This weeks challenge will be a simple one. To get into three to four classrooms and find authentic feedback from students to teachers. As an ongoing "look for" in our building and district improvement plan, it will not be difficult to find feedback in many forms and many variations. The goal though will be to find the format of where students giving rich, meaningful, best practice feedback that will alter a teachers method of preparing for their day.
I have been so impressed with the way my staff embraces the use of feedback in their instruction. They have gone out of their way to learn what it should look like, what it should sound like and what it will do for students (and teachers) as part of the teaching and learning process. I am sure it will be a fun week full of affirmation.
Remember, if it wasn't important, we wouldn't be "looking for it"!
A great read from Educational Leadership.
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept12/vol70/num01/Seven-Keys-to-Effective-Feedback.aspx
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Education and Technology
January 22, 2013
Today was a day in which I learned two very important things:
1. Star Wars offers so much when it comes to the world of Leadership.
2. My teachers continue to surprise me with their passion for technology.
The first I give credit to an article I stumbled upon while scrolling through twitter: 12most.com/2013/01/22/lea…
Depending on your age, and your appreciation for everything in the Force, I guarantee you send the link on to at least 3 other people. I did. It makes so much sense!
Secondly,
Technology is in the schools. My school! I have asked alot of my teachers and many have given alot back. As I entered a classroom this morning to conduct a walk through, there was a sign taped to the outside that greeted the students. It read, simply, "BYOD FOURTH PERIOD".
It's a start, I am impressed.
Off to the rest of the day!
Today was a day in which I learned two very important things:
1. Star Wars offers so much when it comes to the world of Leadership.
2. My teachers continue to surprise me with their passion for technology.
The first I give credit to an article I stumbled upon while scrolling through twitter: 12most.com/2013/01/22/lea…
Depending on your age, and your appreciation for everything in the Force, I guarantee you send the link on to at least 3 other people. I did. It makes so much sense!
Secondly,
Technology is in the schools. My school! I have asked alot of my teachers and many have given alot back. As I entered a classroom this morning to conduct a walk through, there was a sign taped to the outside that greeted the students. It read, simply, "BYOD FOURTH PERIOD".
It's a start, I am impressed.
Off to the rest of the day!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
A New Year - Learning and Leading
With the flipping of the calendar and the conversations of resolutions, it makes me ponder about my own desire to challenge myself academically this year.
As I was scrolling through the Facebook posts this morning I came across one that was inspiring for a Monday morning. It read, "A wonderful vacation break. Enjoyed family and friends... Back to work tomorrow and working with some of the most talented teachers and dear friends. Can't wait!"
What a positive outlook to the end of a two week hiatus from the grind. Where most people talk, and post, about dreading about the return to the office, this one individual found the silver lining, the half-full, the good instead of the bad. They challenged themselves to make the most of not only the time away but also what was lying ahead as the returned to the office.
You may be thinking that this person has the greatest job on earth, and to them, they might. You could be reading this somewhat cynical in nature and claiming that your job is not so glamorous and you are not as fortunate to have the same attitudes toward work. I get that. But this post came from a teacher. An individual that gives of their time and energy to our youth. This person chose their profession, as did you, and has decided to commit themselves to making our future better.
The point of sharing this post is not to question your path but rather to provoke some thought in how you view your Monday and your return after a break away from the office. Are you where you are because of decisions you have made or was your path predetermined? What can you do to improve your outlook on what you do each day when you leave the house?
I truly enjoy my profession. I too, like the author of the Facebook post, chose my professional path. I consider myself fortunate to have the relationships that I do with my colleagues. However my post was different this morning. By no means negative but at the same time not nearly as positive.
So there in lies my own challenge. To find the hop in my step, the half-full and the silver-lining. Heading into twenty years in this profession I am truly blessed to be where I am today. I am a leader, a learner and committed to excellence. I am excited for the new year and all that it brings!
Now that is worth posting.
Happy New Year!
As I was scrolling through the Facebook posts this morning I came across one that was inspiring for a Monday morning. It read, "A wonderful vacation break. Enjoyed family and friends... Back to work tomorrow and working with some of the most talented teachers and dear friends. Can't wait!"
What a positive outlook to the end of a two week hiatus from the grind. Where most people talk, and post, about dreading about the return to the office, this one individual found the silver lining, the half-full, the good instead of the bad. They challenged themselves to make the most of not only the time away but also what was lying ahead as the returned to the office.
You may be thinking that this person has the greatest job on earth, and to them, they might. You could be reading this somewhat cynical in nature and claiming that your job is not so glamorous and you are not as fortunate to have the same attitudes toward work. I get that. But this post came from a teacher. An individual that gives of their time and energy to our youth. This person chose their profession, as did you, and has decided to commit themselves to making our future better.
The point of sharing this post is not to question your path but rather to provoke some thought in how you view your Monday and your return after a break away from the office. Are you where you are because of decisions you have made or was your path predetermined? What can you do to improve your outlook on what you do each day when you leave the house?
I truly enjoy my profession. I too, like the author of the Facebook post, chose my professional path. I consider myself fortunate to have the relationships that I do with my colleagues. However my post was different this morning. By no means negative but at the same time not nearly as positive.
So there in lies my own challenge. To find the hop in my step, the half-full and the silver-lining. Heading into twenty years in this profession I am truly blessed to be where I am today. I am a leader, a learner and committed to excellence. I am excited for the new year and all that it brings!
Now that is worth posting.
Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Day One of the Journey
As I sat at my computer this morning I am faced with the daunting task of "What to write about first?"
And then it hits me, awkwardly, square in the face. Today, the second to last day before winter break, here comes my colleague walking into my office at 7:35AM wearing the most hideous sweater I have ever seen.
Speechless.
And then she reminds me, "today is Tacky Sweater Day"! And as I peer out into the office I realize that this sweater thing is contagious. My computer tech is wearing an amazingly odd get-up that goes just belows his knees and has a belt (I am thinking it was once a robe) and it sways behind him as he walks. My Art teacher has found a turtleneck, that has candy canes on it, and a vest decorated with a winter landscape reminiscent of a story book setting. One of the secretaries has on a red and green sweater that has snowflakes made of cotton balls...awkward. The staff is engulfed in laughter at what they have each found hidden deep within their closets.
So as I observe the laughter I remind myself that I have to be a "21st Century Academic Leader"! How can I pull this off? It doesn't take long until I go back (mentally) to my undergrad courses where we studied that there is a connection between what we expect of our employees and how their environment shapes the types of employees they are. We have to remind ourselves that our climate of where we work has a direct correlation to our performance and what we accomplish. They're are countless studies that prove that the better the environment, the greater productivity attained. Furthermore, each year various lists are published of the best places to work. CNN recently released their list:
(http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/2011/index.html)
And I ask myself where would my place of work fall on this list if given the opportunity? Can I compare my environment to that of Google or Dreamworks? Ask yourself the same question. Regardless if you are the one who is employed somewhere or even better if you have the good fortune to be in charge.
So in the end I make this connection, an ah-ha of sorts - "Tacky Sweater Day" will directly, or indirectly, improve student achievement! Of course there will not be a test question or short-answer response appear on any state mandated assessment. However today, and many other days just like this, there will be an environment where teachers want to teach, and students want to learn, even if that means that we have to be surrounded by reindeer and snowmen and ornaments all attached to sweaters.
And then it hits me, awkwardly, square in the face. Today, the second to last day before winter break, here comes my colleague walking into my office at 7:35AM wearing the most hideous sweater I have ever seen.
Speechless.
And then she reminds me, "today is Tacky Sweater Day"! And as I peer out into the office I realize that this sweater thing is contagious. My computer tech is wearing an amazingly odd get-up that goes just belows his knees and has a belt (I am thinking it was once a robe) and it sways behind him as he walks. My Art teacher has found a turtleneck, that has candy canes on it, and a vest decorated with a winter landscape reminiscent of a story book setting. One of the secretaries has on a red and green sweater that has snowflakes made of cotton balls...awkward. The staff is engulfed in laughter at what they have each found hidden deep within their closets.
So as I observe the laughter I remind myself that I have to be a "21st Century Academic Leader"! How can I pull this off? It doesn't take long until I go back (mentally) to my undergrad courses where we studied that there is a connection between what we expect of our employees and how their environment shapes the types of employees they are. We have to remind ourselves that our climate of where we work has a direct correlation to our performance and what we accomplish. They're are countless studies that prove that the better the environment, the greater productivity attained. Furthermore, each year various lists are published of the best places to work. CNN recently released their list:
(http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/2011/index.html)
And I ask myself where would my place of work fall on this list if given the opportunity? Can I compare my environment to that of Google or Dreamworks? Ask yourself the same question. Regardless if you are the one who is employed somewhere or even better if you have the good fortune to be in charge.
So in the end I make this connection, an ah-ha of sorts - "Tacky Sweater Day" will directly, or indirectly, improve student achievement! Of course there will not be a test question or short-answer response appear on any state mandated assessment. However today, and many other days just like this, there will be an environment where teachers want to teach, and students want to learn, even if that means that we have to be surrounded by reindeer and snowmen and ornaments all attached to sweaters.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Going to Give this a GO!
To blog or not to blog? That is the question of the moment. As a middle school principal and passionate educator for the last 18 years, I am going to challenge myself professionally and see if I can play catch-up with some of my colleagues. There is a lot of work to be done, but with time, dedication and a desire to share my knowledge of my experiences in the academic world, I am committed to making this happen...
We'll see.
We'll see.
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