Spinning in the Vortex

Each year, my head spins from the complexities of the job:  communication, parents, discipline, instruction, professional development, politics (which shouldn't even rate..........), transportation, food service, custodians, field trips, students with no running water, abusive home environments.  I could go on and on.  Jim, my handy dandy assistant principal told me that sometimes he feels like he's caught in a vortex. 

If we, as administrators, feel like this, then how do our teachers feel?  Each year we ask more and more of them.  I've asked that they communicate with parents in several different modes.  I ask that they serve on committees.  I ask that they help organize family events for our school.  And, of course I ask them to continually improve instruction and change from a more traditional way of teaching to a style more conducive to the 21st century.  By asking all of this, I have put my teachers in a vortex.  And, I fear, this vortex is spinning so fast they might have a hard time getting out.

With what we do everyday, what is most important?  This is the question I have to answer (with my teachers).  Can we do without posting all assignments on the website, if we have students write them in the planner?  Can we do without so many committees (time wasters)?  And, what can we do without in the classroom? (This is the hard question because I am trying to get teachers to let go of worksheets, spelling tests, mundane classroom activities that do not require students to think).

All of this will take passion, vision, drive and strength.  Sometimes I'm not sure if I can pull it off.  In fact, I know I can't if I don't have the teachers with me.  I also know that I need help from above.  God, please show me the path that we need to take.  Please be with us as we try to prioritize these tasks and do what is best for children.  God, please help us out of the vortex................

The Cure for a Bad Day!

A few days ago I typed my woes for all to read.  That huge knot of unease stayed in my stomach for dozens of hours with no end on the horizon.  And then, I went into the cafeteria and just sat with students and talked.  I laughed with them, told jokes with them, talked to them about what they should do because they didn't like the new pizza sticks.  Guess what?  Before I knew it the knot was gone!

"Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man." ~Rabindranath Tagore

Even though I may be discouraged by the politics of the job, the insanity of the job, the conflicts that arise, the children are the reason I am there.  That will never change and I can not, will not forget it.............

Sometimes Leadership Is Like Stepping On a Bug, and I Am the Bug!

Today was one of those days....................meeting about a parent complaint, politics, meeting about curriculum, more politics, conferencing with a frustrated teacher.  The best part of my day was at the end when I was talking to a teacher and making plans to work with her while she formulated her lesson plans for next week.  That got me excited because it has a direct impact on children!

When I became a principal 5 years ago I envisioned how I would make an impact in the lives of children.  Many days, however, I don't feel like I make an impact at all.  Many days, leadership feels like I am a roach, hiding from the bug guy, only coming out when the lights are out.  Leadership feels like someone is always out to get you.

When you are in charge people feel like it is OK to talk about you.  They think it is OK to believe the absolute worst about you.  People think it is OK to make things up about you so that they can get their way.  I don't believe any of this was in the job description.  Am I strong enough to endure the insanities of the job?

I work with an awesome group of staff members and the children bring so much joy in my life.  As the teachers try and improve their practice, I have been pushing them and challenging them.  For many, this creates stress.  Yes, I know the old saying that you know you are changing if you feel uncomfortable.  I realize this, but instead I feel more like:

"If you want to make enemies, try to change something". ~Woodrow Wilson


I don't want to create stress in the lives of overworked, overstressed teachers, but at the same time, I know that we must continue to reach every student, every parent.  Our job is too important.  I am the one that needs to constantly shout the vision.  I am the one that needs to challenge and create better opportunities for staff, students and parents.  I hope that when I push others to learn something new, that it doesn't feel like a giant shove off of a cliff.  But, if I'm not pushing, no gain is made and we are still at the status quo.  Status quo is not good enough.

I know that when I make decisions, it is what I think is best for the children.  Why can't that be what people see?  Why does it have to be the worst?  Why can't people realize that I am a human being and make mistakes. 

Please forgive me when I make them...............

Being a Christian, I pray for guidance, strength, and courage.  Is this the plan that God has for me? 
 

Response To "Sharing: The Moral Imperative"

It's 1:30 pm on a Saturday and I've just finished watching the video "Sharing:  The Moral Imperative."  Those of you reading this that are on Twitter and have a widespread PLN have probably already viewed this video.  If you haven't, I encourage you to take 25 minutes out of your busy schedule to watch it: http://dotsub.com/view/027a4da1-8be2-4ea7-85e9-2e3be140db1a .  This video came out a few months ago as part of an online conference.  It took me 2 months to make the time to watch it - how can I get my staff to?

Sharing is an important part of how we can enhance best practices and good teaching.  Since becoming principal I have encouraged and supported it.  One of the most talented teachers I know, Krissy Venosdale,  took it upon herself to create a moodle for our school so that teachers can share great examples of lessons to do in the classroom.  When the moodle was established I envisioned great things happening and that teachers would line up to add things onto the site for others to see.  Instead, after 4 years, I have to challenge, bribe, and spoon feed some staff to access and post on this great site: http://greatdaytolearn.com/hillsboroelementary/.  What is the reluctance?  Why isn't it happening?

I've asked staff about it.  Responses vary:  "We share - there is a bulletin board in the copy room and things are posted there."  "I email all of the teachers if I find a great site."  "I don't have time."  "I don't like the moodle."  "I can never remember my password."  "I don't know how to post on the moodle."

As I hear these responses I try to help:  I have had training on the moodle, people can access their passwords through Krissy or myself, we have written directions on how to  use the moodle.  Still, four years later, I have to pull teeth to get anything posted.  What am I doing wrong?

After watching the video, I've discovered that it isn't just time that is keeping teachers from sharing.  Dean Shareski was right when he stated that it is a moral imperative to share.  Some of my teachers don't believe that.  In their mind they might agree, but I don't think it is in their soul.  I haven't done enough to convince them why it is important to share.  I need to make sure they understand that times have changed.  They've heard my words but haven't felt them in their soul...............

It is my goal that I will find a way to get them to understand that we must be sharing online and that I'm not talking about sharing a worksheet.  They need to feel as connected to the outside world as their students do.  That is my moral imperative.   Thanks Dean Shareski for helping me find my way and giving me inspiration to help others find their way.

Think? We Don't Have Time To Think - We Have To Finish Our Assignment!

Those that work with me know that I'm not a fan of the worksheet.  Every time I can, I slam the worksheet: 

"Boring."  "Let's go green."  "The copy machine is broken." "Quick, look over there (as I hide the stack of papers)."

As I hunt through the school and pass by classrooms, I see students hiding papers and teachers shoving piles into the recycle bins.  I know my quest to get rid of the black on white is still not finished.  This year I've decided that I need to find a better way to persuade the staff.  And so, I've been examining and researching those pesky, thin strips of tree.

Guess what I found?  In all of these worksheets, there is a rise in expectation between K-grade 2, but after that there is virtually no change in what we are having our students do.  It does not get harder as students progress from 3rd grade to 6th grade.  Also, the worksheets provided by our reading series does not provide instruction to the depth of knowledge it is supposed to, according to Missouri's Grade Level Expectations.  BUT, the most alarming thing that I found (although I knew this all along) is that these pieces of paper do not allow our children to THINK!

When did our schools turn into paper pushing machines?  How did we let this happen?  As we all talk about school reform, let us be advocates for our students.  We all share on Twitter, but are we talking to those that are making these insane decisions about our schools? 

The foundation of our country has always been free speech.  Well, we have the speech thing right, we are all talk.  Now, we need some action.  I'm going to start by proving to the staff, once and for all, that worksheets are not the answer for our children.  I'm also going to write my legislature, giving my opinion about what will improve what students need.  I'm going to inform teachers and parents, and persuade them to be advocates for school reform.

What will you do?

Hear This Rebel Yell, "Joy, Joy, Joy!"

