That’s a Wrap!

The ending of a school year is a very exciting time for students, but is also a very hectic time for teachers and administrators.  (If felt this topic was perfect as we not only end another school year, but also end another semester at the University of Montevallo!)

Mr. Jim Miller, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for Shelby County Schools describes the ending of a school year as that of “a business being shut down and then reopened all within two and a half months.”  I thought this was a great metaphor!  A lot of work is involved in shutting down a business and even more work is involved in opening a business.  Imagine doing both of these things all within two and a half months, every year!  That is exactly what it is like for administrators and teachers. 

While it is common to think teachers get a three month summer vacation, this is simply not true.  During these three months “off”, teachers are attending workshops, planning lessons, meeting with colleagues, and working diligently in their classrooms so they are prepared for the next school year. 

The following link describes what all has to be done for a successful closing of a school year:  http://teaching.about.com/od/admin/tp/End-Of-The-School-Year.htm?r=twitter

I really like the idea of an administrator keeping a notebook of ideas or suggestions that may be used to help make the close of the next school year even better.  I always think I can remember a great idea when one is presented to me, but I have found that if I don’t write it down, it is lost forever!

Not only is it beneficial for administrators to think about ways to improve for upcoming year, but also for the parents and students to think about these things. 

The following is another link that talks about the importance of reflection on a school year gone by: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/springfield-news/reflections-on-the-end-of-another-school-year-772505.html

In order for all of these things to be completed in a timely manner, we at Chelsea Intermediate School provide a “Check-Out Procedure” packet for each of our faculty and staff members.  This check-out packet contains forms that must be completed, procedures for completing these forms, and deadlines to submit necessary paperwork. 

On the last day of school for teachers, everyone signs up for a time to meet with the administration so that all of these items can be signed off on. 

This process seems to be pretty seamless and productive as it helps to keep everyone organized and on a schedule during a time that can be extremely harrowing! 

Winning with People

Anyone who spends any amount of time in a leadership role will have to deal with difficult people.  It may be difficult teachers, difficult co-workers, or even difficult parents.  Learning how to effectively communicate and manage these people can be a huge undertaking. 

Dr. John C. Maxwell has written several books pertaining to leadership.  Dr. Maxwell is also an international speaker who has trained more than one million leaders worldwide. 

I began reading one of his books, co-authored with Dr. Les Parrot, entitled 25 Ways to Win with People.  I discovered this book one evening and began following him on twitter here:   http://johnmaxwellonleadership.com/2012/04/23/enlarging-others/

The suggestions made in his book were so helpful to me, as an administrator, I decided my teachers could benefit from them as well.  I decided to begin sharing these suggestions with them in the weekly memo they receive from administration. 

The following are some of the suggestions shared with teachers:

“Keys to Unlocking Conflict: Build a rapport: Re-instill the human touch by connecting with your colleagues on a personal level. Go out with them for lunches or dinners. Get to know them as people, and not colleagues. Learn more about their hobbies, their family, and their lives. Foster strong connections and this will go a long way in your work environment!”

“Keys to Unlocking Conflict: Understand the person’s intentions: I’d like to believe that no one is difficult for the sake of being difficult. Even when it may seem that the person is just out to get you, there is always some underlying reason that is motivating them to act this way. Rarely is this motivation apparent. Try to identify the person’s trigger: What is making him/her act in this manner? What is stopping him/her from cooperating with you? How can you help to meet his/her needs and resolve the situation?”

“Keys to Unlocking Conflict: Let the person know where you are coming from: Always let people know your intentions behind what you are doing. Sometimes, they are resistant because they think that you are just being difficult with them. Letting them in on the reason behind your actions and the full background of what is happening will enable them to empathize with your situation. This helps them to get on-board much easier.”

These “Keys to Unlocking Conflict” started appearing in the weekly memo during the second semester of the 2011-2012 school year.  Parent conferences were being scheduled at this time and I felt these suggestions may help these meetings to remain positive as well as effective. 

Pining away for Pinterest

If you have not already been “introduced” to Pinterest, you are truly missing out!  Pinterest can be used, solely, for entertainment.   It can, however, also be very instrumental in motivating teachers and in assisting teachers with lessoning planning. 

Pinterest is a web site that was created two years ago. It contains more than 10 million members.   This online location is where people can organize ideas into different categories.  An online bulletin board is created once a person joins.  The online bulletin board is where one can “pin” different pictures of ideas or quotes they like or find interesting.   

The mission of Pinterest is “to connect everyone in the world through the 'things' they find interesting. We think that a favorite book, toy, or recipe can reveal a common link between two people. With millions of new pins added every week, Pinterest is connecting people all over the world based on shared tastes and interests.”

When I first joined Pinterest, I did so for pure entertainment.  I later learned there were some amazing educational ideas out there that needed to be shared with my teachers.  I immediately encouraged them to “follow me” on this site as I hoped to provide them with some engaging activities for their students.  I also “pinned” some inspirational quotes from which I felt some of my teachers might benefit. 

The more I browsed this site and the more I began to “follow” many of them, the more I began to realize that several of my teachers had already discovered this spectacular site!

This site may also be used for pinning current events, informing students of classroom resources, collaborating with other teachers on shared lessons, or promoting student work electronically.  Pinterest may also be used to connect with students or teachers from different schools or universities online.

Blogs may also be introduced through the Pinterest site.  These blogs can provide teachers with an innovative way of teaching a skill that may have lost its appeal.   Many teachers have indicated that through the use of these blogs, they feel a newfound excitement for lessons they have been teaching for years. 

The following educators and leaders are currently using Pinterest and are definitely worth “following!”

Vicki Davis (coolcatteacher)

Eric Sheninger (esheninger)

Karen Steffensen (kstef2)

Debbie Fucoloro (debbiefuco)

Shannon Smith (shannoninottawa)

Shelly Terrell (shellyterrell)

Eric Sheninger may also be found on my diigo list at http://www.diigo.com/user/stevisims. 

What is going on?

One of the biggest complaints received at my school, in the past, has been the lack of home-to-school communication.  Parents have indicated that they have felt as if they were not aware of what is going on in the classroom.  This concern has been addressed and strategies have been put in place to allow for parents to feel more “in the know.”  Some of the strategies used have been:

·         Weekly newsletters being sent home every Wednesday by each classroom teacher

·         Weekly folders being sent home every Wednesday by each classroom teacher

·         Progress reports being sent home in the weekly folders

·         An “ABC” chart that is signed by both the teacher and the parent weekly (also included in the weekly folders)

·         All graded work being sent home in the weekly folders by the classroom teacher

·         Teacher-Parent conferences being held with every parent once per semester

·         “Red notes” being sent home on an as needed basis for students conducting behavioral concerns

·         A newsletter being sent home each month from administration with each student in a hard copy format or electronically

·         Use of the ListServe Internet program for all parents signed up to receive notification through this provider

·         Monthly newsletters being sent home monthly by special area teachers (i.e. counselors, media specialists, gifted education teachers, etc.)

·         School website that is updated on an as needed basis

·         Voice automated telephone/messaging system (contacts parents when students are absent or owe lunch money)

·         A Facebook page created by the Chelsea Intermediate School PTO

·         A marquee located, in front of the building, that is updated weekly

*The “ABC” chart highlights the student’s attendance, behavior, and curriculum concerns for that week.

Since the implementation of all these strategies, the administration has received fewer complaints from parents stating they are unaware of the happenings occurring in their child’s classroom. 

According to our culture surveys for the 2011-2012 school year, parents and teachers feel the teacher-parent communications have improved drastically.   Both parties agree that in order for students to obtain academic success there needs to be adequate communication and collaboration between the two. 

We, at Chelsea Intermediate School, understand that effective communication is the core of a strong and productive relationship.  We will model and strive as a team to achieve the following for all of our students.

Cultivate a culture that inspires learning for all (students, teachers, parents, and administrators).

Hold high expectations for all members of our learning community.

Integrate curriculum to ensure that learning connections are established.

Student growth (learning, achievement, self-confidence, respect, and responsibility) is our top priority.

The following link may be found on my twitter list as well as my social bookmarking site, http://www.diigo.com/user/stevisims
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/parent-involvement-survey-anne-obrien#.T4VthAutkpg.twitter
The creation of this bookmarking site has taught me how to find sources relevant to administration and educational leadership.  It has also been instrumental in providing me with different strategies and ideas to use while leading my school.

My diigo site will continue to be used to help organize different strategies used by other administrators.  I will also be sharing this site with my teachers during our next faculty meeting and again during our August faculty meeting. They will be encouraged to become followers of this site!

Some of my favorite resources I found while creating the diigo site were http://www.edutopia.org/ and http://www.willrichardson.com/.  Edutopia may be browsed by grade level or different areas of interest such as professional development ideas or project-based learning.  Will Richardson is a blogger who also happens to be a parent, educator, speaker, and author. 

Other professionals may be able to gain more 21st century skills' knowledge as well as different ideas to use while leading their schools. 

Being a "Tech-Savvy" School

Does becoming a “tech-savvy” school simply mean buying a few more computers for students to use in the classrooms?  Does it mean allowing students to begin bringing their personal Kindle or IPad to school to use during their reading instruction?  For those of us not born during the “Millennial” generation, this may seem logical.

Beginning in the Fall of 2009, the school system I currently work for, created a 21^st Century committee to help create learning opportunities that would enable students to be more prepared for their future.  Goals were created and strategies were made to help promote 21^st Century learning and to ensure that this type of learning was standard protocol.  These learning opportunities utilized the implementation of more technology, the integration of 21^st Century skills with core curriculum, and the increase of staff development opportunities. 

I feel the most important aspect of the 21^st Century strategies is the opportunity for staff to be trained on the different types of and the different uses of technological devices.  Teachers need to be confident in their abilities to use a variety of electronics before they can expect their students to use them appropriately. 

Safety is the number one concern for most administrators.  This also holds true for students while they are online.  Once these devices are in place, it is vital for a school to be able to ensure student safety. 

Shelby County Schools are committed to not only providing excellent instruction, but also to providing a safe learning environment; a safe learning environment that pertains to onsite safety as well as online safety. 

Many different online safety tools are shared with Shelby County staff, parents and students via the Shelby County School System website.  Some of these resources include i-Safe, SafeKids.com, Family Shield, Internet Acronyms for Parents, and many others. 

Visit our system’s website for more online safety resources at www.shelbyed.k12.al.us

One way internet safety is taught at Chelsea Intermediate School is through our media specialist.  She meets with each class, individually, and shares these resources with our students.  She also teaches them how to recognize a valid websites when conducting research for class projects. 

Another way online safety is shared is through presentations made during our Parenting Day activities each year.  During the 2011-2012 school year, a retired FBI agent from Hoover, Alabama was invited to speak to parents regarding ways to safeguard their children from online predators. 

Many of the same suggestions are shared on the following link that can be found on:

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2012/03/27/developing-sound-social-media-policies-for-schools/

Edmodo

In the fall of 2011, Shelby County administrators received training in the use of Edmodo, a social network geared towards teachers and students.  This network resembled Facebook, but is more secure and private than its predecessor.  Only students, parents, and teachers are granted access via security codes preventing outsiders from joining.

During the spring of 2012, my principal wanted to acquire feedback from our teachers regarding the administration of the Discovery Education assessment (mentioned in the previous post).  We decided to distribute a survey via Edmodo and have all teachers respond just before leaving for spring break. 

This survey consisted of three questions related to Discovery Education.  Teachers were encouraged to share their opinion regarding the best way to administer this assessment for the 2012-2013 school year.  Bar graphs were created from the teacher's responses.  This will be an easy way to determine how the majority of the teachers would like to assess our students next year.    

Edmodo has been implemented system wide for the Shelby County School district.  The Edmodo web site allows individuals to join groups based on thier position and/or interests.  Some of these different groups include: administrator groups, community groups, elementary teacher groups, middle school math teacher groups, and so on. 

In order to join these groups, you must have a group code that is sent to you by the creator of the group.  This ensures the security and privacy of this network. 

Also available through this network is a social calendar that may be useful for upcoming school events and closings. 

Edmodo has been proven to be a fast, reliable way to acquire information from our teachers in a paperless and easy-to-interpret format. 

One of our fifth grade teachers, Mr. Daryl Hyde, has been using Edmodo with his students during his reading instructional time.  Students are encouraged to respond to questions based on chapter books they are reading in whole group and small group times.  Students are also able to access Edmodo from home.  This helps strengthen the home-school connection as well as give students another opportunity to complete in class assignments while at home. 

Mr. Hyde purchased ten netbooks for his classroom to help supplement the use of Edmodo during the school day.  The use of these notebooks also helps Mr. Hyde’s students to work in small groups and to strengthen their collaboration skills.  One of Mr. Hyde’s students stated that she loved using the netbooks and Edmodo because it made her feel as if she was on Facebook during the school day. 

Future uses of Edmodo include parents having access to student grades and assignments from home.    

Edmodo is proving to be one of the many 21^st century techniques used by ChIS and Shelby County Schools! 

www.edmodo.com

Data, data, and more data

At Chelsea Intermediate School, data is what drives our school.

Data pretty much determines everything. It is the premise behind every lesson taught and every meeting held.

Student achievement provides teachers with this data. Teachers then use this data to determine their instruction. Their instruction is then observed by administration and administration may ask why a particular lesson is being taught. The answer, data!

ChIS discovered, this year, that not all data is created equal. Some programs provide data that is easily obtained and used by teachers, some programs provide data but it is not beneficial to guiding instruction, and some programs provide no data at all.

Discovery Education (DE) is a program that has been used by ChIS in the past. It was dropped at the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year. It was quickly discovered that this was a big mistake. The goal of DE is to inspire learning in students while providing teachers with a variety of tools that help to make learning exciting. DE also provides several professional development opportunities for teachers through webinars, digital media integration, related links and many more. This is connectivism at its finest!

