NPR, Apple, a new Chancellor... the reasons I don't write...

The web is an important tool for educators. It is useful in reaching out to colleagues beyond your own daily reach. It's great for finding resources. It's great for putting your thoughts to "paper." That last item is why I started this blog, to put some of my thoughts to paper in an effort to give them structure for myself as well as to "say them out loud."

Saying things out loud, in a form like a blog, is a great way to see your thoughts from a different perspective as well as possibly stumble upon others who share, or directly oppose, those thoughts. Agreement and opposition are great ways to learn and experiment with those ideas.

I have been very lax in putting my thoughts to paper. Since I last posted a number of things have occurred, conspiring to prevent me from writing...

• I was interviewed by WNYC, the local NPR, regarding the $80 million dollar IBM designed data system called ARIS
  

• iPads have been rolled out to our six 2nd grade teachers for conferring with and assessing students, and I have been running professional development sessions to train the teachers to use them

• I prepared for and presented to 350+ educators at the Apple SoHo store regarding iPads in the classroom

• A new Chancellor was appointed in New York City. This new Chancellor, Dennis Walcott, is moving over from his position as Deputy Mayor for Education. Chancellor Walcott had my Principal and student council executive board on hand for the press conference, and mentioned our school by name, adding his intention to come out and cook us pancakes.
  

Busy weeks...

In the coming posts I will elaborate on each of these events individually. Looking forward to putting my thoughts to paper, speaking out loud...