Today fellow educators have been encouraged to blog about the current crisis in American education and what we think would fix the problem.  Everyone in the education field is up in arms about the film, "Waiting For Superman,"  as if teachers and unions were the only problems in our educational system.  We educators know that there are many problems that are out of our control, but no one seems to want to listen about societal issues right now.   No, the problems are too many to list, but I will try my best to focus on one of them, and that is that all too often, joy is taken out of our classrooms.

I choose to focus on this because this is the one thing we CAN control.  As a principal, I am all for accountability measures and making sure that all children learn.  NCLB has certainly made schools focus on those two things, but what has simultaneously occurred is that joy has been sapped out of the classrooms. 

Teachers are so driven to make sure that they teach specific skills, and are constantly worried about state tests.  Principals (including me) put standardized test scores in front of the teachers, along with pacing guides, and GLE's.  Our focus has become those scores, not what it will take to light the spark in each and every child.

I work with the most talented group of teachers.  They work so hard.  They care and love these children and would do anything for them, but I'm afraid that with all of these accountability measures and focusing on scores, I have contributed to the "joy sapping."  I am the mosquito sucking the blood right out of them. 

At our school, we are going to get back to making sure that joy is in every classroom.  Our focus will be on lighting the learning spark for every child and making sure that children have an enjoyable learning experience.  I don't want my teacher's first thought to be author's purpose, context clues, predicting, summarizing, sequence, and cause and effect.  Instead, how can we instill the joy of reading?  How can we help children be the most effective communicators that they can be?

If we focus on the joy, on lighting that spark, then we will be a successful school.  Yes, author's purpose is important, but it is more important to instill joy.  I must help my teachers maintain the balance between the two:  focusing on accountability and maintain joy and happiness for each of our students.  I am a rebel and I say that instead of more tests we need more joy, joy, joy!  I hope I never forget that............

What is the Purpose of Your Staff Memos?

Each week I send staff a Weekend Update, which is a weekly memo for staff explaining upcoming events and information.  This school year I have vowed to devote the majority of the memo to getting staff to think about things.  I try to put information on instructional strategies and ask compelling questions.  Here is a sample of one of my articles:

Can We Opt Out of the Weekly Spelling Test?

Let’s ask ourselves this: what is the purpose of the traditional spelling test? Well, our first answer might be that we are teaching children the correct way to spell words. However, if you think about it, we are only asking them to memorize the spelling words. Will this DOK 1, Recall, be enough for most students? Is there a better way?



Our training in DOK tells us that students learn best when they are able to apply the knowledge that they learn. Asking someone to memorize a spelling word, recall what the capital of North Dakota is, or what the definition of a word is will result in short term learning. Usually, most students will remember the terms for the test and then it is gone. Is this what our purpose is?


So, how can we take the knowledge we need students to learn and have them apply it to something? Let’s take spelling – if students are able to use the words and spell them correctly in their writing, they have applied the knowledge. Teaching students those spelling rules like “I before E except after C” is something that will help the children (I still use that strategy). Showing students how to identify a word that is misspelled and how to fix it is a strategy that students will use forever. Shouldn’t that be our focus?


In today’s classrooms, we are bogged down with things to do: small groups, re-teaching, formative assessments, data analysis, etc. As we find new and better ways to teach students, it is OK to give something else up. I propose that you think about how you teach spelling and try an alternate way.


Does this mean that you don’t have to have a spelling list? NO – instead, make sure that you give students practice with the words. Teach them about word families. Teach them to apply the words in their writing. Teach them to identify when one of those words are spelled incorrectly.


Tradition means that parents expect it. If you choose to assess spelling in an alternate way be sure to let your parents know. Explain why you are doing things differently.


Here is an article that you might find interesting:

http://www.dldcec.org/pdf/teaching_how-tos/spelling_tests.pdf

What do you include in your memos to staff?  What topics have you discussed?  We, as principals and teachers, have so much knowledge that we can share with each other.  Use this blog as a sounding board for sharing great ideas!