A New Beginning

1. A New Beginning presented by Dr. Cathy Stockton August 5 & 6, 2008

2. Quote to Remember • Doing the right thing isn’t always easy-in fact sometimes it’s real hard-but just remember that doing the right thing is always right.

3. 90 Day Charge 1. Choose 2 strategies that will have a positive impact on our students NOW. 2. Complete the 90 day charge below. 3. Begin the Charge immediately to increase potential for positive student results in 2008-09.

4. Philosophy • Unity of purpose • Empowerment with responsibility • Build on strengths

5. Process • Take Stock • Analyze test & school data • Identify strengths & areas that need improvement • Develop a vision • Set Priorities • At most, focus on three areas • Make all decisions based on what is best for students • Develop a governance structure • LINCS/School Improvement Team • Use Inquiry Process • Research practices that have worked for others • Evaluate after an action plan is implemented

6. Things That Must Be Done • Sound Fiscal Practices • Ethical Testing Procedures • Practice Safety/Crisis Drills • Set High Expectations for All • Observe Faculty Often • Follow All RPSB Procedures & Policies • Monitor Performance of All Employees • Complete Monthly Campus Checklist • Inventory Equipment & Property • Ensure that Students Are Supervised at All Times • Increase Community & Parental Involvement

7. Things That Will Not Be Done • Whining: identify a problem-offer a solution • Badmouthing everyone • …If the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness Matthew 6:23 • Identifying what someone else has not done • If it is to be-it is up to me

8. Budget • If your classes are not maxed—DO NOT ASK for another teacher (K-3: 24/4-12: 33) • DO NOT REQUEST Central Office to cover your budget deficit

9. Internet • Teacher/paraprofessional abuse while he/she should be monitoring students (checking bank balance/ordering online) • Ensure that students understand Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)

10. Student Attendance • Monitor • Send letters (cc Child Welfare Attendance Officer) • Do not wait until a student has used up all days before making contact with student’s parent or guardian

11. Number One Priority • Student safety & learning • (not concessions)

12. Climate • Principal • Principal Intern • Counselor/Curriculum Coordinator • Secretary • Staff • Students

13. Safety • Crisis Management Plan • Faculty & Staff should have a copy • Drills (more than fire) conducted during first week of school & repeated again later in year • School Grounds • Fire Marshall Violations • Internet violations • Check computer history frequently • Actively monitor computer use

14. Office Referrals • Written referrals should accompany students • Parent contact to rectify problem should be made by teacher on minor infractions • Schoolwide discipline policy

15. Video Cameras • Not illegal • Need parent permission from parents of all students to be shown to others • Should not be used as primary evaluation source

16. School/Class Expectations • School • Handbook • Communicated to parents • Class • Posted (expectations/consequences) • Subject syllabi

17. Lesson Plans • Check frequently • Turning into office usually not effective

18. Materials & Supplies • Ensure teachers have materials & supplies that are needed • Ensure that your custodian has needed supplies

19. School Improvement Plan • What is it ? • How to use it

20. Professional Development Plans • Relate to school improvement plan • Teachers/administrators should attend job embedded professional development activities---sick leave only

21. Deadlines • Make them • September 28 • Professional growth plans (faculty list) • Job descriptions (faculty list) • Crisis plans

22. Accident reports • When should accidents be recorded? • Attempt to notify parents

23. Teachers on Duty • Check frequently • Send copy of duty schedule • Actively on duty

24. Fiscal • Personally check your deposits slips and ensure that these match concessions/fund raisers

25. Teachers have the right to teach Students have the right to learn in a classroom free from disruptive behavior Teacher have the responsibilities to establish rules, teach rules, & ask for parental help Students are responsible for their choices Rights & Responsibilities

26. Roadblocks • Negative expectations of the teacher • Students who choose not to behave • Students who have not been taught appropriate behavior

27. Parental Involvement • Initiate communication through phone showing concern and confidence in successful school year • Send home first day papers that include copy of discipline plan, copy of homework policy, and letter of introduction

28. Phone Protocol • Listen to what parent is saying • Be sensitive to concerns • Disarm by asking for more information • Apologize if you did something wrong • Point out facts if parent is misinformed • Avoid quick decisions • Ask parent for conference when necessary • Admit you do not have all the answers • Thank the parent

29. Remember… • Do not confine your students to your own learning, for they were born in another time.

30. Difficult Students Need • A positive relationship with a teacher • A behavior management plan that addresses specific needs • Consistent limits

31. “It is the way I perceive the student and the way I act toward him or her that will put me in a position to make some major changes and help him or her succeed.” -Canter

32. During Confrontation • Do not speak • Remain calm • Use deep breathing techniques • Depersonalize the confrontation

33. Problem Solving • Meet privately • Show empathy & concern • Question to find the problem • Determine what the teacher can do • Determine what the student can do • Document

34. Effective Principals • Principals must continuously monitor the classroom. As soon as a misbehavior occurs it should be “nipped in the bud” • Principals must develop alternative plans; prepare for smooth transitions, and reduce idle time

35. Amendments • First-freedom of speech • Fourth-search & seizure • Eighth-cruel & unusual punishment • Fourteenth-due process

36. Causes of Discipline • Idleness • Pessimism (teacher/student) • Decline of democratic ideals • Artificiality of work • Inadequate community support • Television/movies/music • Learning climate not conducive to learning

37. Legal Issues • Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act • Access to school records • Posting of grades/calling grades out loud • Confidentiality

38. LA RS: 14329.4No one is allowed to intimidate or threaten to intimidate an employee or student on the grounds of an educational campus.

39. School Handbook • School rules. Sets steps for due process.

40. Effective Schools • Positive characteristics for all students • Good classroom management • Lessons designed for student mastery • Safe environment • Clean environment • Collegial relationships among employees

41. Problems of Motivation • Lack of activity for students • apathetic student attitudes • uninvolved students • lack of success • teacher’s negative attitude

42. Instructional Problems • Need for a variety of instructional techniques • Goals/objectives not clearly communicated • Necessary skills not developed • Students not following directions • Failure to complete all assignments • Students who missed the orientation

43. Procedural Problems • Unclear assignments given by teacher • Moving class to a different room • Establishing a systematic routine • Equipment not previously checked out • Media not previewed by the teacher • Necessary materials not available in room

44. Disruptive Problems • Excessive talking at beginning of class • Note passing • Cheating • Stealing • Vandalism • Racial tension • Teacher making value judgement

45. Teaching for Mastery • Specify objectives • Introduction • Whole group directed teaching • Individual or cooperative activities • Individual practice • Formative-remediation/enrichment • Summative evaluation

46. Effective Schools • Purkey/Smith • Site-based management • strong leadership • staff stability • well-planned coordinated curriculum • ongoing schoolwide staff development • clear goals/expectations • order/discipline

47. Effective Schools • Mortimore • principal’s leadership • assistant principal’s involvement • consistency among teachers • focused lessons • maximum student/teacher involvement • positive school climate • parental involvement

48. Less… • Whole group/teacher directed • Just student listening • Rewarding of class silence • Worksheets • Seatwork • Rote memorization • Competition & grades • Tracking • Ability groups • Time reading texts & basals • Use of pull-out programs • Reliance standardized tests  • Covering of large amount of material 

49. Instruction • Define performance • What are your expectations? • What are you after? • What performance are you assessing? • District, school, state, test publishers---agenda • Devising performance tasks • Nature of events • Define what students are to do • Number of activities that are needed to sample performance

50. Barriers… • Lack of objective clarity • Wrong objective for essay • Lack of writing/reasoning proficiency on students’ part • Poor quality exercises • Poor-quality scoring • Unclear criteria • Untrained scorer • Insufficient time to read and rate