Unaligned Assessments

It’s time for another episode of LYS Uncomfortable Truth. I have been on more than one campus recently that are administering assessments that are not aligned to the district scope and sequence.  And when I ask who set this up, the answer runs the gambit from Central Office, to the Principal, to yes, even the teachers.

Now, I’m going to try to be tactful.  The use of unaligned assessments is stupid and a waste of valuable instructional time. Now save your excuses because I’m going to explain what you are actually doing in Coach Speak.

All right team, we got a big football game coming up next week against the hated (insert your rival here).  Win, we go to the playoffs. Lose, and our season is over. I have a plan to make sure we are ready.  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we are going to work on blocking, tackling, passing, catching and running our offensive and defensive plays. We’re going to focus and execute to the best of our abilities.

And I have a secret strategy.  On Thursday, the day before the biggest football game of the season, I going to have the BASKETBALL coaches come and work with us.  They are going to test us on free throws, dribbling, and lay-ups.  Then we’re going to use the basketball test results to finalize our football game plan for Friday night. 

I’ve thought this thru and this plan is brilliant. Trust me, I’m a professional.

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 
• Upcoming Conference Presentations: TASCD Summer Conference, The National Principals Conference; The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote) 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

A Reader Asks... PowerWalks and the Skeptical Teacher (The Davis Report)

Last week (on 3/29/17) I shared how I would respond to a teacher who was skeptical about the value of PowerWalks. Today’s post highlights what the Davis Report states about PowerWalks and improved teaching.  Click HERE to read the entire report.

1. The Davis Report presents evidence that suggests strong relationships exist between PowerWalks, the Fundamental 5 and rigorous classroom instruction.

2. The frequency of implementation of The Fundamental 5 on campuses with more PowerWalks was considerably higher than on campuses with fewer PowerWalks.

3. In general, it is extremely difficult to establish causality between two correlated events or observances. However, when a correlation between two variables is known, predictions can be made. A rooster crows because he has an internal clock that helps him anticipate sunrise. A crowing rooster does not cause sunrise. However, a safe prediction would be that there is a strong likelihood of sunrise when the rooster crows early in the morning.

4. Based on the data, the following predictions seem logical:

A.   Frequent PowerWalks will positively impact the utilization of The Fundamental 5.

B.    The frequency with which The Fundamental 5 are practiced in the classroom will positively impact rigor.

C.   PowerWalks + The Fundamental 5 = more rigorous classroom instruction.

5. Implementation of PowerWalks and The Fundamental 5 increases the likelihood that instruction will be delivered in a way that teachers believe is effective.

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 
• Upcoming Conference Presentations: TASCD Summer Conference, The National Principals Conference; The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote) 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Top LYS Tweets from the Week of April 2, 2017

If you are not following @LYSNation on Twitter, then you missed the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of April 2, 2017 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. Development of sound core instructional practices in every classroom is the key! (By @HoschPES)

2. The most important instructional resource in our classrooms will always be the Teacher! Not the technology, activities, or programs...the Teacher! (By @loudlearning)

3. Being positive isn't about ignoring the brutal facts, it's about being able to stare them in the face and know you can succeed anyway. (By @Justinsua)

4. Las Vegas schools increased class sizes this year because of $14M in budget cuts. But cool to spend $750M on a stadium. (By @JasonSchwartz)

5. 1st period, 1st PowerWalk. Students hard at work Writing Critically! It's going to be a good day! (By @LYSNation)

6. It's better to solve 1 math problem 5 ways than 5 math problems 1 way. (By @laurenschne)

7. Learning without meaning doesn't stick. (By @LynneNoe)

8. Simple and clear to you is often complex and confusing to others. (By @Leadershipfreak)

9. If you don't hold someone ACCOUNTABLE to your team's STANDARDS you not only hurt their chances of success, you hurt YOUR chances of SUCCESS. (By @janssenleader)

10. If teaching were easy then everybody would be doing it (instead of offering misguided advice from the sidelines). (By @BluntEducator)

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 
• Upcoming Conference Presentations: The National Principals Conference; The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote) 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook