We Are What We Repeatedly Do!

We Are What We Repeatedly Do

Earlier this year I visited the classroom of a brand new teacher. The teacher was doing a marvelous job.  As is my practice, I emailed her while I was in the room to provide some positive feedback and encourage her.  She emailed me back and thanked me for the encouragement, but she wanted to know what she could improve on.  I gave her a couple of things that she might consider for my next visit.  I came back to the same period in two weeks and adjustments were made.  There were vast improvements in the class. With her talent and with this mentality, her students will benefit greatly and she will be one of the top teachers on our campus and in the district.

Recently, many of you were visited by me, Dr. Clark, and Mrs. Solley.  For the most part, your students were on-task and well behaved.  It is very clear that our students understand your expectations.  This was especially evident in the classrooms in which teachers were out of their seats and actively monitoring their students.  It is very encouraging to see all of the work that has been put into providing a safe environment.  It is paying dividends. 

It was also very impressive to see the implementation of our campus initiative this year in action.  Continuous Improvement Strategies are very evident!  Over time, this will become a cultural expectation.  Almost all of the classrooms have data walls.  Students were charting their own progress in many of the rooms.  We have really stepped up our game.

Instructionally, many of the classes were doing rather low level activities in which thinking was not visible.  Maybe it was a timing issue.  Maybe later in the period thinking would have been evident.  Soon, we are going to be sharing data from the district that shows that much of the district walk-throughs were similar to the majority of the walk-throughs seen on our campus.  Most of the time students received direct instruction and had a worksheet of some kind for independent practice. 

This is not an anti-work sheet blog post. One of the best classes that we visited used a worksheet.  The teacher was requiring students to perform calculations that led to a greater understanding of a broader concept.  The work was aligned with the objective.  This activity was actively monitored by the teacher.  It was not an easy assignment and the students asked many questions.  Time and time again she pushed her students.  The student “thinking” would have been visible to anyone who entered the classroom.  The students were also clear about what they were supposed to be learning.

Our day-to-day decisions determine who we are.  We know that students have different learning styles. The research is clear on what strategies provide the greatest “bang for the buck.” We must collectively decide to use these strategies for our students’ learning.

I would ask that as you and your PLC plan for learning in the future to think about the following questions:

Am I using high yield strategies with my students? (Marzano’s Nine)

Am I teaching the standard at the level that the state is asking?  (What is the verb in the standard?)

How can I vary my instruction so that all learners might have the opportunity to learn in their style?

In the coming weeks, your PLC’s will perform instructional walk-throughs.  As you go into classrooms, please look at the objective on the board.  Read the verb in the objective.  Do you see the students performing the objective?

For many years, I have visited classrooms.  I can count on one hand the number of teachers who have emailed me back requesting the feedback mentioned in the first paragraph.  It is atypical.  Why is this? Maybe we have a fear of being asked to do something that we fear that we cannot do.  Maybe we feel overburdened with what is already expected.  I cannot say that I am any different.  I would rather take the complement and avoid the coaching.

I often want my circumstances changed, when it is I who really needs to change. This is my eleventh year in the principal’s chair and I learned something from the first year teacher mentioned above.  As a principal, I must have the same mentality as this brand new teacher. No matter how long I do my job, I must be willing to be coached and implement changes in how I do my job.  It is never too late to change and grow.  As I approach this week, I am excited about Haltom Middle School growing together.

This Week @ HMS

Monday-Jeans and Spirit Shirts

8:00 -11:30 @ Haltom High School Vertical Teaming

11:30-1:00-Lunch

1:00-4:00 @ North Oaks SIOP Training

Tuesday

7^th Grade Basketball

Girls @ HMS

Boys @ Euless Jr.

Wednesday

Advisory schedule

Report Cards Go Home

8^th Grade Tiger Hero Assembly

7^th Grade Locker Clean Out/Book Check

6^th Grade Power Card Video

Thursday-Jeans and College Shirts

Advisory Schedule

8^th Grade Power Card Video

7^th Grade Tiger Hero Assembly

6^th Grade Power Locker Cleanout and Book Check

8^th Grade Basketball

Boys @ HMS

Girls @ Euless Jr.

Friday-Jeans and Spirit Shirts

Advisory Schedule

8^th Grade Locker Clean-out

7^th Grade Power Card Video

6^th Grade Tigers are Heroes Assembly

Saturday

B-Team Basketball Tournament

8^th Grade Girls at @ HMS

Tiger Thumbs Up

Thanks to the Social Committee for the work that went into our Post- Christmas Party!

Thanks to those who attended!

Congratulations to Nate Driver!  Our Not-So-Newly Wed Winner!

Half-Time! One more semester left, let's make it count.