Our Wolves came back to school this week.
Ain’t no tired like first week of school tired…but ya’ll. Today is Wednesday and it was SO smooth. Like kinders could handle lunch today smooth. We spent two days working on names, and hugs, and relationships. We went over the “essentials” of being at Whitt, and I know the teachers took the time to LISTEN to our students. How do I know this? Because I have spent the last three days walking around classrooms, just soaking in all of their awesome. I saw new teammates fitting in. I saw brand new students EXCITED to be a Whitt Wolf. I saw thankful momma’s being shoo’d away because they could handle walking in on their own.
It’s been amazing.
One of our goals this year is to get back to basics, remembering that a best practice is a best practice for a reason. As an admin staff, we’re doing the same. Here are my goals for getting back to the basics! Hopefully sharing these will not only showcase again that transparency I strive for, but also help hold me accountable!
- Walk-throughs but with feedback
- District goal of ten per teacher, my goal is one 15 min walk through a week, per 15 under my TTESS assignments
- 15 teachers x 15 mins = 225 min, less than 4 hours)
- Provide one additional 30 min convo of feedback and coaching per observation, 15 x 30 min= 7.5 hours (This could also be in with their planning time!)
- Total hours of my week devoted to teacher observation and feedback, 4 hours of observation + 7.5 hours of feedback and planning time (on what/how to coach!)= 11.5 hours
- Strategy to accomplish this? PUT THEM ON MY CALENDAR IN ADVANCE.
That’s 25% of my work week dedicated to teacher development and improvement. An investment, but a worthy one!
- Investment in school culture: 5 happy notes per teacher, per semester
- Using pre-made happy note starters, I commit to sending each T a happy note 5 times a semester. I do plan on counting “whole staff” treats in this count, 🙂 b/c I like a good seasonal treatie treat!
- Strategy: my teacher template will help me track!!
I have everyone’s love languages hanging up in my office. (Chart paper lovers UNITE!!) I will meet these socio-emotional goals!
- Using data to GROW students, not just as a way to have teachers complete one more form.
- I’m rereading “Leverage Leadership“, and it’s just SO powerful. The growth conversations it spurs within myself…yeeesh. I made three new anchor charts today for our PLC room, just based on the chapter I read last night. I’ve recommended it before, and will do it again! If you want to create systemic improvement in your school, this is a GREAT book to do it with! It’s heavy…but SO good!
- Read and share the profesh greatness on IG. I still can’t handle book snaps. My buddy Matt Arend has denied me basic training, b/c it’s supposed to just be “that” easy. Sigh! So I give up and will simply take a picture. And share it. #oldschool
I’m wanting my list to be manageable and make an impact. What do you think?? What do your principal/admin goals look like??
Ambitiously,
Amber
Thanks,,Amber, for sharing your specific goals for walkthroughs. Helped to do the math regarding how much time you’re spending in each classroom. I am,a principal of an international school in,the Middle,East and many of our teachers are not trained and have no experience.
Can you tell us how you introduced and distilled the Five Love Languages to your staff?
Love your blog and IG!!
Great posts! Thank you for your leadership!
As an elementary principal myself, I look forward to following your posts.