Year End Planning

Although this may be January and we have just said to each other "Happy New Year", for educators it is time to look ahead toward the end of the school year.  For educators the time to say "Happy New Year" was back in August, when we returned to our schools from the summer break.  For educators, there are still six months left in which we can educate the students in our classrooms.  Six months of education left.  A semester's worth of education.

This means that there is still time during which we can do our best to make sure that we reach our educational goals.  The best way to do this is to plan for the end of the school year.  We have to evaluate our current educational goals, and if needed, make corrections and adjustments to ensure that they can be achieved.  Making corrections and adjustments to our educational plans will give us the flexibility to adjust to unforeseen events or needs that we may encounter along the school year.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2014.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Halfway Point

January marks the halfway point of the school year.  What we began to plan and prepare for before the school year began back in August, is now a reality that has been fulfilled halfway.  Though we have made plans and preparations for the entire school year back in August and well before then, there may have been some unexpected challenges that caused our plans to be adjusted.  This January halfway point can serve us as an excellent moment to take a look at what we have achieved, what we need to complete, and what corrections we must make so that we achieve completely the educational goals of this school year.

 By analyzing what we have done, where we are now, and that which is yet to be finished, educators can become organized and refocused.  This can then in turn help our students reach the educational goals and achievements which they need to successfully demonstrate before they can move on with further education.  As educators we are in a constant process of adaptation, implementation, and evaluation, and it is important that students, parents, and administrators be aware of how we manage this process, as well as how they benefit from it.  By taking charge of our lessons, curriculum, and classrooms during this halfway point in the school year, educators can demonstrate that they are educational leaders who are helping students develop into the future leaders of their communities.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2014.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Ready for a New School Year

To be ready for a new school year we must plan ahead of time.  We must plan and must prepare for what could take place throughout the year.

There will be supplies that will be needed like backpacks, paper, pencils, and erasers.  Supplies that, though they may seem as common sense to most, are either out of reach for some due to financial factors or, for others, are expected to be supplied to the students by the schools.

There will be transportation needs like walking with a buddy, getting a ride from a friend, or taking public transit to and from school, in addition to other student activities that they may participate in either on or off campus.  How will you get to where you need to be? To school? To practice? To the study groups?  Students and parents must plan and coordinate these transportation logistics ahead of time.

There will be nutritional needs that also take priority in a child's education.  Proper nutrition plays an important role in the development of the child, as well as amount of energy that will be available for them to complete tasks from staying awake in class, to making the team, and even study sessions.  From breakfast to lunches, dinners and snacks, preparing to meet the nutritional needs of students should be a priority.

With the proper supplies, coordinated transportation, and right nutrition, students will have more energy focused on paying attention in class, and less energy worried about who can they get writing materials from, what are they going to eat when they become hungry, and how are they going to get home after school.

It takes time to plan ahead for the new school year, but it is worth it when it is done together between students and parents, classmates and neighbors, adult and children.  We can collaborate together and be ready for the school year if we just take the time.

Author - Manuel R. CortezRodas (Educator)

Copyright 2013.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Hike Up (Part 2)

Hike Preparation

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

We Are Going Hiking! We have made a decision and we are going to go hiking.  We are going hiking and we have decided that we are going here.  To this place that we have decided would be good for us to go hiking at.  We have also decided that we are going hiking on a set time.  This time will give us the opportunity to make the necessary preparations, encourage participants, gather the gear needed for the hike, and then go on our hike.

Preparation for the hike must be done in the time we have from the moment the decision is made, to the moment we go on our hike.  Preparation is necessary as we need to think of what possible events and outcomes we expect to take place as we go hiking.  Preparation is to be done by the participants, so that they are ready for the mental, physical, and spiritual needs that are anticipated in the hike.  The gear must also be prepared for the hike, as it is the supporting tool in which we may come to depend if the need arises.  This is why the gear we use for the hike must be in a ready condition which allows it to be used by the participants.

Go.  The time has come, and we must go on the hike for which we have prepared for.  The gear is ready, the participants are gathered, the path has been planned, council was seek from the start, and now we take action.  We begin to hike together, as we planned, toward our goal, prepared for obstacles, and overcoming challenges, until together, we all reach our goal and return back safely and secure with the knowledge of the experience that we have learned.

 

Copyright 2013.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Path Planning

What do we need to plan a path?

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

To plan a path we must meet the following needs: As starting and ending point, participants, and supplies and support.

The path we plan must be defined by a starting point and an ending point.  If we do not have a starting point, many of us will be at a disadvantage.  For we may start at undefined points which could make our path last longer than needed, be more challenging than necessary, and requiring more energy to be invested.

If we do not have an ending point, though we may have a common starting point, we will not have an ending point toward which we can plan our path, and we will wonder aimlessly through a path that has no end consuming energy without a purpose.  

If there is neither a starting point, nor an ending point, then each one of us will walk a path that has no aim, or goal, or purpose.  A path that will start unevenly, require a great amount of energy and investment, and end in a chaotic disarray of cross-cutting, interconnecting, and overlapping paths which lead to nowhere but turns and dead ends.

Therefore, it is a must that we have a starting point and an ending point if we are to plan a path for those who are going to participate in our path planning.

Only those who participate can plan a path.  We cannot not participate, and expect to have a say about our needs and concerns as the path is planned.  It is only by participating that we can plan a path that can be traveled by others, addresses the needs and concerns of others, and creates secure footing for those whom we expect to successfully travel the path from start to finish.

Participants are needed to plan a path.  Participants who are able and willing to share their knowledge and skills from start to finish.  Participants who are understanding, dependable, and capable of planning a path from beginning to ending.  Participants who believe in the purpose of the path that is to be planned, and understand the self - sacrifice that is  takes when planning a path.

Once we have a starting point, and ending point, and participants, we need supplies and support.  These can help us in planning a path that is secure and long lasting.  The supplies and support that we need will vary depending on the path that we are going to plan.  They become needed tools that allow for the creation, development, and maintenance of the path for as long as we make the path a priority.

Copyright 2013.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Educational Monthly Planning (Part 4)

“Educational Monthly Planning: Complete the Journey”

 By: Manuel R. CortezRodas

            Educational Monthly Planning should have us: Take a Step, Look at the Time, Take a Stride, and Complete the Journey.  The final step of “Completing the Journey” should have us analyze the educational path that we have traveled so far.  Where we were with that “One Step”, and how we have come to be where we are.  When and how much time we have selected for planning, and what measuring units we are going use to measure educational time.

Analysis of educational monthly planning should have a measure of one educational month.  Look back at the path that has been taken in the educational journey and analyze it.  Has it been up hill, or down hill? Has it been a long or short journey? How many turns have been taken? Have there been places along the path were it was necessary to stop, pause and rest?  Although the analysis should have a measure of one educational month, by implementing weekly and daily analysis of how students are doing in their educational path, a better journey can be planned, and it would give a chance for all to have a positive educational experience.

 Copyright 2012 MRCR™ Educational Consulting Firm. All Rights Reserved.

Educational Monthly Planning Part 3

“Educational Monthly Planning: Walk in Stride”

By: Manuel R. CortezRodas

            The first step, that one step, has been taken; and the second step has also been completed in the monthly educational planning that has been discussed so far.  The third step is one more step, but a series of multiple steps.  The third step in educational monthly planning requires walking and taking a journey on the educational path.  

The third step in educational monthly planning, walk in stride requires the combination of the first step (Theme, Concept, Standard, Curriculum, Project, Research), with the second step (Month, Weeks, Days, Hours, Minutes/Seconds).  This combination creates a plan that structures the education process in the classroom.  It also serves as the foundation for the final step.

Copyright 2012 MRCR™ Educational Consulting Firm. All Rights Reserved.

Educational Monthly Planning (Part 2)

"Educational Monthly Planning: Look at the Time"

By: Manuel R. CortezRodas

Time is always the second step in educational monthly planning.  The first step was taken in the past, we are taking the second step, and soon we will be taking our third step.  This second step of time is defined by the parameters of one month.  What are we going to educate for this one month? To plan this step we analyze the components of the educational month:

• HOW MANY?
• WEEKS
• It can be as short as one week, or as long as five weeks.  There can be weeks that have prior educational restrictions, or weeks were there is no instruction.  Knowing the number of weeks in the month can help us with our next step by helping us decide if we take a short step, long step, or stop and look at were to take the next step.
• DAYS
• A 31 day plan should take 31 days, and that would require that all participants attend 31 days.  If school is from Monday to Friday, or Saturday, then a 31 day educational plan will have difficulties due to the time limitations.
• HOURS
• Not only should hours be counted, but clearly scheduled on a monthly educational plan.  Will you have less than one hour of instruction for your class? is the one hour daily, or do you have more than one hour of instruction per day with your class?
• MINUTES/SECONDS
• The more refined, the more clarity.  By measuring educational monthly planning to the minute and second, one can refine the plan and have it be clear.  It also allows you to look at possible obstacles that may have to be overcome during instruction.

Copyright 2012 MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Educational Monthly Planning (Part 1)

"Educational Monthly Planning: Take a Step"

By: Manuel R. CortezRodas

The beginning of a month is always a good time to look forward at the month ahead as a whole. It is also good that you have that "One Step" you would like to take as an educator with your learners.  This one step could be the first of many in a journey that you all take together as you walk on the educational path which we travel.  What should that one step be? it would depend on a multitude of factors each unique to your classroom needs.  These are some of the ones that we would to share:

• THEME
• Develop a main theme for the month.  By developing a main theme it gives the classroom, as a whole, a clear theme that will be taught to them throughout the month.  The theme should be announced, introduced, taught, and evaluated.  The theme should be relevant to the classroom as a whole, so it can be engaged on by all learners.

• CONCEPT
• Focus on a concept for the month.  By focusing on a concept in the classroom, students can actively participate by sharing their interpretations of the concept, they can teach each other while engaging in an exchange of ideas.

• STANDARD
• Choose a standard to address for the month.  By choosing a standard to address, students will be given a chance to understand that education goes beyond the classroom and the school, and that education is important for all of us as a whole.

• CURRICULUM
• Implement curriculum for the month.  By implementing curriculum to the whole classroom, students will be given a look at the planning that goes into their educational instruction.  They will see that planning is an important step in instruction and learning.

• PROJECT
• Assign a project to the classroom for the month.  By assigning a project to the classroom students will be given an opportunity to interact in education.  They will learn how to engage with each other, how many individuals can work together as a group, and how a group accomplishment can be shared by individuals.

• RESEARCH
• Inspire students to do research for a month.  By inspiring students to do research you empower them to take education and learning in their own hands.  Research is fundamental in the development of improvements, innovations, and efficiency.

Copyright 2012 MRCR Educational Consulting Firm. All Rights Reserved