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

Show some #teacherappreciation with these happy notes!

by 4 Comments

happynotesI have posted before about how much I enjoy a happy note….so I made up a few more that may fit into your world!

As an educator, I can tell you that I LOVE receiving little notes of appreciation from my administrators and students every once in a while. Who doesn’t like to be told that s/he is doing something right and that work is not going unnoticed? Being an adult, let alone a child, can be really tough, so a little message to tell a person that s/he is an important part of your day can go a long way!

Need another reason? Writing thank-you notes can carry a more selfish incentive, studies find. When people list the things they’re grateful for, their overall mood improves and their depressive symptoms subside. You feel more at ease, less stressed, and more mindful of the things that make you happy — which, after writing the thank-you notes, can itself be added to the list.

To get my free 8 note set, simply subscribe to this blog via email!  (There’s a  link on the top right!) You won’t miss a post and I will email you the free .pdf that makes writing your notes that much easier! If you already subscribe, look for it in your (e)mailbox this week!

 

Make someone else day…and see if it doesn’t just make yours instead!

Amber

Resources for National Writing Day….errrr…Week!

by Leave a Comment

Happy Monday! We have some amazing learning specialists that work with our campus who are practically mind readers. I had a writing day post ready to go and then I received more resources so I’ve added hers below as well. (Thanks, Laura Moore!)

 

We all know writing is a life-long skill. Students are writing in all content areas and sharing their ideas through writing. As a former fourth grade writing teacher, I know the struggle to include as much writing as possible. Even if you’re not a writing teacher, you have the opportunity to add writing…as well as increase a students vocabulary. Take advantage of that academic vocabulary and get creative!

 

Here are some ideas to celebrate National Day on Writing:

  • Roll a story! During your literacy centers, have your students get creative with this writing freebie. It would be easy to turn this into a science or math center as well!
  • Create a writer’s checklist! As a class develop a checklist of all the attributes you want to see in each piece of writing. Have it available in a “writing center” with fun paper, colored pens, stickers, etc .
  • Let the “best” writers do a guest post on your classroom blog. Want to see some kids care about their writing? Give them a global audience.
  • Collaborative writing. Have a journal that can used for a class story…you begin with one sentence and then pass it around throughout the day and have the student create the story, line by line. Share at the end of the day!

 

 

http://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2014/10/18/happy-national-day-on-writing-2014/

 

 

write on!

Amber

edcampDallas hosted by Wylie ISD! October 25, 2014

by Leave a Comment

We have another opportunity to participate in an edcamp this month! EdcampDallas is being held October 25th, 2014 at Wylie East High School.
The tweetup, an opportunity to see and meet some virtual connections, will be held Friday night at 6pm at Houlihans.

Why should you give up a Saturday to go to an edcamp?

10. You are passionate about what you do and see the benefit in always modeling what it means to be a lifelong learner.
9. You know how tight your budget is AND how tight our budget is! Why pay to go away when you can have the best for free?
8. Differentiation is important to you and your development as well!
7. You agree that your favorite part of any staff development is talking with your peers, those who are in the trenches with you! Their perspective can give you support and strength.
6. You know that you bring something to the table. Your skills and expertise in what YOU do has value! (Think about hosting an session!)
5. There’s no pressure! Love it or hate it, you’ve invested no $$ to make you feel guilty about switching sessions during the day!
4. Meeting new friends and creating (or extending?) your PLN makes your heart happy!
3. Walking away with free, applicable tools for your classroom is a undeniable perk.
2. Edcamps are ALL inclusive. You get a breakfast, free sessions, door prizes, GREAT PD, and it’s all free. All you have to do is show up!
1. And the number one reason why YOU should come to edcampDallas at WEHS??

edcamps are EMPOWERING. It allows the true voices of the classroom to have a say in what is being done, in how it is being done, and in ways to IMPROVE what is being done. Take charge!

Take a chance! Come to edcampDallas! You won’t regret it! There are already almost 400 people from all around the STATE committed to attending!
edcampR,
Amber

5 things learned from “Read, Write, Lead” & win your own copy!

by 4 Comments

Regie Routman’s newest ASCD book, “Read, Write, Lead: Breakthrough Strategies for Schoolwide Literacy Success” was a cover to cover read for me. Knowing how well-respected Ms. Routman is certainly made me WANT to read this book, but the focus on literacy skills made it impossible to put down.

My top five take aways:113016b

1. Establish a culture of trust. A level of professional trust is crucial for effective change. (In the same way the instructional leader needs to have a relationship with their staff in order to provide coaching support, a teacher must do the same with their students.) Where trust is missing, fear is often present, and fear is a guaranteed antidote to learning. The change when moving your campus/classroom to a literacy/writing based classroom will be different from what you are used too…keep those high expectations and keep moving forward.

2. Teach with urgency. Lacking the belief that we can positively influence the learning and achievement of ALL of our students will hold us back. Teach with a sense of relevancy and purpose & connect meaning to the tasks at hands.

3. These big ideas: modeled writing from instructors, student input, authentic book discussions, connect reading & writing. I’m going to look for strong teachers to help make these happen this year. Routman writes “We need to focus our reading and writing where our students’ interests are”. In an educational system where “student engagement” is crucial, there are quick wins shared that are practical and easy to implement, from kinder to high school.

4. The entire chapter on leadership priorities. “Effective leadership is essential for excellent school wide reading and writing practice across the curriculum”…and she cites a 6 year study that not one single successful school was able to be that way “with the absence of talented leadership”. The chapter highlights significant behaviors and actions of effective leaders, which led to accelerated achievement for both students and teachers.

5. Finally, the idea of PLCs: “professional literacy communities”…I don’t think there is too big a reach from the PLCs that we see working on campuses today to one with a literacy instructional  focus. Allowing data to guide not dictate. Recognize  that there is a difference between professional development and professional learning. Identify crucial questions that can be a school focus..and make sure you stay on track.

The appendix provides instructional look-fors that are also an incredible resource.

Want to get a copy for yourself?? You can order it here or you can also enter below to get a FREE copy! Enter between today (9/14/2014) and next Sunday, (9/21/2014) and I will send the winner their copy! (I’ll be keeping mine with all the high lighting, ;))

[gravityform id=”5″ name=”Read, Write, Lead”]

 

 

read on,
Amber

 

 

Vocab Rehab, an ASCD arias…& a give away!

by 1 Comment

vocab rehab

Last week we met with grade level teams to discuss our most recent benchmark data. Resoundingly, there was an understanding that while students may know the concept or skill, what was most lacking, in grades 3-5, science, reading, and math…was vocabulary. More specifically, lack of vocabulary mastery. Each grade level mentioned it, and some discussed specific vocabulary words that were embedded within the test that weren’t at all related to the content being taught. How as a teacher can you find time to teach “one more thing”?

Imagine my delight when I remembered I’d grabbed a recent ASCD arias, titled “Vocab Rehab”, by Marilee Sprenger. Knowing it would be a quick read (all arais’s are designed to be short & sweet!) I intentionally got to a restaurant 30 minutes before a dinner date to meet a friend. That was all it took to blow my mind!

Ms. Sprenger began the book with research to illustrate the importance of a vocabulary enriched classroom. She specifically mentions needing to “teach up”, not watering down academic vocabulary within instruction. Vocabulary acquisition is cumulative,meaning students with high vocabularies learn new words faster than students with more limited vocabularies (Referenced from a study by Hart & Risley, 2003).

She gives multiple 10 minute lessons that can help increase vocabulary instruction that can apply to any subject at any grade level. The list of ways “not” to teach vocabulary rang a bell…assignments like “use the word in a sentences, find and define, write and draw a picture”, all assignments given BEFORE a student truly understands a word. By using the integrated strategies Ms. Sprenger shares will ensure students KNOW the words, vs just being able to recognize a definition. The ability to read & understand a word within context require more than just a “look it up”!

My two favorite activities? Let’s say you have 10-15 words you want to teach. Give each student a lanyard with either a vocabulary word or a synonym for one of the new words. Have students line up by “like” terms, or antonyms throughout the week. Call by like meanings, or opposites.

I also like the idea of giving student a lanyard with a new vocabulary word, it’s definition, synonyms, and antonyms to wear each day. They can partner quiz at restroom breaks, in the lunch line, etc. Once a word is mastered or used successfully in class, they can switch lanyards. Easy!

There are so many gems of greatness is this book, I highly recommend it to anyone who recognizes how valuable vocabulary instruction should be. It focuses on easy ways to form strong connections in the brain over a short period of time…every teachers goal!

I happen to have an extra copy of the ASCD arias “Vocab Rehab”, if you’re interested! Enter to win by with your information below!

 

[gravityform id=”4″ name=”Win your own of Marilee Sprenger’s “Vocab Rehab”!”]

(This giveaway will end in one week, on April 12th!)

 

Vocab rehabbed,

Amber