Teachers Teaching Teachers #241 - Why we love the National Writing Project and why Federal funding is important - 3.30.11

Post-Show description: 

Several leaders in the National Writing Project--Paul Oh, Elyse Eidman-Aadahl, and Troy Hicks--joined us from Washington DC where they were working to lobby members of Congress today, Thursday, March 31.

Also Chad Sansing, Zac Chase, and Andrea Zellner joined us on the Skype conversation--as well as many friends in the chat. Chad has been organizing a blogging effort going on around the country.  Here’s what he is asking supporters of the NWP to do:
Please add your voice to the chorus of educators from around the country who are blogging in support of the NWP. We’re trying to accumulate 1,000 blog posts by April 8, when the next Continuing Resolution for the federal budget expires. There are already nearly 150 posts - moving stories of the impact of the NWP on the lives of teachers and students - at the archive: http://coopcatalyst.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/the-blog4nwp-archive/ You can tweet or email your blog post URL to Chad Sansing (twitter: @chadsansing; email: [email protected]) who has been organizing this effort, or post it to this discussion and we’ll make sure it gets added to the archive. Remember to try to tag your posts with: #blog4nwp. FYI, we’ve gotten a few responses on twitter to this effort from the press office of the Department of Education (see: http://www.andrea-zellner.com/archives/629 and http://aetweets.wordpress.com/2011/03/25/blog4nwp-and-being-bossy/), so let’s keep it up! Check out what folks have written to get an idea of what you might add but more importantly take a few minutes to add your story (stories).

Listen to find out what we can do to help restore funding to the National Writing Project. Then find your own ways to add your voice the the the chorus singing praises to the National Writing Project!

Click Read more to see a copy of the chat that was happening during the webcast.

 20:54:25  Kevin Hodgson: Howdy

20:57:50  Paul Allison: We're working on getting everything up.

20:58:09  Paul Allison: changes in the tech set up recently have been a challenge.

20:58:14  Paul Allison: But we have back ups.

20:58:19  Andrea Z: Of course you do!

20:59:08  Christina: curious what "icecast" is ... haven't seen that before!

20:59:19  Christina: hello everyone, btw :)

20:59:31  Andrea Z: It's extra cool, I think. Get it? cool? ahahahah!

20:59:52  Christina: a king-ly joke!

21:00:05  Andrea Z: Nice

21:01:16  Christina: Hi Gail, Hi Fred!

21:01:26  Gail Desler: Hi Christina

21:01:33  fred haas: Hi

21:01:48  SusanEttenheim: hi all can you hear me?

21:01:58  Kevin Hodgson: Way off topic: anybody see this site? http://studentsrebuild.org/japan/ We're going to do a concert and event for Japan in May, I think (I have a student leading the way)

21:02:17  Paul Allison: cool Kevin.

21:02:25  Christina: are you on challenge A, susan?

21:02:26  SusanEttenheim: can you hear us?

21:02:29  Gail Desler: What's best way to access audio tonight, Susan?

21:02:35  Paul Allison: Love to here more about that... can we join?

21:02:37  SusanEttenheim: yes

21:02:39  SusanEttenheim: should be

21:02:59  SusanEttenheim: we should be on edtechtalk a

21:03:19  Paul Allison: Please go to see if you can hear us or not.

21:03:27  Kevin Hodgson: I could not hear

21:03:34  Christina: I can't hear yet either.

21:03:35  Paul Allison: Hi all!

21:03:41  csansin: Hello!

21:04:00  Paul Allison: We are working -- have been working for some time now.

21:04:25  Paul Allison: You all can start talking!

21:04:49  Gail Desler: Hello Chad - thank you for all the work you've done with #blog4NPW

21:04:50  Paul Allison: What do you think the focus of this show about the NWP should be?

21:04:52  sr: greetings

21:05:05  Christina: can other people hear?

21:05:07  Kevin Hodgson: Are we using Skype?

21:05:12  Gail Desler: No audio yet

21:05:15  Kevin Hodgson: I can't hear, Christina

21:05:15  Andrea Z: I am confuzzed: am I hearing something?

21:05:16  Paul Allison: What we can do? How we all feel?

21:05:21  Christina: @gail. thank you!

21:05:25  Andrea Z: @gail: got it.

21:05:26  Paul Allison: We'll be on Skype very soon... 

21:05:31  Andrea Z: Thanks, Paul.

21:05:32  sr: 1 2 3 testing

21:05:34  SusanEttenheim: hi all - skype problems - sorry for the delay

21:05:38  SusanEttenheim: working on it

21:05:41  Kevin Hodgson: Ok -- feeling fine, thanks for asking ...

21:05:57  Andrea Z: How is everyone doing? Sad? Mad? Other?

21:06:07  Paul Allison: It causes and me great stress each week to find it not working... but SHE has been working on it for last 30 min...

21:06:10  Gail Desler: Hi Kevin:D 

21:06:11  SusanEttenheim: so sorry - skype is doing its thing -- could you chat here for a few minutes? be right back hopefully with some good news

21:06:20  Kevin Hodgson: Hey Gail!

21:06:27  Paul Allison: we will have a back up in place... and Susan will make Skype connections in just a minute.

21:06:34  Paul Allison: But... Seriously...

21:06:39  Kevin Hodgson: If by good news, she means funding, we're all set here tonight

21:06:43  Christina: nice to be in DC with writing project folks. that feels good.

21:07:02  csansing: Hello, awesome folk. Are most of you in DC?

21:07:07  Paul Allison: My first quetion is: What do you all think is most important to talk about concerning the de-vunding of the NWP?

21:07:12  Andrea Z: I so wish I could have come to DC. I was there the past 2 years and it is my favorite meeting.

21:07:13  Christina: reading #blog4nwp and telling people about it here, that feels good.

21:07:17  Gail Desler: Glad you're their to make the case for NWP, Christina

21:07:28  Paul Allison: Sound good.

21:07:47  Andrea Z: I wish I could say more/do more besides defunding was a bad idea. 

21:07:52  fred haas: Have the meetings ramped up yet or is that ll starting tomorrow?

21:07:52  Kevin Hodgson: Paul, my mood goes between worry about our network and wonder at the support and then consideration of where the changes will take us all. Is that what ya meant?

21:08:00  PeggyG: Hi everyone

21:08:10  Gail Desler: Hello Peggy.

21:08:17  Andrea Z: Hi Peggy

21:08:24  Christina: tonight was the planning/prep session where folks had a chance to hear about the situation on the hill ... 

21:08:24  PeggyG: do you have a link we should all go to while we're getting the audio working?

21:08:32  PeggyG: Hearing Jeff on the stream now

21:08:32  Andrea Z: Mom is here!

21:08:39  Kevin Hodgson: Hi mom!

21:08:39  Paul Allison: Yes

21:08:41  Gail Desler: Keep going, Christina

21:08:47  mom: Hi!

21:08:52  Christina: think about talking points and practice together.

21:09:03  PeggyG: hearing Susan now too :-) hooray!

21:09:03  Kevin Hodgson: Oh, I hear audio now

21:09:07  Andrea Z: I like your username, mom.

21:09:20  Christina: and there is a directors meeting that just ended too, so I think some people will be a little delayed before of that but will be online soon.

21:09:23  mom: It said enter any name, and that's mine most of the time.

21:09:31  Andrea Z: It's my girl ezzoda!

21:09:31  Kevin Hodgson: If dad comes in here, we're in bigggg trouble

21:09:37  Andrea Z: Hello, friend!

21:09:55  Gail Desler: I have audio now

21:09:56  ezzoda: HEY!  We even stalk one another online, apparently. :)

21:10:00  PeggyG: that's really funny! everytime someone says "mom" in the store lots of us turn around to answer

21:10:00  Christina: I can hear now! I can hear Susan at least.

21:10:02  Andrea Z: :)

21:10:07  Kevin Hodgson: Pssst. Susan, we can hear you

21:10:25  Christina: yes, only Susan.

21:10:28  MrChase: Hey everyone!

21:10:36  Gail Desler: Hello Felicia

21:10:38  Andrea Z: I am leaving the stream off since it always messes up Skype. Is she saying something interesting?

21:10:39  Christina: Hi Zac! Hi Felicia!

21:10:40  PeggyG: audio is great!

21:10:46  Kevin Hodgson: Thanks Jeff

21:11:16  feliciag: Hi Gail and everyone. I figured out how to get sound on my new computer!

21:11:36  PeggyG: http://paulallison.tumblr.com/ event info for tonight

21:11:41  Christina: I hear Andrea!

21:11:44  Kevin Hodgson: I hear Andrea!

21:11:52  Christina: jinks :)

21:11:56  Kevin Hodgson: Doh

21:12:25  Kevin Hodgson: :)

21:12:26  PeggyG: so excited to be having this conversation! thank you all for hanging in there with us!

21:12:32  Christina: I hear Paul A

21:12:57  PeggyG: http://coopcatalyst.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/the-blog4nwp-archive/

21:13:14  feliciag: I hear Paul, Andrea, Zach and ???

21:13:52  PeggyG: more and more voices in the mix! woo hoo!

21:14:13  SusanEttenheim: HI all - thanks to Jeff Lebow who is streaming for us tonight due to  my skype problems

21:14:18  SusanEttenheim: thanks for sticking with us

21:14:24  SusanEttenheim: everything changes so fast!

21:14:27  dpolleys: This might be a strange question...but is there audio and if so, how do I activate it?

21:14:40  SusanEttenheim: I need to keep pulling people in... so just let me know!

21:14:55  PeggyG: click on the icon at the top right-under EdTechTalk A

21:15:00  Kevin Hodgson: Davis, on the top right of screen (EdTechA)

21:15:08  Kevin Hodgson: David .. sorry

21:15:09  PeggyG: first icon will open in itunes

21:15:11  Christina: http://coopcatalyst.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/blog4nwp/

21:15:32  JL: Always good to connect  - I'm going to be away from the machine most of the show, but sounds like a great hour ahead - look forward to listening to recording

21:15:53  PeggyG: thanks a lot Jeff!

21:16:03  feliciag: Thanks, Jeff.

21:16:19  SusanEttenheim: peggy - were there other issues this week with skype crashing that you heard of?

21:16:55  PeggyG: no but many alternatives were used

21:16:59  SusanEttenheim: exciting night tonight - glad you could all join us! Please introduce yourselves!

21:17:25  PeggyG: Conversations uses ustream

21:17:27  SusanEttenheim: we see some new faces - welcome ezzoda and others!

21:17:28  Gail Desler: Hello, I'm from the Area 3 Writing Project in California. 

21:17:37  SusanEttenheim: glad you could join us gail and felicia!

21:17:51  PeggyG: Greetings from Phoenix AZ--I'm a retired elementary principal and university pre-service instructor

21:17:52  SusanEttenheim: welocme jwmwow where and what do you teach?

21:17:54  Kevin Hodgson: Hi - I am from Western Massachusetts WP (my wife is there in DC this week)

21:18:18  feliciag: New York City Writing Project, interested to learn how to turn this congressional decision around. (Hi, Susan!)

21:18:19  Gail Desler: As part of the NWP team, Kevin?

21:18:31  Kevin Hodgson: Yes -- the WMWP team

21:18:51  SusanEttenheim: glad you could join us Kevin!

21:18:55  dpolleys: Hi, I'm Dan Polleys from the Red Cedar Writing Project's satellite site To-of-the-Mitt.

21:19:02  SusanEttenheim: ezzoda welcome - where do you teach?

21:19:08  SusanEttenheim: welcome Dan!

21:19:29  dpolleys: Still no audio.

21:19:32  SusanEttenheim: welcome paul and troy to the chat!

21:19:33  PeggyG: it's great to meet all of you! really appreciate hearing this update and call to action!

21:19:39  Gail Desler: Hi Paul and Troy

21:19:40  ezzoda: Hello Susan, I teach at Michigan State University

21:19:42  SusanEttenheim: kpolleys - click on edtechtalk A

21:19:47  SusanEttenheim: hi gail!

21:19:51  fred haas: Hi all - I am from the Boston Writing Project

21:20:06  Paul and Troy: Great to be here! (Paul)

21:20:07  SusanEttenheim: welcome ezzoda glad you could join us! even with our technical challenges tonight!

21:20:08  Kevin Hodgson: Good to hear Chad again.

21:20:14  SusanEttenheim: hi fred!

21:20:24  Paul and Troy: Hello everyone - we are tag teaming on the keyboarding! (Troy)

21:20:25  Christina: I'm from the National Writing Project, based in Philadelphia.

21:20:27  dpolleys: I clicked on the speaker and nothing happens...

21:20:28  PeggyG: @dpolleys  try this link and click on Listen in the top menu http://64.34.251.15:8002/

21:20:30  fred haas: Hey, Susan

21:20:55  JL: Streaming on Icecast and Shoutcast as well, so feel free to try those

21:21:05  JL: oops, Icecast and UStream, I meant

21:21:12  PeggyG: Blog for NWP-Coooperative Catalyst http://coopcatalyst.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/blog4nwp/

21:21:27  SusanEttenheim: jl - you're recording?

21:21:28  Andrea Z: @Troy: keep us posted on the MI visits! We leave it in your capable hands :) 

21:21:45  dpolleys: Thanks!

21:21:48  JL: Yes, susan

21:21:51  SusanEttenheim: thanks

21:22:04  SusanEttenheim: dpolleys - you can hear now?

21:22:19  SusanEttenheim: welcome erinwilkey

21:22:22  Paul and Troy: @Andrea - thank you. We miss all of you from the RCWP crew, but we have four sites represented and at least five different visits planned tomorrow (Troy)

21:22:28  SusanEttenheim: where and what do you teach?

21:22:32  erinwilkey: thanks. hi all.

21:22:48  Christina: it's going in and out for me, Susan, just fyi. I'm listening to Icecast now but it was the same on ITunes

21:22:57  Kevin Hodgson: Name and describe -- and make it visible: the work and the impact

21:23:10  Christina: #blog4NWP -- http://coopcatalyst.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/blog4nwp/

21:23:14  SusanEttenheim: christina - are you on wireless at a hotel?

21:23:20  Andrea Z: Hi Miss Erin W!

21:23:26  SusanEttenheim: christina - thank you for the link!

21:23:30  erinwilkey: Hey Andrea! :)

21:23:43  Christina: here is the archive -- http://coopcatalyst.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/the-blog4nwp-archive/

21:23:54  Christina: @susan ... yes, I am. that's probably it. sorry!

21:24:04  SusanEttenheim: ok

21:24:15  Kevin Hodgson: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23blog4nwp -- the twitter stream for #blog4nwp hashtag

21:24:18  SusanEttenheim: sorry it's hard to hear but glad you're with us!

21:24:28  SusanEttenheim: thank you kevin for the links!

21:24:39  Paul and Troy: thank you Andrea for your kind words! (Troy)

21:25:03  Paul and Troy: Elyse has joined us, too

21:26:13  Kevin Hodgson: Andrea should talk about the twitter response she got and that conversation with DOE twitter pr flak

21:26:19  PeggyG: tons of tweets flowing on #blog4nwp  Fantastic!

21:26:44  Andrea Z: Oh, Kevin, I'll try to work that in later ;)

21:27:04  Christina: 1000 #blog4nwp posts by April 8th!

21:27:12  PeggyG: http://paper.li/dogtrax/nwp  The nwp Daily

21:27:14  Kevin Hodgson: 1000 ....

21:27:58  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: blog4nwp flier: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B7Knn...

21:28:45  Kevin Hodgson: They would argue that NWP should be in contention for the competitive grants, right?

21:28:47  feliciag: For those teachers who aren't bloggers, where can they post their reflections on the Writing Project and what it means to them?

21:29:08  SusanEttenheim: good point felicia!

21:29:09  Kevin Hodgson: @felicia NWP folks who are on the iAnthology can use the forums there

21:29:14  SusanEttenheim: add your voices here!

21:29:14  PeggyG: respond to blog posts on the Cooperative Catalyst

21:29:23  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: @Felicia - I have been having TCs post to our CRWP wiki

21:29:26  Andrea Z: Also, I think Chad has his email on the post. He'll post it.

21:29:28  fred haas: The most absurd aspect about the competitive grant efforts is thos that need the most help and assistnace are the ones most likely to get edged out of the funding.

21:29:58  Andrea Z: I have my reps on my cell phone contacts.

21:30:14  Andrea Z: I call at least once a week.  Sometimes more.

21:30:21  Gail Desler: Goiod idea, Andrea Z. I haven't made enough phone calls

21:30:30  Gail Desler: good idea

21:30:33  PeggyG: http://www.examiner.com/literature-in-oakland/to-write-or-not-to-write-t...

