Some Game On! Schools Write - Part 1

In response to the newspaper article and video on the Game On! school (11/4/2010), the principals of some other Game On! schools write:

LYS Principal #1:

I just saw the video on Game On! with Wurtz. That is so cool. Congrats to the school and LYS.

LYS Principal #2

OMG - I am soooo excited. I am going to get the teachers to show this to all of our kids this so that they can see how HAIRGROVE STUDENTS changed another school all the way in Dallas. It will be a great motivator for them, too. The school and LYS should be so proud!!!

LYS Principal #3

Very cool! It is exciting to see Game On! taking off across the country. I can't wait for you come out again to see what we are doing at Rennell. Game On! is alive and well in Cypress-Fairbanks!

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

A Reader Writes... (Yes, I Know the Hours are Long - Part 8)

In response to the post, “Yes, I Know the Hours are Long,” a Principal writes:

Amen to "Yes, I Know the Hours are Long!" I am a principal at a small school. This is my second year, and I have struggled with my teachers to make changes in what they have traditionally done--which is NOT best practice.

You would think I have asked them to sacrifice their first born. Some complain about having to move from one room to the other or about having so many subjects to be responsible for, or having to work long hours, but there is no option. I think many teachers come to false pretense that they cannot be more productive. That is NOT true.

I am pushing them to change. Extend and enrich the curriculum. Get out of the box! Raise the level of expectations. Be teachers and not just facilitators and paper-pushers. It's like pushing a brick wall up hill, but I AM making progress. I am seeing more innovation from some of them. Keep up the good work LYS!

SC Response

Here is what I know. The job that teachers are expected to do now is nothing like the job teachers were expected to do ten years ago. But the tools available to teachers now were unimaginable ten years ago. If teachers are to:

1. Meet the new requirements of the job (which were not invented by Principals or LYS);

2. Implement the new instructional tools that will make them more effective in the classroom;

They have to (even if it is grudgingly) embrace the concept of continuous learning (change).

But as a sought after change agent, I can tell you that the only organizations that willingly embrace meaningful change are the ones that have a history of successfully embracing change. With every other organization, it is an arduous process that fails as often as it succeeds. And in most every case it is the perseverance of leadership (both formal and informal) that is the deciding factor.

Celebrate your progress and keep your shoulder to that brick wall.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

A Reader Writes... (Yes, I Know the Hours are Long - Part 7)

In response to the post, “Yes, I Know the Hours are Long,” an old school LYS Principal writes:

Yes, the hours are long. I would suggest you start thinking about subtraction. In order to get the job of teaching effectively accomplished, we have to spend more time on instruction than we ever have before. Time, effort, and energy are a zero sum game. Once time, energy, and effort are exhausted they cannot be replenished.

Why do teachers do fundraising for student activities, such as prom? Why do we strong-arm teachers to participate after hours “community” events, such as “Heart Runs.” As we add more instructional responsibilities, we have to examine what we do and subtract something. I encourage the LYS nation to start subtracting.

SC Response

Absolutely! As you well know, our niche is optimizing and subtracting. The problem is that non-instructional activities are like politicians, “All of them are bad, except mine.”

That is why we begin with a focus on the foundations of instructional infrastructure and the fundamentals of quality instruction. As you embrace those, you will begin to self-identify the non-essentials to let go of. As you do this, things begin to improve rapidly. It’s just hard for most people to let go. Just remember, the “Do Not Do” list is one of the key elements that separate the great ones from the masses.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

Make Better Use of the Time before Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring Break

There is no question that the days immediately prior to Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring Break can be some of the most difficult for educators. To be effective at these times requires all of us to be at the top of our game. But many campuses just resign themselves to the fact that nothing productive will occur during those times, which leads to LITTLE TO NOTHING PRODUCTIVE OCCURING.

But not at one LYS campus. On that campus, the staff has figured out how to bring their “A” game to the classroom and make it count for something. On this campus, PDAS (summative evaluation) observations are scheduled during these periods. They are scheduled well in advance, so teachers have time to plan so they can really shine. The effect of top tier lessons and increased administrator time in the classroom, when both are needed most, has made a dramatic effect on the campus. And though it is not the only reason, since implementing this strategy, the campus has enjoyed dramatic improvements in student performance.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

A "Thank You," some quick "Amen's," a "Hallelujah," and a new Two Minute Drill

There have been some strong feelings expressed on the blog over the past week (and they will continue for a number of days). I couldn’t be more pleased, for two reasons. First, strong feelings are an indicator of strong passion. I would rather lose a passionate debate than live with milquetoast agreement. Second, no one has unsubscribed from the blog. It used to be when the blog discussed a controversial topic, two or three readers would just quit the discussion. Not this time. The LYS Nation is following Brezina’s reminder, “We can disagree, as long as we disagree agreeably.”

That is a tough rule and we seem to be following it. For that I say “thank you.”

In response to the post, “Common Assessments – Campus vs. District (10/29/10),” a LYS Central Office Curriculum Director writes:

AMEN!

In response to the post, “Question What You Do (11/2/10),” a LYS Principal writes:

Amen!

In response to the post, “A Reader Submits… Instructional Strategies (10/19/2010),” a LYS Assistant Superintendent writes:

Hallelujah :-)))

SC Response
Another, “thank you,” for the kind words and for the record, “Common Assessments – Campus vs. District” posted on October 29, 2010 is now the most popular LYS post ever (based on circulation). “A Reader Submits… Instructional Strategies,” posted on October 19, 2010 is the second most popular. Check them both it out if you missed them.

Finally, I have posted another installment of the LYS Two Minute Drill on YouTube. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AadNdpe21g

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...