I've read a few of the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Make It Count Challenge blog posts and throughout, wondered what I'd say when it became my turn. The wait is over! Now I actually have to answer the questions of which I've been contemplating for some time.
1. What has been ONE of your biggest struggles this school year?
I'm a doer; I like to focus on an idea, project, vision, etc. and work toward getting it done...and getting it done correctly and with success. I don't often let obstacles get in my way. I enjoy working collaboratively (as long as those surrounding me are working hard too) but one of my struggles this year has been to slow down enough to let those around me catch up. I often get wrapped up in the excitement of the potential of a given project that rather than letting it unfold naturally and organically, I will push everyone involved to get it done and that's not always well-received. My thoughts are that our kids shouldn't have to wait until the adults get it together - our kids should have the best opportunity every day to make memories. Middle school often has a bad reputation: the hormones, the drama, the attitude. So I want to give my kids every single second I can to prove that middle school is so much more than that. Middle School is awesome! Really....it is!!
2. Share TWO accomplishments that you are proud of this year.
A. This is our first year as a 1:1 device school and I couldn't be happier (or more proud) with how instruction has transformed. I am extremely proud that my staff has worked so hard to provide students with the opportunities unlike any I've seen so far in my time as an administrator in my current school. On any given day, learning is taking place in exciting ways. Walk down the hallways and you may see a small group of students filming outside of a classroom using a green screen, others might be using the white boards to plan out a group project, or perhaps a teacher has taken his/her class outside to create, design, or explore something unknown. Students are excited for their learning and talking about their learning - a rarity for the common middle schooler....but my kids are not commong - they are unique, talented, spirited and fun! This instructional transformation didn't happen over night; it took time, focus, energy, intention, planning, motivation, dedication, support, guidance, feedback and more - from all of us. But it's worth it and it shows..each and every day!
B. The second accomplishment for which I am so proud is the willingness of my staff to stretch beyond their comfort zone. Joining Twitter has provided me so many new ideas of which I've adopted and brought into school. Of course, there are some who are not at all interested in playing in my reindeer games but more are interested than not. Staff have also joined Twitter and shared #JAMazing news from the school on Twitter; they've also participated in a plethora of school-based activities to help promote building relationships and community: the JAMazing race, TweetOber, Ned the Knight, Genius Hour, the Knightly News, student- and staff-run EdCamps, even the Happy Teacher challenge. Do we still have work to do - absolutely! But to observe the hard work of staff translating into amazing opportunities for kids warms my heart.
3. What are THREE things you wish to accomplish by the end of the school year?
A. Get Makerspaces up and running! We've talked about it throughout the year but have so many other things going on that it hasn't been brought to life yet...even if we start off small and work our way into something grand, I think it will make a difference. We have so many talented students - I watch them in awe day in and day out. I want to give them every chance possible to reach their full potential and even surpass it...because I know each and every one of them can do it!
B. Provide staff background knowledge and resources necessary to move to the next level of empowering students through problem-based learning. We have worked so hard on becoming educators who provide differentiated instruction that includes student voice and choice but why not stretch beyond those boundaries to include a chance for students to direct their own learners? Why not create a space where students can teach and learn from one another while we support their learning? I am not suggesting eliminating instruction; on the contrary - I simply want to offer students some breathing room which in turn will allow them to think critically and soar!
C. I'd love to end the year on a positive note! That is definitely on my mind since I don't like the way last year ended. It didn't seem like anyone liked anyone else by the end of the school year; it wasn't a good feeling. Kids were tired of other kids and annoyed by some of their teachers (and I can't say the teachers felt differently toward the kids). I want this year to end in a way where everyone celebrates the successes of the school year and everyone is happy....okay maybe to say "everyone" is asking a bit much...but I would LOVE for the overall vibe to be more positive than last year's school ending.
4. Give FOUR reasons why you remain in education in today's rough culture.
A. Kids - I love watching them learn...not only about the content but about who they are, who they were before middle school, and who they hope to become in the future.
B. Staff - I love watching and supporting them as they reach, stretch, collaborate, grow, and learn with and from one another
C. My job - I truly love what I do...more and more every day. Of course, there are always days where I question what they heck just happened and where I am but for the most part, especially this year, I really feel blessed to be surrounded by people who push me to do better, to want more, to challenge the status quo and to do what's best for kids.
