More Praise for the Fundamental 5

The following is a reader’s review of our little book:

"The Fundamental 5 should be required reading for every educator. This book should also be required for every teacher preparation program in the United States."

Funny that you should suggest the use of the Fundamental 5 in teacher preparation programs because I just recently received the following e-mail.

Sean and Mike,

Just wanted you to know that Sam Houston State University IS using your book, The Fundamental 5, in the College of Education.  This is now the second year the school has used it. Hoo Ray!

Then, we were notified that this week that The Fundamental 5 is currently the second best-selling education theory book on Kindle.  Beating out such heavyweights as Marzano, Reeves and Whitaker. This is beyond our imagination. But do know that we understand that this success is because schools across the country want to replicate the success of the hard-working educators that make up the LYS Nation.  Laird and I can’t begin to thank you enough!

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: Region 10 ESC Fall Leadership Conference (Keynote), Advancing Improvement in Education Conference (Multiple Presentations), TASSP Assistant Principals’ Workshop (Featured Speaker), North Dakota Association of Secondary School Principals (Keynote), American Association of School Administrators Conference (Multiple Presentations), National Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations)
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

A LYS Principal Asks... Getting Rid of ISS

A LYS Principal asks:

SC,

How can I get rid of ISS (In School Suspension) and still maintain a discipline system that prevents me from getting fired?

SC Response

I think you are tracking with E. Don Brown’s understanding that an ISS class is a self-fulfilling prophecy.  As such, the best option for your students is not to have one.

I believe that your discipline system must be based on coaching and restitution, not punishment and revenge.  In developing such a system, gather your best teachers who never send students to the office. Work with that team to identify the concrete practices they use to keep all kids in class. Then build your discipline system around those practices.  Your job is to ensure that all adults follow the practices and support the system. As the flow of students to the office decreases (and it will decrease) the need for ISS will simple disappear.

As a principal, you must never forget the absolute truth that the longer a student is removed from class the further that student falls behind academically. 

Whatever you do, don’t be like the principal that I met a couple of years ago at a conference. After my presentation on pro-active and supportive discipline practices,  he approached me and said, “I agree with you. I abolished ISS on my campus two years ago.” 

I said, “Great.  What interventions does your campus use now?”

He reply, “Interventions? My policy is if you are sent to the office you are automatically suspended.”

Hopefully, that principal has either evolved or left the profession.

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: Region 10 ESC Fall Leadership Conference (Keynote), Advancing Improvement in Education Conference (Multiple Presentations), TASSP Assistant Principals’ Workshop (Featured Speaker), North Dakota Association of Secondary School Principals (Keynote), American Association of School Administrators Conference (Multiple Presentations), National Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations)
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

PowerWalks Hero Schools (August 2012)

In furtherance of a LYS Nation tradition, we will take this time to tip our caps to the campuses that have embraced 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.  Since this is the beginning of the school year, any campus that conducted even a single PowerWalks observation is to be considered a Hero Campus.  Next month, as you can see below, the bar will be raised a little bit higher

Your September Targets

Big Schools – 350 PowerWalks Observations

Medium Sized Schools – 250 PowerWalks Observations

Small Schools – 150 PowerWalks Observations

Very Small Schools – 75 PowerWalks Observations.

Now without further adieu, here are your twenty-six PowerWalks Hero Schools for the month of August 2012.  Congratulations!!!

Elementary Schools	Junior High and Middle Schools	Alternative Schools	Combined Campuses	High Schools
Johnson ES (HISD)	Lake Jackson IS (BISD)	Afton Oaks (JWJPCS)	Louise Schools (LISD)	Hull-Daisetta HS (HDISD)
Markham ES (TISD)	Tom Bean MS (TBISD)	Garza County (JWJPCS)		Hutto HS (HISD)
Cedar Ridge ES (WISD)	Carver Academy (WISD)	Granbury (JWJPCS)		Mayde Creek HS (KISD)
Crestview ES (WISD)	Tennyson MS (WISD)	Hays County (JWJPCS)		Tidehaven HS (TISD)
Dean-Highland ES (WISD)		Rockdale (JWJPCS)		University HS (WISD)
JH Hines ES (WISD)		San Marcos (JWJPCS)		Waco HS (WISD)
Mountainview ES (WISD)
South Waco ES (WISD)
West Ave 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/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: 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), National Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations)
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of August 26, 2012

One of the benefits of bootleg technology is the ability to easily download apps.  Now remember, an app is simply a software packet that we download onto our phones and tablets. Most people take some precautions when downloading software on their computers.  But with phones and tablets, users throw caution to the wind and download any and everything.  Not the smartest thing one could do.  There are rouge apps that mine your device for information to steal identities. There are legitimate “free” apps that sell information about you to marketing companies, install background software on your device, and/or run ads that use significant amounts of data.

So what should you do? First, download apps only from trusted sources.  Second, delete the free apps on your device that you do not use. Third, if you like an app, purchase the upgraded version.  The paid versions generally don’t have the embedded advertising.

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 26, 2012.

1. Fundamental 5 is a huge part of the improvement plans for our 46 campuses. Look forward to observing strategies in use. (By @LindaHenrie1)

2. Started PowerWalks on Day 2. Looking great. New APs are loving the PowerWalks program and Fundamental 5. Plan on being a PowerWalks Hero! (By @brandyjbaker)

3. After almost 12 years of declining enrollment our enrollment is up almost 10%. No new houses or businesses. Parents vote with feet. (By @txschoolsupe)

4. If a formative assessment strategy doesn't include providing feedback and instructional adjustments...it is just a neat activity. (By @principalkinney)

5. Winding up a super first week. Saw great examples of framing the lesson. Good discussions on the Power Zone too. Have a great weekend. (By @LindaHenrie1)

6. How are school leaders supposed to develop a climate of instructional leadership when they don’t understand instruction? I have met few who do. (By @txschoolsupe)

7. I'm glad a former railroad guy is running education in Texas. Gives new meaning to the term "railroaded.” (By @DrJerryRBurkett)

8. Reviewing the research so you don't have to: Study shows that habitual truants are more at risk to drop out.

9. Sarcasm had no place in schools. It is only funny to the speaker and possibly the audience, never the recipient.

10. Visited the new Billy Regan K-8 Education Center this morning--joined by the living legend, former HISD Superintendent Dr. Billy Regan! (By @tgrierhisd)

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: 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), National Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations)
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation