Meet the Burts!
First and foremost, being a husband and father provides multiple opportunities for growth and learning. Right when you think you have it all figured it out, another year passes and more challenges arise. These four in my life continually challenge my thinking, which make me reflect more and more on my decisions.
Books that have REALLY impacted my learning
The word, “How” should never be the first question.
This book helps me understand the impact of language when attacking a problem while keeping the potential of solutions wide-open!
Equality vs. Equity with a social justice lens.
This book helps me understand that although I am a minority, I still have biases, which I have to recognize and openly disclose before making tough decisions.
What does it mean to lead?
This book re-frames my thinking when looking at leadership. In order to lead, I must be courageous. In order to be courageous, I must be open and vulnerable to challenges. And in order to be open and vulnerable, I must have a belief that what I am doing is what is best for student engagement and well-being.
Foundational document on Assessment and Evaluation
This Ministry document is a guideline on effective assessment and evaluation practices should resemble. It is here where you can find how to clearly utilize assessment as, of and for learning while utilizing observations, conversations and products.
At what point do we tell our children/students and teachers “enough is enough”?
This book helped me realize the importance of understanding that a student is much more than test scores and to ignore this facet does actually more damage than good. Over-commitment is a 21st Century ‘Right of Passage’ which has undesirable baggage.
What does it mean to critically think about what you have been told?
This book helped me realize that just because it is in print does not necessarily make it FACT. Having the skill-set to critically think about information is key to surviving in the 21st Century. Simply put, in the US some states celebrate Columbus Day. Why? The Second Amendment to the Constitution states the right to bear arms. Is there more to it? If the 15th Amendment to the US Constitution allowed black males to vote in 1865, why was there a need for the 1965 Voter Rights Act?
This is definitely a good read!
Videos that have REALLY impacted my leadership
-If I do not create/maintain the conditions to ensure that teachers can take calculated risks, I am not fostering a safe environment that is both has a sense of belonging and a support for well-being.
Building relationships are key to the success in schools.
“Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” — Theodore Roosevelt
It is never to late to learn how to read. As educators, we should embrace the risk of trying at any point in a student’s life.
Blaming is very toxic to an environment and stifles risk and creativity.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an approach to teaching that aims to give all students equal opportunities to succeed, no matter how they learn. Strong pedagogy aims at doing what is best for the special few that will ultimately benefit all. This video also speaks to me since I was the #1 ranked amateur bowler in 1990 and ranked #33 in Canada, Mexico and the US.
How you start has an impact on how you end. At the same time, yesterdays failures do
not automatically mean tomorrow troubles.
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, which is why we call it the present.”
— Bill Keane
What inspires me when I need a nudge!
we have to stop and only top off when needed for support.
The Thoughts of Burt 