What Does Five Minutes Really Mean? #SAVMP

In the grand scheme of things, what does five minutes really mean?  As we are nearing the end of the first semester, subtle distractions start to appear.  Students begin to focus more on Winter Break - if they are elementary age, students are most likely focusing on Christmas and Santa Clause. :-)  It is at this point we all tend to fall prey to lapses in focus.  This is not uncommon, but does raise a good question.  What does five minutes really mean?  

My wife and I had this discussion about a month ago.  My wife is also in education.  She is a Library Media Specialist at an elementary school.  I joke about her being too detail oriented and fixated on time.  However, when it comes to teaching, she is efficient.  She practices a "bell to bell" approach to teaching in which students are engaged in whole group, small group, brain breaks, independent work, etc.,all within 60 minutes each day. To her, five minutes means a lot!

It is time that a students can get lost in a book.  It is time that a student can seek out new information.  It is time that a student can seek out information to provide support or argument.  It is time for a student to review, practice, and apply an new skill.  Five minutes is a lot!

When broken down, here is what five minutes equates to: 5 minutes wasted per day over 180 school days equals 900 minutes.  Yes, 900 minutes!  That's 15 hours, or two entire school days, of wasted opportunities to learn .  Now, if we apply 5 wasted minutes to each hour of the school day, we waste 35 minutes per day.  Factor 35 wasted minutes to 180 school days, we effectively loose 6,300 minutes, or 105 hours!  This loss of time amounts to 15 days of school, or three weeks of instruction!  

I am reminded by a quote from Benjamin Franklin, "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”  Most of our wasted time comes from unexpected problems (technology issues, need to make copies of an assignment, an unexpected conversation with a student or colleague, etc.).  Yes, these things do occur.  However, as professionals, we need to make sure we are paying attention to every detail (checking websites for compatibility, making copies prior to class, asking to follow up with students or colleagues later).  I know as a principal of an elementary school, I am guilty of stealing time and am working on changing this habit.  After all, I don't want to be responsible for wasting anyone's time, because five minutes really means a lot.

It Takes a Village... #SAVMP

   The old adage, "It takes a village to raise a child," is often used in education.  We take this perspective, as it exemplifies how the school community works together to do what is best for children.  Recently, I have witnessed this adage in full display, as our school district worked with local businesses, churches, parents, community members, and high school students to renovate our elementary school play ground.

   This project began over 10 years ago, with a very passionate PTO.  They wanted desperately for their children to have a new playground.  At that time, district administrators encouraged the PTO to begin raising funds to see the project come to fruition.  However, 10 years later, the project was still in the fundraising stage. 

   Last summer, the PTO made a substantial donation to the school district in the amount of $10,000 to be used to purchase a new elementary playground, complete with an ADA transfer location, various climbing options, slides, and the ability to serve all students in PreK-5th grade.  This donation, along with district capitol outlay dollars, purchased a wonderful state-of-the-art playground for our students.  However, the generosity didn't stop there.  In a three week span, local businesses and patrons donated money, concrete, excavating, labor, machinery, and food to see a "Community Build Day" happen for our students.  On Saturday, October 26, nearly 40 parents, staff, community members and high school students gathered at the elementary school to build this new playground.

   

   People from all walks of life, various levels of income, board members, district administrators, parents, grandparents, and most importantly students gathered for over 16 hours to install this amazing playground.  While it was awesome to see the community come together, it was seeing the high school students, who came back to work on their elementary school, that was most powerful.  These high school students will never play on this equipment. However, the pride they have in their community and school allowed them to build a playground for students 10 years younger.  They are part of this nurturing "village."  This one day in time will last in my memory for a lifetime.

Evernote is Awesome!!! #SAVMP

This past August, I was able to attend #edcampks in Wichita, KS. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn from other educators, to expand my professional network, and to meet those I converse with on Twitter. One of the most beneficial sessions I attended was on the use of Evernote. I have to admit, at first, I was very skeptical of Evernote. I mean, on the surface, I thought Evernote was essentially a glorified version of Apple's Notes or Google Drive. Oh, how wrong I was! I've totally bought into Evernote and have been able to benefit from it each day. More importantly, I'm seeing it's value for student use.

