The committee met last night and discussed, as usual, what today will look like. However, they did ask that I begin this PSA with a note of utmost importance. Today, October 8th, 2008, is the last day that those of us who live in Missouri can register to vote. We have until 5:00 this afternoon to either go to the KC election board, which is downtown on the 1800 block of Walnut, or to any of our fine public libraries. It is painless, quick, and quite thrilling to be able to participate in our civic duty. Do not let the fact that you are not registered to vote YET deter you from getting registered. And, for those of you who may not feel informed about this election, the committee has authorized me to provide you--at your request--with numerous fact-oriented and unbiased websites and resources to help you determine which candidate will best represent you and your interests.
Now that that is out of the way, the committee has also asked that I relay a bit of information given to the committee last night by a special guest speaker on Quantum Physics. The speaker talked about "Strange Attractors", which are physics phenomena that have some interesting characteristics. Strange attractors seem erratic, spontaneous, unpredictable even. (Somewhat like our students, no?) However, given the opportunity to observe and collect data over a period of time (and several dimensions), these strange attractors reveal themselves to be beautiful ultra-ordered systems. ( http://wynchar.com/cpc/Complexity/gifs/LorenzStrangeAttractor.gif.) In addition, the committee would like to suggest the idea that chaos, in a quantum physics sense, is not chaos at all—merely order in disguise.
Let us remember THAT, as we work with our chaotic, unpredictable, erratic students today....
Thank you, that is all.
The Decider
--
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Greetings.
The committee met this morning in what can only be described as a soggy
session. However, the outcome was overwhelmingly positive; there was no
mudslinging, no negativity, no condescending ads stretching the truth and
the bounds of decorum. (In other words, it was the opposite of this
presidential election!)
Anyway, the outcome, like I said, was exceedingly positive. So, you can all
rest easy knowing that a fantastically productive day is ahead of you.
Thank you, and that is all...
The Decider
session. However, the outcome was overwhelmingly positive; there was no
mudslinging, no negativity, no condescending ads stretching the truth and
the bounds of decorum. (In other words, it was the opposite of this
presidential election!)
Anyway, the outcome, like I said, was exceedingly positive. So, you can all
rest easy knowing that a fantastically productive day is ahead of you.
Thank you, and that is all...
The Decider
Monday, October 6, 2008
...
The committee has requested that when you get a moment, share with the rest
of the staff any good things that have happened today. It's dreary, and
there is a possibility that there are some in our building who are not
having a good day.
Let's spread a little cheer!
Who wants to share some good news from today?
The Decider
of the staff any good things that have happened today. It's dreary, and
there is a possibility that there are some in our building who are not
having a good day.
Let's spread a little cheer!
Who wants to share some good news from today?
The Decider
Greetings EWH,
The committee met in a public forum on Sunday in order to determine what
today will look like. Due to the tumultuous nature of the economy, the
seemingly endless nature of this presidential campaign season, and the
abysmal fall television show line-up, today will be shockingly fun and
unexpectedly productive. Your students will most likely come with all of
their homework ready to turn in, the planners signed, and all of their math
facts...er, "combinations" will be memor...learned thoroughly. Their
reading fluency will have improved by 73 1/2%, in a criterion-based,
norm-referenced, non-biased reliable assessment, that has not yet been
delivered. However, you should take the committee at their word on this.
So, you have that going for you.
This weeks task? Surprise one student each day with a note in their planner
or on an assignment telling them how great a job they are doing in school
this year.
That is all. We now return you to your regularly scheduled school day.
The Decider
today will look like. Due to the tumultuous nature of the economy, the
seemingly endless nature of this presidential campaign season, and the
abysmal fall television show line-up, today will be shockingly fun and
unexpectedly productive. Your students will most likely come with all of
their homework ready to turn in, the planners signed, and all of their math
facts...er, "combinations" will be memor...learned thoroughly. Their
reading fluency will have improved by 73 1/2%, in a criterion-based,
norm-referenced, non-biased reliable assessment, that has not yet been
delivered. However, you should take the committee at their word on this.
