Top LYS Tweets From the Week of August 12, 2012

Here’s a shocker... students are using bootleg technology to cheat on assignments.  Oh, the horror. Quick, ban the cell phones and throw the bootleggers into ISS. 

I may be making to light of this, but students have been finding ways to cheat since the first test was administered at the first school in human existence.  If a teacher is to counteract this, we must first consider the reasons why students cheat.

A. They do not value the assignment (I don’t care)

B. They know that they do not have the requisite skills to complete the task at an adequate level (I can’t do it).

C. The fear of not succeeding is greater than the fear of getting caught (I’m desperate).

D. It’s exciting or challenging (I got over on the man).

Second, we must consider how teachers can prevent cheating.

A. Create interesting assignments.

B.  Provide supports for students with deficits in skill and understanding.

C.  Provide grading rubrics and scaffold competency targets.

D. Be more alert in the classroom.

Notice that not one of our considerations is actually compounded by use of bootleg technology in the classroom.  In fact, upon further examination, the reasoned and appropriate use of bootleg technology may actually be a factor in the reduction of student cheating.

The point being, if I don’t want to do something I can point to an endless list of reasons why I shouldn’t, most of which won’t stand up to leadership due diligence and objective scrutiny.  

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 August 12, 2012.

1. Repeat after me: If we are not teaching the right thing, how we teach does not matter.

2. You have to read the book, Fundamental 5, it will make total sense. It's making great teaching... and learning... a habit... (By @jenniferzsch)

3. It seems unreasonable to expect teachers to teach bell to bell when their administrators are consistently late to meetings.

4. I’m tired of listening to people who've never run a school district, or even been in a public school, tell public school how to run. (By @DrJerryRBurkett)

5. Fundamental Five + O.C. Taylor = Another fantastic year! (By @principalkinney)

6. Cain out at Comal ISD yesterday. Really challenged by your presentation. Thanks for coming out. (By MES_Principal)

7. Most opposition I hear about C-Scope is actually opposition to teaching state standards. Show me a better comprehensive product, and I'll be quiet. (By @tlonganecker)

8. So many talented organizations are thwarted by talentless leadership. (By @tlonganecker)

9. Sadly, when you wear socks with sandals, you have failed the basic aptitude test.

10. Right now, The Fundamental 5 (Cain and Laird), is the #4 best selling education theory book on Kindle! Thank you, LYS Nation!

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/Fundamental5
• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “Look at Me: A Cautionary School Leadership Tale” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/lookatmebook
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Plans (Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan Tool); PW Lite (Basic PowerWalks Tool); PW Pro (Mid-level PowerWalks Tool)
• Upcoming Presentations: Canadian ISD Staff Kickoff, Highland Park ISD Staff Kickoff, Sunray ISD Staff Kickoff, Region 10 ESC Fall Leadership Conference (Keynote), Advancing Improvement in Education Conference (Multiple Presentations), TASSP Assistant Principals’ Workshop (Featured Speaker), American Association of School Administrators Conference (Multiple Presentations)
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation