Coffee
A friend sent along this image:
Apparently at our last get together, I introduced him to the wonderful coffee at Qwah House. Golly do I miss this coffee. Plus, the seat would be sitting next to the window. Right outside is Michigan Avenue. It would be awesome to be sitting in the empty seat having great coffee and conversation.
Baby Think It Over
WYNC recently posted an article about Baby Think It Over. This was/is a “robotic baby” that was used to teach kids about the responsibilities that went along with having a child. The idea was to give kids a realistic experience for what is like to be responsible for an infant. The underlying, untalked about idea was to discourage kids from having a baby.
Baby Think It Over research shows a different story. The research study shows that the girls in the intervention group were more likely to experience a birth or an induced abortion before reaching twenty years old.
We had a couple of these in my middle school when I was a principal. The kids generally responded as we had expected; some were irritated that they had to get up in the middle of the night or at other times, some loved having something to take care of. I’m not sure how the statistics played out for our kids. However, I do know that lots of our students had actual younger siblings in the home.
I do always find it interesting that we, as adults, have certain expectations of how things are going to work out. Frequently, kids adjust and the end result is very much different than we anticipated.
Fetishizing Education
I’ve come to believe that we frequently fetishize education. One movement or another takes over. We have to do all Project Based Learning. Whole Language is destroying students ability to read, we need to implement the Science of Reading. AI is going to provide a one-to-one tutor for each kid.
Education needs a wide variety of strategies and pedagogies. This is one thing that makes teaching so difficult. There is not a single, correct answer. Rather, teachers have to implement a wide range of strategies. Teachers need to know their students. Teachers need to know when to lecture, when to provide a hands-on experience, or a real world problem.
Apparently, next up is Explicit Instruction. I have nothing against explicit instruction. Teachers need to utilize explicit instruction. Dr. Anita Archer is currently leading to drum beat for explicit instruction. My issue isn’t with explicit instruction, but rather explicit instruction at the exclusion of all else.
Ben Werd – Of the Web
Ben Werd has an interesting write up on “of the web” vs “on the web”. Ben is always fascinating and thought provoking. You should definitely be following his blog.
Landscape Summit 2025
The Landscape Summit 2025 came across my email a bit ago. Since the price was “right” (free), though there is also a VIP Level at a fee, I signed up. The free part gives you 24 hours to watch the presentation.
Since I like landscape photography, I figured it was worth checking out. I’m glad that I did. Although not all of the presentations were my cup of tea, some were excellent.
darktable vs Adobe
Participating in the Landscape Summit reinforced that, apparently, every photographer uses Adobe Lightroom. Except me. I use darktable. However, I have found that just about everything that they talk about in Lightroom can be done in darktable as well. I think that there are some AI features in Lightroom that are not present in darktable, but I don’t really want to use AI in my photography (at least not yet).
AI Yourself
Long ago, it was fun to “Google” yourself. The update is, of course, to ask AI what it knows about you (er, me). For me, I usually have to ask about Troy Patterson the educator since there is a famous Troy Patterson. Here is what Google Gemini returned:
Based on your current location in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, you are likely asking about Troy Patterson, the Director of Educational Technology for Cape Elizabeth Schools.
He is a prominent figure in the K-12 education and educational technology community, particularly known for his work in middle school education.
Here is a summary of his background and contributions:
Current Role
Director of Educational Technology: He currently leads technology initiatives for the Cape Elizabeth School Department in Maine.
Focus: His work emphasizes the practical integration of technology into the classroom, supporting both teachers and students in using digital tools effectively.
Professional Background
Dearborn Public Schools (Michigan): Before moving to Maine, he spent a significant portion of his career in Dearborn, Michigan.
Director of Technology & Media Services: He served in this role for roughly a decade (2011–2021).
Principal: He was the Principal of Woodworth Middle School (2004–2011).
Teacher: He began his career as a classroom teacher focusing on Language Arts, Social Studies, and Technology, including experience teaching in a lock-up facility for teenagers, which shaped his views on differentiation in learning.
Key Projects & Contributions
Middle School Matters Podcast: He is a co-host of this long-running podcast (alongside Shawn McGirr), which focuses on the specific needs, strategies, and joys of middle school education. It is one of the longest-running educational podcasts globally.
Moodle Expert: He is an advocate for the open-source learning platform Moodle. He runs the site Master Moodle, where he shares tutorials, course formats, and strategies for using the platform to enhance instruction (e.g., “Picture to Story” assignments, gamification).
Blogging: He maintains a personal blog where he writes about educational philosophy, technology trends (like AI in education), and book reviews.
Recognition
Administrator of the Year: He was named the Michigan Association of Middle School Educators (MAMSE) Administrator of the Year in 2011.
Middle School Matters
Middle School Matters is a long-running, weekly podcast dedicated specifically to the unique world of middle level education (grades 6–8). It is widely recognized in the education community for its longevity and its focus on the specific developmental and pedagogical needs of young adolescents.
Here is a breakdown of what makes the show distinct:
- The Premise
The podcast serves as a “virtual staff room” for middle school teachers. It moves beyond general education theory to discuss the day-to-day reality of working with tweens and young teens. The hosts often discuss the “messiness” of middle school—dealing with changing hormones, executive functioning struggles, and the need for engaging, active learning.
- The Team
Troy Patterson: Brings the administrator and tech director perspective, often focusing on macro-trends (like AI or policy) and educational technology integration.
Shawn McGirr: Brings the active classroom teacher perspective. He often serves as the “reality check” for new ideas, discussing how they actually play out with students in a classroom.
Dave Bydlowski: A regular contributor who hosts a specific segment called the “Middle School Science Minute.” He is a science consultant who provides quick, research-based science teaching tips or news.
- Typical Format
The show is structured into segments, making it easy for educators to listen to specific parts. Common segments include:
The News: A review of current education news headlines.
The Main Topic: A deep dive into a specific issue (e.g., “Grading policies,” “Using AI in the classroom,” “Parent-Teacher Conferences”).
Web Resources: The hosts share specific websites, apps, or tools they have found useful that week.
Advisory Ideas: Middle schools often have “Advisory” periods (homeroom-style blocks focused on social-emotional learning). The hosts frequently share quick activities or discussion starters for these times.
- Key Themes
EdTech with a Purpose: Because of the hosts’ backgrounds, technology is a huge part of the show. They were early champions of Moodle, 1:1 devices, and open-source software. Recently, they have focused heavily on how to manage Artificial Intelligence in middle school.
The “Middle School Mind”: They frequently discuss the psychology of 11-to-14-year-olds—why they act the way they do and how teachers can build relationships with them without losing their minds.
Longevity: Having started around 2007, they have documented nearly the entire history of modern ed-tech (from the first iPods in classrooms to Chromebooks to ChatGPT), giving them a unique historical perspective on “new” education trends.
- Where to find it
The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.) and they maintain an archive of their resources at middleschoolmatters.com.