So, you have that going for you.
This weeks task? Surprise one student each day with a note in their planner
or on an assignment telling them how great a job they are doing in school
this year.
That is all. We now return you to your regularly scheduled school day.
The Decider
Friday, October 3, 2008
Greetings, my fellow Americans,
It is with great pride, and a somber sense of privilege that I write this e-mail. It occurs to me, this morning, what a great honor it truly is to be able to work among such a diverse and professional group of individuals. As we tackle this first Friday in October, we should all take a moment to pause and remember how lucky and blessed we truly are, to work in such a dignified and worthwhile profession. Each one of us has the opportunity to impact in some amazing way the life of at the very least one truly special young person. As you read this e-mail, look around your room, and acknowledge the beauty and worth that lies in the hearts of each of the students in your room.
Regardless of your politics, remember, as we work with these young people, WE, each and every one of us, is building a very special bridge, one that does not lead to nowhere.
Thank you, and Godspeed.
(The committee will be back on Monday, and that should hopefully mean that you all won’t have to put up with another of these syrupy-sweet quasi-lectures.)
The Decider
Regardless of your politics, remember, as we work with these young people, WE, each and every one of us, is building a very special bridge, one that does not lead to nowhere.
Thank you, and Godspeed.
(The committee will be back on Monday, and that should hopefully mean that you all won’t have to put up with another of these syrupy-sweet quasi-lectures.)
The Decider
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Greetings fellow life-long learners...
The committee attended a lengthy meeting last night designed to break them
of the nasty habit they have developed of shirking their responsibilities.
It did not work.
However, they have decided to offer the value-added service of increased
consumerism on the part of the recipient of these e-mails. (I went to a
business meeting last night and learned all kinds of neat "business-y
words", and I'm trying to integrate them into my daily vocabulary. If this
presents a problem for you, lets not e-mail about it, lets interface. I
think that means "talk in person", but I'm not sure.)
So, to "roll out" this new initiative, here is today's task: Ask that ONE
kid who presses all your buttons and another student to eat lunch with you,
and then try to learn at least two things about that student that will help
you understand where he or she is coming from.
(Yes, I'm serious. No, you don't have to, but...well, geez, can't you just
follow the "committee's" directions mindlessly for once?!)
Thank you, and Godspeed...
The Decider
of the nasty habit they have developed of shirking their responsibilities.
It did not work.
However, they have decided to offer the value-added service of increased
consumerism on the part of the recipient of these e-mails. (I went to a
business meeting last night and learned all kinds of neat "business-y
words", and I'm trying to integrate them into my daily vocabulary. If this
presents a problem for you, lets not e-mail about it, lets interface. I
think that means "talk in person", but I'm not sure.)
So, to "roll out" this new initiative, here is today's task: Ask that ONE
kid who presses all your buttons and another student to eat lunch with you,
and then try to learn at least two things about that student that will help
you understand where he or she is coming from.
(Yes, I'm serious. No, you don't have to, but...well, geez, can't you just
follow the "committee's" directions mindlessly for once?!)
Thank you, and Godspeed...
The Decider
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Greetings.
After a day full of stressful and emotionally taxing meetings yesterday, the
committee has decided again to take another day off. (With the sincerest of
apologies.) However, before leaving for their one-day vacation, they did
send word that today would be much more pleasant then yesterday. The
official word is that there will be no fights, no threats, no arguing, no
kicking in doors, no angry words, and most certainly no glares. (However,
there will be quite a few eye-rolls, but the committee is working on
eliminating that...it's a challenge for them.)
Please enjoy, with the committee's compliments.
The Decider
committee has decided again to take another day off. (With the sincerest of
apologies.) However, before leaving for their one-day vacation, they did
send word that today would be much more pleasant then yesterday. The
official word is that there will be no fights, no threats, no arguing, no
kicking in doors, no angry words, and most certainly no glares. (However,
there will be quite a few eye-rolls, but the committee is working on
eliminating that...it's a challenge for them.)
Please enjoy, with the committee's compliments.
The Decider
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