Leadership — Page 27

PD planning

June 22, 2013 by Amber Leave a Comment

Had the privilege of meeting Brian Pete and Robin Fogarty at ASCD in FL a few years ago. Their session on training was probably one of the best I’d ever been too! If you haven’t ever heard of them, they have two books that I highly recommend. From Staffroom to Classroom, I & II. They give you a number of ways to conduct training with your staff that the teachers can then turn around and use in the classroom. It serves a dual purpose…giving the adults the opportunity to get up and moving, which increases their retention, and also provides strategies that they can use in their classroom with minimal fuss and effort. A win win!

I used a couple in the #ignite13 this week and thought giving my top three would serve as a great reminder for me to continue to utilize these great books as we start thinking about in-service for next year.

My favorite is the PMI. The PMI can be used to open a conversation about a topic or review mid session what you are talking about. It allows your teachers (or students!) to see a big picture, which with practice, can def develop those higher level thinking skills! You simply have the participants find a partner and give a P, a plus, an M, a minus, and an I, something interesting, about what you are discussing. As a whole group you can make a table, or you can call on volunteers to share.

I also like the three musketeers strategy for finding groups. Having your audience stand up and get moving is a great way to keep them awake and on their toes, 🙂 Everyone simply stands up with their hand in the air
s they find two other people to match up with. It’s a quick and easy way to create a collaborative group that you can use over and over. People also like to share in small groups, safer in small numbers!

Give one! Get one! is a great strategy to use if you have prepared statements. It allows for meaningful interaction amongst your crowd on a train of though that you select. This can be a great icebreaker. Simply provide your crew with a list of statements or prepared questions and have them find someone in the room to share with. They give one, giving their answer or thoughts and get one, hear someone elses’ perspective.

Short, sweet, and easy, 🙂 I like it!

Again, check out “From Staffroom to Classroom” parts I & II...you won’t be disappointed!

Professional developmentally,

Amber

Summer studies…

June 4, 2013 by Amber Leave a Comment

Came across two resources I plan on taking advantage of this summer. Abbreviated as mine might be, I am COVETING the 5 weeks I have off to refresh, renew, reinvigorate my passion in what I do.

The first, this blog post by Angela Watson, (whom I feel very honored to call an IRL BFF, :)) on the books she recommends for reading over the summer. Her “Awaken” is sitting on my nightside WAITING for me to dive in with a positive mindset. Her easy to read piece and why she includes each book will help you see an immediate connection and I hope you can find a couple to take with you to the pool. ALL of these books are easy to read, none are written like a…text book. Cough cough…

Second, through Zite (which I will be blogging about soon!) I cam across this Edudemic article that gives you some summer online learning options. It’s a new platform called Modern Lessons and has a ton of free online courses from learning the basics of Twitter to an advanced course on iPads in education.

Whatever you choose to do this summer, come back and share, especially if you read any of these books, or take a course!

Summer scheduleN,

Amber

Are you a student principal?

May 31, 2013 by Amber 2 Comments

This post is cross posted from Connected Principals.

I met with a colleague yesterday to discuss our upcoming presentation for the Texas ASCD #Ignite13 on leveraging social media as an administrator for your staff, students, and families. He is a secondary principal who has recently been promoted to an area director in our district, so I feel like I was in the presence of a celebrity, 😉

As an elementary AP, it was interesting to hear his high school gems. The things that are SO important to elementary teachers and our climate are totally different than his. I found myself writing down several of the things he said, as just a reminder that there is a BIG picture out there. I think in my elementary world that gets lost.

My favorite line is from a discussion he had with a teacher over a scheduling decision that he was unwilling to be flexible on. (His policy made it easier for ALL students to get the credits needed to be successful and not be penalized for wanting to do extra-curriculars throughout the school year.) He told the teacher that he was here for the students. He was a STUDENT principal, not a teacher’s principal. He made his decisions on what was best for the students, not for the convenience of teachers. It made me think of the powerful piece I read from Jimmy Casas over the weekend, Front Porch Leadership.

Our job is make all of the adults that come in contact with our students have that kind of mentality, that we are truly here for the students. Their success, their self worth, their future. Inspiring others to WANT to be that way is my goal for the 2013-2014 year.

note taking,

Amber

Getting to do what we do, :)

May 23, 2013 by Amber Leave a Comment

This is cross posted from the Connected Principals site.

I wrote a post for our teachers on my blog talking about the opportunities that we still have before the end of the school year. At that point we had 16 days left and I gave 16 easy, free things that they could do that didn’t center necessarily with instruction, but instead strengthened a connection to a student.

