Welcome!

Welcome to the blog of Zaq Roberts, Associate Head of School at The Berkeley School in Berkeley, CA. I blog about a wide variety of topics, from classroom moments I witness, to administrative events and conversations, to the educational blogs, videos, and books I am reading and watching, and how they are influencing my thinking. I hope this eclectic approach will give you insight into the many ways that I am engaging in advancing the school and strengthening our program, and I welcome your thoughts and comments!

This blog takes its name from a quotation by Archimedes that reads "Give me a lever long enough, and I can move the world." The TBS mission speaks directly to the need to engage a changing world, while many of the experiences in our program focus on the development of students' agency and authority. TBS is the lever by which we all - administration, faculty, students, and parents - can together move the world to be more humane, compassionate, and responsive. To borrow an important Montessori phrase, it is our way to remake the world.

Monday, April 11, 2011

My first day back from Spring Break

I don't think I've ever posted a blow-by-blow account of my day before, and I may never do it again. Here goes:

8:30-9:00: Email session #1.

9:00-9:25: All school sing-along. The middle school students teach "Ease on Down the Road" from their recent production of "The Wiz" to the rest of the students, who are up and dancing!

9:30-10:55: 8th grade English. I am teaching a mini-unit this week on formal poetry, as part of the 8th grade study of Romeo and Juliet.

11-11:45: Meeting with Mitch. We discuss preparing faculty and parents for the placement process of assigning children to classrooms for the 2011-12 school year. More information about this will be coming soon.

11:45-12:00: Lunch.

12:00-1:15: Student Success Team meeting with Mike R, Nancy, Laurie, and Mitch.

1:15-2:15: Observation in Blackberry. Kyla teaches students about pollution and how the SF Bay became polluted in various ways over time.

2:15-3:15: 6th grade SST meeting with MaryBeth, Marcella, and Norman.

3:15-3:45: Email session #2.

3:45-4:15: Meeting with Amy Helmstetter, Extended Day Director.

4:15-5:00: Parent phone call planned from before Spring Break.

5:00-5:30: Conversation with Mitch about various topics, including 2011-12 staffing.

5:30-6:00: Opening mail, checking phone messages, saying hello to administrators I hadn't checked in with yet, and various and sundry tasks.

6:00-6:30: Conversation with Shira Freeling, Associate Business Manager, about enrolled contracts.

All in all, it was a wonderful, rewarding day. I feel lucky to work here at TBS!
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