Data and Collaboration..What is the Point?

This week I was fortunate to spend much time with grade level teams as a whole and also with individuals. I find the process of data meetings, as well as grade level meetings a privilege. I get to see first hand how a team operates and supports each other. We are so fortunate to have such a nurturing and supportive staff -  not only towards the students we service, but all also towards each other. In addition, with the mid-year cycle reviews due at the end of this week, I have had the pleasure of catching up with many of you on a one to to one basis. This has sparked some interesting conversations, allowed me to grow, and given me more insight on how to keep moving forward and be the best servant leader possible. Yes, I said servant. Service is what the principalship is all about!! How about that? : )

So what is the point of having all these data meetings anyway? The reality is they can spark a whole lot of discomfort, defensiveness, and negative feelings. I'm just stating the truth. I have experienced it as a classroom teacher, a literacy coach, and a administrator. Most of us have a multitude of experience under our belts and there is no doubt in my mind that we all want what is best for our students. We want them to enjoy school, thrive, and walk away from our classrooms with all the knowledge necessary to prepare them for the year ahead. We want them to be successful. It is extremely difficult to sit in data meetings, especially with people whom we do not yet have a relationship with, and have them ask us "what we are going to do" for a certain student who has not made as much progress as we would have hoped. As if we don't already feel a sense of urgency to get everyone to where they need to be. ugh. This is the truth and I respect and honor it. 

On the other hand, I have to ask myself, how can this process help?  In the conference room, I have a small sign that says "Out of Difficulties Come Miracles".  Many of you have made comments about it! With that said, some meetings have been difficult, but what "miracle" are we going to create because of it? What about those kids who didn't make as much progress as we wanted? As uncomfortable as the process is, another truth is - we do have some students who have not reached their potential. 

Meeting together, being part of grade level PLC's, and supporting one another is one thing, but what is going to come of it? We share classroom practices on a regular basis. We have much to celebrate!! So are we done? Of course not. There are too many people with growth mindsets on our staff to have this be it. 

The analysis of multiple data sources centered on a formalized collaborative inquiry process that helps us pinpoint the exact nature of student learning problems is what we are working towards. We need to always be strategically selecting readings/research to help us investigate best practice for addressing the identified student learning problems. When grade level teams meet to share strategies, we can target classroom practices linked to specific needs defined in the data that can be applied across the grade and even across grade levels. A key element of this process is progress monitoring to assess impact and adjust, adjust, adjust until results are achieved. Does this mean we have been doing things wrong? NO, no and no. It means we are constantly adjusting and changing to meet the needs of our students. In some cases, we have identified the problem, but due to scheduling, lack of man power, or resources, we have not supplied the right intervention. That is ok. These are factors within our control. We always growing and on a cycle of continuous improvement. We are good already, we can however, always be better.

Think of this:
Personal growth is not a matter of learning new information, but of unlearning old limits. ~ Alan Cohen

We have let perceived limits hinder us in some cases. We now have the chance to use our knowledge, attack the limits, and move forward to heights we have yet not reached.

Together, we have the knowledge, drive, dedication, and passion to have all children learning at high levels. : ) I look forward to our continuous journey. 

Article Worth Reading
http://usingdata.terc.edu/attachments/Fall09SEEN.pdf

It is all about Perspective...

Every week I make it a priority to think about the pulse of the school and how people are feeling about their work as educators and themselves in general. We are in the midst of some changes to say the least.  We have the common core to think about and of course, the new teacher evaluation system. (New principal evaluation too!) I understand this is stressful and can cause even the best of us to second guess ourselves and our teaching. 

As luck would have it though, I am a hopeless optimist and strive to focus on the positive when I begin to feel the pressures of life, whether it be with my family at home, or my family at school. I'll even put myself out there and be goofy if it helps! For example, at the district grade level meeting I did a great job of modeling how to take a risk and showed you this video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwND8J2SvGe.  
Yeah, didn't go over so well. The view from the front was much more humorous than the video. : ) Lesson plans don't always go as well as you think!!!
  
Remember, we are in this together. Yes, BSRI will be with us for the next two days and mid-year cycle reviews are due February 1st. It's ok. This gives us a chance to reflect on where we are and make changes if necessary. And don't worry, as I reflect on staff meetings, I will show better video clips.

So ultimately it all comes down to perspective. I believe attitudes are contagious and try hard to spend time with upbeat, positive people. This is true in our personal lives as well as our professional lives. Make it a goal to stay positive and avoid any people that might bring you down. We are all in this together, and life is to short to view the glass as half empty.

Kudos
Laurie Cox for attending the PTO meeting
Grace for helping me with ordering MCAS materials
Keith for working with students and helping teachers
Stacie for putting up with my "choice times" for walk-throughs
Kara B and the AIM staff - WOW! Can't even write it on the blog. And can't make the stories up either.
Mary for cleaning up the staff room and helping with the Take a Book, Leave a Book initiative
Margy for starting her own class blog

Mark Your Calendar
Tuesday: K-2 Data Meetings, schedule has been emailed to you
Wednesday: 3-5 Data Meetings, schedule has been emailed to you
Thursday: STAFF PARTY 4:00
Friday: Fundations Double Dose: Time TBD (for intervention staff)

28th: GLM 90 minutes each K-2
29th: GLM 90 minutes each 3-5, 9:45-10:30 Cape Ann Symphony performance 4/5, School Council 5:00 @Soma
30th: Lockdown Training by SGT Russo @2:30

Next BSRI Visit, February 4th.

Places Worth Checking Out

From @verizongiving Check out “I have an iPad- Now What?”: Free teacher training on integrating mobile tools in #STEMEd http://ow.ly/gYuLX

http://www.mindsetworks.com/default.aspx

What Are YOU Reading?

I am still reading Reaching and Teaching Children Who Hurt by Susan E. Craig and Explicit Instruction by Anita Archer. I love James Patterson books because they are easy and addicting. I am half way through Private #1 Suspect.

Enjoy the rest of the day! : )

Friday Focus

Great Things Noticed or Heard 

• Fifth grade is working hard at collaboration as they are truly planning together. Ask yourself and your team if you are effectively planning together as well.  Are you talking about what you are going to cover or what you want students to know and be able to do,  and how you are going to ensure this happens?  There is a difference between coverage and instruction. Food for thought... : ) Remember, working together allows you to work smarter, not harder. Think about utilizing your common prep times for planning-prioritize your time together. On my end, I will continue to look for opportunities to give you additional time together - this includes GLM's, staff meetings, and time covered by substitutes when possible. 
• In regards to collaboration, I was impressed and thankful for the way we came together as a community to discuss new procedures for dismissal.  Dismissal is another example of the importance of working together to continue to make Cove School the best it can be. Thank you for putting ideas on the table and listening to each other to come up with an effective proposal. We will be talking more about this soon so we can begin to practice and work out the kinks.
• In classrooms I have continued to observe the following best practices:
• small group instruction
• reciprocal teaching
• use of pre-tests, post-tests, and re-teaching - love the data driven instruction!!!
• turn and talk strategies
• project based instruction
• effective questioning techniques to incorporate higher order thinking
• Keys to Literacy strategies for open response practice and two column notes
• Third grade used extra collaboration time to work with Heidi and Kara around open response. They plan on coming back together to look at student work - fantastic work!
• Great teachers are both prepared and flexible. I saw evidence of this in multiple classrooms. We all know that sometimes the best prepared plans sometimes don't work out the way we thought. The ability to adjust and be flexible in the moment is to be applauded. 

Mark Your Calendar for This Week
Monday, the 14th:  GLM Grade 5 @9:30, TLT@ 2:30
Tuesday, the 15th:  PTO Meeting @6:30
Wednesday, the 16th: Common Core PD in Danvers (1/2 day-Lisa, Heidi, Margy), District GLM @Cove 2:30
Thursday, the 17th: Lisa @NISL
Friday, the 18th: No School for Students-Parent Teacher Conferences, Jenn, Grace and Ilene to half day PD on Trauma Sensitive Schools

KUDOS

• To all Intervention Staff for being so flexible when three subs showed up for the PD when we needed 6! Thank you! : )
• To Pat for helping me organize coverage at the last minute. (We decided we always need a Plan B if subs are missing!)
• To the TLT and Leadership Team for volunteering your time and energy to help move us forward! Greatly appreciated!
• To Tammy for all of the work with MA Book Awards
• To Laurie for organizing the up-coming field trip for 4th and 5th grade (Symphony)
• To Kara for her presentation on writing to the third grade
• To Ilene, Julie, and Meghan G. for patience, never giving up on students when it gets really difficult, and top notch communication with parents.

What are You Reading??

I am reading three books at once. Crazy, right? 

Reaching and Teaching Children Who Hurt, by Susan E. Craig

Explict Instruction, by Anita Archer

Carry the One, by Carol Anshaw (My non-teaching book)  : )

Cove Staff, please reply to the post with what you are reading! I am anxious to see what titles you have to share!