D. Teaching and learning is a remarkable combination; where else would I have such a unique experience? Where else outside of education would I be able to collaborate, interact, connect, laugh, research, plan, support, lead, teach, learn AND ride a scooter or a bike, play ping pong, take a walk, tell a joke or just have FUN?!! I wouldn't want to be anywhere else other than education!
5. Which FIVE people do you hope will take the challenge of answering these questions?
@ksace1416 Principal of Washington School
@saralizbright Principal of Lincoln School
@donnaabatemarco - Assistant Principal Menlo Park School
@JillMarie06 - Elementary Principal
Charlie Ross - Principal of Edison High School
Monday, March 14, 2016
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
A Walk to Remember
As an administrator, I often feel like I'm in a circus act, juggling the responsibilities of being an educational leader who conducts observations, meets with parents, students, & staff, oversees building maintenance and management - the list goes on! But on March 1st, I was able to hop off the big top and shadow a student for a whole school day. It was unlike anything I have ever experienced as a Principal and provided me the unique opportunity to gain perspective as an adult but through the lens of a 13 year old girl.
In preparation for my big day of shadowing, I thought a lot - specifically about the student I'd choose to shadow. I'm fortunate to have a diverse population of learners in my school so at first, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go with a stellar student who constantly makes the All A Honor Roll or someone at the opposite end of the spectrum. After thought and consideration, I decided not to go with either of those options and instead, I'd follow an 8th grade student who some might describe as "average " (although I immediately learned she is far from average in any way, shape, or form). I chose a student I didn't know particularly well but have interacted with once or twice.
Did I have hesitations? Absolutely! I feared I would get bored, hungry, tired - many of the same feelings I am sure some students encounter daily. I was also afraid of what I didn't know. What would I see? What wouldn't I see? Would the student I shadow get bored, hungry, and/or tired and then want to ditch me before the day was through?
My fears disappeared as soon as the day began and I was welcomed into homeroom - not only by the student I shadowed but the entire class of students. Students are provided breakfast in homeroom so I, too, was immediately provided breakfast (a blueberry muffin, an apple, and chocolate milk). This was an instant conversation starter as students wanted to bring to my attention that apples get boring and it would be nice to have more of a variety. Many also pointed out that the apple was "dirty" which really just meant it had a small bruise on it.
Before I knew it, the day was in full swing and I shadowed my student from homeroom to Spanish, science, English, social studies (where there was a substitute teacher) and math. My student was open and honest about all of her likes and dislikes. Without being asked, she told me the name of her favorite teacher as well as her least favorite teacher. She shared that she expected people to act differently in front of me while I shadowed her and then pointed out specific instances when she felt this was happening. (Her prediction was that teachers would be nicer and students more well-behaved than any ordinary day.) She was clear on things she wanted me to work toward improving in the school: there are too many students in the hallway at once and she feels students should be allowed to choose whatever physical fitness activity they want over a whole class activity directed by the teacher.
Throughout the day, I shared my recollection of middle school and how much things have changed. Clearly, technology has had a HUGE impact on teaching and learning. The benefits of being a 1:1 device school became abundantly clear when in the first class of the day I got to see a YouTube video of Conjugations Back (remember Justin Timberlake's SexyBack?) before we started conjugating verbs. This immediately made us all laugh and broke the ice to get us started.
In most classes, students sat in groups and collaborated in an effort to complete assignments (another big difference from back in the day). However, the student I shadowed and I both agree that in all classes we attended, there was a lack of movement. Don't get me wrong, I've been in these same classes on days where teachers have stopped to provide students with "brain breaks" or included Move It as a means to get kids up and moving - it just didn't happen on this day. Of course, not shy about adding this to the list, my student wants to be able to move around more throughout a given class period...and who could blame her...certainly not me!
The day was filled with so many nuggets of greatness: not only getting to know MY student but also getting to know her friends and friends of her friends. I enjoyed her brutal honesty (telling me the boys at her table told her in advance not to bring me to their lunch table because it would cramp their style), maturity (telling me about the "drama" and how to make it stop), and willingness to answer all of my questions (even when she knew I might not like the answers). But the highlight of the day (for both of us) was something so simple yet so powerful; the highlight of the day was a walk we took right after lunch. Although the walk took place during our designated PE period, it just so happened maintenance was taking place in the gym so last minute, I decided instead of sitting inside, I'd take my student for a walk outside during which time she shared some of her future goals and details about her family life. There was so much I didn't know before this experience and wouldn't have known had we not taken the walk. Afterward, she told me she'd like to walk again on a "normal" day.
Before I knew it the day was over - it went by so quickly! One day later, the student I shadowed stopped by my office with a friend right after lunch and asked to go for a walk. How do I say no to that? I don't! #shadowastudent
In preparation for my big day of shadowing, I thought a lot - specifically about the student I'd choose to shadow. I'm fortunate to have a diverse population of learners in my school so at first, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go with a stellar student who constantly makes the All A Honor Roll or someone at the opposite end of the spectrum. After thought and consideration, I decided not to go with either of those options and instead, I'd follow an 8th grade student who some might describe as "average " (although I immediately learned she is far from average in any way, shape, or form). I chose a student I didn't know particularly well but have interacted with once or twice.
Did I have hesitations? Absolutely! I feared I would get bored, hungry, tired - many of the same feelings I am sure some students encounter daily. I was also afraid of what I didn't know. What would I see? What wouldn't I see? Would the student I shadow get bored, hungry, and/or tired and then want to ditch me before the day was through?
My fears disappeared as soon as the day began and I was welcomed into homeroom - not only by the student I shadowed but the entire class of students. Students are provided breakfast in homeroom so I, too, was immediately provided breakfast (a blueberry muffin, an apple, and chocolate milk). This was an instant conversation starter as students wanted to bring to my attention that apples get boring and it would be nice to have more of a variety. Many also pointed out that the apple was "dirty" which really just meant it had a small bruise on it.
Before I knew it, the day was in full swing and I shadowed my student from homeroom to Spanish, science, English, social studies (where there was a substitute teacher) and math. My student was open and honest about all of her likes and dislikes. Without being asked, she told me the name of her favorite teacher as well as her least favorite teacher. She shared that she expected people to act differently in front of me while I shadowed her and then pointed out specific instances when she felt this was happening. (Her prediction was that teachers would be nicer and students more well-behaved than any ordinary day.) She was clear on things she wanted me to work toward improving in the school: there are too many students in the hallway at once and she feels students should be allowed to choose whatever physical fitness activity they want over a whole class activity directed by the teacher.
Throughout the day, I shared my recollection of middle school and how much things have changed. Clearly, technology has had a HUGE impact on teaching and learning. The benefits of being a 1:1 device school became abundantly clear when in the first class of the day I got to see a YouTube video of Conjugations Back (remember Justin Timberlake's SexyBack?) before we started conjugating verbs. This immediately made us all laugh and broke the ice to get us started.
In most classes, students sat in groups and collaborated in an effort to complete assignments (another big difference from back in the day). However, the student I shadowed and I both agree that in all classes we attended, there was a lack of movement. Don't get me wrong, I've been in these same classes on days where teachers have stopped to provide students with "brain breaks" or included Move It as a means to get kids up and moving - it just didn't happen on this day. Of course, not shy about adding this to the list, my student wants to be able to move around more throughout a given class period...and who could blame her...certainly not me!
The day was filled with so many nuggets of greatness: not only getting to know MY student but also getting to know her friends and friends of her friends. I enjoyed her brutal honesty (telling me the boys at her table told her in advance not to bring me to their lunch table because it would cramp their style), maturity (telling me about the "drama" and how to make it stop), and willingness to answer all of my questions (even when she knew I might not like the answers). But the highlight of the day (for both of us) was something so simple yet so powerful; the highlight of the day was a walk we took right after lunch. Although the walk took place during our designated PE period, it just so happened maintenance was taking place in the gym so last minute, I decided instead of sitting inside, I'd take my student for a walk outside during which time she shared some of her future goals and details about her family life. There was so much I didn't know before this experience and wouldn't have known had we not taken the walk. Afterward, she told me she'd like to walk again on a "normal" day.
Before I knew it the day was over - it went by so quickly! One day later, the student I shadowed stopped by my office with a friend right after lunch and asked to go for a walk. How do I say no to that? I don't! #shadowastudent
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