The Fundamental 5 National Summit - Your 2 and 3 Week Reminder!

http://www.tassp.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=409

A Superintendent Writes... Common Assessments - A Teacher Who Gets It

A LYS Superintendent submits the following:

SC,

I was recently talking to a principal about common assessments.  Of course, anyone familiar with the Foundation Trinity knows common assessments are instructional assessments, not teacher assessments. So, this principal has a teacher who fully understands this.  The teacher has a phenomenal relationship with his students and prior to every assessment he reminds his class of the following:

“I want you all to relax. This is not a test of you, this is a test for us.  This test lets us know how well I taught YOU.  So please, do your best, and we will see how well we have done.”

From what I am told by the principal, the common assessment results are always encouraging.  It is amazing what happens when students start to apply themselves FOR THEIR TEACHER!

SC Response

Thank you for sharing. I have witnessed what you have reported numerous times. Once a teacher positions a group of students to give an honest effort, then the resulting valid data informs that teacher’s next cycle of instructional decisions.  Do this a couple of time and real separation from the pack begins to occur.  For a teacher working alone, the separation is from other teachers on the campus.  Get a group of teachers working together (a PLC) and the separation is from peer campuses.

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 New Principal Asks.. We Think We Do Enough

A new LYS elementary school principal asks the following:

SC,

As you know, my instructional experience is at the secondary level, but saying, “No” to a leadership opportunity was never an option.  I recently met with two teachers on my new (to me) elementary campus.  They were so glad to hear I am CSCOPE expert, which I am not, but that is the word on the street.  But I am very familiar with it and recognize it as a powerful instructional tool.

The teachers on my campus had been using a (commercial product) for math instruction but it is now painfully clear that this “TEKS aligned” curriculum is not aligned to STAAR success. So they wanted to know the "trick" of CSCOPE.  They had some familiarity with it, but hinted that CSCOPE just took too much time to prepare for.  Then the revelation hit, they want to be given permission to not plan and prepare.  I sort of skirted the conversation after that, told them to keep their chins up, but it is was clear they have made their case that they are doing enough, and being asked to do more is unreasonable.

Given the fact I have never dealt with elementary teachers and the elementary did meet state standards (which these teachers interpret as exceeding expectations) what is a good course of response for dealing with these teachers?

SC Response

Recognize that ANYONE attempting to feel you out this early has an agenda.  In this case their agenda is “We already do enough, so leave us alone.”  Typical behavior when a new boss shows up.

They are attempting to define the expectations of the organization.  This happens when there is a leadership vacuum.  What you need to do, and do quickly, is publically lay out your expectations for the campus, along with goals, targets and milestones. Make your case, discuss your standards and start building and implementing your system. Now; not later.  The “sit back and observe” advice given to many (if not most) new campus leaders is at best counter-productive.  On its own, an organization slows down.  Waiting only allows the slower tempo and lower expectations to become entrenched.  Comfortable for adults, devastating to students. 

Meeting state standards is the floor of expectations (especially this past year, when passing often meant answering less than 50% of the questions correctly).  I know you want more for your students and so do almost all of your teachers.  You just have to refocus them and accelerate their adoption of the tools of success.  That is the role of campus leadership.   The teachers that are in it for the students will stick with you (maybe not in the Teachers’ Lounge, but in the classroom where it really counts).  Those that aren’t in it for the right reasons will quickly self-identify themselves either by leaving or sabotaging.  Don’t sweat the vacancies, it gives you a chance to get hire someone more student focused and you have dealt with saboteurs many times before.

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... Assessments vs. Benchmarks - Part 2

In response to the 11/17/2011 post, “A Reader Writes... Assessment vs. Benchmarks – Part 1,” an old school LYSer writes:

SC,

I completely agree with your comments on November 17, 2011 about Assessments vs. Benchmarks.  While our superintendent wants benchmarks at mid-term across the district for STAAR and EOC/TAKS, we are only using the unit assessments (inclusive of CSCOPE assessment questions) to monitor our progress.  We will create a mid-term assessment (CSCOPE does not have a mid-term nor a final which we could use as pre-assessments as well as post) to monitor what has been learned and relearned as it applies to the current course.  Of course, for high schools that is a challenging proposition because in many cases so much prior material has not yet been mastered that remediation swallows up accelerated learning.  We have to find the gear for accelerated learning and get our students and faculty into it or two birds will be killed with multiple stones. 

I believe it would be valuable to have a true pre-assessment given before the school year begins and develop schedules based on what students will need to learn in the upcoming curriculum instead of blunting their educational spirit by duplicating what is known in order to glean what is not yet mastered.  If students are going to be held accountable for current course curriculum without supporting standards mastered at a high level then how will they be able to grasp sufficiently the readiness standards? 

As I run this over in my head, the same rigorous monitoring of teachers we are advocating should also include a similar model for students (and accompanying stakeholders.)  I still like to promote that each classroom is like a mini-school.  Teachers are administrators of instruction teaching students how to be instructional leaders on their own as peer tutors.  Students teaching students (proficiently) could be the most valuable assessment of all.  If you can't teach it then you don't know it.

I can’t wait to see you again.  I really need to pick your brain on an administrative issue.

SC Response

Again, there is gold in the archives.

First, the pre-assessment for a given year is the state test taken at the end of the prior year.  Though not perfect, the results give us a significant head start in determining the instructional needs of our incoming students.  Sadly, I can count on one hand the number of schools that actually use this data for effective pre-planning at the individual classroom level for an upcoming year.  The schools that do so, do it for the very purpose you describe.  The result of this significant brainwork? Campus performance that outpaces peer campuses.  Meaning at the very least, this work provides meaningful intrinsic rewards.

If I don’t see you before the end of September, make sure you get to the Fundamental 5 National Summit in October. Not only will I be there, the entire LYS team be holding office hours.  

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 Principal Shares... I Had This Posted on My Bulletin Board

A LYS Principal that just took over a much larger school in a new district shares the following:

SC,

I was cleaning out my office and I wanted to share one of your blog posts that I put on my bulletin board to keep me focused.

LYS Nation,

As I reported earlier this summer, it’s that time of year again.  The time when districts look at what their campuses are doing and then look at LYS campuses and decide that they need to make a run at those campus and district leaders.  In the course of the recruitment dance, the interested district always wants to hear from a reference or two. 

Do you want to know why the LYS Leader is different?  Here is an excerpt from a reference that I just completed.

Question: Do you know her reason for wanting to leave her current district?

Answer: An interesting question, as you are aware (MASKED NAME) is not looking for a job.  Your district contacted her because she is one of the top five, large school principals in the state.

Question: How does she get along with superiors, colleagues and subordinates?

Answer: Again, an interesting question. If as a superintendent, you value a principal that outworks everyone and builds a campus that outperforms all rivals, then you will love (MASKED NAME). If, in your district, you have campus administrators that don't want to work harder to keep up with her, then your district does not have a climate conducive to (MASKED NAME). How (MASKED NAME) is received has more to do with the attitude of you and your administrators than her. 

Question: Describe her strengths.

Answer: (MASKED NAME) is a data and observation geek.  She knows what is working and what isn't before anyone else even knows that there might be an issue.  Her campuses make three self-adjustments before anyone else has finished reading their morning e-mails.

Question: Any weakness?

Answer: (MASKED NAME) has little time or sympathy for education leaders that worry more about adult comfort than student performance.

Question: Is there anything else you would like to share about her?

Answer: A district hires (MASKED NAME) because it wants its principals to be more like (MASKED NAME). Regardless of where your organization is currently positioned, things will improve after (MASKED NAME) arrives.

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 Tweets From the Week of September 8, 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 September 8, 2013.

1. Instructional relevance occurs when the Student connects the learning to his world. Thus the need for lots of purposeful talk and critical writing. (By @LYSNation)

2. You can't avoid thinking when you write. (By @sjunkins)

3. Professional coaching of teachers requires a culture of trust between and among teachers and administrators. (By @EkCoulson)

4. I've never seen a successful person that didn't have haters! Keep it moving! (By @CharlesJenkins7)

5. Copying is not note taking. It is the lowest rigor of low rigor instruction. (By @LYSNation)

6. Set kids up for success. Do you want them to raise their hand or not?  Decide and stick to it!!! Quit confusing kids. (By @CabidaCain)

7. If you are having "crazy pajama spirit day" and your students are misbehaving more than usual, who exactly is at fault? (By @LYSNation)

8. Strive to become an expert in areas that support your vision and purpose. (By @BishopJakes)

9. 100% of Chinese students are leaning English. 4% of American students are learning Mandarin. (By @DrJerryRBurkett)

10. After a 2-week hiatus, The Fundamental 5 (Cain & Laird) is again the Number 1 best selling education book on Kindle. Thank you, LYS Nation!! (By @LYSNation)

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