The scariest day of the year!

Nothing puts fear into the hearts of teachers more than the words: Parent/Teacher Conferences. This year we decided to make a few changes that add even more fear. We decided to add "sessions" to help educate parents of what is going on in our school. The point in this was to help the teachers show the parents what is happening instead of defending what is happening. The words common core seem to be ugly words around here and we wanted to change that perception. After much deliberation we decided to add these sessions: Bullying, Tier II/III, STAR/ Lexile, 5th grade math, 6th grade reading, 7th grade math, 7th grade English, 8th grade math, 8th grade English, 8th grade science, 8th grade history, and Parent/Community advisory committee. We wanted to address every oncern we had heard. Ok, maybe we went into overkill a little. We planned everything out and sent out a newsletter with the session times on it. Since this was such a new concept, our parents were a little confused. Some asked questions, some did not. The night of the conferences we were very excited to offer this new format. I mean we had this great idea - what could go wrong?!? Well, I'll tell you what went wrong.

            * parent/teacher conferences for the entire county are held on the same night

            * parents can't get to all schools on the same night for extended periods of time 

            * parents misunderstood what the sessions were and some avoided them

            * the lowest turnout of parents in years

However, we continued with the plan and held our sessions. I gave each teacher that was holding a session a sign in sheet to track the parents. As I figured, the teachers with the lowest grades had the most parents. I felt that was a good thing though. Those parents now know how that class is set up. Every teacher that held a session said they enjoyed it. They felt they were able to talk to parents without having to defend themselves. 

In the end we felt it was very successful despite the low numbers. We are now planning "A day in the life of your middle schooler". The idea is the same, but we are planning on holding it on a separate date than all other schools. We want the parents to be informed in how the classes are set up. But this time all teachers will hold sessions. We plan to give each parent their child's schedule and send them to first period. We will "teach" for about 7/10 minutes, ring a bell, and move to the next period. Our plan is to help the parents understand their child's day and maybe, just maybe, realize we are all here in that child's best interest. We want every child in our school to be successful and we want every parent in our school to be informed. We have hopefully figured out a way to make this day not the scariest day of the year but the day we united with parents to help each child become the success we know they can be. 

Ice Bucket Challenge

Several years ago a friend and colleague passed away from cancer. It hit us all hard. I had a son in her class, and he was devastated. After that, the school formed "Team Jeanne" and began raising money for Relay for Life. This year I was constantly challenged by students to do the Ice Bucket Challenge. I wanted to do it to show the students my support for a good cause, but I felt the students didn't truly understand what the "challenge" was all about. I wanted the students to understand this was not just a bunch of people getting wet for fun. I thought about it a lot and decided I would do the Challenge, but the students had to raise money for "Team Jeanne" as part of our Pink Out football game. The response was amazing. Several teachers also took the challenge, along with the principal, superintendent, assistant superintendent, and me (assistant principal). We raised $466 dollars in just a couple of days. I learned the ice water was extremely cold, but I also learned when you give your heart to your students and teachers they will show you amazing things. Yes, the students found it extremely funny, but they also loved the fact that I was willing to do that for them, their parents, the cancer survivors, and the ones we lost. Was this an academic lesson? No, but it was a life lesson that I hope they learned. I also hope they learn that I will stop at nothing to do what I can to show my love for the students, teachers, and parents, and they shouldn't either. My heart is still sad over the loss of Jeanne, but I know she will live on forever in us and in our actions.

Technology surprises

I have been thinking about all the available technology in the classrooms and schools these days. It's amazing how much is out there. Unfortunately most is out of our price range. When I was looking at the budget and the availability, it hit me that the most important piece I use is free. I discovered the amazing uses of Twitter about a year ago. I joined Twitter because my children and students were always talking about it. I stumbled upon "Twitter chats" and #satchat. I was hooked! I cannot even tell you how much I have learned through my own personal professional development on Twitter. I discovered I could fix a cup of coffee, sit in my pajamas, and learn a plethora of information on how to make my school even more amazing, help my teachers with new ideas, and make sure my students are receiving some of the newest strategies.  Twitter is where I learned about Standards Based Learning and Standards Based Grading. I learned about ZAP and why it's important to make zeros a behavior not a grade. I discovered Failure WAS an option and how to fail forward. Genius hour was explained and so was what great principals do differently. I met amazing authors who turned me on to amazing books. I learned about Voxer and Evernote; although I'm still learning about those. I found so many super educational chats that I often find myself following several at one time. Every day of the week has a learning opportunity. Just a couple are #satchat, #sunchat, #iaedchat, #aledchat, #nbtchat, #apchat and many, many more. I have even been challenged to write all my ideas down into a blog. I could go on and on because of the amazing information available. So, for me, Twitter is the foundation of all my technology. It got me started, it's keeping me going, and I look forward to seeing where it will take me.

