"Watch out boys here she comes..."

feel like this often?

The end of the school year for 2011-2012 approaches.  Where is my mind?  Already on the following year and all that is about to explode onto the scene of education, well at least here in NY. Couple that with the changes within the district (shift to grade level schools and the political fall-out) and next year should be very, how shall I say, challenging.  My fox friend here is a great depiction of how I feel, but it is not what I'm doing. (Yes, I used this picture before, but it is just SO appropriate!)

I'm busy; searching, looking, studying, signing up for courses, cultivating ideas, and as much as I am able, keeping colleagues informed.  It seems that resisting (or hiding from) the change like my fox friend is not an option.  It just exacerbates the problem.  There's too much "stuff" coming and it is fast and too hard to hide from it.  So, with a boldness that I never had before, I choose to face it head on.  I'll be taking a guitar course this summer to help with classroom pedagogy and project based learning I hope  (see Teaching Guitar Workshop);  a course on assessment called DESIGNING AND FACILITATING QUALITY GROWTH AND LOCALLY‐SELECTED MEASURES (see My Learning Plan --scroll down to see course description ) and a course on the Underground Railroad in the Hudson Valley teaching the Hudson Valley Events Website     to enhance my already existing project in 5th grade music.  I'm also waiting for information about online training from the Buck Institute of Education which will be offering 2 week online courses on project based learning PBLU .  Needless to say, I'll have few dull moments this summer.  

I don't know about the rest of my colleagues in NYS  but if there is anyone out there, not just NY teachers, I mean ANYONE interested/concerned/seeking/knowledgeable out there about all of this, I would love to engage in helpful conversations with you.  If you're interested, please leave a comment.

As my courses unfold, I'll keep posting on my discoveries.  I just hope it will help someone, anyone out there and in the process, help me too.  Cheers!