And Make A Change

I have recently noticed that my kitchen counters have become overloaded. I remember moving into my house five years ago and thinking “I’ll never fill up all these cabinets!”.

Guess what? They’re full.

AND it seems to be spilling over to my counter tops. The Instapot never gets put away. I have a pile of tupperware that keeps falling out of the counter, so it just sits on the counter.  The charging area is spilling over with ear buds and cords and electronics. There is Valentine’s candy sitting on the counter because it won’t fit in the box of candy in the cabinet.

I think it’s time for me to make some changes in my kitchen.

Like Michael Jackson sang about, sometimes you have to “take a look at yourself and make a change”

How did I decide this? How does anyone decide when it’s time for a change? Something triggered me.

I learned recently in a training about what are triggers for change. Check out the main three triggers for change:

1. A Big Event: Even if it only happens once, a big event can change your outlook, becoming a trigger for change. An enraged parent. A test failed by every single student.. A fight in your classroom. These things are “Big Events” and can trigger change.

2. A Breaking Point: Maybe it isn't’ the first time everyone failed a test -- but the 6th time that MOST kids failed a test. Maybe it isn’t a giant horrible, angry, world-ending parent email but the 10th email from a parent who is annoyed. Maybe it isn’t an actual fist fight in your classroom but the latest in a long string of behavior problems.

3. A Better Way: Sometimes change is triggered by seeing a better way. I used to take home papers to grade all the time (cursing the whole time) until I had a colleague who showed me some shortcuts to minimize my grading time. I used to battle kids not coming in appropriately until I observed a colleague who used bellwork beautifully to start class smoothly.

Now, having said that, there are things we can control and things we cannot. You cannot control the background knowledge that kids come into your class with. You cannot control their parents. You cannot control which kids you teach. You cannot change your state standards (yet?).  You can’t control that public school has some kids tough to teach.

Before looking at change, you need to make peace with the idea that there are things you can control and things you cannot.

Maybe just making peace with something you can’t control IS the change you need!

But once you have identified something you can control AND you are inspired by a) that big event, b) that breaking point or c) that  better way -- now it’s time.

Albert Einstein maybe (but probably didn’t) say “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result”.

So, just a couple of questions to help you think about change this week:

• Where is your tipping point in your classroom?
• What issue is most concerning?
• What area do you have control over? (you might not think you do ... but often you have more choice than you think)
• And how can you make a change? Where can you start?

Need help or just an ear? Want to talk it through? Email me and I’m glad to talk through change with you. Honestly, that’s half of my job. Literally.

Email me your thoughts! No judgement  -- you make changes where YOU feel inspired, not be cause I (or someone else) tells you to make a change

What Are You Good At?

Everyone has strengths and gifts.

When I was in the classroom, I taught down the hall from Ms. C. Ms. C was somehow magic. Kids who were squirrely in most classes came into her class quietly, prepared, and behaving beautifully with “yes ma’am”s and “no, ma’am”s.  She was magic.

Before I knew that it was ok to learn from colleagues, I used to lurk outside her door during class change to see what it was she did that made these goofball kids and turn them into model students.

She thanked every kid personally, by name for coming into her room quietly and respectfully. She didn’t yell. She expected them to behave and they did. And she had some pretty powerful one-on-one conversations in the hall with kids when they didn’t behave. She didn’t try to be their best friend.

She was strong in an area where I needed to grow.

Outside of school, some of you are great cooks or restore old cars or teach Sunday School or foster homeless pets or make beautiful crafts or volunteer or grow kumquats or bartend or play tennis.

Everyone has their strengths outside of school. But I want to talk about those strengths you bring to the INSIDE of school.

What are you particularly good at, teaching-related?

Some teachers make wonderful lesson plans. Some teachers have incredible relationships with their students. Some use innovative technology effortlessly. Some of you get things graded thoughtfully and entered almost immediately.

I used to have great relationships with kids -- but I was never the teacher the kids confided sensitive problems to.

I love writing great lesson plans -- but I take two weeks to get everything graded and then I rush through it and give lousy feedback.  

I was strong at planning and doing one-time events -- running the awards ceremony or the Valentine’s Day dance. But I struggled with corralling and focusing the Student Government kids every single week.

I have had the wonderful fortune to observe in tons of classes over the years in this job. And this year, I have had the joy of taking teachers to go observe other teachers to see them teach.

It is one of my favorite things to do --- and it might be the most powerful PD I can offer! There is nothing more REAL than to see a REAL teacher teach a REAL lesson to a REAL class in REAL time.

And I love getting to see so many different teaching strengths!

Every teacher I see has strengths. Check the list below and identify a few of your OWN strengths.

• Tons of content knowledge  
• Strong processes and procedures
• Gives great feedback to students
• Manages classroom beautifully.
• Creates powerful relationships with students
• Teaches kids higher order thinking well and frequently
• Runs engaging classes regularly
• Uses tons of strategies that are “just right” for each lesson and class
• Really good with English Language Learners.
• Awesome at putting scaffolds into lessons to help struggling students
• Use turn and talks a couple times a period
• Great storyteller
• Makes solid assessments
• Uses new and effective technology -- and uses it well
• Inspires the best in kids to work and learn hard
• Organizes materials and kids for optimal learning
• Keeps a gorgeous classroom
• Makes learning relevant to the kids’ real worlds
• Teaches to different modalities, learning styles and multiple intelligences
• Keeps parents happy and informed
• Differentiates for different kids
• Gives clear, quick, specific directions and transitions
• Stays positive
• Collaborates well with colleagues
• Intentionally teaches study/thinking skills .
• Formative assessment ninja -- and uses that info
• Tries new things regularly -- and adapts them so they work
• __________________________________
• __________________________________

I’m sure there are more teaching skills that I missed. Feel free to add a few more on to the end.

Now, make SURE you have identified a few of YOUR STRENGTHS.

In a field like ours where you never get enough praise and props for what you do, please pat yourself on the back and give yourself a high-five.

Now, think of how you could help another teacher who needed to strengthen that particular skill. If you are a master at giving clear, quick, specific directions and transitions, think about how you could help a colleague who could use some improving in that area.  If you form great relationships with students, how could you help someone who needs to improve their relationships with kids? What would you say or do?

Now, go back through the list again. Identify 3 or 4 of the skills where you could use a little improving.

Nobody is perfect. No shame -- and you don’t have to share this with anyone. We all have strengths and areas to improve!  

As  you talk with your colleagues, have official PLCs, team meetings, informal hallway chats, lunch conversation, even just back-and-forth emails... Think about who has skills you could learn from.

Then, just ask them.

It requires us to admit to being imperfect. But other than that, it is POWERFUL for use to ask our colleagues -- “hey, how come you never have any behavior problems in your classes? What’s your secret?” or “What do you do that works so well with ELL students?” or “How do you keep your class so engaging? Kids are always talking about what they’re doing in your class!”

It’s a little humbling to ask for help. But it’s also the only way we grow.

Even a teacher you might not be BFFs with or who might be out of your grade level or content area or magnet program -- that teacher may have something to teach you.

Ask them how they manage to remember to use turn and talks daily or how they manage to make everything relevant or how they keep such a calm, well-run classroom or how they get everything graded so quickly!

There’s a ton of PD we can provide -- or teachers can be doin’ it for themselves. Think about your strengths and areas for growth. Then, take it in your own hands and figure out who to learn from and go learn it.

Any ideas? Or need help finding out WHO is awesome at a particular skill? As always, I love to hear and help! Email me at newmantr@pcsb.org

Mid Year Checkup

Welcome back, colleagues!

I hope you had a wonderful, restful break full of puppies, babies, margaritas, snowballs, books, bowl games, cookies, binge-watching,or whatever are some of your favorite things

Happy half-way point! Today, we are halfway through the school year. Your first semester is finished and our new semester is just beginning.

This is the perfect time for a little self reflection.

Now, you may or may not have made new year’s resolutions. It’s none of my business how many pounds you want to lose or how much money you want to save.

But it is (a little bit) my business to help you think about some mid-year check up  goals.

No, not at the doctor! That’s not my business either.

No, let’s talk mid-year teaching check up.

I read a great article in Edutopia that helps us to look both backwards and forwards here at the mid-point of our year.

First, take a look back at first semester and look at the things you have accomplished so far. Write them down, no matter how small they might seem

• Maybe you have streamlined your discipline plan from last year.   
• Maybe you have tried out some standards-based grading.
• Maybe you have taught some new benchmarks or strategies that you feel confident about.
• Maybe you re-arranged your room and it’s really working better.
• Maybe you incorporated enough collaboration that it finally feels normal and natural!
• Maybe you have made end-of-the-period formative assessment a consistent habit.
• Maybe you finally found someone to sit next to THAT kid who doesn’t exacerbate the problem!

Give yourself some kudos, pats-on-the-back, or margaritas and recognize your accomplishments. Then, write them down somewhere that you will see them again. On a sisyphean day when it feels like you never accomplish anything, take it out and remind yourself (and others) of you accomplishments.

This can also help you see patterns where you have already spent a lot of time or what got the most attention from you.

Next, start jotting down areas where you’d like to grow. Ask yourself some questions...

• What am I struggling to accomplish?
• Where do I need more help?
• Now that I have accomplished ___, a good “next step” might be ___
• Even though I share responsibility over ___  with (parents, administrators, etc.), how can work on MY corner of the problem?
• What areas of frustration exist in my classroom? How can I make them less frustrating?
• Now that I reached Kid 1, how can I try differently to reach Kid 2? Or class 2?

Now, pick one or two of those areas and think about an action plan.

• What PD might help?
• What book or reputable online resource can I use (but not Teachers Pay Teachers)?
• Who can I talk to about this goal?
• What steps can I try?

The best advice I heard? Find a PD Buddy (although a less-goofy name might make it more palatable) and hold each other accountable. Just like a Weight-Watchers group or quitting-smoking friend or  a running partner can help you stay on track, a PD Partner (I’m trying that name out. How does it sound?) who has similar goals can help you stay focused on your goal and can help you problem-solve it.

Don’t do it because of your evaluation.

Don’t do it because Marzano, or Dr. Grego, or your principal says so.

Do it because we all have areas where we can grow. Even the Teacher of the Year has areas for growth and challenges.

What do you want to work on?

YOU decide and then YOU make a plan.

Do you need someone to talk it out with? Don’t have a PD Partner to help you out? Just want to think out loud or on paper? Email me! Newmantr@pcsb.org

And Happy New Year!

Summer Reads! Makes Me Feel Fine!

Summer READS ... Makes me feel Fiiine. Blowin’ through the Jasmine in my MIIIIII-IIIIIND.....

It’s about that time, y’all. After today, there are six more student days. And then....

Summer.

Ahhhhhh..... The time of year when teachers find they can read for fun and learning again. Beach time. Family time. Frosty beverage time. Travel time. Go-to-the-PD-you-actually-choose time.  DIY house project time. Free-time, time.

With regards to reading, I like to send out my summer reading list. I’m sure you have one, too. If not, feel free to borrow any of mine!

I plan to spend some hammock time and maybe some couch time with my ...

(sing it now!) “Summer Reads.... Make me feel smart! Flyin’ through the book stack on my NIIIIIIIIGHT-STAND!”

Ahem. (cough).

Sorry. That note was a little high for my voice.

Anyway. Here’s my reading list. What’s on your list?

1. “Why Students Can’t Google Their Way to the Truth” article by the always-brilliant Sam Wineburg, rockstar in the study of students and historical thinking. To discuss how students look at news and the internet and information at their fingertips... http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/11/02/why-students-cant-google-their-way-to.html
2. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari -- a “Big History” book  about the history of humankind from the beginning through the age of Empires. I need to broaden my perspective of World History. This might do it for me. https://www.amazon.com/Sapiens-Humankind-Yuval-Noah-Harari/dp/0062316095/ref=lp_9_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1493385541&sr=1-4
3. Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space by Margot Lee Shetterly.  I haven’t seen the movie -- and I tend to not see movies until forever after their theater release -- so I really want to read the book. Fabulous history story I didn’t know much about! https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Figures-American-Untold-Mathematicians/dp/0062363603/ref=sr_1_16?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1493386070&sr=1-16
4. Unshakeable: 20 Ways to Enjoy Teaching Every Day...No Matter What by Angela Watson  I know teachers have incredibly frustrating jobs. I know how easy it is for teaching to stop being fun. I want to hear how other teachers keep or bring back the fun and enjoyment in their own teaching careers. Maybe it will help me when I encounter other teachers who are feeling that way. https://www.amazon.com/Unshakeable-Enjoy-Teaching-Every-Matter/dp/0982312733/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1493386107&sr=1-1&keywords=teaching
5. Mindsets in the Classroom: Everything Educators Need for School Success Those of you who know me know I’m really into Growth Mindset. But how can a teacher create growth mindsets in his or her classroom? This book looks like it will give some practical, tangible ways. https://www.amazon.com/Ready-Use-Resources-Mindsets-Classroom/dp/1618213962/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1493386204&sr=1-3&keywords=growth+mindset
6. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys  I love a good historical novel! This novel is about WWII East Prussians trying to flee to freedom. The author was here in Largo a few months ago and I missed her. But the book has been on my digital bookshelf since then. Supposed to be powerful and amazing!  https://www.amazon.com/Salt-Sea-Ruta-Sepetys-ebook/dp/B00YM34WM8/ref=lp_17437_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1494960371&sr=1-4

What’s in your bookshelf? What are you reading this summer (it definitely doesn’t have to be work-related!)

As always, I love to hear! Email me at newmantr@pcsb.org