LYS Principals Write... So What is Your Scheduling Alternative - Part 1

In response to the 11/29/11 post, “So What is Your Scheduling Alternative,” LYS Principals are asking:

SC,

I would like to know more about the trimester schedule.

And

Where can I find more information on scheduling?

SC Response

Here are some critical facts you should know about trimesters and other schedules.

1. The eight period and nine period days only work on paper. It is a nightmare for students, teachers and instruction. For students, they have to keep up with content, homework and studying in eight to nine courses each day. Honestly, I can count on one hand the number of adults I know who can do nine things a day with both competence and high quality (I’m not one of them). Why would I expect a teenager to do better? For teachers, they face multiple preps, an endless series of starts and stops, and the unrelenting pressure of having to cram too much content into not enough time. But at least our politicians have increased class sizes and reduced support in order to make this task more manageable. As for instruction, I’ve yet to meet an educator that doesn’t understand that increasing time on task is critical to academic success. Yet in a nine period day, students spend 40 to 50 minutes a day just walking from class to class. Here’s my idea, instead of taking PE, just count the passing periods as a PE class. Now you have a ten period day. I don’t want to brag, but this may be my best idea ever.

2. With the trimester, students take five, 75-minute classes a day for twelve weeks. Now students have a manageable course load. And teachers only have four courses a day to prepare for and they actually have time to teach the content. So what could be the downside?

3. Here are the downsides. First, not a lot of schools run the trimester, so your school will be different. Therefore, if being part of the herd is part of your district’s culture, then don’t do this. Second, the adults who manage the schedule will have to burn the midnight oil three times a year instead of two times a year. Obviously, a completely unreasonable expectation... Oh yeah, the trimester is better for teachers and students.

4. Notice that I didn’t mention state tests. A lot of trimester detractors claim that the trimester doesn’t line up with state testing calendars. Interestingly, neither does the traditional semester calendar. But if believe that being exposed to all of the content prior to the test (trimester) is worse than not being exposed to all of the material before the test (semester), then keep doing what you have always done.

If anyone wants additional scheduling information or support, just call Jo (number below), she can set you up with a meeting with Former Principal of the World and Expert Scheduler, E. Don Brown.

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 Reader Writes... Thanks for the Meeting

An Old School LYS’er writes:

SC,

Thanks again for taking the time to listen and share your observations with me. It remains exciting to hear about what is really best for teachers and students. Thanks for all you and the LYS crew do to make sure that none are left without the best opportunity to succeed in the classroom and in life.

I appreciate your candor and enthusiasm for our craft. In reflection, I realize that I am at a level of frustration but still have a passion to help students be all they can be. How do I know this? By the amount of time I spend endeavoring to improve.

I really wanted to gain some insights to engage our district's leadership in making the vital step toward balancing growth at all campuses. But I now realize that the best change may be a change in myself. I can't wait to hear about more successes at the LYS campuses in Central Texas. Keep up the good work.

Thanks again for dinner and your time.

SC Response

CL,

It was great to sit down and talk schools and leadership with you. Just remember to keep your head up. That allows you to find the best solutions for your staff and students and the best options for you.

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 25, 2011

For those of you who are keeping track, here are the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of December 25, 2011, as tabulated by the accountants at Price Waterhouse.

1. Who is surprised that the same politicians that enacted laws that prevent educator double-dipping, are double-dippers?

2. Presidential candidates aren't going near public education in the debate. Certainly not in their talking points for votes. Perry particularly silent. (By @tlongnecker)

3. Public education funding is broken across the nation. Maybe the presidential candidates are Waiting for Superman. *Sigh* (by @tlongnecker)

4. Paying teachers 10% more results in 5-10% higher pupil performance in OECD countries, find two professors. (By @FareedZakaria)

5. BRILLIANT: Babies can tell if adults are reliable or unreliable, and they choose to learn form the reliable ones. (By @anniemurphypaul)

6. BRILLIANT: Male college students’ grades drop in the fall if their school’s football team is winning lots of games. (By @anniemurphypaul)

7. BRILLIANT: A mistake is not a blunder to be regretted, but a welcome indication that you're out of your comfort zone. (By @anniemurphypaul)

8. Thirty major corporations paid zero federal income taxes in the last 3 years. (By @thinkprogress)

9. Mentally ill flood emergency rooms as U.S. states cut services. (By @Reuters)

10. I love a New Year! Clean slate: Winning is a choice. Choose to do the tough things that cause you to win!!! (By @DaveRamsey)

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

PowerWalks Hero Schools (December 2011)

Blog Post: PowerWalks Hero Schools (December 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. For the month of December the cutoff numbers were as follows:

Big Schools – 250 PowerWalks Observations

Medium Sized Schools – 130 PowerWalks Observations

Small Schools – 90 PowerWalks Observations

Very Small Schools – 40 PowerWalks Observations.

So without further adieu, here are your twenty-five PowerWalks Hero Schools for the Month of December. Congratulations!!!

(2) = Two Months in a Row / (3) = 3 Months in a Row

Elementary Schools	Junior High and Middle Schools	Alternative Schools	Combined Campuses	High Schools
Cottonwood Creek ES (HISD) (3)	Hutto MS (HISD) (2)	Garza County (JWJPCS)	Louise Schools (LISD) (3)	Hutto HS (HISD) (3)
Johnson ES (HISD) (2)	Marble Falls MS (MFISD)	Waco Alternative School (WISD) (3)		Waco HS (WISD) (3)
Luling ES (LISD) (3)	GW Carver Academy (WISD)
Alta Vista ES (WISD) (3)
Bell’s Hill ES (WISD) (3)
Brook Avenue ES (WISD) (3)
Cedar Ridge ES (WISD)
Crestview ES (WISD) (3)
Dean Highland ES (WISD)
Hillcrest ES (WISD) (2)
JH Hines ES (WISD) (3)
Kendrick ES (WISD) (3)
Lake Waco ES (WISD) (3)
Meadowbrook ES (WISD)
North Waco ES (WISD) (3)
Provident Heights ES (WISD) (2)
Sul Ross 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: 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 18, 2011

And we’re back. Happy New Year’s to all and I hope that you had a safe and restful holiday.

In regards to bootleg technology I often get the question, “Where should we start?”

Let you people try their bootleg technology at a personal level, first. And this is the best time of the year do this. A lot of your staff just received an e-reader, smart phone, tablet, and/or a notebook computer as a present. At one of your first staff meetings of the new year, take an hour and create three to six stations. Have each station focus on a bootleg technology use (examples: Twitter, Facebook. Photos, Apps, Reading, Scheduling, To-do Lists, etc.) Have a staff member serve as a facilitator at each station and then let the rest of the staff rotate through the stations of their choice. Reduce technophobia and leverage current staff expertise, sounds like a win/win to me!

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 18, 2011, as tabulated by the accountants at Price Waterhouse.

1. Congratulations to Blue Ridge HS! A new Blue Ribbon School! Kudos to the two LYS Principals (both now Superintendents), Dr. Mike Seabolt and Dr. Chane Rascoe who took BRHS from unacceptable to national prominence!

2. BREAKING: LYS Principal Dale Mitchell is the new principal at Sterling HS! Who will be next?

3. Here's the LYS STAAR test solution: 1 - Teach the TEKS at the appropriate rigor; 2 - Assess in short time windows; 3 - Adjust at full speed.

4. The focus on social and economic issues to improve schools ignores the variable we most control. Ourselves.

5. The ultimate goal of behavior management is to help students behave responsibly - not pay for their actions. (By @kimbarker25)

6. If we graduate a student who can't meet exit requirements, what did we actually accomplish in 12 plus years?

7. Timeline for fixing Texas school finance issues? 2-3 years minimum. (By @Dr.JerryRBurkett)

8. Dear Texas Politician: In 2012, will you lead, be forced by the courts to lead, or neither? (By @tlonganecker)

9. @LYSNation Considering Foods with Minimal Nutritional Value and holiday parties...what are your thoughts on bootleg popcorn? (By @cheadhorn)

10. Bootleg popcorn is the secret to increased partygoer engagement. Hosts should look for ways to embed its use in their events.

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