A Reader Writes... What Do You Really Think - Part 2

In response to the 3/19/2013 post, “What Do You Really Think,” a reader writes:

SC,

Who decided the state-adopted textbooks are not written to the standards? If that is the case, why did the state purchase them? Who makes that decision? There are some accountability issues that go beyond the scope of the local teacher.

SC Response

Time for a little Education 101.

First, there really aren’t state adopted textbooks in the way that most people think. There are acceptable resources that districts can select.

Second, textbooks are written for mass consumption and then backwards engineered to show that they fit to the particular standards of the purchaser.  It is definitely buyer beware. 

Third, books are static; standards are dynamic.  What might have been 100% aligned five years ago, might only be 70% aligned today.

Next up, why were the books purchased in the first place? Habit, public demand, textbook lobby, a combination of these and other factors.  Pick one.  That is why curriculum and instructional experts are working daily to reduce the reliance on textbooks and increase the use of more dynamic (and increasingly cheaper) instructional resources.

Finally, you are right, this creates issues above the pay grade of the local teacher.  Which is why we advocate for teachers focusing their time and energy on becoming experts in the delivery of instruction (and just because a person spends 8 hours a day in the classroom does not automatically make them an expert).  The What and the When of instruction (scope and sequence and aligned resources) are built and selected by curriculum experts.  Teachers then execute the play, with increasing expertise. 

As a profession, a big problem that we deal with is that anyone who ever attended a school (everyone) fancies himself an expert on education. That holds about as much water as your drunken uncle, who played high school football, who believes that he can out coach Nick Sabin.  But we find it easy to ignore him because we all know that football is too important and too complicated to leave in the hands of misguided and misinformed.  

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: The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Multiple Presentations); NASSP National Conference 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

A Reader Writes... A Drop in Scores - Part 1

I response to the 7/17/2013 post, “A Drop In Scores,” a LYS Assistant Superintendent writes:

SC,

I loved this post today and it really hit home.  Your advice was basically a page taken out of our district plan for the last two years.   Here is where the damage of the State’s "Guess what’s on the test" policy comes home to roost.  I can guarantee the following in my district:

1. Teachers worked very hard and smarter than they ever have before.

2. The scope and sequence was implemented with greater fidelity and monitored

(and verified with PowerWalks) more closely than ever before.

3. Teacher instruction was at a faster pace, at a higher quality and at a higher level of rigor that ever before. 

4. We incorporated more interventions at all three levels of RTI with better supporting data than ever before.

5. We had a proactive 3-week common assessment process which guided planning and instruction, fueled by a PLC process that was implemented at a district-wide level to a degree of which I have never seen in any district.

6. We focused on writing, sent teachers to high-quality, embedded and on-going professional development, and our students spent more time writing and writing with quality at higher levels than ever before.

And what was our reward????   A kick in the groin by TEA. 

Our teacher not only gave us everything we asked for but went miles above and beyond.  They were heartbroken when they did not see the scores as high as we anticipated.  But here is the sad part...  What do those scores mean?  Well, not much.  We have been graded on an arbitrary “Met Standard” level that TEA is not quick to explain.  And what the hell has happened in writing?  Roughly half of the freshman in the state failed?  I call BS on that. 

Then people (the legislature, media and community) began to judge our new scores as if we were still operating under the old systems and old standards and demanded to know, “What went wrong?”

Well, nothing went wrong. We did a great job and our kids received a better education that ever before in our district. But that is difficult to prove when the state says 50% of freshman failed to meet "The Standard" in writing.

But for us, a silver lining has emerged from the dark clouds. Compared to state averages, our district is at, or above, state averages in almost every test at every grade level.  When I came to the district two years ago, we were not close to that position on the TAKS.  So compared to the state, we are at our highest performance level in many years... on a much more rigorous exam!

Then the surrounding district scores started leaking out and all of the sudden, the very scores we were disappointed in, now look pretty good compared to others.  That is a reason to be optimistic, excited, and celebrate.  More importantly, it is reason to not only stay the course but also continue to improve on the processes we have in place.  Last year everyone followed a tightly coupled system because we had to (Foundation Trinity and Fundamental 5).  This year, we will "make it make sense," and continue to move forward to find better ways to prepare our students for life beyond high school.  I expect great things from my staff and students (not the state)!

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: The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Multiple Presentations); NASSP National Conference 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Reader's Request... Getting Ready for Kickoff

The response to the 7/25/2013 post, “Getting Ready for Kickoff,” was overwhelming.  Here are just a few of the comments.

Lesa:

I enjoyed the article and would love to see some examples of your letters. Please email them to me.

Please send me a couple of the letters you sent to staff at the beginning of the year.  I look forward to another year working with you.

Your message is greatly received, especially for a first-year principal.  I would love to see some examples of your summer letters to your teachers.  Thank you very much!!

I LOVED this post! Please send me some of the letters. Thank you.

Thank you for the great insight and ideas. They are very helpful!

Great advice! Especially for a first-time principal in a newly built school!  Please send me a copy of your letters!

I would most definitely appreciate your examples of summer letters. What an amazing gift from a super star!! 

I am interested in receiving copies of your summer letters. Thanks for your inspiration!

I would love to see your letters if you don't mind sharing.  You always have awesome ideas.

Please send me copies of your back to school letters. I’m a big fan of LYS and am looking forward to our staff getting to hear Sean speak in August.

SC Response

To the 62 LYSers who requested copies of some of Lesa Cain’s kickoff letters, check your email because they are on the way.

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: The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Multiple Presentations); NASSP National Conference
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of July 21, 2013

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now Twitter users.  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 July 21, 2013.

1. Those who can... Teach.  Those who can't... Are in the Legislature?

2. Thinking is not driven by answers but by questions. What happens when we are told not to question? (By @DrJerryRBurkett)

3. The brain wants four things: feedback, challenge, engagement, and reflection. (By @MrsLongScience)

4. To get more of what I want in my classroom, I will modify practice with more frequent assessments and daily closure questions. (By @JessicaGPS)

5. Today's Quote:  “A visual trigger makes our memories bigger.” (By @DrRichAllen)

6. Fear based discipline increases Cortisol; and Cortisol interferes with transfer from short-term memory to long-term memory. (By @tra_hall)

7. Lt. Gov. Dewhurst and Senator Patrick: If you want CSCOPE to go away, rescind all academic performance standards. With no standards, then there no need for instructional tools.

8. Want to post something to your classroom wall without damage? Use blue painters tape. Easy to apply and temporary. (By @DrJerryRBurkett)

9. Teachers are no different than students; they need to know what to expect from you (the Principal)! (By @fosterbkay)

10. Pop quiz time. What is the Number 1 best selling education book on Kindle, TODAY? Answer - The Fundamental 5! 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: The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Multiple Presentations); NASSP National Conference 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook