The Surprising Impact of Student Led Learning

The Surprising Impact of Student Led Learning

What You Value, You Spend Time On!

       What You Value, You Spend Time On!

      Take just a moment and think about the things that you value in your life. What are the most important parts of your life? How much time do you spend on them? I struggle with these questions on a daily basis, not just in my personal life, but professionally as well.

      

       All of the things are important, but what is taking up your time? There are lots of “things”/ tasks that steal our time, all of which need to get done, but are we spending lots of time on tasks that should be a quick task? If so, how can we be more efficient in those tasks? I do not have the magic answer, but I do have reflective questions for you to ponder when thinking about what you value professionally…

-         If a school task is taking longer than it should for the importance of it, please come see Donae or I for help. Is there a better way to complete the task?

-         Does the task need to be done? (Who assigned it?)

-         Does the task help students be successful?

o   How so? Or why not?

-         Would being collaborative be helpful in this task?

         We are all guilty of getting lost in the “stuff”. We can’t see the forest for the trees. Our goal should be helping our students be as successful as they can be. Each student needs something different, this is not new information, but what kind of time are we spending discussing what our students need? We need to be discussing how we can accommodate for different students as well as how we extend thinking for students that need to be pushed.

           

          We often spend more time talking about the “what” instead of the “how”; how do we switch up our conversations during PLCs to be more student centered instead of teacher centered. We need to support each other in putting the important things first- The kids! The kids should always be our priority, always. When we do our work, we should be spending time on what is going to make the students successful, what is going to help close achievement gaps, what is going to push our students to think at high levels.

        We spend our time on what we value. We often spend time on tasks we enjoy or that are fun, not necessarily what is needed. What is it that you value? Does it align with your actions? If not, what is standing in the way of it aligning?

Walkthroughs

Walkthoughs

When we think about being self-aware, it is important to not just look at our personal needs, as important as that is, it is important to look at our practice as well. We need to be self-aware of who we are as a teacher. Do you take the time to reflect on your day? Your week? A unit? Are we the type of teacher we want to be? Are we the type of teacher our students need us to be? If you are reflecting- GREAT! What do you do with the answer? Do you say yes and move on? Do you take the information you collect from your reflection and grow? If we are not growing, we are not being the best we can be. It is important to look at our practice and find ways to improve. As educators, we need to be aware of our needs both personally and professionally. Are your professional needs being met? Are you receiving the professional development you need? Are you receiving the professional support you need? If not, who have you reached out to? I hope you feel comfortable to share your needs with your principal. Part of the principal’s job is to meet the needs of their teachers. Part of how I gather data to see where the needs of the campus are is through walkthroughs.

Teachers often feel nervous when visitors walk into their room. “Will my students be on their best behavior?” “Will they answer the guest’s question correctly?” “Which student will the guest select to talk to?” “What are they looking for?” These are just some of the questions that might run through a teacher’s mind when visitors walk into their room. I want to change that culture. I want the teacher to be excited when someone comes in. I want them to know there is no negative intention in the visit. The intent of the visitor is to help the teacher grow, to help the campus grow, and ultimately to help the students grow.

There are several different reasons we have visitors in our rooms:
                One: An administrative walkthrough- The administrative team is walking classrooms to see what is going on in classes, giving feedback to teachers, talking to students to see what they are learning, looking for trends on the campus, and looking for our own next steps. These are the most common walkthroughs here at Lance. We get into classrooms to gather data and give feedback.

Two: Teacher walkthroughs- Whether it is a new teacher or an experienced teacher, they are looking to grow as an educator, and they are observing examples of specific strategies that will help them grow. We have amazing teachers that are extremely talented. We will use our own resources in order to grow in our craft. For example, if a new teacher is working on learning Guided Math Groups, then they will go watch a teacher that is skilled in Guided Math Groups. They will take notes, talk with the person walking with them, and possibly follow up with questions to the teacher. Basically, sometimes we just need to see someone do it with our own kids.

                Three: District walkthroughs- Often times we will have district visitors walking the campus. This can be Principal Learning Teams, district administrators, or an administrator PLC. These all have specific purposes as well. Principal Learning Teams are designed to help campus administrators look at their campus from a new perspective. It is intended to push us as leaders to reach the goals we have set as a campus. Administrator PLC, either AP or Principal, are learning opportunities for all administrators involved.

                Four: Out of District walkthroughs- We are often asked to allow neighboring districts to bring teachers to observe the amazing learning that is happening on our campus. These walkthroughs may not come with feedback for the teacher; the focus is for the visitor’s own learning and growth. They may follow up with questions regarding your lesson.

                Five: T-Tess- This is the only evaluative walkthrough we do. This walkthrough comes with some flexibility and choice of when the observation is completed. You schedule it with us, so you get to choose the class we observe. This evaluation is designed to help you grow as a teacher as well. It is a piece of the T-Tess process.

Walkthroughs are one of the best parts of being a principal! Being in the classroom and giving feedback to teachers to help them grow in their craft, talking to students to listen to their learning, and being able to watch the amazing “aha” moments that happen in your rooms.

John Hattie states that building collective efficacy as a staff has a significant effect size on student learning. One of the ways we build collective efficacy is to start with self-efficacy. We need to see our strengths before we are able to effectively contribute to a team. A way we do this is by learning with and through each other in walkthroughs.

When someone comes into your room, use your positive presupposition and use it as a growing opportunity. We are a staff that is flexible, innovative, and student centered. No matter which student they talk to, no matter if they walk in right after you have taught the mini lesson and explained the instructions, no matter if they missed the students share their incredible thinking- reflect on the feedback given. They only saw a piece of the lesson and they are looking through a different perspective than you, is there something they saw that could make the lesson stronger? 

The First Week of School

The First Week of School

The first week of school brings many emotions for all of our students, staff, and families. On the first day, we had a few tears of sadness, a few tears of fear, and a few tears of happiness. On the second day, students were running into school because they were so excited to come back- it was amazing! On the third day we had one little boy tell his parents he needed to hurry, because the police were waiting on him. J (He loved the high fives.)  We still have a few with some nervousness, but as a whole, you have done an amazing job starting the school year off right!  We are creating a culture where kids are excited to be at school. Take a moment to look at your “One Word” that we wrote in May. Is this still the word that you are using to focus your energy? Is it still your why? Our culture will be set by what we focus on; if our “One Word” is positive and student centered…we will be successful!

I have gotten to read to every class, which is my favorite, and I am hoping to do more of that this week. Everyone enjoys a good story, even the 5^th graders. If there is a particular story you would like me to read to your students, please let me know. Literacy is something that I am personally passionate about and I love to show the students how literacy is all around us. One of the ways I do this is to read to them; another way I like to do this is to have them read to me! If I am not on your reward list, please add me! Any student that wants to celebrate by reading to me….I am all in! Whether they pay tickets or grow a reading level- let me know!

We will be starting walkthroughs next week (September). We will be giving the team leaders our look fors this week at team leader meeting. Please do not think we are evaluating you, these walkthoughs are for a few specific reasons:

-          To help teachers grow in their craft

-          To help the leadership of the building gage what professional development is needed

-          To celebrate the amazing happenings going on around the building

-          To help our leadership team see how we are doing on our Problem of Practice

 You will get feedback from the person that walks your room, and we will use the data to help make decisions for the campus and to give suggestions on topics for PLCs. We look for campus trends and make plans on how to coach our campus to be better. New teachers will start walkthroughs at the end of September; they will be looking for specific strategies to help them grow as teachers. Please do not get nervous when someone comes into your room, it is a positive experience! (I know easier said than done.) I have already been very impressed on the instruction I have gotten to see so far, and this was just the first week.

                Monday starts week two, and I know it is going to be just as amazing as week one. I am truly humbled to work with such an amazing staff; you are all talented, passionate, and enthusiastic. It is a pleasure to come to work each day to such energy. Thank you for making Lance great!

 

BOY

BOY

        BOY, beginning of the year- we all know it is an emotional time of year. We are excited for the year to begin, to meet our new students; you can feel the anticipation throughout society. School supplies are on sale, “back-to-school” signs are posted everywhere, and we see references on social media- school is coming! As educators we are lucky enough to get to be a part of the excitement every year. From the smell of school supplies to the first time you walk into your room for a new school year- we love it all. There are so many pieces that have to come into place for school to start; it is always fascinating to see it all come together: classrooms, themes, PD, PLCs, planning, class lists.  I do not know who is more excited to find out class lists-students or teachers. It is a great time of the year!

        As a principal, I worry about my staff’s stress levels. I want to make sure that you are all taking time to relax and breathe while getting ready for the year. Teachers are such a passionate, dedicated group of people, that it is easy to jump in with both feet and find yourself overwhelmed quickly. Remember what is important, remember why you are here, and focus on what has to be done. Look at how you are using your time; is it the biggest bang for your buck? Focus on what is important- the kids. What needs to be done for kids, before they arrive in August? This is what we need to focus on- kids!

What are you doing to ensure that you are taking care of yourself? Are you spending time with your family? Are you balancing your school work with your home life? Are you spending time with your friends? Are you reading for fun? What do you need to do to relax? Find what helps you find peace and do it. Do not overlook the importance of self-care.

       Make sure you take care of yourself! If you are well, you can be there for your team, your students, and your family. You are amazing, you are strong, and you are talented! I am proud to start this year off with such an amazing group of educators! It is going to be a great year.

Celebration and Reflection

Celebration and Reflection

This time of year is exciting! It is fast paced, busy, and exhausting, but it is also the time we start seeing the fruits of our labors. We get to see the results all of the hard work that both we have done and our students have done; it is truly amazing! We are getting to the time of year where we are in celebration mode- it is a great time. It is important to remember to take time to reflect on the year so that we can grow in our craft.

It is imperative to remember to reflect on the year before we go into to summer. If we wait until August to reflect on the previous year, it is too easy to forget the little things that made the difference in lessons. We never want to do the same thing we did last year, just because we liked it or because it is a fun lesson. Each year brings a new classroom of students with new needs, and by looking at your instruction now, it will save you time next year.  We want to plan lessons for the students who we currently have in the classroom, by starting with previous lessons that are successful and adding questions or tweaking the sequence of the lesson we are tailoring the lesson for the students you currently have.

Look at the practices that have made the difference in our progress this year. Grade level flexible grouping, small group instruction tailored to specific TEKS or skills, innovative schedules to help struggling students, incorporating STEAM activities within your classroom are just a few of the practices that I have watched transform our students into learners that strive to learn more than just the minimum. It is exciting to hear stories about students that have “found their niche” and see how finding it has inspired them to learn more on their own. We have students that are creating dioramas at home because they were intrigued by their passion project. We have students writing their own books to share with their peers, because they have found a love of writing. We have students closing gaps in all areas- math, reading, socially, and even with problem solving.

When we say we know our students, we need to look at the data we are using to make instructional decisions. We are more than STAAR scores, and I love that we have multiple pieces of data that we use to help us make decisions for our students. We look at current data, longitudinal data, and antidotal notes we make during lessons. We look at our students as children and not as one test score- that is the Schluter difference.

We love to show the amazing things that are happening at Schluter. If you are not on Twitter you are missing out on a lot of celebration. From the students participating in the Amazing Race in 4^th grade to the technology challenges, you will see incredible learning happening at Schluter. It is a great to see our students in their learning environments. It does not show everything that is happening, but it is showing off our students- it is amazing!

Make sure you take the time to celebrate all the successes of your students, your team, and yourself. Be vocal, be showy, be proud. Everyone has worked hard for the accomplishments that have been achieved this year. Then, before you get into summer mode, take time to look at what lessons and conversations were the game changers this year. It will help you next year when you are planning for your new group of students.

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Writing for Enjoyment

Writing

Many of us were never taught to enjoy writing; in fact, it seems to be a “trigger” for many of our students in class. As an adult, I find it therapeutic to sit down and write a note, a to-do list, or a blog entry. Even when I struggle to write a quality piece because I am under a deadline, I really enjoy putting pen to paper or the sound of the keyboard as I type- it is peaceful. I enjoy writing notes to students; I love when I get to deliver them and I love when parents share how I made an impact on their child with a short note.

This year I have heard students talking about writing in a new way. It is amazing! Students are sharing the books they have written, bragging about the number of books they have written, and showing me the writing they have done out of school. My own child and his friends have created books using Google slides and are excited to work on it outside of school.  Writing is a skill that students need to be successful in life. From school to social media to in their place of work, communication is vital for future success. Being able to communicate information is something we all need to be able to do.

 How often do you sit and reflect? As educators, we naturally reflect on how lessons went, how students are doing, what we want to do better in, but how often do we take the time to reflect on us- the person?

For Christmas, I received a book of lists; it is a book filled with fillable lists. I have changed the titles of a few of the lists, because honestly- it is my book and I wanted to. The book had me think about my life and the things I have done or want to do, not what I need to do.  If you do not have a list of the books or articles you have read this year, I highly recommend starting one.

Our students see our passions and often take them on as their own.  Find what you enjoy writing about.  Maybe you journal, maybe you love making to-do lists, or maybe you enjoy writing letters with pen and paper.  Write for you, for your peace of mind.