A Reader Writes... Everyone Can't Teach

A new reader sent in the following concern.

Mr. Cain

Recently, my campus used your book (The Fundamental 5: Cain & Laird) for a book study.  I think I have a complaint / critique.

You and Laird seem to imply that quality teaching is quantifiable.  And because it is quantifiable, any Jane or Joe can do it as long as they follow your formula (The Fundamental 5). I find this to be absolute nonsense.

SC Response

Interesting critique.  And worthy of an answer.

First, yes, quality teaching is quantifiable. Even though there are elements of teaching that can’t be quantified.  A level of “jerkness” comes to mind as a non-quantified element. For example, we teach the same thing, the same way. Except I’m a jerk and you are not. Odds are, your students will be more successful than mine.

Now when you spend an extensive time studying exceptional teachers, average teachers and struggling teachers you can observe patterns and frequencies of specific practices.  That is the story of The Fundamental 5.  The pattern of those practices (The Fundamental 5) was much more pronounced in the classrooms of teachers who were having more success than their peers.

We didn’t invent The Fundamental 5. We weren't even looking for it.  We just noticed the data anomaly and decided to “pull the string.”  The amazing thing is when less successful teachers began to use the identified practices with greater frequency, the change in student performance was noticeable.  It’s crazy.  But evidently, when you use better practice more often, students do better. Go figure.

However, just because we can identify effective practice doesn’t mean just anyone can use them effectively.  Bottom line, I agree with you, NOT EVERYONE CAN TEACH. Regardless what anti-public school politicians promote.  But that fact (not everyone can teach) is separate and independent from this fact, “Everyone who can teach, can teach better.”

That is why we wrote the book.      

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: Texas ASCD Summer Conference, Virginia Middle and High School Principals 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

Lesa Cain Adds... Principal Coaching

Regarding the two previous posts, “Principal Coaching – The Low Performing Campus” and “Principal Coaching – Upset Parent and Community,” I am going to point out that what Sean lined out are research-based improvement processes. 

I would like to add my thoughts on how to get this done. Understand this is a coaching relationship. To be an effective Coach, you must tell the truth, listen and hold the “Coachee” accountable for the work. All too often the Coach worries about the personal relationship (that is usually already in place with internal coaching) and begins to overlook the very things that placed the school at risk in the first place.

The role of the internal coach is that of the person who asks the questions over and over until they are answered with actual processes and systems. Any other answers are excuses that you must be willing to work through with the person you are coaching.

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: Texas ASCD Summer Conference, Virginia Middle and High School Principals 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... Principal Coaching - Upset Parents and Community

A LYS Assistant Superintendent asks the following:

SC,

I loved the coaching notes you shared in today’s post (Principal Coaching – The Low Performing Campus).  I have a principal I’m going to work with this year, but for a different reason.  The issue on this campus is upset parents and negative feelings on the culture and climate of the school in the community.

What say you?

SC Response

First, we must reach an understanding on “Culture and Climate.”

The Real Definition of Culture and Climate:

A. Culture is the actions, practices and procedures in place on a given campus.

B. Climate is the effect that culture has on students.

This understanding is instructive, because based of this definition the way to manage campus culture and climate is to excise the actions, practices and procedures that have a negative effect on students.

Simple enough. Or is it?

The problem with this is that the actions, practices and procedures that have a negative effect on students are all too often comfortable for adults.  Which creates the all too common change equation of:

Good for Kids = Uncomfortable for Adults.

Now undisciplined, uncomfortable adults on a campus often complain to anyone who will lend a sympathetic ear.  This includes parents and community members, who are naïve enough to believe that they are getting the “REAL” story.

Which leads us to the coaching opportunity.

A. Campus leadership must proactively share the good student news of the campus. Facebook, Twitter, Snap Chat, Newsletter, Marquee and Face-to-Face any and everything positive. 

a. Some examples: team scores, awards, earned scholarship dollars, college enrollment rates, honor rolls, UIL, etc.

B. Leadership must be a “broken record” explaining the positive benefits to students for anything that creates real or perceived staff adversity.

C. The TRUTH on this.  Principal, don’t focus all your attention on parent and community negative perceptions, it is a lagging indicator. Instead, focus on making the school look good and most importantly making more students, more successful, more often.  Here is the parent equation for ranking schools:

a. Students Successful = Good School.

b. My Student is Successful = GREAT School.

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: Texas ASCD Summer Conference, Virginia Middle and High School Principals 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