"Be the Echo" - Abraham Alarcon's Blog

I can always count on a pair of old brown shoes I have.  They go well with my khakis and blue or white shirts.  My favorite navy blue suit is also a great match with these shoes.  What makes them so special is the soft leather and deep brown classic professional look.  Despite costing me $175 when I purchased them, I can't seem to get rid of them.  I've changed the sole only once in 8 years! Putting them on after summer vacation ... that's right when school is not in session it means administrators can wear shorts and sneakers ... I started thinking about how educators tend to stay with what they know.  The safe.  The secure.  The same old "tricks of the trade" or the same instructional strategies. How difficult is it for us educators to get rid of something?  If its a book, a tool, a piece of furniture or perhaps a way of thinking or doing.  We don't like throwing things away.  It's not in our nature. I guess the...

Biking in New York City has become very popular today. With the increase of bike lanes, new CitiBike locations, and the safety advocacy of groups like Transportation Alternatives, biking in NYC is a wonderful experience. In case you are riding and you hear from behind, "On your left!" That means a biker is approaching and will pass you on your left side. Many are not used to this mode of communication because we are looking forward. Others respond better to bells and dings as alerts. The "on your left" signal is a considerate and safety protocol for biking. Smart and safe bikers will use it. Those who reciprocate with a "Thank you" or "Okay" understand and do appreciate the effort. Its smart biking like managing speed and other safety measures. What signals do teachers use in their classrooms to communicate what's coming next for students? How might they inform students their expectations? How can they he...

I read a blog by William D. Parker titled  3 Tips on Student Self Reporting Grades . Parker talks about how educators would benefit if they got students to identify what they want to accomplish. Having students reflect on where they are at and where they want to go is powerful.  It is also necessary for their own development. Many students are uninterested, unmotivated, or simply pick and choose what they want to do because their educational experience has many gaps.  Their teachers play it too safe because they are worried about being compliant and avoid parental confrontations they set the achievement bar low enough for their students to pass.   Parker gives an example of a soccer team that prepares for a game and notices that there are no goals.  The referee blows the whistle and the players ask themselves, "What do we do?" It is obvious that without goals no one can score. If I was on that team, I would tell my teammates to take off their shi...