21:30:35  feliciag: Good suggestions.  I think I need to send out another notice to NYC teachers to let them know where they can post because as I sent it out, I realized that many teachers aren't regular bloggers and may not have a space to post.

21:30:43  Andrea Z: I think the phone calls are the best, too. Call the local offices, not just DC.

21:30:54  Andrea Z: They go on break next week: perfect time to call that local office.

21:30:56  Kevin Hodgson: I hate the Congressional email. It feels like I am writing into a void

21:31:07  Andrea Z: I think faxes are hilarious.

21:31:19  SusanEttenheim: did someone just drop off the  call?

21:31:23  SusanEttenheim: please let me know

21:31:24  Andrea Z: I wish I had a fax machine. The thought of my letter coming in on a fax amuses me greatly.

21:31:54  Paul Allison: http://coopcatalyst.wordpress.com/?s=blog4nwp

21:32:50  PeggyG: http://voicethread.com/#q.b1857346.i9777632 You can add your voices and comments to this Voicethread

21:33:00  Andrea Z: They go after the poor and the children. Nice.

21:33:12  SusanEttenheim: ok so we need to make the NWP not open to cuts!

21:33:17  erinwilkey: Hey there April

21:33:30  Andrea Z: It's my partner in crime! @MsESTEP!

21:33:33  MsEstep: Thanks for the reminder on FB, Erin!

21:33:38  SusanEttenheim: so important to know the vocabulary!

21:33:39  erinwilkey: sure thing

21:33:44  Kevin Hodgson: Again, it's earmarks as PR, and NWP falls under that, right?

21:33:51  MsEstep: Hey, Andrea :)

21:33:56  SusanEttenheim: paul, troy and elyse are you still on skype?

21:34:07  Andrea Z: Kevin, it's not just about earmarks, it's about anything that is easy.

21:34:09  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: Yes

21:34:12  SusanEttenheim: ok good

21:34:29  Andrea Z: Easy to cut that means.

21:34:32  fred haas: @Susan - Interestingly, I heard someone making the case for NWP not being an earmark 3 years ago in San Antonio. That was the first time I even became aware of how the $ moves to support us

21:34:48  Kevin Hodgson: People think: earmarks are those bridges to nowhere. Get rid of earmarks. it plays well at home. They need to hear the other side of the story (NWP makes a difference)

21:34:53  SusanEttenheim: good point fred!

21:35:02  SusanEttenheim: hi joel - welcome!

21:35:02  MsEstep: Exactly, Kevin

21:35:09  SusanEttenheim: where and what do you teach?

21:35:11  MsEstep: hi joel :)

21:35:16  Andrea Z: Joel!

21:35:17  Joel Malley: Hola!

21:35:29  Gail Desler: Hi Joel, just read your wonderful #blog4NWP piece

21:35:32  Kevin Hodgson: Pushback ...

21:36:00  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: An interesting recent article from Rethinking Schools about the history of school reform and why we are where we are at this moment: http://rethinkingschools.org/archive/25_03/25_03_karp.shtml

21:36:07  Kevin Hodgson: Educate ... about education

21:36:15  Joel Malley: trying to get audio to work

21:36:27  Joel Malley: bingo

21:36:37  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: Flier for #blog4nwp https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B7Knn...

21:36:40  SusanEttenheim: joel - edtech talk A

21:36:50  fred haas: One problem is that earmarks will get a serious pruning in the near term, but they will never go away. The biggest issue to me seems akin to changing the rules of the game while it is being played. That makes it harder for anyone to win.

21:37:02  Joel Malley: got it

21:37:06  SusanEttenheim: good

21:37:34  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: @fred Yes, we were talking tonight about how to recategorize how NWP is funded so it is not considered an "earmark"

21:38:55  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: For up-to-date info, please check out the NWP Works Ning: http://nwpworks.ning.com/

21:39:45  Kevin Hodgson: Thanks, Paul, for making that point. Bud made the same point last week. We are still here. We will still be here. It may look different. But we're still here.

21:39:48  SusanEttenheim: I actually remember that! When the NWP was first federally funded!

