A Reader Asks... Observing Better Practice

A LYS campus leader asks the following:

SC,

I have a question about walk-thru’s. We are doing a focused instructional practice every six weeks. So, if "Lesson Frames" are our focus, when I visit the classroom, I expect to see the Lesson Frame. My question is about writing critically. If I walk in at some point and the teacher has already completed the writing assignment, what should I do?

SC Response

Good question.  I have a point of clarification / direction and then an answer.

1. Six weeks is too long for focusing on a single practice. Two to three weeks is a more effective improvement window.  Think of improving instructional practice like improving your golf game.  It should be a constant cycle of getting better at chasing your tail.  Focusing intently on one component, then moving to the next component. Knowing that the first component isn’t perfect, but it is now better, and you’ll be getting back to it soon.  Focusing on one thing for too long leads to boredom and skill atrophy on the ignored components. The shorter cycle creates both a sense of urgency and a continuous process of skill elevation.

2. Each component of the Fundamental 5 has “obvious” look-for’s and “context” look-for’s.  Critical writing, relies more on “context" look-for’s and system-wide expectations (this is where LYS training, support tools, and PowerWalks are really useful).  But I’ll share one tip.  During the critical writing window, focus on all contents embedding “quick writes” and note-making in every lesson.  The Fundamental 5 Note Making Template Developer is useful for this (Click Here). Just know if the focus and planning during the Critical Writing window isn’t centered on writing more, more often, every day, in every class… you probably won’t observe anyone actually writing.

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: TASSP Assistant Principal Workshop (Keynote) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Top LYS Tweet from the Week of November 19, 2017

If you are not following @LYSNation on Twitter, then you missed the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of November 19, 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. He is the Baptist preacher who stands tall for public education. He pulls no punches and fights against vouchers. Meet Pastor Charles Johnson. (@washingtonpost)

2. Kids can’t do math? - We teach them! Kids can’t read? - We teach them! Kids can’t behave? - We punish them?? ‘What’s with that?’ (By @mraspinall)

3. If you want your students to know it, make them write about it! (By @mcknightmare29)

4. The fallacy of “school choice“ is that we only have the responsibility to educate our OWN children – not the responsibility to educate ALL children. A fundamental violation of the American ideal. (By @pastors4txkids)

5. Schools are not defined by the mission statement on the wall; they are defined by what actually goes on in classrooms. (By @SteeleThoughts)

6. You already know enough about most of the problems you face to identify the right person to solve them. (By @Leadershipfreak)

7. Something I’ve noticed about good teachers... is that they want to be better teachers. (By @SteeleThoughts)

8. When we get tired and stressed, we forget how powerful our words can be. (By @mcknightmare29)

9. If everyone moved from talking about it to doing it, the inertia would change. (By @ideaguy42)

10. Washington’s dysfunction is bad enough, now Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has brought the circus antics home to Austin. As your Republican lieutenant governor, I promise to spend less time on TV and more time working for all Texans! Retire Dan Patrick (By @smidler)

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: TASSP Assistant Principal Workshop (Keynote) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on @LYSNation and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of November 12, 2017

If you are not following @LYSNation on Twitter, then you missed the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of November 12, 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. It is not about who is in my classroom, it's about what I'm doing with instruction. (By @Faith4learning)

2. Instructional rigor isn’t for high-stakes testing; it’s for career skills and a competitive advantage for students. (By @tra_hall)

3. We can’t wing it and close the lesson – we must PLAN for it. (By @CabidaCain)

4. If you want students to learn they must be talking! (By @tra_hall)

5. As a campus principal, I'd rather walk into a noisy classroom than a silent one any day. I love the noise of learning. (by @jackson_carrie)

6. If we really want instructional rigor in the classroom, we have to plan for it!!!! (By @iTEACHAmy)

7. Age x 1 = number of minutes a student can listen effectively. 14 minutes is the max! (By @tra_hall)

8. Want to know who is doing the learning in the classroom? Look at who is doing the talking. (by @jackson_carrie)

9. Success doesn’t come from testing kids to death. It comes from teaching. (By @sarah_taylor25)

10. If you want your students' brains to be on fire for learning, MAKE LEARNING SOCIAL. (by @jackson_carrie)

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: TASSP Assistant Principal Workshop (Keynote) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook