my version of transparent, collaborative leadership...with a Teamann twist

Do you offer feedback or feed forward? #ASCD15

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feedbackI had the opportunity t to talk to the assistant principal and two teachers from Magnolia Elementary today, winners of the ASCD Whole Child Vision and Action award today. There were several take-aways that stood out.

  • When asked about walk-throughs and how the administration provided guidance, one teacher mentioned that as a campus they focus on giving “feed-forward” information, asking questions that allow self discovery. It works for kids and they said it really works for them!
  • Mental health cohort- The team of specialists on their campus meet regularly to discuss students and their needs. The speech therapist, school psychologist, the counselor, and others..all with a vested interest in some of the high flyers on the campus…they decided if a mentor is needed or if further support is needed.
  • These teachers mentioned empowerment several times. One of the ways that this was evident was that for their PD, each grade decides what they need in order to grow, and work with campus specialists to get the training they need. Students struggling in interventions? Great, let’s bring in the Title I specialist. Want to add some movement in your lessons for student wiggles? Awesome, let’s ask the PE teacher if she can meet with us. They utilize their on campus experts.
  • Administrator support- open door policy, all the way. The staff knows that they can come with any ideas, suggestions, or questions and receive the opportunity to talk and be heard. 
    This should be every administrators goal. Be steady and supportive.

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I was very impressed with the positivity that emanated from this group, and know that they are all in for the right reason…their students! With the population they are working with, it cant be easy, but I guarantee its worth it!

 

Sharingly,

Amber

Conferencing at #ASCD15? Here’s why you better be!

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ac15_banner_image_01ASCD is having its annual this conference in Houston this weekend. I am a member of several organizations, and attend several national conferences, in addition to local region/state events, and this by FAR is my favorite. Attending ASCD provides a chance to grow, as well as make connections with other educators from around the nation.

While, yes, I may be biased because of their outstanding communications team, there is so much that this organization and conference offers.

  • Keynote speakers: This year offers Sarah Lewis, who will talk about the concept of grit and play, both national hot topics. Nicholas Negroponte, the first ever TED talker, will talk about how its the EFFORT that should excite and teach us, not just the end result.
  • Content: This conference offers sessions that are literature rich, research based, and RELEVANT. While technology will be embedded in different sessions there isn’t a device focused buzz, or any “silver bullet” discussions that would require a “tool”. Best practices here revolve around people, ideas, and most importantly, students.
  • Author mixer: Steven Anderson (@web20classroom), Reggie Routman (@regieroutman) Todd Whitaker (@toddwhitaker), and my instructional coach crush Robyn Jackson, (@Robyn_Mindsteps) have all recently written books for ASCD and I’ll have an opportunity to talk with each of them, gleam any gems of greatness that I can , and will share out!
  • The 2015-ness: From the app to the official hashtag (#ascd15) ASCD naturally has taken the “connected” pieces and integrated them into their conference. Wifi, blog lounges, and a hearty twitter stream will all be in the background, available as needed.

 

I am REALLY excited about this weekend! Throw in that it is in TEXAS again this year, which means I can drive and am guaranteed to see some Texas faces, and I am counting down!

The awesome Joe Mazza (@joe_mazza) has also created an #ASCD15 Voxer group, if you’re a Voxer.

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 Join in!

If you are not able to make it this year, follow the twitter stream, there is sure to be a lot shared! 

Take charge of your PD, make ASCD one of your growth commitments!

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ASCD ready,

Amber

WWW: Sweetbriar Project

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This post is written for my 4th grade students that I meet with each week. We talk math, we talk leadership, and this week, we again, talked EMPATHY!

 

Wranglers, here is the google doc for your notes.

Video that our students created can be seen here!

 

 

Mrs. Teamann

How do YOU share your genius?

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eduin30When I would give twitter talks in the (not so distant past), I would be sure and mention the lists I had created that enabled a “newbie” to find connections to educational change agents, teachers in the trenches, like minded people that could become an instant resource. Now, if I were to give that same talk…I would share the lists but I’d also stress how important the #hashtag is to educational dialogue on social media.

One of the hashtags making the rounds right now is the #EDUin30 tag. This is George Couros’s new project in which he challenges you to make a short video, answering one question a week, and use the tag. He began this week with “Talk about one great idea in your classroom in 30 seconds or less. W1″

It’s already taken off, in true George fashion, but I have REALLY enjoyed hearing all of the different ideas from around the world. Such a simple, easy way to tap into everyone’s “best” idea.

To see the submissions thus far, check out this storify I created. 
My submission comes from a 2nd grade classroom. The teacher has created musical snippets and has them embedded into her smart board lessons. Each snippet is a different transition. Her students know when the music comes on that they have to get moving, and better be there when it stops. By using popular tunes, they even sing along. Smoothest transitions on campus, and catchiest too!
Here’s my submission…

 …stay tuned to see what challenge is issued for week 2!
Take 30 seconds to share YOUR genius, or learn from someone else’s!

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Sharingly,
Amber

Culture & Leadership Connections: Are you #FutureReady?

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text_faenza_like_icons_by_r4hamid-d4ujc43Confession: I’m not that great with technology.

I know, I know…”Technically Teamann” and all that jazz.  But really, I’m not great with technology.

I can’t code. I couldn’t reroute an access point. I don’t build computers. I don’t develop software. I don’t build apps. Or teach people how to do ANY of those things. I can troubleshoot (via the Google) any technical problems, but I can’t take apart a machine. I can’t write HTML or Flash. I can’t talk shop with the IT department. I’m just not that great with technology.

You know what I am good at?

I am good at making technology work for me.

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 I am able to use tools that are readily available to accomplish my personal and professional goals and to develop relationships. I am good at connecting and seeing how much this benefits all of those around me. If I have a teacher who is struggling, I can connect them with an expert in just the area they need help with. If I have a student with a particular passion, I know how to find amazing resources to help them. If I need my bucket filled, I have made connections, made friends, with like-minded people who lift me up and inspire me from all over the world. I have found a way to share my experiences & my voice with anyone who cares to listen.

If you stop and reflect on our students entering the workplace, becoming grown-ups, and functioning in this world that we live in, we can all agree on a few things.  We know being a good test taker is not a sought after characteristic by today’s, and most likely not future, employers.  They have to know how to collaborate, how to develop relationships, how to CONNECT with others. They need to know how to be responsible for their digital footprints, how to own the data that is collected from them and about them.

These are the skills our students need, and being future-ready means we as educators have got to figure out a way to add those skills to the already overflowing plate we have in front of us.

One important facet in my role as an administrator is to empower my staff and our students to be the very best versions of themselves, knowing that our future will be about the advantage of the opportunities available.  If we are increasingly moving to become a digitally competitive society, we need our students to be able to function, and function well. 

Introducing these generations to their digital responsibilities and abilities is crucial!

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Leveraging technologies to partner with parents to help them understand the importance of what their child can do and the GREAT things that are happening with their students each and every day should be always be on our list of best practices.  Today there are too many available options to share and connect with our families and stakeholders to not utilize them!

I’m not that good with technology, but I am passionate about using it to accomplish my goals. We only have so many hours in a day to impact the life of a child, and if by intentionally applying what we have available to model the collaboration, communication, and creation, we can get our students off on the #futureready foot!

Click here to learn more about the 2015 Digital Learning Day. I’ll be in Washington on March 13th at #DLDay with my session, “Who’s the Boss: Take Charge When it Comes To Your Professional Learning”.  You can also see a complete list of presenters here.

 

 

Charge taking,

Amber