21:39:55  PeggyG: that seems like a very good alternative--recategorizing it so it isn't considered an earmark

21:40:06  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: Also, to go on that idea of participating in the democratic process, Sara and I have brought our daughters to DC to talk about their experience in a writing camp last year and talk about what they are writing in school (Troy). 

21:40:16  Christina: We are the NWP ... and we need funding to keep the infrastructure strong so that more people can be the NWP too!

21:40:50  erinwilkey: I love that, Troy. I wondered how many students join the NWP spring meeting

21:40:59  Kevin Hodgson: @troy I think my wife is sharing with our reps some haiku my 11 year old son wrote this afternoon. The reps love that. Real writing from real kids.

21:41:17  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: I agree... we are still here. But we have to admit that the scope and shape of the work that we can (and can't) do with/without federal funding matters. A lot. (Troy)

21:41:27  Gail Desler: That's the hardest part for me, Christina, to think about outstanding teachers that will not have the same opportunities we have had.

21:41:31  fred haas: Is there another federally funded program that has the same kind of matching structure that we have been using? I mean the money is really seed money, as Elyse just mentioned.

21:41:33  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: This is not to say that we can't do the work... or be a network... 

21:41:35  feliciag: We are here still here as individual teachers and local sites but we can't lose sight of what having a national organization brings to the work of individuals. The power and empowerment you feel when you are in an Annual Meeting general assembly can't be matched by anything else.

21:41:57  Kevin Hodgson: Annual Meeting -- powerful

21:42:16  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: But I think that we need to seriously consider this competitive environment that we are talking about right now and how we will work together -- locally, state and regionally, and nationally -- to keep our collaborative spirit alive and well.

21:42:33  MsEstep: Orlando was my first AM and it was an incredible experience. Would hate to not have that opportunity again

21:42:42  Christina: culture of cutting ... culture of competition only

21:43:02  Christina: It was great that Chad asked Duncan this question!

21:43:07  Kevin Hodgson: Nice (sarcastic tone in my head) -- no funding for literacy

21:43:18  Gail Desler: Agreeing with MsEstep and Kevin - the AM is an incredibile learning experience

21:43:20  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: Bud's blog post for #blog4nwp: http://budtheteacher.com/blog/2011/03/27/a-blog4nwp-in-which-i-ask-for-y...

21:43:38  feliciag: If we don't have the forums and opportunities to come together across States and local sites it will be more difficult to keep the collaborative spirit alive.

21:43:45  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: the most powerful part about the NWP annual meeting is what happens AFTER the annual meeting... (Troy)

21:43:52  MsEstep: Bud has had some wonderful #blog4nwp pieces

21:44:02  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: Unlike a conference, where you get a few ideas and then go back to your classroom... 

21:44:22  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: The annual meeting is a space to talk about our work, think through ideas, share innovations, and get motivated to go back and do more work.

21:44:37  feliciag: It's best not to have a literate society. Just think of who can can elect to congress next when we have a citizenship that can't read and write.

21:44:42  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: What other conference do you go to that makes you want to work as hard before, during, and after than the annual meeting?

21:44:57  MsEstep: My site has started a google doc to house all the ideas we pick up at NWP meetings...stuff from November...still adding to it

21:45:16  Gail Desler: It was attending my first AM that gave me a window into the depth and breadth of the NWP community

21:45:27  feliciag: Same here, Gail.

21:45:42  MsEstep: same here too

21:45:49  Gail Desler: @MsEstep - do you have a link to the wiki?

21:45:51  fred haas: Hey, without funding lieracy, Congress need not to worry too much about anyone actually being alert enough or have the ability to actually contest anything or get involved. That's good for America, right?

21:46:19  Christina: I agree Chad, I heard that too. He talked about not funding things as "entitlements" and instead of funding those things that are "innovative" and prove this through impact (on students) and competition

21:46:53  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: @fred I think that there is something to that conspiracy theory. Again, check out that Rethinking Schools piece: http://rethinkingschools.org/archive/25_03/25_03_karp.shtml (Troy)

21:46:54  MsEstep: Gail, let me look...it's very informal

21:47:12  Kevin Hodgson: @fred it's hard not to get cynical, isn't it? I don't think it is that thought out. "low hanging fruit" is what Elyse says, and that sound about right.

21:47:17  fred haas: @Paul, Troy, Elyse. I am already on it. Thanks

21:47:46  Kevin Hodgson: "innovation" means "something new, not proven"?

21:48:00  Christina: I'm not sure, Kevin. That is a good question.

21:48:09  Christina: I am also curious what are thought of as "entitlements"

21:48:28  fred haas: @Kevin - I can't help it. I just get so aggravated with all of the nonsense and doubletalk

21:48:37  MsEstep: Gail, it's private...if you give me your email I can share it with you

21:48:40  Kevin Hodgson: @fred Yeah

21:49:05  Gail Desler: [email protected] -To MsEstep

21:49:19  feliciag: And, why do we always have to have something new? What about old values and tried practices? Do we rewrite the consitution because it's been around for over 200 years.

21:49:27  Christina: "to argue for an investiment in the NWP is an arguement for the goverment to fund the kind of work government should fund" (did I get that right?)

21:50:07  MsEstep: Sent it, Gail

21:50:15  Kevin Hodgson: @felicia Some are always trying to add ammendments to Constitution

21:50:29  Christina: show what good government is ... that's really interesting and yes, exciting as Paul says!

21:50:35  PeggyG: that is a really positive statement about not giving up on Congress!

21:50:43  feliciag: Guess that was a bad example.

21:51:13  fred haas: What other program has the track record, match funding, size, scope, or ambition within education? I certainly can't think of one. Is there a way to turn all of that into a 30 second soundbite?

21:51:16  Kevin Hodgson: But the point is right on, Felicia

21:51:24  Gail Desler: Thanks MsEstep

21:51:41  SusanEttenheim: who on the chat would like to speak up? I'm happy to call you into the skype call!

21:51:53  SusanEttenheim: just send me your skype user name please :)

21:52:23  MsEstep: you're welcome, Gail

21:52:30  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: @fred The way that I always think about it is that NWP does the "both/and" -- yes, we have the great data to show how much teachers love our programs, yet we also have the "hard" data to show student achievement. We answer to both the community of teachers we serve and to the stakeholders that fund us (Troy)

21:53:08  feliciag: Good question about good government and what we want that government to be (look like). When have we had a "good" government? And, what do we do with the others who have a different view of what "good" government is/should be? Will the Tea Party candidates agree with us?

21:53:55  MsEstep: Is anyone else having a smaller SI this year? We were forced to accept fewer fellows this year.

21:54:10  SusanEttenheim: don't waste a crisis... great comment!

21:54:23  Kevin Hodgson: I don't think we have made an adjustments to SI this year, but we have some intense discussions planned for April and May

21:54:47  Christina: digitalis.nwp.org

21:55:43  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: Digital Is... http://digitalis.nwp.org/

21:56:00  Gail Desler: Christina and Troy, digitalia.nwp.org is a treasure trove.  Such a great resource to share with teachers and administrators

21:56:46  Andrea Z: i really want to jump in..so hard!

21:56:51  Gail Desler: Chad, do you have a link to the Chronicle post?

21:56:54  MsEstep: DigitalIs is an almost overwhelming amount of info...I don't feel like I'll ever really experience all it has to offer

21:57:19  MsEstep: Jump in AZ!

21:57:39  Andrea Z: Can't interrupt the Pauls!!!

21:57:44  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: "Never let a serious crisis go to waste. What I mean by that is it's an opportunity to do things you couldn't do before." Rahm Emanuel http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123310466514522309.html

21:57:55  Gail Desler: Go for it, Andrea!

21:58:34  fred haas: @MsEstep - It is a bit of an ocean, everytime you jump into DigitalIs you kind of recognize how big, vast, and impressive it is.

21:58:36  dpolleys: Thanks for the insight!  I've got to go tend to a crying baby.  NWP transformed my teaching, learning, and view of the world.

21:59:18  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: Chad's ProfHacker post on Digital Is: http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/digital-is-interdisciplinary-writi...

21:59:36  MsEstep: It was pretty exciting! Re: EDPressSEc

21:59:55  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: @dpolleys Wishing you and your family well, my friend. Thanks for being here. (Troy)

22:00:48  PeggyG: love that point! funding testing doesn't count :-)

22:00:57  Gail Desler: This is a great story, Andrea and MsEstep

22:01:03  MsEstep: And their feed has been flooded with nwp folks, pretty awesome

22:01:40  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: Andrea and Ms Estep's twitter exchange: http://www.andrea-zellner.com/archives/629

22:01:59  MsEstep: I was just about to post her blog..thanks :)

22:02:07  Christina: I was sharing this idea with the folks from Pennsylvania, Andrea ... folks like it!

