If you are a teacher, you have heard of Harry Wong. If you are a new teacher (having taught for five years or less,) you probably took a class on Harry Wong in college. I had the opportunity to see him live this morning as part of Dallas ISD’s new teacher training. It’s the same lecture he gives everywhere–in cities around the world, in his book, on the video/DVD series. Starts with, “I am not your keynote speaker, I am your teacher.” and ends with the lighting of the candle. During the break he signed autographs and posed for pictures. Didn’t seem to interested in that, but knows it comes along with the territory. He had some great information that isn’t in his book–internet stuff. My copy is about ten years old, LOOOONG before teachers were using internet in the classroom. Heck, ten years ago I didn’t even have a computer in my classroom, working or not. (Joan R. knows what I am talking about there, don’t you Joan?) Did those broken computers ever leave the hallway?

Dr. Wong asked a few times for people to send him their scripts, their plans, or whatever else shows that they are effective teachers. He kept telling us, “Send me your stuff and I’ll make you famous! I’ll put you in my lectures, in my books, on the internet!” Hey, as long as I’m not naked, I’ll be on the internet! (Or “neked,” as it is pronounced in the south.)

Tomorrow’s inservice is more classroom management training, which I don’t feel I need, but will certainly attend anyway. I think I am pretty good at classroom management, but given that I will be teaching a much higher grade level with a lot more attitude, I think perhaps I might want to pay some attention. Just some.

I am still getting used to the technology factor that is associated with a large district. Dallas ISD is the largest employer in the city of Dallas, with 20,000 teachers. That is only the teachers, not the paras, administration, food service, office staff, etc. It’s friggin’ huge. We will be having our beginning of the year convocation for the entire Dallas ISD at the American Airlines Center, where the Dallas Mavericks play. I remember my previous school district had the same meeting in the library. I miss the library. I am tired of employee numbers that I don’t have, unfamiliar people and languages, and just the sheer volume of people. I never had to wait on a bathroom line longer than two people at Union Gap; today I had to wait ten minutes. I miss the small district.

That’s all for tonight. Have to go to bed early, as I have to drive a long distance at a slow speed due to traffic. Ah, the joys of living in a huge city. Where else can you drive 10 miles in 60 minutes and that be cause for a celebration?