PowerWalks and Substitute Teachers - Part 2

After reading the 1/31/17 post “PowerWalks and Substitute Teachers – Part 1,” you are now committed to observing and supporting your substitute teachers at a much higher level. If you aren’t go back and read the post again.  I’ll wait.

Welcome back.  As soon as you hit the first room you wonder, what name do I use for this observation?

Good question. And there are three options. Any will work.

Option 1 – Have a catchall room name called “Substitutes.”  Use this for every substitute observation.  The data will be included in the overall campus data and you have a picture of the quality of instruction delivered by the substitutes, as a whole.

Option 2 – Use the teacher of record name for the observation.  The logic behind this is that: A) The quality of substitute teacher delivered instruction is significantly driven by what the teacher of record has prepared for the class. B) The teacher of record is responsible for student performance, even when they are absent. C) If anyone thinks this is unfair, there is an easy solution... Don’t be absent.

Option 3 – For long-term substitute teachers or semi-permanent floating substitute teachers, use the actual substitute teachers name.  This is a sub that should be treated, supported, and coached just like any other staff member, so you need her individual 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/Fundamental5 
• Upcoming Conference Presentations: TASSP Aspiring Principal Workshop (Multiple Presentations), Learning for a Change Spring Summit (Keynote and Multiple Presentations) 
• 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

PowerWalks and Substitute Teachers - Part 1

I’ve had several new PowerWalks observers ask me questions about observing classrooms that are being taught by substitute teachers.  The most common question is should the observation be done?

The answer is YES!

At least 10% (and in many cases, much more) of the instruction delivered throughout the year is provided by substitute teachers. Chew on that fact for a second.

The only chance your campus has to ensure that this 10% is anything more than day care service is by observing, monitoring, cuing, supporting and advising the substitute teachers in your classrooms. 

And I would take it one step further.  I would make it a campus practice that the substitute teacher is visited each class period.  Just a checkup to make sure things are going smoothly, the substitute has everything she needs, and student behavior meets expectations.  

This may seem extreme but here is what I observed at an at-risk high school today in four classrooms being “taught” by substitute teachers. 

Room 1 – Nothing.  

Room 2 – Word search assignment. 

Room 3 – Crossword puzzle assignment. 

Room 4 – Nothing.

What is even more telling, if I hadn’t been on campus, leadership still wouldn’t know that they have a problem.

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 Aspiring Principal Workshop (Multiple Presentations), Learning for a Change Spring Summit (Keynote and Multiple Presentations) 
• 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 January 22, 2017

If you are not following @LYSNation on Twitter, then you missed the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of January 22, 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. Kindness: The attitude with which we should treat one another regardless of the response. (By @clwilkens)
2. If a teacher isn't following an aligned scope and sequence with a significant degree of fidelity, then the quality of delivered instruction is moot. (By @LYSNation)
3. The Teacher Observer Paradox... The fewer you do, the more you think you know. The more you do, the more you know you don’t know. (By @LYSNation)
4. There's a huge difference between telling people what needs to be done and telling them why it's important. (By @Leadershipfreak)
5. Constant exposure to better teaching is the leading indicator. The improvement in student performance is the lagging indicator. (By @LYSNation)
6. All things being equal, poorly delivered, ALIGNED instruction is more effective than expertly delivered NON-ALIGNED instruction. (By @LYSNation)
7. The "I will..." (The Close in a Lesson Frame) is the proof of learning from doing the lesson activities. It is not a lesson activity. (By @LYSNation)
8. "The Texas Miracle" of economic productivity and prosperity is the direct result of quality public education for all Texas children. (By @pastors4txkids)
9. Too many campus administrators are looking for a short cut to the formative / summative process. There isn’t one. There's simply good practice and lazy practice (By @LYSNation)
10. Love one another, live in peace and work to benefit those around you. It will be alright. (BY @jahill75114)

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 Aspiring Principal Workshop (Multiple Presentations), Learning for a Change Spring Summit (Keynote and Multiple Presentations) 
• 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