A LYS Teacher Asks... What Do You Really Think?

A LYS Teacher sent in the following question:

SC,

I know what you think about the anti-CSCOPE loonies. But what do you really think about CSCOPE?

SC Response

It’s interesting that you asked that question.  Most people saw my Anti-CSCOPE Loonies posts as a CSCOPE endorsement.  That wasn’t the case. The posts were intended as a "Loonies vaccination." My opinion of CSCOPE is the same as my opinion of most all professionally developed scope and sequences. It is a useful and mission critical tool that is always in draft from.  Much like the operating system for computers.  You have to have it and it always has bugs that have to be worked out. 

What CSCOPE does well, is that it meets the two primary criteria of an effective scope and sequence.

1. It is aligned to the standards that the state has set.  Any scope and sequence that isn’t aligned to state standards is a waste of effort, time and money.  Many of the people who have an issue with a scope and sequence really have an issue with the state standards.  To which the only response is, “Tough, teach the to the standard or quit the game.” 

This isn’t being harsh or cruel. It is recognition of the reality of the current situation.

2. It is revised as new standards, information, understandings and methods are presented, developed and/or learned.  Again, those who complain about the constant stream of revisions and changes are really making the case that given a choice, they would prefer to do what they want instead of what is required.

So what do I think about CSCOPE? Again, it is a tool. For me, it is simply the offensive playbook. I know that our best chance of winning is to execute the plays in the playbook with urgency and fidelity. And the more we do this, the better we get at it.

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: Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of March 10, 2013

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now Twitter users.  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 March 10, 2013.

1.  Dear politician who thinks teachers should also serve as front line psychologists - Will this include more money or reduced accountability?

2.  Who would say this? "My Chevy isn't running efficiently, so I stopped paying for maintenance. I figured that would fix it." (By @STAARtest)

3.  "The economic recovery is not impacting school funding..." That's because the cuts in school funding were based on agenda, not economics.

4. An MIT professor measured students' mental activity over the course of a week. During lectures, it flatlined. (By @anniemurphypaul)

5. I don't see in any of these "voucher" bills where private schools will now take STAAR.  Or will be held accountable. (By @cheadhorn)

6. Why is carving out time for teachers to plan together considered revolutionary? It's like being shocked to hear that exercise is a good idea.

7. If private schools are so great, shouldn't the goal be for public schools to have the same advantages (class sizes, resources, etc.)? (By @cheadhorn)

8. Dare to care enough about your kids to tell them NO sometimes! (By @coolcatteacher)

9. One of my favorites: “Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.” (By @DrRichAllen)

10. In my view choosing to ignore social media today is a bit like living in the 1930s and deciding to ignore the telephone. (By @PensionsGuru)

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: Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations)
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

A Reader Writes... STAAR Preparation Strategy - Part 1

In response to the 12/14/12 post, “Your 6-step STAAR Preparation Strategy,” a LYS Assistant Superintendent writes:

LYS Nation,

The only thing that is accomplished by the use of all the STAAR worksheets that are being sold is ensuring profit for their publishers. Nothing takes the place of effective, well-planned instruction.

SC Response

Testify! And keep teaching at full speed!

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: Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Readers Write... The Common Assessment Process - Part 3

In response to the 11/9/12 post, “The Common Assessment Process,” some LYS Principals write:

1. Great response. Clear and to the point.

2. Amen, cowboy!

3. Excellent response. Something else to consider is how the organization views "scores." If scores are used to identify and address gaps in student learning, and gaps and deficiencies in delivered instruction this system will work. If the scores are used primarily to evaluate teachers, the integrity of the system will be in jeopardy, focus will be lost, and little will change. Thanks for your wisdom. 

SC Response

1. Thank you.

2. Yippee-ki-yay.

3. Exactly.  The common assessment process works when it is used to objectively identify what works, so we can replicate it and identify what doesn’t work, so we can replace that practice. The scores are simply information that inform our next instructional decisions.  If the process is used incorrectly, that is a case of poor leadership. Sadly, at the non-LYS schools I have observed, the process is used incorrectly significantly more often than correctly. Doing what is right is rarely 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/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: Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of March 3, 2013

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now Twitter users.  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 March 3, 2013.

1. If you believe morale is about keeping people happy, you are misinformed and misguided.

2. True definition of morale: Unit cohesion in the face of adversity. What does that say to you about your leadership and staff? (By @CabidaCain)

3. AGAIN I'm reminded of the significance of framing lessons with student friendly learning goals... Yet we still inconsistently practice it. (By @jbriannorton)

4. Children feel shame when they don't meet our expectations—another reason to praise effort instead of the person. (By @anniemurphypaul)

5. "Wrong answer moments" are an incredible learning opportunity. Game designers do it. In classroom, it’s a perfect use of Recognition & Reinforcement. (By @S_Snell)  

6. Anyone know where my HS kids can attend training on how to use their cell phones? What? They just figure them out? Weird. (By @Joesanfelippofc)

7. Why is it that we cut education funds, when we all know our future depends on the quality of innovative thinkers in the next generation? (By @DrRichAllen)

8. Inability to act over sequestration is a damning indictment of the way our government functions these days. (By @FareedZakaria)

9. I can't think of a management practice more poisonous than giving any attention to anonymous letters.

10. Tax-credit vouchers simply subsidize tuition for students already going to private school. (By RYHTexas)

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: National Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations), Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations)
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

LYS Principal Search

LYS Executive Search

~ High School Principal ~

A West Texas school district is searching for its next secondary school principal. The successful candidate will have:

• Demonstrated leadership success at the campus level
• Demonstrated success educating at-risk student populations
• Experience in curriculum implementation and teacher support
• LYS training and experience, preferred

Information of Note:

• Small Texas High School
• Located in a rural, West Texas community
• Excellent location to raise a family
• Diverse student population
• Compensation: Mid - $80’s, with a competitive benefits package

Qualified candidates should submit the following to Search@LeadYourSchool.com

• Letter of interest
• Resume
• Texas administrators’ certification
• Two letters of reference

Application Deadline: March 15, 2013 


Search Consultant: E. Don Brown

LYS Executive Search

(832) 477-5323

LYS Nation, once again a school district is specifically looking for you to be its next campus leader.

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: Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations)
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook