Curriculum Sources

Recently, I was meeting with a school board to provide some training on the practices of effective school districts. I was pointing out the providing teachers with a common scope of sequence is a leadership responsibility, and to not do so is a failure of leadership.  This board instantly understood the logic of this and one board member asked how her district was doing.  I said that they were on the right track, but they have made a critical misstep that was hampering implementation.  The error, they had four curriculum sources (or platforms). One for each content area. 

The subsequent questions were as follows: 1. How did this happen? 2. Why is this a problem?

First, how did this happened.  It happened because central office missed the critical distinction between theory and practice.  In identifying the what curriculum source to use, each group of content specialist searched for the best solution for their content area.  The four content areas found the four best solutions, for content areas in isolation.

Now, this leads to the second question, why is this problem?  In this district, it is a problem because each content curriculum is accessed and used a different way.   For the teacher that teaches just one content area, this is no problem at all.  But if you are a teacher responsible for multiple content areas (every elementary teacher and a large percentage of the secondary teachers in this district) or a campus administrator responsible for supervising and supporting teachers from multiple content area (every administrator in the district), you are in trouble.

The district had inadvertently created the following problem…  “Teachers we got you a different computer for each class that you teach.  For math, we got you an Apple. For science, we got to a PC. For ELA, we got you a Chromebook.  For social studies, we pulled an old Commodore 64 out of storage.  Now learn to use all of them at an expert level.  Why are you crying instead of thanking us?”

The answer, find a good curriculum source that spans all four content areas.  In this case, good is better than great.  And here is the dirty little truth that curriculum specialists just don’t understand.  It does matter how good the curriculum is, it is the mastery of the teacher that makes the curriculum come alive.  A great actor can read the back of a cereal box and make it riveting.  A great teacher can change the world with a good curriculum. 

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 Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Scope and Sequence Implementation

The problem with scope and sequence implementation is that essentially, at scale, no one implements their scope and sequence. Don’t protest, this is common knowledge.

But here is the deal, when it comes to scope and sequence implementation, campus leadership has three choices.  In rank order these choices are:

1. Commit, train, support and monitor full fidelity implementation. This is the optimal solution.  And schools that do this, consistently outperform schools that do not. Don’t protest, this is common knowledge.

2. Do not implement a scope and sequence. I am not suggesting that you do this.  But if your campus is affluent, your students will meet minimum standards with or without you. Don’t protest, this is common knowledge.

3. Implement only part of the scope and sequence.  This is typical practice.  You should avoid this option at costs.  It guarantees eventual failure.  And it is not the fault of the scope and sequence.  It is pure implementation failure.  Implementing parts of a scope and sequence is like trying to fly a plane that has only one wing.  The only assured result is a spectacular crash.    

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 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 June 4, 2017

If you are not following @LYSNation on Twitter, then you missed the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of June 4, 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. The biggest fallacy in education: Good teachers guarantee student success. (By @LYSNation)

2. The unreported truth in education: A good teacher teaching the right thing, will outperform similar classrooms teaching the wrong thing. (By @LYSNation)

3. The right thing is the right content, at the right rigor, at the right time. This means providing teachers with a scope & sequence is critical. (By @LYSNation)

4. When all things are equal, the student who sees more content has an advantage. (By @LYSNation)

5. Yes. The research on Special Education shows that remediating in lieu of staying in pace widens gaps. (By @clwilkens)

6. We must stop the fear-mongering fringe from ruling Texas. We accept bad speech and bad behavior  in them (the Texas Legislature) we wouldn't tolerate in our children. (By @pastors4txkids)

7. The tipping point of leadership occurs when you stop blaming others for your disappointment, frustration, or bitterness. (By @Leadershipfreak)

8. The opposite of faith is fear. (By @clwilkens)

9. Perfection may seem unreachable, but you won't get close if you don't first try. (By @clwilkens)

10. Followed the Fundamental 5 and wrote critically all 180 days. (By @mrhartgis)

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, TASSP 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