The next day I received an email from a neighboring district collegaue. Her words reasonated with me, yet again, and I thought they might benefit you as well.

Thanks Stacy, for letting me share!

*********************************************************************************************************************************

Hi friend,

I have had a lot on my plate this year and have let a lot of things go as a result of that overload. I am getting back on board my plate and getting inspired. Last night, I read your blog post, and I think I tweeted you that it was great, and got further inspired.

So, since our district does not allow us to have personal, professional blogs, this is what I came up with. Read on and thanks for the inspiration.

I hope all is well in the land of the lions,

Stacy

From: Stacy
Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2013 8:52 AM
To: Our Staff
Subject: If I had a blog, this is an article I would post: The FINAL COUNTDOWN

I am about to reveal something that you likely didn’t know was a source of irritation for me, a “pet peeve”, if you will. We all have those, don’t we? I am no different! I would like to share that one of my biggest pet peeves is the public and grand “countdowns/days left” displays and discussions that inevitably occur at the end of the year or near any break.

Why? The biggest reason is the children. In this day and age, our children’s summers will not match the summer you have planned for yourself and your family. Many of our children will be engaged in day care and camps, but it just is not the same as what you have provided for 180 days at school. The message the countdown sends to kids is often a source of anxiety for a multitude of reasons. They are anxious about what the structure of their day will be; you have provided a regimented and predictable day for them for 180 days. Many of our children will spend their summer days craving the attention that you have given them over the 180 days that you were together as a class. Children like that consistency and knowing what is next; many of their summer days are spent without any structure, challenge, or real engagement with an adult. You have filled their days at McCall with love, happiness, security and rich experiences that likely will not be matched day for day in their summer days.

Second, children get the message that this is over—you are done and ready to go home. It isn’t over, we still have 16 days left to fill with math, reading and science and social studies. They begin to make bad choices because everyone is “ready for vacation”. When we maximize that time for them and plan great lessons all the way to the end, you don’t wear yourselves out because you are managing behavior issues due to unengaged, unfocused children. I came across the attached blog post last night from one of my peers in the tech world and friend from twitter, Amber Teamann. Her post is what inspired me to share how I feel about the countdown. She has a similar view, but wrote a GREAT post on a list to challenge you (and her staff) to complete the last 16 days. I am not saying not to be joyful over your summer and the plans you have, but try to not to be so public about it to the kiddos here at the end.

Make these last days amazing memory makers for the children and plan great lessons. The kids will LOVE you for it and you will have an end of the year to remember instead of dread, I guarantee it!

So, that was my “blog post” that can’t be published, but can be emailed, and embedded with another blog post that isn’t blocked by our filter. Life is full of problem solving and figuring out what we can do instead of what we can’t do. J

Here is the link to Amber’s post:

technicallyteamann.com/what-can-you-d…

Cally checkN,

Amber

What can you do in 16 days?

May 15, 2013 by Amber 8 Comments

We’re winding down and only have 16 days left for our 2012-2013 school year. Instead of thinking of it as “only 16 days till summer” what if we looked at it as “only 16 more days to make a difference”?

We’re going to start a EOY wrap with some fun ideas for ya, but I wanted to give you 16 short and sweet things you can do to make a difference in a child’s life between now and June 7th, 🙂 I challenge you to pick ONE for each day we have left!

Let a child know they are important to you.
Hug someone who needs a hug.
Whisper “You matter.” to someone who may not hear that at home.
Tell a student you were GLAD that they were in your class this year.
Eat lunch next to a student who struggles with social relationships.
Buy a random student an ice cream (I’ll pay!) and ask about their summer plans.
Ask your students what they are PASSIONATE about, and be ready tobe amazed.
Have a conversation with your students, not teach a lesson for one subject.
Ask how your students want to change the world.
Have your student’s give each a other a compliment.
Take a walk outside.
Discuss your favorite activities or memory from this year.
Ask what they would have done differently.
Color with your students. Even our big kid’s like to color!
Do a happy dance li
ke no one is watching. (Jenny’s class is GREAT at this!)
Go sit outside (before it gets too hot!) and read an inspirational book. (Sandra would love to suggest one for you! And I have my copy of “Things Change“, by Troy Aikman, if you’d like to borrow it.)

These are all easy, free, and a way to make a difference between now and then. A child will remember YOU and the way you’ve made them feel more than they’ll EVER remember a lesson.

Difference makeN,

Amber