Leadership — Page 28

Taming the Test

April 1, 2013 by Amber Leave a Comment

This week kicks off the STAAR tests for spring of 2013. As both a mom of a tester and supporter of those Lions giving the test…I hope to impress upon both that their value or success doesn’t have anything to do with what happens this week.

As a 4th grade teacher (three tests!) I remember the long days, the short days, the days where some students didn’t eat and acted as such, the days where someone’s grandparent passed away and all we did was talk and cry, the days where it was just too pretty to sit inside. I remember having an administrator who valued ME, and didn’t place any importance on my skill as a teacher based on the results of a test.

So, LL’s as we move forward, know that what is done this week will reflect on how you’ve handled yourself ALL year. The late afternoons, the early mornings, and the tears that you’ve put into these students…way more important than an arbitrary test score.

That being said…go home early. Get to bed early. Have a yummy breakfast. It’s all down hill from here!

testingly,

Amber

Plugging in

March 30, 2013 by Amber Leave a Comment

How many times have you heard someone say that they don’t have time to be a ”connected educator”? It is the go to rationale for many.

Eric Sheninger spoke at #ASCD13 on the keys to initiating sustainable change and something he said that resonated with me was “I don’t find the time to learn and get better. I make the time to learn and get better.” While this did inspire a lively talk about unicorns, I completely understood what he meant.

Educators today are pulled in a dozen different directions daily. We’re expected to meet unrealistic goals and transform lives, daily, and most of the time? we’re able to do it. How can you fit any thing else in your day?

To me, being a connected educator isn’t an option, it’s how I’m able to function. I couldn’t possibly provide the answers, the options, the experience that I do without having a PLN of my very own. From conversations on the other side of the world to being able to ask 4,000 people their advice…being connected provides that opportunity.

I’m presenting at TEPSA this summer on being a “connected educator” and being able to articulate the value of what social media can bring to the table is almost overwhelming. I know how busy and stressed these administrators are. I’m busy and stressed too! Hopefully I’ll be able to show that we’re in a time where being connected isn’t an option any longer, and that the problem isn’t that education isn’t what it used to be…it’s that it IS what it used to be. Our students can’t afford any less than the most current, the most engaging, and the opportunities that being connected provides.

Plug in, you won’t regret it! Change can either happen to you or because of you…and what leader doesn’t want to be at the forefront of positive, impacting change?

suggestingly,

Amber

Read’em and weep!

March 20, 2013 by Amber 4 Comments

Weep with joy, I mean! One of the fabulous perks of this past weekend was the opportunity I had to peruse several of the new books published through ASCD this past year. As if that wasn’t enough, the authors were available to chat with us as well! The three that have jumped to the top of my list have one theme in common. All three want to help you become GREAT at what you do. Whether it be teaching, administrating, or coaching…each of these three books are giving steps and suggestions to get you to be the best you can be.

The first book, “aim high, achieve more: How to Transform Urban Schools Through Fearless Leadership” by Yvette Jackson and Veronica McDermott. While chatting with Dr. Jackson, I discovered that “aim” didn’t stand for aiming high, like at test scores (my initial thoughts!) but instead stands for affirmation, inspiration, and meditation. Now, if you know me…you know I’m all about affirmation and inspiration! She also talked about involving students in the day to day conversations that teachers are having, in a sense empowering them to help validate teacher’s concerns. There are also practical reflection and call to action activities at the end of each chapter.

“When Teaching Gets Tough: Smart Ways to Reclaim Your Game” is the next book in my stack. By Allen Mendler, who was such a pleasant man to talk too! We talked about teachers who get burned out, and how ALL teachers, even the really great ones, have days where they need someone to help them recharge their energy. He cites the causes of burnout as low appreciation, difficult students, and lack of control in their environment…all factors I understand! He suggested keeping a positivity log and having each teacher write at least one good thing that happened each day. Identifying the positive can not only help balance the negative but can also bring it into perspective. As an administrator, he suggested that I needed to get to the bottom line. Find out what drives people and figure out how I can address those needs. I like to think I’m good at the positive…but he was very specific about individual needs. I can’t wait to read the book and see what other tidbits I can find!

Last but not least, I was able to talk with Robyn Jackson, author “Never Work Harder than you Students & other great principles of great teaching”. This was my most interesting conversation. Jackson shared some of her motivation in writing this book and the types of teachers she works with. She lists seven principles to help you start thinking like a master teacher: The mastery principles are

Master teachers start where their students are.
Master teachers know where their students are going.
Master teachers expect to get their students to their goal.
Master teachers support their students along the way.
Master teachers use feedback to help them and their students get better.
Master teachers focus on quality rather than quantity.
Master teachers never work harder than their students.

As an administrator, she told me the key to helping teachers to the mastery level was to tap into their own personal motivation. She had the great line of “Don’t treat a will problem with a skill solution.” If you have a teacher with a bad attitude, don’t send her to a professional development on classroom management. Find out why she has an attitude problem. I looked up the high low matrix of coaching and thought it was very reasonable. We want every teacher to be genuinely happy/satisfied within the classroom, and I’m hoping this book will help me delve into finding out how to make it possible!

LL’s, leave a comment here about which book you’d most like to read for a chance to win your own copy!

Off to read!

Amber

We are the possible…

March 18, 2013 by Amber 2 Comments

One of the key reasons I was so excited to come to ASCD was the opportunity to see and hear Maya Angelou speak. I genuinely considered this a bucket list moment.

From the moment she stepped out and opened her talk with scripture and a sing, I was hooked. This feisty, almost 85 year old woman, held the crowd in the palm of her hand from the start. Her story, which she shared a brief amount of, is an inspiration to anyone who works with children. She was witty, she was honest, she is

Anyone who has ever discounted a student, for any number of reasons, should hear Ms. Angelou’s tale. Raped at nine by her mother’s boyfriend, she named her attacker only to have him turn up dead the next day. Believing that she caused the death by speaking his name, she fell mute. She was poor, black, living in poverty in Arkansas..and now mute. How easy would it have been for her to be written off? A cautionary tale to all teachers…

At sixteen, she was a single mother in San Francisco. At every point she was down, she mentioned having a rainbow in the cloud. There was always someone in her life that encouraged her, that helped her see who and what she could accomplish. Her “Uncle Willy” was that role model for her, always encouraging others.

Her message centered around support, encouragement, and recognizing what effect you can have on others. She wouldn’t be where she was without those who were there for her..

Angelou closed by calling for educators to recognize their power: ”We are the possible. We are the true. We are the miracle.”

This was such a powerful message for me to hear, being surrounded by the “rainbows” of my ASCD peers. I look to many of the people that I was sitting with for inspiration, to give advice, even to challenge me. (I’m working on that…) It was a monumental moment to hear this amazing woman, one who inspires millions…one who was asked to write an inauguration poem for Clinton…is talking to educators and calling them to recognize their power.

“We are the possible. We are the true. We are the miracle.”

Connectivity, connections, relationships…be the rainbow in someone’s cloud.

rain cloud avoidN,

Amber

What do you do? Lion Rumbles…

March 7, 2013 by Amber Leave a Comment

I had the opportunity to hear Mr. Howard give the most amazing pep talk to one of our Lions last week. This child was hurt and upset by a classmate that had teased them and they didn’t know how to handle it.

(One of the BEST things about my job is watching and learning from JH and his amazing way of talking and connecting with students and parents.)

He gave the illustration of playing balloon ball with his three kids. His sweet Sophie, whom they adopted last year from China, you may or may not know, was born with a club hand. He said that she was catching the ball better than his two boys! He then sat down with her and asked to see her special hand. You know which hand she held up? Her regular hand! She doesn’t even see her club hand as different or special! The world is amazing through the eyes of a chid. She truly felt like her normal hand was her “special hand”. She can do everything with her club hand that you can do with your hand. It doesn’t slow her down a bit. If only we could have that mentality and self image!!

The use of this story was to show that EVERY child brings a special gift to the table. We’re ALL different, but that doesn’t make anyone better or worse. He turned around on this student to help them see and embrace the way they were different.

Whether it be a quirky personality or a physical difference, every single one of your students are special. Never forget that! When they are struggling, or having a bad day, take a moment to remind them that you CARE about them and think they are special! If every child had a positive attitude about their self worth, think of all the different issues that would go away. Bullying, self esteem, empathy…all are affected when a student struggles to see their value. They may not make straight A’s, they not be the quarterback of the football team….but ALL students have specials gifts.

Teachers are incredibly lucky to be able to help them discover and embrace their gifts! Take advantage!

Giftly,

Amber