22:02:46  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: #blog4nwp flier, one more time: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B7Knn...

22:02:47  PeggyG: that local effort sounds like it could be very powerful! bring it home!

22:02:48  Kevin Hodgson: Chad, have you had any response at all from the twitter blasts? (Have they changed their twitter id, on the sly?)

22:03:01  erinwilkey: great idea, Andrea. I love it!

22:03:48  MsEstep: I'm going to bring up the idea of a write-in at our next meeting...Great idea.

22:03:52  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: Just remember -- the new RTTT testing contracts are worth about $300 million, almost exactly the amount that was cut from NWP, RIF, and other literacy programs (Troy)

22:03:52  Kevin Hodgson: I love how Bud invited the DOE folks to join his poetry prompt writing this coming month

22:03:53  Joel Malley: I was able to heckle Senatora Chuck Schumer at Buffalo's St. Patty's Day parade.  He walked by and I was on the curb maybe 10 feet away.  My wife was embarassed.  I was polite as an NWP heckler could be.

22:03:59  Christina: The flyer that Paul, Troy and Elyse are sharing is about the #blog4NWP campaign.

22:04:01  Joel Malley: Senator

22:04:24  Kevin Hodgson: @jeol "polite NWP heckler" -- ha

22:04:31  Gail Desler: Clapping for Joel's St Patty's Day efforts

22:04:39  Christina: I points to a Posterous blog where folks can email a blog post if they don't have their own, as well as instructions about how to tag and post if you have your own. Just fyi.

22:05:26  Andrea Z: I'm glad you guys liked my idea!

22:05:42  Andrea Z: And I love that Joel is a polite NWP heckler

22:05:49  Kevin Hodgson: I need to bail here and get to sleep. Thanks for all of you being part my network

22:05:59  MsEstep: sleep well, Kevin :)

22:06:00  Andrea Z: Good night!

22:06:02  Joel Malley: Me too.  Goodnight folks.

22:06:05  SusanEttenheim: thanks for joining us kevin!

22:06:14  PeggyG: good night Kevin!

22:06:21  fred haas: Night, Kevin. Say "hey" to Leslie when you talk to her.

22:06:27  feliciag: Good night, all

22:06:28  PeggyG: you are all so inspiring!!

22:06:42  Gail Desler: Night all from California

22:08:08  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: Thanks again, Chad, to you and Pam for starting this blog4nwp work1

22:08:39  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: Moments like this remind us of how important it is to be a part of the NWP network.

22:08:52  fred haas: Keep up th fight. I really wish I could have joined you in DC. Chad great idea. I will be adding to the mix shortly.

22:09:28  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: @fred We appreciate the support, near and far!

22:10:05  Andrea Z: The break runs from april 18-May 1: lots of time to plan a write-in ;)

22:10:21  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: Thanks, Paul. And, thank you for sharing our voices on TTT tonight.

22:11:02  MsEstep: Andrea, I've added it to my site's google doc and we'll be discussing it at our meeting Friday

22:11:11  Andrea Z: April, keep me posted!

22:11:12  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: I feel like I am on a public radio pledge drive, but here is that link one more time: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B7Knn...

22:11:33  SusanEttenheim: thank you for posting it again!

22:11:35  Christina: Thank you Coop and Chad for leading this initiative!

22:11:52  MsEstep: Will do, Z ;)

22:11:55  Christina: Thank you Paul and Susan and WB for putting together this show!

22:12:19  Paul, Troy, and Elyse: I would be curious to know what sites are moving ahead with an SI, with limited enrollment or at full capacity. Please do let me know on twitter @hickstro

22:13:26  PeggyG: thank you for all of the links and resources you have shared tonight and for your passion for NWP! You are making a difference!

22:13:46  PeggyG: good night all

22:13:49  fred haas: Thanks as always. I am in debt to all of you. Cheers!

22:13:51  Christina: Thank you everyone! Good night.

22:13:54  MsEstep: night folks!

22:13:57  Andrea Z: Good night!

22:14:03  erinwilkey: night all