but as sheer reality happening right here, right now. Success is not merely something that children should dream about, it is something they should strive for and it is up to us as educators to help them attain those goals and believe in their grand potential for success.
ReplyDeleteAmazing insight! Team Carpenter is blessed to have you!
ReplyDeleteWhile reading the preface the statement -advocating for the academic success of children who otherwise would have had little hope, really jumped out at me and is one of the reasons I became an educator. My goal is to let my students know that academic success can be achieved no matter what your current situation or background is. I also feel that it is important to understand each students learning style so that I am able to be a true advocate for each of my students individually as well as a whole. I want to provide as many different opportunities and experience to my students so that they can be exposed to things that they may not have the opportunity to have other than at school. By doing this I hope to help them achieve the “light bulb” moment that we all have experienced at least once in our lives and open their eyes to the thoughts of college and much more.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I will be right there cheering you on through those "light bulb" moments. It's a beautiful thing when it all comes together and I can appreciate you beginning with the end in mind!
Delete"Our childhood experiences inspired our commitment to confront a broken system and dare public elementary schools to demand that their most disenfranchised children rise above their challenges and courageously pursue the dream of a college education."---- This is the same "demand" that educators must have for students in order for a significant change to take place. The authors used their childhood experiences for inspiration. If it isn't childhood experiences for you, what is it? Find your inspiration, because we can not fail to make this same demand.
ReplyDeleteI love the urgency of your post and the demand that you speak of is awesome! I look forward to seeing this in action soon!
DeleteIn the Preface, the phrase that stands out to me is "became partners in the most noble of ventures---advocating for the academic success of children who otherwise would have had little hope." To me, this quote outlines my direction for the coming school year--partnering with the entire staff and creating my lessons to assure academic success for ALL students.
ReplyDeleteThis is key because once the city of Nacogdoches witnesses this unity it will be contagious and spread. Looking forward to everyone pitching in to ensure success for ALL!
Delete"...schools are modern day educational miracles, but what they do is not magic." This stuck out to me because every year a program is adopted and states it's the key to success. I believe that the success lies within us and our students. We have to believe and teach them to believe in themselves. Once the students believe, the results are "magical".
ReplyDeleteYou are right! No secret or shortcut is available. It will take blood, sweat and tears to make it happen. The sooner we get all stakeholders to see your statement, ultimately the better because BELIEF is contagious!
Delete"...that people of all colors can be loyal friends, good neighbors, and equal contributors to society." It does not matter what you look like, but what you know and how you use what you know. Anyone can be a best friend or great contributor. As teachers, we have high expectations for all. We teach with those expectations in mind. We teach goal setting, what it takes to meet those goals and how to set new goals. This is how great contributors come to be.
ReplyDeleteExcellent that you would talk about Goal setting. We will have Goal work instead of Home work! I am ready to see you in action, setting goals and defying the odds!
Delete"These schools are modern day educational miracles, but what they do is not magic. Our message is that their successes can also be yours. Our hope is that they will."
ReplyDeleteFrom my experience last year, I can say with 100% surety that if we all hang on TIGHT to our why...the reason we get up every day and do what we do...then every child that we touch will know and believe that they CAN achieve to their fullest potential. Nothing less will be accepted! :)
The same statements stuck out for me as well, for many reasons. The students need to believe they CAN! :)
DeleteI cannot wait until you unleash your potential! I have been awaiting this breakthrough and I am so excited to see the growth. Please continue to believe then see!
DeleteEventually, the two of us became partners in the most notable of ventures-
ReplyDeleteCarpenter is on a journey of success ensuring that all children will learn, succeed, and prosper.
All children is what I love from your post! We must believe that All children can and will learn!
Delete“Advocating for the academic success of children who otherwise would have had little hope”
ReplyDeleteThis statement stuck out to me when reading the preface. In the past, I have worked with students who are at-risk of achieving academic success due to their background. Regardless of where a child lives, their ethnic background, or the structure of their family, they all have the same needs and share similar characteristics. Each child needs love, security, attention, and an adult they can trust. I feel that EVERY child should be given a fair opportunity to learn, regardless of their background. As educators, it is our responsibility to love them, teach them, and BELIEVE in them.
I am a firm believer of “What happens at Carpenter will CHANGE the WORLD!”
I am anticipating seeing your impact on Carpenter up close and personal. I know that you will make a HUGE difference in the students! I am excited to see that the motto has taken hold! GAMECHANGERS
Delete"[...] disenfranchised children rise above their challenges and courageously pursue the dream of a college education."
ReplyDeleteWe must all rise above the challenges we are faced with in life and courageously pursue our dreams. As teachers, we not only have our own dreams to pursue, but we also play a special role in helping others see and achieve their dreams. It is especially important that we empower disenfranchised children with the knowledge and the tools that they need in order to move towards their dreams and become successful people in an ever-changing world.
I will strive to do everything in my power to ensure that ALL of our students feel a sense of belonging and accomplishment, while continuing to empower others to see and achieve their greatest dreams.
I cannot wait to see you in action! The children in your classroom will stretch the limits and reach heights they never dreamed of! Thank you for believing and joining Team Carpenter!
DeleteEventually, the two of them became partners in the most noble of ventures –
ReplyDeleteThis is so important because we are partnering with administration, staff, parents, students, and the community. We are working hard to make sure our students achieve their goals. We are working together to come up with great ideas to help our students. We are making new waves for success. Our students are going to achieve because we are working together for their futures. I am so excited to be a part of this great team!
Thank you so much for your willingness to accept the challenge! I look forward to you mentoring and shaping the 3rd grade team into winners! The students and teachers are lucky to have you! Let's join together and make HISTORY!
DeleteThe preface to this book speaks life… The whole preface jumped out at my and sparked my interest. The phrase that stirred my soul was “…All colors can be loyal friends, good neighbors, and equal contributors to society.” I know THE NEW Carpenter Elementary will do great things, change lives, and shift the community we serve.
ReplyDeleteI also love that statement. The world would be a dull place to live had God settled for just one flavor.
DeleteThe sentence that grabbed my attention was the very last one on the page: “Our hope is that they will.” The words “our hope” is what grabbed my heart. For so many of our students, we [as elementary educators] are the ones that “light” the candle of literacy for them. We are to be there for them.
ReplyDeleteI am encouraged by where Lopez states "Our childhood experiences inspired our commitment to confront a broken system and dare public elementary schools to demand that their most disenfranchised children rise above their challenges and courageously pursue the dream of a college education."
ReplyDeleteCommitment to any goal or change must come from within and must be inspired from a relevant event within someone's life. Extrinsic motivation in my opinion is rarely effective when promoting true change in a person's beliefs, work ethics or perception. It is important to find the key to motivating our students from within and encouraging them to believe they can be more, do more and are worth more then they have been told.
One thing I teach in m classroom is that where you come from doesn't determine where you are going it merely determines where you start.
I believe all Emeline Carpenter's students will rise above their challenges and courageously pursue their dream of a college education. We will be their partners in the most noble of ventures. There is no such thing as little hope and little success when it come to our school community.
ReplyDelete