The assessment portion of DE is highly preferred by ChIS teachers. This assessment is taken three times per school year. This assessment is directly correlated to the ARMT + testing (Alabama Reading and Mathematics Test) that is administered to our students each spring. 

For the first time, our students took the DE assessments on the computer. (These assessments may also be taken on paper, if preferred.) The benefit of taking this assessment on the computer is that teachers are able to obtain student test results immediately.  Therefore, instruction can be tailored to each student’s needs.  When taken on paper, it is approximately two weeks before the results can be available to the teachers.  This is two weeks’ worth of instructional time that could have been geared specifically towards student weaknesses. 

DE also provides teachers and administrators with graphs that show areas of strength and weakness for the whole class.  Many times each of these areas are directly related to our school improvement plan that is updated yearly. 

Data meetings are held at ChIS each month.  The DE results are discussed at each meeting.

DE results provide a tremendous amount of support for our school.  They guide instruction, are the backbone of our data meetings and even help to prepare our school improvement plan each year.

This program does come with a price, but this price is very small in comparison to how this program benefits our school on a daily basis! 

I am in no way affiliated with the Discovery Education program, however, I wanted to share this amazing 21^st century program with other administrators looking for a strong, valid, and reliable assessment tool for their school. 

Check it out for yourself.  I promise, you will not be disappointed!

http://my.discoveryeducation.com/

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Growing up, I loved to read Dr. Seuss books.  The rhymes held my attention from the beginning to the end.  I never thought about the deeper meaning of his writings until I became an administrator. These deeper meanings have given me a renewed focus on what my teachers and I do on a daily basis.  I feel this link can give all administrators a rejuvinated approach to what they do on a daily basis.  This is definitely needed on more days than others!  

Sharing this site with co-workers and colleagues could certainly be an extra push to help get us through these next few weeks leading up to spring break. 
As a beginning or even veteran school administrator, the responsibilities required of you seem daunting, even impossible at times.  After reading the "6 Leadership Lessons from Dr. Seuss" by Brian Nichols, I felt it fitting to share this post as Dr. Seuss would have celebrated his 108th birthday just 3 days ago.  I also felt these should also be shared with you to help remind you of your self-worth and importance. 

It is easy to loose sight of these things as we become inundated in our daily routines as school leaders.  These lessons help to remind us of the importance of our role as leaders of the school and as leaders of our students.     

http://theevolutionofeducation.blogspot.com/2012/03/6-leadership-lessons-from-dr-seuss.html?spref=tw

This blog was discovered through reading tweets posted by Erin Paynter.

Attached you will find a link to my Twitter list. 
https://twitter.com/#!/stevisims/successful-administrators

This list could be beneficial to all novice as well as veteran administrators seeking new ideas in providing successful leadership and school improvement. 

Creation of this list taught me that there are several innovative ways of incorporating technology in with school leadership and moral boosters.

Criterion for my list included using tweets that provided many examples of technology in with leadership as well as tweets that mirrored my educational philosophy.

Some of my favorite resources I found throughout my Twitter search were those of Brian Nichols' website and Twitter list sharing the importance of what we do on a daily basis, tweets from Mentoring Minds related to improving school culture, and Peter DeWitt's common sense strategies shared. 

I anticipate other administrators being able to use my blog by accessing some of the common sense strategies gleaned from Twitter.  I also hope other school leaders are able to improve their personal and professional moral through some of the links shared on my list.

Chapter 9 of Web 2.0 Re-tooled

     As technology changes, so will the future of teaching and learning.  Teachers will have to learn how to stay one step ahead of their students as they begin to use more and more technology in the classroom.  This can be accomplished through continuous professional development with the technology they are actually using in school.  Administrators will also have to stay up-to-date with their knowledge of technology as they assist and assess teachers' use of it.   While it is risky to predict what the future will hold with the everchanging Web 2.0, one thing for certain is that the social web is becoming more and more of a useful tool for our students.  Teachers are going to need to learn to embrace this instructional strategy if they want their students to succeed. 

Some of the obstacles teachers will face when integrating Web 2.0 strategies may be:

•      Low teacher comfort/knowledge level with technology
•      The amount of time it takes to successfully integrate technology with a lesson
•      Access to enough computers or technological devices

Some ways to overcome these obstacles may be:

•      Continuous professional development
•      Creative scheduling and planning of lessons
•      Fundraisers for more technology within schools
•      Making the integration of technology one of the main goals for your school

   
      As stated in Web 2.0, if teachers continue to teach students using traditional methods and administrators continue to lead like they always have, we may be doing an injustice to our students. 

  

Welcome

Hello everyone!  The focus of this blog is to serve as a guide for potential and current educational administrators.  I hope to share some survival tips with you as you "brave the elements" of everyday life as an elementary administrator.