Before I Go

The Question

Dan Meyer recently asked me the question. 

If anyone else was curious:  yes, I am.  Effective now.

If anyone is curious why, please get in touch.  I'd be happy to chew the fat. 

Shifting Priorities

Otherwise, it was just time.  Life moves on.  Priorities shift. 

And certainly other voices are better suited for this state-of-education conversational game and have more valuable/timely things to contribute than I am able to do at this point in my life/career.

My Kids, My Students

Don't get me wrong.  I still blog like crazy.  It'll just be elsewhere.

But my days as an edu-blogger are now officially in the past tense. 

All that previous "think:lab" blogging energy will now be dedicated 100% to my kiddo (and his bro/sis-to-be) and to my HS English students (each year):

• the "rabbits and cheshire cats" blog (desc:  3 sections of Hon Eng 10 focused primarily on Joseph Campbell's "hero journey" and a wide array of classic 'Brit lit' readings)
• the "pass the conch" blog (desc:  2 sections of 'regular' Eng 10 with the same focus as above, just with a slightly more conservative pace re: readings, the length of student responses, etc)

Come Visit, If You'd Like

Feel free to swing by at any point. 

While I'm not focused on outside voices being 'the point' of the exercise or fostering 'flat classrooms' per se, you are free to add your voice to the comment mix as long as it appears

• technically relevant to the discussion
• appropriate in spirit re: why these blogs exist in the first place
• focused on the students, not me

Notes:

• As of 8/26/08, we are in our 2nd week of school.  This is the first week where they are obligated to respond to multiple posts.  The 2 blogs will remain open/active all school year (with a few weeks as 'extra credit' weeks when the students need a break, semester exams pop up, etc.).
• 6-8 prompts are given each week.  Responses are always due by Mon @ 8:30 (even if we have a long weekend).  Each prompt follows a set formula:  set-up, challenge, length, hint, etc.
• Topics/provocations are meant to supplement class discussion, encourage SAT vocab adoption, and offer my students a way to engage each other 24/7 in ways that the typical 10th grader may not be exposed to yet.  All of this is done with an eye on their being part of a competitive college-prep independent school environment and looking ahead at preparing them to be agile at the university level.  It also allows me to begin to customize resources for all of individual students:  colleges that will fit their personality, books/films they should consider, dealing with the stress of school/life, and challenging them to add a key idea to future class discussions.
• Posts are identified in a W1, #5 fashion ("Week 1, Entry #5) to help the students keep track of how many they've done each week.
• Students are graded based on the # and quality of their comments each week; you can find all related grading info on the blog.  I keep rigorous spreadsheets (etc) to track this since I'll receive up to 150-200 comments per week once the year picks up speed and need to ensure that everyone receives the grade they have earned.
• I try to respond -- inside the original comment -- to all student responses prior to Saturday midnight (since I am flooded on Sunday nights and can't do them all justice at that point).  Students who seek feedback typically submit their replies b/w Mon-Sat; others know ahead of time that it is hit-or-miss past Saturday whether I'll type them a personal response.  Obviously unique/striking student responses will grab my attention even on Sundays, often leading to me breaking this rule.
• Students names are never used, nor do we highlight/name our school.  All student replies are given a first-come-first-serve name (i.e. "Student #7, etc.) that I edit in before they are published.
• All comments are moderated.

Thank You

As I said in my last post, thank you. 

I've been very lucky to have this network offer me a seat at the 'table'.

And my students/child(ren) are the better for it.

P.S.

I have no intentions of continuing to edu-blog here at "think:lab" after today. 

I consider it the equivalent of a remarkable 'graduate' degree that I've been blessed to experience for the 3 years and claim many mentors, friends, & colleagues from this process.

The technical reason I am keeping "think:lab" alive is for archival reasons and that several other blogs I have use "think:lab" as a 'parent' URL, including my kiddos' blog.  Thus, Typepad will continue to receive my yearly payment though all new blogs (including my 2 classroom blogs mentioned above) are now going to be WordPress.com sites.

Comments

[Harold Jarche]

All things must come to an end and I'm sure that you will put as much energy into your class blogs as you did with this one. See you around somewhere in the 'sphere. It's been a pleasure. Cheers!

[John Powers]

Christian, did I ever say Thank you! I will now and really mean it: Thank you.

I'm happy the blog will be archived for a while. A friend has been asked to consult educators about using blogs and online tools in the classsroom. He's eager to do it, but not in the classroom and the basis for asking him to consult is pretty slim. I worked up some links for him and this blog was included. There's lots to glean here and I appreciate you're keeping it open to allow people to pick through so many links.

Good luck and may you float always on oceans of happiness.

[Dan Meyer]

Michael Jordan, Jay Z, Christian Long.

[Graham Wegner]

While I respect your decision to move on from this blog, on a personal and selfish note, I am disappointed that your unique take (in this format) on the constantly reshaping world will be missing from my network. But, I do appreciate how much time NEEDS to be given to your family - their connections MUST come first. Cheers from down under,
Graham.

[Lucy Gray]

Wah! I guess I'll just have to follow your goings on via Facebook! I hope you will return to blogging when it seems to make sense. I haven't been writing much this past year, and generally feel too scattered to write anything deep, but I'm not abandoning blogging. Anyway, congratulations to you and Karla... when's the next bambino due? I love Beckett's nick name, Bex, btw. I think I saw that in FB?

[Alec Couros]

When you make a choice for family, you make the right choice every time. Of, course you will be missed as an edublogger, and now, even more respected.

All the best Christian. Your time here has given more than you will know to more than you will know.

[George Siemens]

Christian - thx for your contributions.

Honorable decision to place emphasis of energy on what yields the most substantial and satisfying rewards.

All the best
George

[Miguel Guhlin]

Christian, I wish you well. I hope giving up your blog feels like a lost tooth, a gaping vaccuum that you will constantly return to, seeking...something.

8->

Wishing you well and look forward to your return,

Miguel

[Darren Draper]

And just when I was starting to like you...

Peace.

[Jeremy]

You've contributed much to the conversation, Christian -- thanks for everything, especially in getting me thinking in different ways over the years.

[Clay Burell]

Good luck, Christian, and happy trails.

[Peter LaFontaine]

hilarious that you would have a blog before the one that we post on every week. It would fit you though. It's a pity that you would end this one though. Why can't you just moderate two blogs at once. Oh wait a minute I suppose that would be kind of hard, especially with mr/ms. numero-dos on the way. Do you ever check back on this blog. You should. Just to see this comment.