The real school budget

As an admin, I am often trying to figure out how to efficiently spend money, during the summer especially. There is paint, air conditioners, summer workers, mowing, etc. But it got me thinking. We need all that stuff, yes, but honestly there are more important things we should be able to spend our money on. So, I have composed a list of what we should really spend school money on.

            * anger management classes: this is for those parents who do not like when or how we release them in the car line.

            * endless coffee: this is for the first week of school, the morning after ball games (middle school plays on Tuesday nights), and the morning after parent/ teacher conferences. It always feels like we never went home on those days. 

            * uggs: this is for those mornings when the thermometer forgets to move, but I must be able to go outside and say "Good Morning". 

            * snow machine : this is for that day when you just need a small break. We can use it to send them home early or not come at all. 

            * chiropractor and masseuse on staff : this is for those moments when you write on the board and have to see behind you at the same time. 

            * endless supply of buttons and zippers: this is for all those pants I have ruined. 

            * personal chef: school lunches just don't cut it. It's not enough food and with all the dietary restrictions now - it's just not good. 

            * and last but certainly not least: a duplicating machine for me: this is for those nights my children have a ball game on the same night as my students. This way I could be in two places at once. 

Even though as educators we see the need in my list, we know that we are not going to be able to check them off. However, if we come to school every day to ensure each child learns to the very best of their ability, then we have done our job and spent our money wisely. 

High Five

There have been a couple of things happen lately that have made me reflect. I saw a former teacher. One that I loved and was partly responsible for me being an educator. I also ran into a couple of former students, and we spent 15 minutes just talking about their new schedule at "high school".  It made me smile to see them so excited about this new step in their life. It also made me reflect on them, my other students, and my goals for this year. What was most important to me this year? Test scores? Honor roll? Good behavior? Then it hit me. Although great test scores, grades, and behavior are important, it's not what's most important. I want the students to know that I care about them. Yes, I want them to do well in school, but their lives are most important to me. When they walk out of my school I want them to know they mattered! So as I walk down the halls this year giving high fives and fist bumps, it's important to me to talk about not just their grades, but also that game last night, that band/chorus concert, or that newest movie. So, let's get this year rolling. Get your hand up and give me five.

Good Morning

Every morning during school I stand outside where the car riders drop off. Some mornings it's 85 degrees. Some mornings it's 3 degrees. The 85 degree mornings are not so bad. The 3 degree days- well that's not so good. During those cold mornings many teachers and parents tell me to stay inside, it's too cold. They tell me they understand. But I thought about it. I stand outside for several reasons. Of course I stand out there for the safety of those car riders, but the reasons go deeper. I had a parent tell me one time that her daughter was mad at her because they got to school late and she wouldn't be able to see what I had on. Apparently they discuss my wardrobe each morning. I laughed but I realized they know when I am out there and when I am not. To me standing out there gives me a chance to be the first person at school to speak to them that morning. I am the first smile they will receive. I have a chance to give them a good morning, and I choose to do that. I spend those few seconds asking about their evening, their game, their homework, their tests, their life. I want them to know I really care what is going on with them. I really care about what's important to them. So I have purchased some heavy coats, Uggs, rain boots, rain coats, whatever is necessary to be there every morning. Rain or shine, warm or freezing cold, this is my chance to say "I love you". I just disguise it as "Good Morning". 

To Fail or not to Fail

Fail. It's a four letter word isn't it. I hear teachers say all the time "failure is not an option," or "I didn't fail you, you failed yourself." But, what if failure was an option? What if we encouraged teachers and students to step outside the box and outside their comfort zone and encourage them to try something new? What if Fail really meant First Attempt In Learning? Think back. How many children walked the first time they stood? How many people drove perfect the first time behind the wheel? So why do we not allow students and teachers to try something new and possibly fail? Let's try this. Let's change our schools and classrooms to learner centered. The learner may be the student OR it may be the teacher. You do something or teach something that doesn't work? So what! Make some changes and try again. The definition of grit is basically a trait based on an individual's passion or ability to hang with a long term goal. How do we teach grit if they don't learn how to triumph over failure? So let's teach grit by teaching students that failure is part of learning. Mistakes are proof of trying, and to just remember that stars don't shine without darkness. Help them shine!