Instruction and Teaching

Instruction/teaching is the most valuable part of the school day in terms of student performance and achievement.

Choose the best, monitor classrooms, collaborate with the instructional staff to find effective ways to help kids.  Put the heat on those that do not meet the instructional standard.

All the money, technology, and canned programs in the world cannot replace a great, caring, intelligent teacher.

What's best for kids?  How do we make our daily program better?  How are we reaching all kids?

Every Day is Gray

There isn't much "black & white" in an administrator's day.  If you think there is, you may have even more trouble in your position.

Usually, there is a more appropriate "gray area" response when you try to do the right thing (within parameters of course).

Think of a situation in which you made a decision that was between answer A & answer B.  How did it make the situation better than either of the obvious choices?  What risks and problems do you face when you choose the in-between answer?

Proactive Reaction

Proactive Reaction is my term for positive dealings with negative situations that occur in school buildings. 

Examples:

     Nasty words are scribbled on a student restroom wall.  Does the scribbling remain for days or weeks unattended?  Or is someone assigned to immediately clean and/or paint it?

     Trash is left behind by a community group.  Is it left laying around?  Or is someone assigned to clean it up immediately AND someone addresses the problem with the community group leader to ensure that the problem doesn't occur again?

Do light bulbs or damaged tiles go unchanged for weeks?   Even the sign in front of your building - is it kept up to date and relevant?

Dirt breeds dirt and nasty breeds nasty, does your building show you care? If it's left unattended, it will continue to grow.  Kids and adults see that it's okay.  It speaks to the total school environment.

It isn't about something negative happening, it's about how (quickly) it's handled and what steps are taken to reduce a repeat occurrence.

Middle School

The middle school concept seems to have been forgotten.  Middle school is not a high school.  Middle school is not the same as elementary.  Theories about the needs of the transescent (those between childhood and young adulthood) are true.  They are "betweeners" at different phases in their development, changing sometimes daily, sometimes rapidly....child one day, young adult the next, interested in dating yet still playing with kids' toys.

Bring back the middle school!  (Refer to previous blog about Planned Gradualism....how powerful it can be when level administrators collaborate!)