Readers Ask... Don't Take Short Cuts - Part 1

A number of readers have requested that I better explain the warning / reminder / lesson shared by The Big Easy in the May 7, 2013 post, “Don’t Take Short Cuts.” 

First, let’s refresh our memories.

Principals,

When PowerWalks observations (or any lesser, FORMATIVE observation system results) are tied to teacher evaluations, objectivity is lost and any coaching based on the data is rendered useless.

So what does it mean?

It means this.  Except in the most extreme instances (a teacher mistreating a student or teaching horrifically wrong) you cannot judge the quality of teacher in a single, 3 to 5 minute walk-thru.  One walk-thru is a random wisp of time. 

However, if I have a chain of 15 to 20 short walk-thru’s, I can develop a trend line and I can coach and support a teacher based on some assumptions that I make based on that trend line.  But it is still a trend line. This is formative assessment and practice.

For formative assessment, I need to observe a teacher for a longer sample of time (hence the need for 15 - 20 short observations), so I have a chance to see the teacher make a variety of instructional decisions in the dynamic environment that is the classroom.

It needs to be clear to teachers why you are in the classroom and how the information will be used.  A formative observation is for coaching and improvement. A summative observation is to evaluate for employment purposes.  If a teacher works in a healthy formative environment, the summative observations are never a significant concern.

Now as I pointed out at the beginning of this post, a 3-minute observation is a random wisp of time. A bad one I can recover from and it will not directly impact my summative evaluation.  That is unless my campus administrators are engaged the leadership malpractice of blending the 3-minute observations into the summative data set.  Now every 3-minute observation impacts my career and every time someone walks into my room, it is a potential game changer.

The result of this all to common leadership malpractice?  No trust and paranoid teachers that refuse to do anything new, because the risk of short-term failure is never worth the potential reward.

 

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: TASSP Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); Texas ASCD Summer Conference; ESC 14 Sumer Conference (Keynote Presentation); ESC 11 Summer Conference (Keynote Presentation); NEASP National Conference; The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote Presentation) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

A Reader Writes... Advice for the First Year Principal - Part 2

In response to the 11/1/2013 post, “A SuperintendentWrites... Advice for the First Year Principal – Part 1,” a reader writes:

SC,

I offer another point of view. I believe that many of our schools have devolved into "gotcha" schools. Everyone is looking for what is wrong and not what is right. I promise you could change the morale in many buildings with one statement: "I have your back now I want you to do your best job to reach your students".

Too many teachers work with a "bunker" mentality focused only on their own preservation not on the student. It is time to change the approach we are using and stop buying into this media hype that we are failing as schools.

SC Response

Let’s see where we agree...

“Many schools have devolved into “gotcha” schools.”  Agreed.  In fact, anyone in district/campus leadership that doesn’t provide the instructional infrastructure of The Foundation Trinity is failing at his or her job.  The only way that person or persons can keep the machine moving is through intimidation and gotcha games. And I constantly advise teachers that find themselves working is such conditions to move to a campus or district that values and supports teachers.

Operate with the understanding, “I have your back now. I want you to do your best job to reach your students.” Agreed.  But I don’t want leadership to just say the words; I want leadership to live the words.  That means implementing The Foundation Trinity, investing in ongoing staff training, working in the middle of the action, and coaching staff.  

Too many teachers work with a “bunker” mentality.  Agreed. When you work in an environment where you are responsible for performance but are provided with inadequate tools, training, resources and support, the bunker mentality is all but a foregone conclusion.

It is time to change the approach we are using. Agreed.  And when I walk into classrooms and I observe teachers teaching like I did so many years ago, that’s a long time with no change.  If this is due to obstinance, shame on the teacher.  If this is because of a lack of training and support, shame on leadership.

“We need to stop buying into this media hype that we are failing as schools” Agreed.  We do a much better job of teaching more students to achieve at minimum standards that ever before. And we are doing this with relative fewer dollars per student.  This is yeoman’s work that is completely unappreciated.  But I’ll match your media comment and raise you, “we need to quit voting for politicians that openly mock educators and are proud of their record of underfunding schools at scale.”

Now based on your comments, let’s see where we disagree... (sound of crickets)

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: TASSP Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); Texas ASCD Summer Conference; ESC 14 Sumer Conference (Keynote Presentation); ESC 11 Summer Conference (Keynote Presentation); NEASP National Conference; The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote Presentation) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

A Reader Asks... Power Zone Problem Solving

A reader sent in the following question concerning the Power Zone.

SC,

What do you do when there are so many students in the class that it is impossible for the teacher to move around the room?

SC Response

An excellent question with a number of possible solutions and I’ll share a couple of them.  We see this dilemma on a semi-regular basis.  There are some ways to work around this, with a little flexibility on the part of the teacher.  Since you asked the question that means you are looking for a solution, which leads me to believe that the lack flexibility is not an issue.

Option #1: Remove furniture.  In a number of overcrowded classrooms, a significant contributing factor is the sheer volume of furniture in the room. I have been in rooms where over 25% of the floor space is occupied by extra file cabinets, bookcases and teacher desks. Yes, extra furniture is one of the few perks associated with being a veteran teacher, but once you run out of space identify what furniture you absolutely need and get rid of the rest.  

Option #2: Rotating seating chart. If all of the excess furniture has been removed and the room is still overcrowded then a rotating seating chart can work. Divide the students into 4 groups. Divide the room into 4 quadrants.  Then the students rotate through the room.  It’s not the best situation but it is better than students never moving and students purposefully putting as much space between you and them as humanly possible.  See the chart below.

	Quadrant 1	Quadrant 2	Quadrant 3	Quadrant 4
Monday	A Group	B Group	C Group	D Group
Tuesday	D Group	A Group	B Group	C Group
Wednesday	C Group	D Group	A Group	B Group
Thursday	B Group	C Group	D Group	A Group
Friday	Open Seating	Open Seating	Open Seating	Open Seating

Just know that doing nothing is not an option.  The research is clear that the more time we spend in the Power Zone, there is a corresponding increase in on-task behavior, retention and appropriate student behavior.  

I hope this helps, if not let me know and we’ll come up with some other options.

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: TASSP Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); Texas ASCD Summer Conference; ESC 14 Sumer Conference (Keynote Presentation); ESC 11 Summer Conference (Keynote Presentation); NEASP National Conference; The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote Presentation)
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

A Reader Writes... Senior Elementary School - Part 2

In response to the 1/30/14 post, “Senior Elementary School – Part 1,” a LYS Elementary Teacher Writes:

SC,

Thank you!

Because of the quality of the middle schools in my district I did not let my children go to a traditional middle school.  I enrolled them in a magnet school through 8th grade and they did very well transitioning to high school.

SC Response

As a public school advocate, middle schools cause me the greatest amount of heartburn.  There are fewer great ones in comparison to elementary and high schools. And what passes for “good” in most districts is really are only “not bad.”  I’m not blaming anyone for the current state of middle schools, for this is a case of doing what we have always done.  But I do take issue with leadership teams that realize that things could be better but lack the morale conviction and intestinal fortitude to do anything about it. 

It is because of this that my advice to middle school parents is different than my advice to other parents:

“Don’t be shy. Know the principal, know the assistant principal, know the teachers and make sure all of them know you. Because it is all too easy for your child to get lost in the shuffle.”

Something that evidently you also observed in the district your children attended. Fortunate for your children; not so much for everyone else.

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: TASSP Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); Texas ASCD Summer Conference; ESC 14 Sumer Conference (Keynote Presentation); ESC 11 Summer Conference (Keynote Presentation); NEASP National Conference; The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote Presentation) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of March 16, 2014

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 March 16, 2014.

1. Nine days of reading 30 min a day showed lots of new connections in brain activity... Reading can change the brain! (By @8Amber8)

2. Reading aloud to young kids and talking with teenagers about college plans are the two parental involvement interventions that work. (By @tgrierhisd)

3. Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. – Robert Collier (By @CoachMotto)

4. Associate with those who make you better. (By CoachKWisdom)

5. Ms. Pierce (Washington ES) was 5 for 5 on the Fundamental 5 when I visited her class today! (By @LYSNation)

6. Show me an underperforming campus and I will show you a very tough demographic to teach, an adult centered campus, or both. Not an accident. (By @txschoolsupe)

7. Students live up or down to our expectations. (By @TimElmore)

8. The time kids spend in class has remained largely unchanged since the 19^th century when schools adopted the 6-hour day, 9-month calendar to support farm life. (By @ijukes)

9. Excited to announce that I will be the keynote presenter at the Region 14 ESC Administrators' Conference on 6/17/14. Hope to see you there! (By @LYSNation)

10. Excited to announce that I will be the keynote presenter at the Region 11 ESC Summer Conference in Fort Worth, Texas on 6/18/14! See you there! (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: TASSP Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); ESC 14 Sumer Conference (Keynote Presentation); ESC 11 Summer Conference (Keynote Presentation); NEASP National Conference; The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote Presentation) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook