What Readers are Saying - The Fundamental 5

I want to share some of the notes we have been receiving from LYS’ers who have read our book, “The Fundamental Five: The Formula for Quality Instruction.”

“Loved the book. Finished it quick and have already passed it to my department chair.”

“The book was inspiring. This is going to be our campus book study for the fall.”

“Why didn’t they teach us this in college?”

“When I heard you present at our conference your answers were quick and easy to understand. I have to admit that actually made me skeptical. But now that I have read the book I’m a believer. I can’t wait to get back in the classroom.”

“Just know that now I tell everyone, ‘I knew them before they were famous.’ Love the book.”

Again, Mike and I want to thank everyone for your kind words, encouragement and validation. I can not express how much we appreciate your investment of both the time and money required to read our little book. A number of you have inquired about purchasing the book for book studies (which our publisher thinks is an excellent idea). For large orders just call Jo at the LYS office, (832) 477-5323 and she will process your P.O.

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

A Reader Writes... (Ignorance or Worse - Part 1)

In response to the 4/20/2011 post, “A Reader Submits... Ignorance or Worse,” a teacher writes:

It sounds like the writer is describing "a good ol’ boy" district, which is a big problem in education, in my opinion. I think that we would be better off with some kind of civil service promotions for administrators than what we have with the present "who you know" system. I do not think that we can do worse than what we have with the current crop of administrators.

The blog post is great, but using terms like "bouncers" and "night clubs" does not impress me. It gives me some negative and somewhat unprofessional insight to the writer. Which is not much better than the discussed AP teachers. And I do fully agree that the described situation is irresponsible of the district as a whole.

SC Response

What a fun comment! No beating around the bush, which is the hallmark of the LYS Nation. First, you are right, the district in question is the worst kind of “good ol’ district.” I am loath to say that racism is a driving force in this district (I don’t have the ability to look into another person’s heart), but by their actions it is easy to surmise that they have predetermined who will have access to better resources and higher expectations for success and that children of color do not seem to meet their criteria. That districts are allowed to get away with such practices sullies the reputations of all of us and is one of the best arguments for accountability you can find.

Second, I will not argue that there are not bad administrators in schools, there are. I will not argue that the current system for picking administrators is effective and efficient, it is not. But the civil service model is not the way to go. I prefer the Brezina model, hire on potential – retain on performance. But not subjective performance, objective performance. Your team adds value, you stay. Your team subtracts value, you are on notice and the clock is ticking.

Third, I am sorry that you did not like the metaphor of “Bouncers and Night Clubs.” I have to own that, as they are my words. The intent was to illustrate that we must embrace inclusive practices and reject exclusive practices. But the fact that you found the metaphor distasteful means that I was somewhat successful. Personally, I find exclusionary practices and policies to be nauseating and beneath contempt.

Keep reading and keep writing.

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

A Central Texas School District is searching for an Assistant Superintendent. Application details at www.LeadYourSchool.com

Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

The Big Easy Writes... (My Property Tax Appraisal - Part 1)

In response to the 4/15/2011 post, “My Property Tax Appraisal – Part 1,” The Big Easy writes:

As I see it, part of the problem is that:

1. A large percentage of the population is in the "baby boomer" category.

2. Baby boomers, and many others for that matter, have little connection to education, much less educators.

3. The perception of many in category 2 is, "I don't need education at this time in my life. Thus, I have no burning desire to support educators, especially with my money."

4. I do "need" firefighters and police officers, especially in the world we now live.

I have an idea. What if we stayed in touch with our alumni and kept them involved? Really involved and not just once a year at homecoming football game. Newsletters, open invitation to visit, alumni competitions between classes, etc. (someone more creative than me could surely take this and run with it).

The bottom line is that we have to do a better job of marketing the product - the value of education, not just for today's student, but also for today's society. Where better to start than with those who can relate - alumni?

Trust me, I’m a Doctor.

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

A Central Texas School District is searching for an Assistant Superintendent. Application details at www.LeadYourSchool.com

Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

A Reader Writes... (More on PLC's - Part 2)

In response to the 6/16/2011 post, "More on PLC’s – Part 1," a reader writes:

I couldn't disagree with the writer more...You have missed the point of PLC’s. Because accountability is moving so fast you can't NOT to embrace PLC’s. It is about creating a culture of professional collaboration to improve practice. The Fundamental Five alone will never give you that. Therefore it is LESS efficient or effective, sans a PLC or some form thereof.

Quality teaching is a profession not a trade. It requires teamwork with professional "talk" beyond a series of basic discrete steps, a la the Fundamental Five or Foundation Trinity. The Foundation Trinity alone is merely a recipe to follow without a PLC to "move" the teachers; a PLC allows the Foundation Trinity to become gospel and the Fundamental Five the bible when teachers convene regularly to study their practice.

SC Response

I don’t see a lot of disagreement in the previous post and yours. I see the main area of contention to be timing. Obviously, you are correct in your position that teaching is a profession, not a trade. However, if the culture and practice of a staff has been that of tradesmen (tradespeople?), the move to professionalism requires time, support, and specific direction. A PLC does not spring up due to wishes and good intentions.

So with both of us agreeing that the end state must be a functioning, reflective, student focused PLC, how does one go about cultivating one in the most effective and efficient way possible?

This is where the true value of the Foundation Trinity and Fundamental Five resides. As you state, the Foundation Trinity alone is merely a recipe. But it is the recipe the focuses the brainpower of the organization solely on the expansion of student opportunity. Just because I recognize flour, eggs, sugar and milk doesn’t mean that I am a master chef or can even bake a cake. But the longer I practice, share, and reflect on my success at following the recipe, the better I get at it. What this means from a practical standpoint is that until you get the organization using same ingredients and following the same recipe, spending a significant amount of time talking about how to cook better is an empty exercise. And to have the organization talk about something other than cooking as a precursor to “cooking talk,” is simply demeaning and waste of precious time and resources.

So to leave my cooking metaphor in the kitchen, what this means in the field is that you begin with the Foundation Trinity, often with very little discussion. As the staff goes though the motions of executing the trinity, they begin to develop insights on what the trinity is telling them. At that point Leadership has to carve out time and facilitate the discussions and insights that are driven by focused execution. The PLC develops and grows as the capacity of the staff develops and grows.

This is the fatal flaw of those attempting to implement a PLC where one has never existed before. One sees functioning PLC’s and think, “Well how hard can that be? They are smart, we are smart. They get along, we get along. They like kids, we like kids. We will do this to.”

If only it was that 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

A Central Texas School District is searching for an Assistant Superintendent. Application details at www.LeadYourSchool.com

Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

Top LYS Tweets from the Week of June 19, 2011

Since I have been publicly advocating for the increased use of bootleg technology in schools, I have been getting some questions concerning internet filters and blocked web sites. The answer to most of these questions are addressed in an article written by Tina Barseghian, “Straight from the DOE: Dispelling Myths About Blocked Sites” (April 26, 2011). The following is a summary of that article.

Here are some surprising rules that educators, administrators, parents and students might not know about website filtering in schools.

• The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) does require filtering to block student access to inappropriate websites

• Accessing YouTube is not violating CIPA rules.

• Websites don’t have to be blocked for teachers.

• Broad filters are not helpful.

• Schools will not lose E-Rate funding by unblocking appropriate sites.

• Kids need to be taught how to be responsible digital citizens.

• Teachers should be trusted. “If the technology fails us and filters something appropriate and useful, and if teachers in their professional judgment think it’s appropriate, they should be able to show it.”

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now using 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 June 19, 2011, as tabulated by the accountants at Price Waterhouse.

1. I see that Memphis schools are going to include student input on teacher evaluations. I don't see an upside to this.

2. Memphis continued: I was an ass to many of my teachers when I was in high school. My rating of them then is not how I would rate them now.

3. Memphis continued: I want my teachers to teach with courage and conviction, not fear.

4. Restrictions on children: Voting, smoking, drinking, driving, contracts, work, etc. What idiot thinks it is a good idea to let them rate teachers?

5. Student choice is not the ultimate goal. Increasing student opportunity is the ultimate goal. This often entails limiting student choice.

6. Some LYS data - Unnamed district: 6 LYS Secondary Schools, overall attendance improved 0.43%; 2 non-LYS Secondary Schools, attendance fell 0.45%. Nice Job LYS’ers!

7. Congratulations to LYS Principal Jerry Gibson on his promotion. Who will be next?

8. Congratulations to LYS Principal Dr. John Jenkins on his promotion. Who will be next?

9. Congratulations to LYS Principal Dr. Stephen Wurtz on his new promotion. Who will be next?

10. Congratulations to LYS Principal Donnie Bartlett on his new school in his new district. Who will be next?

11. Congratulations to LYS'er Fletcher Turcato on getting his first principalship. Who will be next?

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

A Central Texas School District is searching for an Assistant Superintendent. Application details at www.LeadYourSchool.com

Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation