Top LYS Tweets from the Week of December 18, 2011

And we’re back. Happy New Year’s to all and I hope that you had a safe and restful holiday.

In regards to bootleg technology I often get the question, “Where should we start?”

Let you people try their bootleg technology at a personal level, first. And this is the best time of the year do this. A lot of your staff just received an e-reader, smart phone, tablet, and/or a notebook computer as a present. At one of your first staff meetings of the new year, take an hour and create three to six stations. Have each station focus on a bootleg technology use (examples: Twitter, Facebook. Photos, Apps, Reading, Scheduling, To-do Lists, etc.) Have a staff member serve as a facilitator at each station and then let the rest of the staff rotate through the stations of their choice. Reduce technophobia and leverage current staff expertise, sounds like a win/win to me!

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 December 18, 2011, as tabulated by the accountants at Price Waterhouse.

1. Congratulations to Blue Ridge HS! A new Blue Ribbon School! Kudos to the two LYS Principals (both now Superintendents), Dr. Mike Seabolt and Dr. Chane Rascoe who took BRHS from unacceptable to national prominence!

2. BREAKING: LYS Principal Dale Mitchell is the new principal at Sterling HS! Who will be next?

3. Here's the LYS STAAR test solution: 1 - Teach the TEKS at the appropriate rigor; 2 - Assess in short time windows; 3 - Adjust at full speed.

4. The focus on social and economic issues to improve schools ignores the variable we most control. Ourselves.

5. The ultimate goal of behavior management is to help students behave responsibly - not pay for their actions. (By @kimbarker25)

6. If we graduate a student who can't meet exit requirements, what did we actually accomplish in 12 plus years?

7. Timeline for fixing Texas school finance issues? 2-3 years minimum. (By @Dr.JerryRBurkett)

8. Dear Texas Politician: In 2012, will you lead, be forced by the courts to lead, or neither? (By @tlonganecker)

9. @LYSNation Considering Foods with Minimal Nutritional Value and holiday parties...what are your thoughts on bootleg popcorn? (By @cheadhorn)

10. Bootleg popcorn is the secret to increased partygoer engagement. Hosts should look for ways to embed its use in their events.

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
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principal’s Mid-Winter Conference; Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference

Top LYS Tweets from the Week of December 11, 2011

Christmas Holidays are beginning, so here is my bootleg technology advice for this week. Take this time to start using it. Read an e-book, download some apps, play a game, and/or do some research. Just play with a new gadget and have some fun. Who knows what you might be inspired to try when school begins anew in 2012.

Speaking of which, this is the last post of 2011. The blog will crank up again on January 3, 2012. So to all of the LYS Nation, enjoy a happy, restful and safe Holiday Season!

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 December 11, 2011, as tabulated by the accountants at Price Waterhouse.

1. Bad practice with an excuse is still BAD PRACTICE.

2. A Superintendent shares: My staff meetings are much more productive when I use the Fundamental 5.

3. If I believe that my students can't, then they never will.

4. Heard claims that test prep materials have been proven to increase scores on STAAR? Can't be true because no scores have been reported yet. (By @teainfo)

5. Students are engaged when they are using technology; not so much watching the teacher use technology. (By @lsitzes)

6. Purposeful planning and execution of that plan makes all the difference for kids. (By @CabidaCain)

7. Should be no surprise that alcohol and tobacco use among teens has declined, yet drug use hasn't. Simple answer: Drug dealers don't check IDs.

8. Just notified that LYS will have multiple presentations at the Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principal's Mid-Winter Conference!

9. Everyone deserves second chances but not for the same mistakes. (By @coachwrong)

10. A covered classroom door window is BAD PRACTICE. It also creates an unsafe setting for students and teachers.

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
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principal’s Mid-Winter Conference; Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference

A LYS Principal Submits... The Importance of the Power Zone

LYS Principal submits the following:

SC,

I just had an experience that has convinced me that there is no more important instructional practice than Working in the Power Zone.

One of my teachers brought a student to my office to complete his work. He had made some poor choices in class. The teacher gave him his assignment he was to work on and clearly stated the instruction, “Write why it is important to follow instructions.”

I was taking care of some paperwork so I let the student work quietly while I was stuck in my ‘instructor work area.’ Multi-tasking, I occasionally asked the student a guiding question that I thought would focus his ‘critical writing,’ which of course required him to write why it is important to follow instructions. And his verbal responses to my questions were to my satisfaction. When I left my "instructor work area" to get in the "Power Zone", I discovered the student had been busy writing. Just not writing what the teacher and I envisioned. Instead, he had written, over and over again, the sentence, “Why is it important to follow directions?”

I had to laugh at this great reminder of how simple tasks still need our “eyes” for student success.

SC Response

Great story and a testament to how when we allow our attention to be divided between what is critical (students and instruction) and what is pressing (paperwork and administrivia) how quickly student effort is wasted.

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/4ydqd4
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principal’s Mid-Winter Conference; Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference

A LYS Assistant Principal Submits... Dr. Jim Davis, Our LYS Coach

A new LYS Assistant Principal submits the following:

SC,

I just want to let you know how much I appreciate Dr. Jim Davis. He has gone out of his way to make sure I had an opportunity to make up the training on the Fundamental 5 modules I had missed. Not only has he been very accommodating, he has been very pleasant and very professional. (He also went out of his way to set me up with an additional account so that I could have complete access to all PowerWalks data at both campuses I am assigned to). I have thoroughly enjoyed each of the training modules. He is an excellent presenter. The information I have gained in each of the trainings is very beneficial and I am pleased to have had the opportunities to gain this knowledge. Lead Your School is an excellent program. I look forward to any future trainings and/or updates. My thanks, again, to Dr. Davis.

SC Response

Thank you for your note and I agree. Dr. Davis has been a steady and guiding influence on me for over ten years now. There is no question that he is one of the “Good Guys.” And if the LYS Nation is wondering who is this Dr. Jim Davis, many of you know him by his alias, “The Big Easy.”

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
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principal’s Mid-Winter Conference; Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference

A LYS (and Game On!) Principal Shares... The Cleaning Fairy

A LYS Principal shares a team memo from her Game On! campus. If you are new to the blog, the Game On! campuses are LYSers on steroids. Their performance is legendary. Now the memo:

The Cleaning Fairy made a few stops this weekend! I know you LOVE it when she comes for a visit :)

Just a few things to note before our visitors on Wednesday....

1. Check the corners of things on the wall.... all corners should be tacked down.

2. Check the anchor charts.... all charts should be level.

3. Check for Junky Corner Disease.... if you have corners that are beginning to look like a storage facility, clean them out.

4. Check the for THE PILE-UP...You know, those things that become "piles" in your room :)

The Cleaning Fairy will be stopping by daily... make her proud!

Bell's Battalion will RISE to the Challenge!

SC Response

If you think the focus on cleanliness and appearance is over the top, you should see how a Game On! campus attacks and devours performance data.

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
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principal’s Mid-Winter Conference; Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference

A LYS Superintendent and Principal Share... A Powerful Staff

Here is a field report from a LYS campus in a LYS District.

SC,

See what our 4th grade teachers are wearing on Thursdays. They designed the shirts. Thought you might enjoy this!

SC Response

Awesome!!! These teachers are the runaway winners of my “Favorite Fourth Grade Team of the Week” award!

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
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principal’s Mid-Winter Conference; Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference