Fundamental 5 Summit - Keynote Presenters

The Fundamental 5 Summit

November 8 and 9, 2015

Austin, Texas

All Grades - All States

Keynote Presenters

Charles Johnson Foster

Executive Director - Texas Pastors For Texas Children

Dr. Rich Allen

International Education Trainer / Presenter and Best Selling Author

Sean Cain

Nationally Recognized School Improvement Expert and Best Selling Author

Jayne Ellspermann

National Principal of the Year and Principal of Westport High School (Florida)

Dr. Rich Allen Writes... The Room Set-up Matters

Early in my career I have realized (and experienced) the power on managing environments.  Here is the short version of this understanding: Based on the environment in which you place the learner, you can either accelerate or decelerate learning.  

I loathe leaving performance on the table, so even when I present in conference halls, I do everything I can to tweak the environment in my favor.  Sadly, this is not the case with many educators.  The rooms that many teachers work in actually work against that teacher.  However, point this out at your own peril, because few teacher that are objective on the topic of how they have set up their room.   

One of my friends and mentors, Dr. Rich Allen (one of the really big brains in education) wrote the following for his monthly, Impact Teaching Tip.  For those who don’t receive it, here is the reprint. You can follow Dr. Rich Allen on Twitter (I do): @drrichallen

Room Set-up = Learning Success

 

The physical arrangement of the classroom can support - or undermine – the effectiveness of any lesson.  Make sure you proactively consider how to configure the desks, chairs, or tables in your learning environment to maximize student focus and engagement.

The biggest mistake is only using one room set-up in a classroom.  Students arrive and the furniture is always in the same position.  Instead, consider how to best organize the environment to enhance each element of your lesson, altering its set-up during the course of your teaching as needed.

Here are some possible "room sets" to consider:

Set A.  Single desks, facing the front - when presenting new material.

Set B.  Groups of 4-5 desks facing each other - when students will be interacting with a small group.

Set C.  Desks pushed back, students in chairs only - when facilitating large group discussions.

Set D.  U-shape - when you want students to observe small groups presenting content to the class.

When you want to change your classroom set-up, remember: Always ask your students to change the dynamics of the room!  This serves three purposes simultaneously, it:

1. Saves you time and energy.

2. Provides a state change, giving students an opportunity to move.

3. Gives students ownership of the classroom space.  They arrive, help arrange the room for the lesson, and suddenly - they're ready to listen!

Again, you should follow Dr. Rich Allen on Twitter: @drrichallen

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 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); Fun 5 Plans (Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan Tool); PW Lite (Basic PowerWalks Tool); PW Pro (Mid-level PowerWalks Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote Presentation) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Dr. Rich Allen Writes... CSCOPE - Make It Work For You

SC,

I’ve been following your posts, and certainly saw the recent (and on-going) CSCOPE exchange.  I agree with MANY of your thoughts in this matter...

When I spoke at the CSCOPE conference in August, my basic theme was, “Take what works for you, then add your own ideas and style to make it come alive!”

I used to call that the 70/30 model.  70 percent of what they offer will work, but only if you bring at least 30% of YOU to the game...

R.A.

SC Response

Exactly.  No wonder your session was such a big hit at the conference. CSCOPE provides a vertically consistent model for teaching the required TEKS for meeting accountability standards.  Lessons were provided to serve as a resource, not an end all.  It was and is expected that teachers improve upon those resources.  Only the most narrow-minded critics (and sadly, some administrators) viewed the CSCOPE lessons as an absolute.  But that is what happens when the importance of the individual teacher is either misunderstood or not valued at all. 

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: The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Multiple Presentations); NASSP National Conference 
• 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 19, 2012

School has started, or is soon to start, across the country.  Hopefully, your school has moved forward in embracing bootleg technology.  If not, don’t give up.  Bootleg technology represents a significant and positive shift in education culture. It is a shift away from the illusion of absolute adult control and the role of the adult as the source of knowledge that has driven American schools for generations.  This shift will not occur overnight and will not always be smooth.  But as the innovators and early adopters share their successes, the majority will follow.  If you are one of these people (innovator and early adopter), teach, advocate and help you fellow educators.  Much sooner that you realize, sheer peer pressure will force the laggards among us join the 21^st century. Even if they do so kicking and screaming.  Have a great 2012 / 2013 school year!

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now using your own bootleg technology devices to follow Twitter.  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 August 19, 2012.

1. With grades, you have to ask yourself, "What am I measuring? Who got it first? Or, who got it?" 99% of schools measure the wrong thing.

2. If you want to count student formative assessment as a test grade, you either have missed the point or we don't share a common vocabulary.

3. Promising meeting with my teachers on the Fundamental Five. Why would we NOT use these strategies? Can't wait for PowerWalks! (By @GloffMona)

4. Talked PowerWalks with faculty today. Touted its benefits as a coaching assessment. Transparency, with data. Goal of 400 by Christmas. (By @blitzkrieg607)

5. Tired of people picking on school districts whose people elected to build facilities for their children/community to use for years to come. (By @DrJerryRBurkett)

6. To the guy who is mad because I caught him reading a magazine during my presentation. Thanks for demonstrating the power of the Power Zone.

7. Traditional homework and parents working with their children at home have as much in common as hot dogs and warm puppies. (By @txschoolsupe)

8. ‪So, The Fundamental 5 (Cain & Laird) is the best book on instructional practices... What's #2 on your list? (By @mike_metz)

9. PowerWalks are a fundamental leadership practice. The Instructional Leader's, ‘Power Zone!’

10. Best introduction I've had in a long time, "He's not Rich Allen. But he's a pretty good second place."

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: Region 10 ESC Fall Leadership Conference (Keynote), Advancing Improvement in Education Conference (Multiple Presentations), TASSP Assistant Principals’ Workshop (Featured Speaker), American Association of School Administrators Conference (Multiple Presentations), National Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations)
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of April 29, 2012

Last week (Tuesday, May 1, 2012), I wrote about making the month of May count.  I listed four examples of things that schools could do during May to keep students engaged and instruction meaningful.  But I saved example number five for today’s post.  Make May your bootleg technology beta-testing month.

This is your chance to unleash your innovative teachers to try to figure out how to better embed bootleg technology in daily instruction.  Let them figure it out so your campus is in a position better implement this powerful tool with improved frequency and effectiveness next year.  As one LYS Principal told his teachers last May, “We have better computing power and speed in our pockets than what the district has put in our classrooms.  Let’s figure out how to take advantage of it.”

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now using your own bootleg technology devices to follow Twitter.  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 April 29, 2012.

1. "The Fundamental Five was one of most useful studies I have ever engaged in." From a teacher's self report in PDAS. Enough said. (By @principalkinney)

2. The secrets for efficient passing periods: 1) Less transition time. 2) One-way halls 3) More supervision. 4) No warning bell.

3. A simple trick for improving the climate and culture on your campus. Have an administrator visit the classrooms where substitutes are teaching, each period.

4. Does anyone really believe that the vocabulary word search puzzle is a quality instructional activity?

5. The lesson is not framed, the teacher is lecturing from desk. A student falls asleep. Who is at fault?

6. Enrolled my son in kindergarten tonight. He's one of the 80,000 unfunded students from the 82^nd Texas Legislature. (By @DrJerryRBurkett)

7. 1) Increase rigor. 2) Reduce resources. 3) Ignore inequity. 4) Shout crisis. 5) Blame teachers. 6) Privatize. (By @johnkuhntx)

8. Classroom clutter is the friend of vermin and security threats.

9. All the money I spent on Pac Man growing up, I could have saved to buy an I-Pad... to play free Pac Man. (By @DrJerryRBurkett)

10. A quote from my good friend, Dr. Rich Allen. "Teaching does not improve by chance, but by change.

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/4ydqd4t
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation
• 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)
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: TASSP Conference (multiple sessions); Region 10 ESC Fall Leadership Conference (Keynote)

A Reader Submits... Instructional Strategies

A LYS Assistant Superintendent submits:

After a trip to an ESC today, I realized there is much to be learned, or perhaps unlearned, around the State of Texas. I will begin this painful process with a gentle assault on one of modern educations mainstays: HOMEWORK!

Let's set the stage; homework is an instructional strategy. It is a valid instructional strategy. But that is all, it is simply a strategy. Like ANY instructional strategy, the artful instructor must examine the effectiveness of homework. But more often than not, I don’t hear teacher reflection, I hear educators complaining that students will not do homework.

Here comes the painful part: If homework is not an effective instructional strategy for your students, minimize or eliminate it, and search for an instructional strategy that IS effective for your students. That does not mean you can't return to homework at some later point when your students are ready for it. But like any instructional strategy, the use and timing of homework must be artfully determined. Despite our infatuation, there is nothing special about homework. If it is not working for your kids, take a lesson from Dr. Rich Allen: Do Something Different.

LYS Nation, lose your love affair homework. Homework can be effective, however it is entirely possible to have effective instruction successful students without it.

SC Response

If I had a dime for every time I came across a reasonable, effective and managed homework program at a school, I might have fifty cents. At most campuses, homework decisions are set by individual teachers so there is absolutely no consistency from classroom to classroom. And this is not a new phenomena. If you want to try to get some value out of the homework that is assigned on your campus then consider implementing the following procedures and actions:

1. Create a homework schedule. Example: Monday – Math; Tuesday – English; Wednesday – Science; Thursday – Social Studies; Friday – Electives

2. Limit the time that homework should take to complete to 45 minutes or less.

3. Ensure that that any homework assigned is to review concepts and skills, not to teach new concepts and skills.

4. Create homework support rooms on your campus that operate before and after school where students can complete their assignments.

5. Revise your grading policy so homework grades can only help the student, not hurt the student. That means a zero on a homework grade doesn’t matter.

I could give you five more things to work on, but just implementing the five things above will put you in front of 97% of the schools in the country.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

Rich Writes... Prime Time

In response to the posts on, “Prime Time,” Dr. Rich Allen writes,

“From the Beaches of Australia

Sean,

This is an oddly familiar topic. I hope that teachers and principals are listening.”

SC Response
As we point out in our training, though we work hard to make our suggestions actionable, there is a significant research base behind our coaching. This Dr. Allen is the same Dr. Allen that we credit over and over again during our presentations.

If you get a chance to work with or hear Rich, do not pass up the opportunity. Personally, a 15 minute group training session with Rich in 1997, was a significant turning point in my career. To learn more about Dr. Allen, visit his website at http://www.greenlighteducation.net/

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...