The TASSP / LYS Leadership Academy

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 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: LYS / TASSP Advanced Leadership Academy (Keynote); The 2016 Texas Charter School Conference (Multiple Presentations); The 4^th Annual Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

The Classroom Observation Paradox

The Classroom Observer Paradox... the fewer observations one does, the more that person thinks he knows.  The more observations one does, the more that person knows he does not know.

This is why the “Power Walkers” never freak out over one short observation. It tells them nothing... one short observation is a random wisp of time.  It essentially means nothing.

But with 15 to 20 short observations, a seasoned observer can create a fairly accurate trend line of typical teacher practice. And with that trend line, the teacher and observer can take informed actions that improve the quality of instruction over time.

And with every 300 short observations, a seasoned observer will figure out something that previously was unfathomable.

There is no way to cheat this process, either you put in the time or you operate blind. When it comes to classroom observations, the real “Know It All’s” are the “Don’t Know It All’s”   

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 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: LYS / TASSP Advanced Leadership Academy (Keynote); The 2016 Texas Charter School Conference (Multiple Presentations); The 4^th Annual Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Use Your Data Better This Year

Most schools and educators use student performance data to sort students.  The students take some sort of assessment (it doesn’t matter at what level, classroom to entire state), the school gets the results and teachers start sorting.  You know the groups... Super Stars, Above Average, Average, Below Average, Maybe With Devine Intervention.

Here’s the thing, if performance data is only used to sort students there is only one predictable outcome.  The group of students who don’t meet standard will continue to grow over time.

Exceptional schools don’t use student performance data to sort students (at least it is not the main activity). Instead, exceptional schools use student performance data to drive adult practice.  Once you understand that it is adult practice that drives student performance then you realize that the analysis of student performance data provides educators with four critical pieces of information.

1. Is classroom instruction aligned with the pace of the district’s scope and sequence?

2. Is classroom instruction aligned with the rigor  of the district’s scope and sequence?

3. Which instructional practices seem to work best with the school’s students?

4. Which instructional practices are seemingly less effective with the school’s students?

Use your students performance data to determine the answers to the above questions and then adjust accordingly and your students will begin to outperform the students of the sorters.

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 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: LYS / TASSP Advanced Leadership Academy (Keynote); The 2016 Texas Charter School Conference (Multiple Presentations); The 4^th Annual Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Flat STAAR Scores

So the STAAR scores have been basically flat for four years and a lot of people are in a tizzy about that little fact. There are a couple of simple explanations for this that I have discussed previously, so I won’t retread that ground.  Instead I just want to remind school leaders of one thing.

If everyone else’s scores are flat and your school improves by 2, 3 or 4 percentage points, your school is making exceptional gains. Even if it doesn’t feel like it and no one acknowledges it.  So quit freaking out.

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
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: LYS / TASSP Advanced Leadership Academy (Keynote); The 2016 Texas Charter School Conference (Multiple Presentations); The 4^th Annual Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of August 14, 2016

If you are not following @LYSNation on Twitter, then you missed the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of August 14, 2016 when they were first posted.  And if you are on Twitter, you might want to check out the Tweeters who made this week’s list.

1. A student has to receive nine 100’s before recovering from one single zero. Zeroes are DEVASTATING to kids. (By @justintarte)

2. If you can't get excited about the beginning of school, you just need to stay at the house. (By @BluntEducator)

3. "Without meaningful challenges, staff morale is near impossible to measure." (By @DrMetz_MHS)

4. Back-to-school reminders: 1 - Don't make a big deal over forgotten pencils. 2 - Bad-mouthing students in the break room isn't cool. 3 - Be nice. (By @BluntEducator)

5. No studies support the use of low grades as a motivator to improve student performance. (By @justintarte)

6. The most important characteristic of a book is not its level, but its quality & appeal to readers. (By @FountasPinnell)

7. Staying on top of my game, reading The Fundamental Five. (By @marlateaches)

8. Stop allowing "do-over’s" for people who treat you like "leftovers." Go where you are celebrated, not tolerated. (By @CarolineKraddic)

9. Obstacles are placed in our way to see if what we want is really worth fighting for. (By @JustKeepCalmer)

10. New Roo’s (WISD) know about The Fundamental 5 and critical writing! (By @Ksmith_05)

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 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: LYS / TASSP Advanced Leadership Academy (Keynote); The 2016 Texas Charter School Conference (Multiple Presentations); The 4^th Annual Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook