"Be the Echo" - Abraham Alarcon's Blog

We are officially in the middle of the school year.  (Actually, Friday was the 91st day of school with the beginning of the Third Marking Period.)  A lot happened at our staff meeting on August 31.  New staff, new room assignments, new district offices and people, new programs (Journeys) and applications (MyLearningPlan and Genesis), and new requirements.  Lots of "new" things for a new school year. Aside from our regular review of staff expectations and schedules, we gathered into team/grade level groups and created positive messages for our school. Our school continues to have "new" faces and things like students, maternity leave replacement teachers, professional and lunch assistants, and Smart Boards! Because a lot has happened since August 31, questions come to mind as a "mid-year check-in" compels me to share. Feel free to answer back or simply let them stir inside you a desire to reflect and think deeper about your...

Let me begin by saying that I am very organized at work.  As a Vice Principal, I must be organized and on time for my students, teachers, parents and for myself.  Organization also helps me plan and execute the daily operations of teaching and learning in my school. Here are ways that I get and stay organized. 1. Go to sleep early.  The early bird gets the worm saying is so true.  If you want to reach your goals, get to bed early so you can wake up early. As a parent of three boys, my best time to be productive is early in the morning BEFORE my family wakes up.  You will be surprised how much you can accomplish. 2. Exercise.  Run, bike, dance, yoga, weights, or whatever it is.  Just do it.  It helps release endorphins and keeps one healthy.  Exercise is a key ingredient for healthy living and being organized. 3. Post it notes. They have to be my favorite invention.  These colorful squares help me post notes, phone numbers and ...

My first year at Rutgers University I tried many courses and things. One experience I will never forget was a no credit course I took with the Army ROTC.  I cut my hair, wore fatigues, learned about military science and organization and participated in a field training exercise located at Ft. Dix, NJ.  Here is where I had my first lesson on leadership thanks to Captain John Gray, the ROTC instructor. After a long day of rope bridges, shooting the M16, hiking with 40 pounds of gear, eating MREs, our group of 50 students was very tired and wet.  As we entered the mess hall, I saw Captain Gray standing at the front of the line.  He greeted us with a warm smile and a plate. Captain Gray stood there patiently and waited for all of us to grab our food before he got served. I was hungry and was one of the first ones to eat.  I wasn't waiting for anyone.  As I went for seconds, Captain Gray was still standing in the same place handing out plates.  Ho...

Back in November, David Guerin wrote in his blog a list of 80's songs that serve as an inspirational list for educators.  He came up with ten.  I came up with five that have inspired me as a person and educator for years.  The first one is a late 70's song, three from the 80's and the last one from the 90's.   I want to thank David Guerin for helping me to reflect and enjoy writing this blog post.  1.  Three Little Birds (1977) by Bob Marley.  A mistake. A misunderstanding. A miscommunication. A difficult situation. A difficult conversation. Errors are part of life and schools are full of mistakes. Students are not the only ones who learn in a school. Adults can learn too, especially from a mistake  I love this song because the reminder is real simple: "Don't worry about a thing/cause every little thing is gonna be alright." 2.  Pressure (1982) by Billy Joel. Teachers and educators can all relate to pressure. Lesso...

I love to bike. Living in NYC I know of great parks, bridges, restaurants, and other sites to see and experience. I visit a lot of these places while I bike because I can move alone, fast and spend as much or as little time as I wish at anyone place. My experience of biking is similar to blogging .  At first, I would travel downtown via Riverside Drive, and up and down the West Side.  Later, I challenged myself to bike over the Brooklyn Bridge and into parts of Brooklyn and Queens I never knew.  On any Spring weekend, these spots can be daunting and rather hectic. On weekends, Central Park can be quite tricky maneuvering through the runners, bikers and tourists. Blogging can be daunting and intimidating too. At first I thought, who is going to read what I have to say? Who cares enough to read my words and thoughts?  With all the news and websites and blogs out there, why would anyone stop by my page and take notice?  And i...

2016 Every New Year people look back to reflect on what they have learned. Others see how much they have grown or need to grow.  Many people look forward to see what they can change or pledge to themselves to do different.  Here is my attempt to look back and then look and move forward.  I want to thank my wife Barbara and my sons for always helping me be a better person.  I also want to thank Claudio Burgaleta, SJ for accompanying me as my spiritual director. His wisdom and generosity made a real difference in 2016.  Finally, I want to thank all those hundreds and hundreds of educators who helped shape my mindset via Twitter. I met so many people, professionals and leaders on this social platform. Muchas, muchas pero mil gracias for your energy, creativity, and passion. You made a difference in my life.  Connecting, learning, sharing and collaborating with you was a big change for me. After looking back at 2016, here is my list ...