While I was sitting in the Christian Brothers Automotive waiting area, patiently wondering how much it was going to cost to fix my wife's car, I decided I would use this time to work on my grad school book review assignment. I decided to use Evernote's checkbox option to begin my review outline. As I continue to read the book, I will add items to the checklist. I will then use this checklist to ensure my thoughts are included in my essay.

I've attached a screenshot of my "note" to give you a visual of what I am talking about. Just imagine, this app could essentially replace the note cards use we've all used in the past when writing essays. Additionally, this app can be accessed on the phone, tablet, and computer. Students/staff can easily have access to their work, anywhere there is an internet connection.

On Monday, September 16, 2013, I led a professional learning session with district staff regarding Evernote. We discussed the student use of this product. It is my belief that this tool could be valuable for all students, in this capacity. They would need an email to start up an account. Our secondary students have a district Gmail account as we are a Google Apps for Education District. The potential for student use is there, just waiting to happen. I can easily see our students buying into trading their three ring binders and spiral notebooks for Evernote. The technology component alone will trigger their interest.

Yes, I am still sold on Google Drive. However, I am making room for Evernote!

 

 

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Social Media, Friend or Foe? #SAVMP

Boy howdy, has technology changed the way I do things! As a first year administrator, 7 years ago, I carried around a notebook (not a computer, but a spiral bound paper filled device) to keep my notes organized. Additionally, I was just beginning to understand how to use the Outlook Calendar feature in my email to schedule my events and meetings. To think, in less than a decade, I no longer carry around a notebook. In fact, I've exchanged pen and paper for a phone and tablet. Yes, I've evolved. Technology has not only changed how I keep myself organized, but it has also changed how I communicate with the public. Twitter and Facebook have become my first layer of public relations -- once again, I have put pen and paper aside.

Seven years ago, I found myself relying on a weekly newsletter to promote the wonderful things taking place in my building. I would work to gather some "feel good" stories to mix in with our important parent messages, combined with tips for parents to help make school as successful as possible. My secretary would compile this information and work diligently to have copies printed to send home and post to our school website. Eventually, we transitioned our newsletter to an online resource only. Paper copies were only printed for those families who didn't have access to the internet. At the time, we felt we were being "cutting edge."

Despite all of our efforts, we still had parents and families who were not getting our messages. On average, we would spend anywhere from 4 to 6 hours putting the newsletter together. This included several revisions and last minute additions, resulting in format changes. When parents, and even staff, continued to approach the office with questions indicating hey hadn't read the newsletters, we began to wonder if we were spending our time wisely. A lot of work was going into this, with little perceived benefit.

Fast forward seven years. I am now a major proponent for social media in the schools. When used appropriately, Facebook and Twitter can be an extremely valuable tool! Case and point, we are approaching our annual Grandparents' Day Luncheon and Cookie Social at my school. Last Tuesday, I met with the PTO to discuss the details of the event. We discussed the need to have volunteers to help the Food Service staff sell lunch tickets. On the spot, I posted a need for volunteers to help at our event. Within three hours we had enough volunteers! These additional volunteers came as a result of a Facebook posting.

Facebook and Twitter have become the first source of information for our families. In my opinion, we have two ways to approach this. A) we can dismiss this reality and put out fires after the fact. Or, B) we can jump on the bandwagon and use Facebook and Twitter. I choose to go with choice B and get the word out before someone invents their own version of reality. While I still work with my secretary to publish a weekly newsletter, I rely on social media to promote our deeds with the public as my first "go to" option. The community is generally buzzing about what is going on in our buildings. I believe it is best to give families positive and factual information to buzz about. In many cases, we can directly answer questions or concerns of public nature in a quick, factual, and professional manner. Twitter and Facebook allows us to do so, much more efficiently than a weekly newsletter.

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I Believe... - My Philosophy of Education #SAVMP

I believe all students can learn. Not only can students learn, but they can apply their learning. Not only can students apply their learning, but they should be able to apply their learning. Not only should students be able to apply their learning, but they should be able to apply their learning in a way that connects to the real world.

I believe in providing all students with opportunities to learn. Not only should students be provided opportunities to learn, but they should be given opportunities to demonstrate their learning. Not only should students be provided with opportunities to demonstrate their learning, but they should also be required to justify and defend their learning. Not only should students be able to justify and defend their learning, but they should also be presented with differing points of view.

I believe students should be exposed to technology. Not only should students be exposed to technology, but they should be allowed to explore and create with technology. Not only should students be able to explore and create with technology, they should use technology in a manner which enhances their learning. Not only should students use technology to enhance their learning, they should use technology in a positive and respectful manner to improve the world around them.

I believe all students should be cared for. Not only should students be cared for, but they should be told they are cared for. Not only should students be told they are cared for, they should be held accountable for their behavior. Not only should students be held accountable for their behavior, they should be taught how to meet our expectations. Not only should students be taught to meet our expectations, they should be praised when they exceed our expectations. Not only should students be praised when they exceed our expectations, they should be taught how to set and achieve goals.

I believe students deserve adults who believe in their students!

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Why Do I Lead???

Why do I lead? The answer is fairly simple. I like to be a part of making things happen - it's fun. I've never been one to sit on the bench or be content to let others do the work. I want to be part of the action. More directly, I want to have an impact on what happens. I've always been this way.

About seven years ago I had called my parents to inform them I was hired for my first principal position. My mom spoke through tears, telling me how proud she was. As any proud mom would, she shared stories with me in which she recalled my leadership as a child. She spoke of lists I had made, organizing pick-up football games at the local high school. These lists included names/phone numbers of my friends, with "yes/no" columns indicating their ability to join the game. As a twelve year old, I took the role of compiling competitve footbal games very seriously. Leading led to fun.

As I matured into my high school years, I seemed drawn to various leadership roles in athletics. In football, wanted to be the quarterback. When called upon to serve as our team's captain, I did so with a great deal of pride. As a junior in high school, during the half time of my first game as the starting quarterback, I eagerly praised our team for a great first hallf and wanted to set the tone for the rest of the game before Coach Kahl had a chance to discuss adjustments for the second half. He echoed my comments and prepared us for the second half. We played with energy and we won. Leading led to fun.

While a junior in college, I had worked for the Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Department, in Topeka, Kansas, as a Summer Camp Counselor. I led groups of twelve boys and girls, ranging from age 5 to 12. We played games, went on hikes, participated in team building activities. The following summer, I was asked to serve as a Summer Camp Director for up to 60 children, ages 5 to 12. I supervised five Camp Counselors who led groups of children in summer activities. We served as mentors and role models, while helping to create memories. Leading led to fun.

As a Physical Education and Special Education teacher, I took a great deal of pride to organize and create highly engaging learning activities for elementary students. Whether we worked on locomotor skills or learned about lifetime sports, I was driven to help students see the joys of physical activity and fitness. When working to with students to improve reading fluency, I found it very rewarding when a student was able to fill in their fluency chart with a "personal best." Leading led to fun.

Finally, as a building principal, I am in a constant state of reflection. I believe in being effective and efficient in everything we do. When a student is able to move from Tier II to Tier I support (Response to Intervention), I explode with pride and excitement for the student and the teachers. I love creating and thinking of new ways to present to staff, regarding effective instructional strategies. I enjoy participating in passionate dialogue as we look to challenge our students and staff. I am motivated to work hard when I see our teachers come to tears when a struggling students exceeds his or her expectations. I look forward to celebrating with students when they meet our Quarterly Celebration Effort Goals. So, when I'm asked why I lead, the answer has been there all my life. For me, leading leads to fun.

 

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My Top 10 Tips for "The Job Search"

This summer, I have spent quite a bit of time screening candidates for licensed and classified positions. This is a task which I enjoy. The "Human Resources" component of administration has always been my one my favorite aspects to my job. However, as of late, I've become somewhat frustrated as I look to hire quality staff in the summer months. So, with some reflection, I have come up with ten suggestions for future and current applicants to consider when looking for a job. This is not an exhaustive list, but rather some tips that will hopefully help teachers with their job search.

1. When providing your list of references, please include their home or cell number. While I understand you may not want to "bother" your reference with your job search, but you have to bother them. When a reference signs up to vouch for you, they are taking on the responsibility of being bothered. The background process is hare enough, I do not want to spend unnecessary time searching for home or cell numbers. If your references cannot be reached, your opportunity for employment decreases.
2. Always include a past administrator in your list of references. Wether it is a Principal, Assistant Principal, Instructional Coach, or even Superintendent, it is best to have someone who can speak from a "supervisory" position. This tells me how open a teacher or candidate is to feedback and change. Additionally, a supervisor can speak to your ability to be a leader. Not every administrator is the same. Some prefer innovative staff, who challenge the norm, while others seek out teachers who "toe the company line." We are pretty good at judging what our buildings need. It's okay to have your admin speak to your abilities.
3. If things didn't end well at your last employment, be open, honest, and willing to accept responsibility. Placing blame solely on your prior administrator is a major red flag. It says that you are not willing to own up to why things didn't work. In some cases, the fit might not be the best. That is okay. Some teachers are best suited for large districts, while others are most comfortable in rural communities, ELL/Title 1, inner city, etc. We all have our niche. Be honest and show that you have reflected on why the fit wasn't the best, as well as what you are doing to see that your next placement is a better fit.
4. Make sure your employment timeline is correct. Please do not leave gaps in employment, without explaining what took place between jobs. It tells me that you might be hiding something. This may not be the case. It is not necessarily bad to note that you took time to seek out a different career path before returning to your passion of teaching. However, when all I have to go on is your application and resume, I need more information to proceed. Also, make sure your timeline of jobs is in order. This attention to detail on your resume tells me that you are taking the process seriously.
5. Make sure to proofread all of your application documents. Again, this points out your attention to detail and indicates to me that you are working hard to impress and stand out from the others. Also, it provides some academic credibility to your name. :-)
6. Be sure to list any talents that the district might find appealing, beyond the classroom. If you are licensed to provide CPR/AED/First Aid training, licensed to teach drivers education, fluent in a foreign language, Google Certified Trainer, etc. be sure to mention it. In a day when districts are looking for ways provide students and staff with innovation and training, any talent or skill you have that the district would be able to benefit from will help you to stand out from the other applicants.
7. Answer all of the application questions. Skipping questions indicates a lack of attention to detail. In many cases, a skipped question will often lead to your application being skipped altogether.
8. Be honest. All employers will do a background check. If you have a record, acknowledge it. In some cases a mistake in college can be understood. If owned up to, the mistake can speak to your ability to recognize a need for a change and your ability to improve. However, dishonesty will never be understood.
9. Return phone calls. If you are applying for a job and you list your cell number, keep your phone with you. Your current job may not allow you to answer at the time of call, that is understood - we've all been there. Make sure to check your voicemails. Making yourself available over the phone does not indicate desperation, it indicates your desire to be gainfully imployed. Also, if you have accepted a position in a district, but have applications out with other districts, provide a courtesy call to remove your name from their candidate list. If you have several applications out, rather than call each district, return calls from districts seeking interviews to inform them of your hire. Again, this is a professional courtesy.
10. Lastly, show your ability to form relationships. The saying, "kids won't care what you know, until they know you care" is timeless and true. Show your ability to form lasting relationships with students, parents, and your colleagues. We are not robots; we are people. We have lives, families, interests that make us appealing and dynamic. Don't hide this from others. Remember, it's important to take your job seriuosly, but please don't take yourself seriously. Showing a passion for life inspires our students to want to grow up.

 

 

 

 

 

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