JosieHolford 
Some books, some ideas and some thinkers stay with you. They are like wells that you go back to dip into and drink from again and again. Their work sits mostly unopened on the shelf but key ideas bop into the brain as a kind of mental hat stand on which to hang new thinking. Jerome … Read more
“Violin Vinyasa Yoga,” an after-school enrichment program FOR PDS PARENTS begins on January 21. Violin Vinyasa Yoga is for yoga lovers of all levels of experience. The focus of this class a natural flow from pose to pose initiated by breath. The goal is an increase in strength, flexibility and peace of mind. Each class … Read more
Here’s a story from the end of last year that I forgot to post. What does this say? And because this is the age of statistical analysis and big data the results were collected and charted. And was I one of those fooled? Yes, I was! But I was not alone.
Test-weary second-grader asks school board: ‘Is that all that matters to grown-ups?’ Elitist parents threaten lawsuit after kids are called out for alleged test prep Two news stories from test-world: The first from The Washington Post reports the testimony of a second grader at the New Jersey State Board: Dear members of the New Jersey State … Read more
This week began with a professional day for faculty and staff. Our theme was Identity, Privilege and Race provoked by the recent months of turmoil surrounding the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. There were readings, resources and a deal of playfulness. And most important – conversation. When one of those readings – What White … Read more
Here’s something terrific for free: It’s an E-book of great articles from the always useful Educating Modern Learners, an online source with which I am proud to be associated. I’m still working my way through the content – and in some cases re-reading – but no disappointments. These people write well about important and useful … Read more
Grant Lichtman has just suggested a bunch of words better than grit And they all work. And now it’s time to take on the rigor. Grit and rigor – sounds like a scouring powder or bathroom cleanser rather than a prescription for learning. Take a look at these definitions and then consider why on earth people … Read more
Carol Dweck researches “growth mindset” — the idea that we can grow our brain’s capacity to learn and to solve problems. In this talk, she describes two ways to think about a problem that’s slightly too hard for you to solve. Are you not smart enough to solve it … or have you just not … Read more
This well outfitted German trench has a lighted Christmas tree and soldiers celebrating with music and sausages! It’s true – there was a truce in parts of the line along the western front in 1914. The official diarist of the 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade reported: “Christmas in the trenches will always be remembered by the … Read more
Here’s the Flickr album of photos from WinterFest 14 – last day of school before winter break. And a gallery of pics to whet the appetite: And below is the post – Tradition and Change – I wrote in 2009 about the PDS Christmas Festival of 1941. Some things change. Some things don’t From the Poughkeepsie … Read more
We must foster global citizenship. Education is about more than literacy and numeracy. It is also about citizenry. Education must fully assume its essential role in helping people to forge more just, peaceful and tolerant societies. – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, 26 September 2012 at the launch of the Secretary General’s Global Education First Initiative (GEFI) The 2013 Strategic Plan added two words to the mission statement – … Read more
I first tried “The Five Whys” in a faculty meeting. It was an attempt to try something new in tackling a thorny problem. This is new territory for me so it’s all a bit of an experiment. I had another shot at at the HMAE Annual Conference earlier this month where working with heads of … Read more
Strategic plan outcomes can all seem rather formal and abstract until something like this leaps out and grabs your attention. This story is about a high school teacher, his students, their research and how they made a contribution to the scientific study of invasive species in our region. So … Congratulations to high school science … Read more
