Randy Rodgers on Creativity

Short video about creativity.  Does creativity get short-changed?  In what ways do you or would you like to develop student creativity and higher levels of learning in the classroom?  What can the school district do to help you?

If the video doesn't appear, this is the url: http://bit.ly/gfWQqU

Thanks, Beth, for the video idea.

Teacher Salary Plans

Last night, I had a short Twitter exchange with Jason Glass, the new Iowa Department of Education Director.  He posted a link to an article about an Innovation Acceleration Fund created in Tennessee to give incentives to school districts willing to experiment with alternative teacher salary plans.  Here is the link to that article: http://trunc.it/ecd5r

I think it is common knowledge that one of the reasons Governor Branstad appointed Mr. Glass to the DE position is because of his past work in promoting and creating alternate teacher salary plans.  What do you think?  What are the pros and cons of paying teachers with current salary schedules?  What "landmines" do you think exist in trying to change the way teachers are paid?  What advice do you have for Mr. Glass?  And most importantly, do you think changing the way teachers are paid will result in better student learning/achievement?

Replying anonymously (respectfully) is always an option. 

 

Brian Crosby - Back to the Future

 

Cool ideas in a fourth grade classroom.  Comment below:  What barriers are in the way that prevent more activities like this from happening in MP's or Keota's PK-12 classrooms?  How could those barriers be removed?

You can post a comment by clicking on the word "comments."  Don't forget to click the "Post Comment" button.

If the video does not appear above - this is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66mrAzz7nLw