Top LYS Tweets from the Week of December 11, 2011

Christmas Holidays are beginning, so here is my bootleg technology advice for this week. Take this time to start using it. Read an e-book, download some apps, play a game, and/or do some research. Just play with a new gadget and have some fun. Who knows what you might be inspired to try when school begins anew in 2012.

Speaking of which, this is the last post of 2011. The blog will crank up again on January 3, 2012. So to all of the LYS Nation, enjoy a happy, restful and safe Holiday Season!

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now using your own bootleg technology devices to follow Twitter. If you haven’t done so yet, we want you to join us. To let you see what you are missing, here are the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of December 11, 2011, as tabulated by the accountants at Price Waterhouse.

1. Bad practice with an excuse is still BAD PRACTICE.

2. A Superintendent shares: My staff meetings are much more productive when I use the Fundamental 5.

3. If I believe that my students can't, then they never will.

4. Heard claims that test prep materials have been proven to increase scores on STAAR? Can't be true because no scores have been reported yet. (By @teainfo)

5. Students are engaged when they are using technology; not so much watching the teacher use technology. (By @lsitzes)

6. Purposeful planning and execution of that plan makes all the difference for kids. (By @CabidaCain)

7. Should be no surprise that alcohol and tobacco use among teens has declined, yet drug use hasn't. Simple answer: Drug dealers don't check IDs.

8. Just notified that LYS will have multiple presentations at the Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principal's Mid-Winter Conference!

9. Everyone deserves second chances but not for the same mistakes. (By @coachwrong)

10. A covered classroom door window is BAD PRACTICE. It also creates an unsafe setting for students and teachers.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/4ydqd4t
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principal’s Mid-Winter Conference; Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference

A LYS Principal Submits... The Importance of the Power Zone

LYS Principal submits the following:

SC,

I just had an experience that has convinced me that there is no more important instructional practice than Working in the Power Zone.

One of my teachers brought a student to my office to complete his work. He had made some poor choices in class. The teacher gave him his assignment he was to work on and clearly stated the instruction, “Write why it is important to follow instructions.”

I was taking care of some paperwork so I let the student work quietly while I was stuck in my ‘instructor work area.’ Multi-tasking, I occasionally asked the student a guiding question that I thought would focus his ‘critical writing,’ which of course required him to write why it is important to follow instructions. And his verbal responses to my questions were to my satisfaction. When I left my "instructor work area" to get in the "Power Zone", I discovered the student had been busy writing. Just not writing what the teacher and I envisioned. Instead, he had written, over and over again, the sentence, “Why is it important to follow directions?”

I had to laugh at this great reminder of how simple tasks still need our “eyes” for student success.

SC Response

Great story and a testament to how when we allow our attention to be divided between what is critical (students and instruction) and what is pressing (paperwork and administrivia) how quickly student effort is wasted.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/4ydqd4
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principal’s Mid-Winter Conference; Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference

A LYS Assistant Principal Submits... Dr. Jim Davis, Our LYS Coach

A new LYS Assistant Principal submits the following:

SC,

I just want to let you know how much I appreciate Dr. Jim Davis. He has gone out of his way to make sure I had an opportunity to make up the training on the Fundamental 5 modules I had missed. Not only has he been very accommodating, he has been very pleasant and very professional. (He also went out of his way to set me up with an additional account so that I could have complete access to all PowerWalks data at both campuses I am assigned to). I have thoroughly enjoyed each of the training modules. He is an excellent presenter. The information I have gained in each of the trainings is very beneficial and I am pleased to have had the opportunities to gain this knowledge. Lead Your School is an excellent program. I look forward to any future trainings and/or updates. My thanks, again, to Dr. Davis.

SC Response

Thank you for your note and I agree. Dr. Davis has been a steady and guiding influence on me for over ten years now. There is no question that he is one of the “Good Guys.” And if the LYS Nation is wondering who is this Dr. Jim Davis, many of you know him by his alias, “The Big Easy.”

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/4ydqd4t
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principal’s Mid-Winter Conference; Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference

A LYS (and Game On!) Principal Shares... The Cleaning Fairy

A LYS Principal shares a team memo from her Game On! campus. If you are new to the blog, the Game On! campuses are LYSers on steroids. Their performance is legendary. Now the memo:

The Cleaning Fairy made a few stops this weekend! I know you LOVE it when she comes for a visit :)

Just a few things to note before our visitors on Wednesday....

1. Check the corners of things on the wall.... all corners should be tacked down.

2. Check the anchor charts.... all charts should be level.

3. Check for Junky Corner Disease.... if you have corners that are beginning to look like a storage facility, clean them out.

4. Check the for THE PILE-UP...You know, those things that become "piles" in your room :)

The Cleaning Fairy will be stopping by daily... make her proud!

Bell's Battalion will RISE to the Challenge!

SC Response

If you think the focus on cleanliness and appearance is over the top, you should see how a Game On! campus attacks and devours performance data.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/4ydqd4t
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principal’s Mid-Winter Conference; Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference

A LYS Superintendent and Principal Share... A Powerful Staff

Here is a field report from a LYS campus in a LYS District.

SC,

See what our 4th grade teachers are wearing on Thursdays. They designed the shirts. Thought you might enjoy this!

SC Response

Awesome!!! These teachers are the runaway winners of my “Favorite Fourth Grade Team of the Week” award!

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/4ydqd4t
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principal’s Mid-Winter Conference; Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference

Top LYS Tweets from the Week of December 4, 2011

“Students with access to educational materials on smart phones study about 40 minutes longer each week” (StudyBlue).

How is that for a quote? When I ask secondary teachers what are the main hindrances to campus academic performance, the consistent answers are:

A. The students don’t turn in homework.

B. The students don’t study.

C. The students don’t care about school.

So considering the complaints of teachers and the findings of StudyBlue, if I was still a principal, how could I not encourage the use of bootleg technology on my campus?

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now using your own bootleg technology devices to follow Twitter. If you haven’t done so yet, we want you to join us. To let you see what you are missing, here are the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of December 4, 2011, as tabulated by the accountants at Price Waterhouse.

1. School starts when the students arrive, not when the adults decide to start working.

2. You are going to have to: 1) Tell your people. 2) Show your people. 3) Monitor your people. 4) Repeat.

3. Manage the small stuff, diligently, and the big stuff never happens.

4. When you send the memo before the conversation, you are managing, not leading.

5. Shared by a high school principal, "Wow! Just finished your book. The Fundamental 5 is exactly what we need."

6. The big shift in the US over the past 20 years is not a rise in regulations & taxation but a decline in investment. (By @FareedZakaria)

7. In Texas, we're not closing schools due to educator mismanagement. We're closing them due to a Rick Perry created funding deficit.

8. Districts that are concerned about not having enough computers for on-line testing are admitting that they have ignored technology infrastructure.

9. You don't need a 1:1 environment for on-line testing. You need an adequate number of devices and a testing schedule.

10. On a new Amazon.com recommendation list for education books, The Fundamental 5, is number seven on the list.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/4ydqd4t
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference

A Reader Writes... Assessment vs. Benchmark - Part 2

In response to the 11/17/2011 post, “Assessment vs. Benchmark – Part 1,” a reader writes:

SC,

One year on my grade level, in my content, we spent 25 instructional days (out of a total of 172) on district and state tests. It is a shame that the time for instruction is wasted. Any competent teacher is assessing all day long and can tell which student needs what. I wonder what would happen in classrooms if the district and administration would back off and let teachers teach. Especially, if the teachers would receive a significant monetary bonus for improved scores.

SC Response

I agree that we spend entirely too much time testing. And this is from the guy that advocates for the use of short-term common assessments. Every district and campus needs a testing calendar, and for a test to have a slot, the test must provide relevant and timely information that informs and improves decision making. Sadly, the aligned and integrated testing calendar is about as common as unicorn sightings. Outside of a handful of LYS campuses, I have not come across one.

As for bonuses for improved scores, that’s a whole other discussion. One that I will tackle in an upcoming blog post. As with most every simple idea, the execution is anything but...

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/4ydqd4t
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference

A Reader Asks... How Long for an Observation

In response to the 11/3/11 post, “ A Reader Asks... PowerWalks and Fundamental 5 Support,” a reader asks:

SC,

How long should a person conducting a PowerWalk stay in the classroom to get an adequate idea of the instruction?

SC Response

This is a great question. But before I answer, I’m have to lay out some initial understandings.

There are different types of classroom observations, used for different purposes.

A. There are observations used for summative evaluation. These observations require the observer to spend a significant amount of time in the classroom (at least 25 minutes, if not longer) so the teacher has the opportunity to demonstrate the depth of his or her instructional delivery skill. For the record, there is no circumstance where I would condone the use of a short-time observation for the purpose of summative evaluation.

B. Longer formative observations. These are used for the purpose of looking for specific skills that the teacher has been trained on, and the observer wants to see. For example, the teacher has been trained on a specific behavior management protocol and the observer wants to see the teacher use the protocol. That will often require the observer to remain in the classroom for an extended period so the teacher has the opportunity to use the practice. Then the teacher and observer meet to discuss what was observed, what it means and what should be continued and/or adjusted.

C. Short-term formative observations. These are used for the purpose of identifying trends and for providing teachers with a “game-film” of typical instructional practices. PowerWalks is simply the best of these types of observations (there are many lesser and/or bootleg versions). What must be understood (though no one does) is that a single 3-5 minute observation means nothing. It is a random wisp of time. However, with 15 to 20 of these observations (if the right system is used, a very big “if”) it is possible to provide teachers with a fairly accurate picture of typical practice. It is with this information that teachers are able to make meaningful, incremental adjustments to their craft that can pay big dividends in student performance. Now here is the kicker, there are only a handful of districts and campuses that use this type of walk-thru information correctly. Sad, but true.

It should be noted that in a professional, coaching environment all three types of observations should be used. And the purpose of each observation should be clear to the teacher, prior to the actual observation. How is this accomplished? Just make it procedure that if the purpose of the observation is for evaluation or to see a specific practice, then the teacher will receive prior notice. Otherwise, if someone walks into the classroom, the teacher knows it is for a short-term observation.

So to answer your question, if the observer is competent, with a series of 15 to 20, three-minute observations the teacher can be provided with a fairly accurate picture of his or her instructional tendencies. Do know this, if anyone gives you feedback or tries to coach you after just 1, three-minute observation, he is sharing worthless information and wasting everyone’s time.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/4ydqd4t
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference

A LYS Teacher Submits... Jeanette Nelson, Our LYS Coach

A new LYS Teacher submits the following:

I just want the LYS Nation to know what a wonderful job our LYS Coach, Jeanette Nelson, has done on our campus. I cannot tell you how wonderful our training sessions have been with Jeanette. She's informative, practical, makes the training exciting and worth our time. It is obvious that she really cares about making sure that all of us understand the what’s, why’s and how’s of LYS practices and strategies. The changes on the campus have been palpable and I can’t wait until she comes back later in the year. :-)

JN Response

Thank you so much for the kind words. I have appreciated all of the hard work that you and your teammates have put in to improving your school.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/4ydqd4t
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference

The Big Easy Writes... Teacher Nests - Part 8

In response to the 9/30/11 post, “Teacher Nests – Part 5,” the Big Easy writes:

I consider it a "slow news day" when we have to resort to talking about teacher nests (I know I am the one that brought it up).

You are 100% right - instruction should always be the primary focus. No excuses why we can't put the kids first. Just clean it up your nest so we can move on to discussions about effective instructional strategies (The Fundamental 5), how we can extend the connection between kids and instruction (bootleg technology), and how we connect with our kids (relationships).

There is plenty more to talk about than your mess. And by the way, our students know when the focus is on them and when it is not.

The Big Easy

SC Response

As you can see, The Big Easy got his name based on his demeanor, not because of a lack of focus or an unwillingness to set the record straight.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/4ydqd4
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference

Top LYS Tweets from the Week of November 27, 2011

I walked into a high school social studies class room last week and what I saw was all the confirmation that anyone would need if they were considering letting students use bootleg technology in the classroom. There were four desktop computers in the room, but they were essentially useless because the district Internet access has ground to a halt. To many computers, not enough bandwidth coupled with draconian filters. But no matter, every student had their cell phone out and was using it to search for current facts about their assigned country in order to complete their assignments.

As I wandered through this mixed-ability classroom, not only was each student using his or her phone appropriately, they were also helping each other for the purpose of optimizing their searches. The class had 100% student engagement and the pace of work was incredible, because the speed in which students were able to access information was almost instantaneous. Bootleg technology, the cheap solution to your classroom computing problem.

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now using your own bootleg technology devices to follow Twitter. If you haven’t done so yet, we want you to join us. To let you see what you are missing, here are the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of November 27, 2011, as tabulated by the accountants at Price Waterhouse.

1. Announcement: This is tweet number 2,000 from the LYS Nation. You may now continue with your previously scheduled success!

2. Correction and Update: McFee ES (CFISD) is also a #PowerWalks Hero School for the month of November. Congratulations!

3. When the going gets tough, are you selfless or selfish? That's the true test of character.

4. #Hypocricy: The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense. (By @tlognanecker)

5. "...gives teachers time 2 teach & students the opportunity 2 focus on mastering a manageable course load" (By @tlognanecker)

6. Want to spur innovation? Own the failure.

7. A good teacher is a master of simplification and an enemy of simplism - Louis A. Berman (By @NMHS_Principal)

8. Principals that oppose the use of student performance as a factor in their evaluation have confused managing with leadership. Results matter.

9. Just watched a class where students were researching topics on their phones. 100% engagement. Twice the district download speed.

10. The critical variable in campus discipline is adult practice.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/4ydqd4t
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference

The Marine Writes... Teacher Nests - Part 7

In response to the 9/30/11 post, “Teacher Nests – Part 5,” the Marine writes:

SC,

I remember someone teaching me that as long as student performance was accelerating that teacher location was secondary. However, in my experience as a school leader, rarely have I observed a teacher raising student achievement with his or her butt glued to a chair at the desk.

SC Response

I too remember that and I also remember you learning how to teach with no teacher furniture in your classroom. The sacrifices of the Great are rarely understood or attempted by the Good.

Sadly, I do have to concur with your observation. And I will add an observation. The teachers that argue the loudest that this is not the case seem to be the ones that spend the least amount of time in what LYS describes as the Power Zone.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/4ydqd4t
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference

PowerWalks Hero Schools (November 2011)

As is now a LYS Nation tradition, we will take time to tip our caps to the campuses that are taking the most important step in creating and maintaining an action oriented professional learning community. These are the campuses that have conducted an extraordinary number of formative classroom observations in a given month. This month the cutoff numbers are as follows:

• Big Schools – 400 PowerWalks Observations
• Medium Sized Schools – 250 PowerWalks Observations
• Small Schools – 125 PowerWalks Observations
• Very Small Schools – 75 PowerWalks Observations.

So without further adieu, here are your thirty-eight PowerWalks Hero Schools for the Month of November. Congratulations!!!

* = Two Months in a Row

Elementary Schools	Junior High and Middle Schools	Alternative Schools	Combined Campuses	High Schools
Cottonwood Creek ES (HISD)*	Farley MS (HISD)*	Afton Oaks (JWJPCS)*	Louise Schools (LISD)*	Hutto HS (HISD)*
Hutto ES (HISD)	Hutto MS (HISD)	Grandbury (JWJPCS)*	Poth Schools (PISD)*	Luling HS (LISD)*
Johnson ES (HISD)	Luling JH (LISD)*	Hayes (JWJPCS)*		Marlin HS (MISD)*
Ray ES (HISD)*	Lake Air IS (WISD)*	Waco Alternative School (WISD)*		University HS (WISD)
Luling ES (LISD)*	Tennyson MS (WISD)*			Waco HS (WISD)*
Blake Manor ES (MISD)
Decker MS (MISD)
Oak Meadows ES (MISD)*
Presidential Meadows ES (MISD)
Alta Vista ES (WISD)*
Bell’s Hill ES (WISD)*
Brook Avenue ES (WISD)*
Crestview ES (WISD)*
Dean Highland ES (WISD)
Hillcrest ES (WISD)
JH Hines ES (WISD)*
Kendrick ES (WISD)*
Lake Waco ES (WISD)*
Mountainview ES (WISD)
North Waco ES (WISD)*
Provident Heights ES (WISD)
South Waco Es (WISD)

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/4ydqd4t
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference