Show Us What Homework's For

Cushman, Kathleen. "Educational Leadership:Giving Students Meaningful Work:Show Us What Homework's For." Membership, Policy, and Professional Development for Educators ASCD. Sept. 2010. Web. 15 Nov. 2010. <http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept10/vol68/num01/Show-Us-What-Homework's-For.aspx>.

There are four big areas concerning homework addressed in this article: purpose for homework, follow up to assignments, not a grade, and better use of homework time. Students speak out on their thoughts regarding homework. In the article they had the students describe their nonacademic practice activities. The students are motivated to improve their skills and like doing nonacademic skill practice. They also feel homework should be focused on improving their skills. Students felt that they are all receiving the same homework assignments with no clear purpose. 

As an administrator I think it is important to make sure teachers are setting realistic homework expectations. It should be a valuable tool for the student and teacher. Help the students realize the importance of their homework. We have to make the homework relevant to the students needs. In the article a student gave an example of a project her teacher gave her for homework and it gave the students some freedom and flexibility in the assignment. When students feel they have a choice and input in the assignment they are more than likely going to be more motivated to complete the work. Students need feedback regarding their assignments so they know what they need to improve on in the future. It is important to get the students involved and motivated about their homework so they can have the same ambition they have while practicing their nonacademic skills.

Mass. District Gets Tough on Cyberbullying

Hendricks, Lynne. "Education Week's Digital Directions: Mass. District Gets Tough on Cyberbullying." Education Week American Education News Site of Record. 9 Nov. 2010. Web. 15 Nov. 2010. <http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2010/11/09/mct_mabullying.html>.

The state of Massachusetts passed a new anti-bullying state law and now schools are creating a plan to handle different types of bullying during and after school hours. They have a zero tolerance policy that once you break the rule certain interventions will take place. They are especially taking cyberbullying very serious. The severity of the bullying that occurs will determine the levels of intervention needed. The school will be holding meetings with the parents, possibly expert speakers and forums where parents can ask questions and seek advice. They are trying to use the incidents that have already happened to inform and help stop future bullying.

Bullying unfortunately is an area in schools that seems to be growing and advancing with technology hence the term cyberbullying. As an administrator I feel it is important to create a plan to protect students from any type of bullying. I think the principals in this article are taking the right steps to address this problem.

 It is important for principals to first make the staff aware of the different types of bullying so they knowledgeable and can keep an eye out for these signs. Also as a principal it is important to educate parents and students about the types of bullying and give them advice on how to handle these issues. It is so sad the things that are happening to children as a result of bullying. If only these children were better equipped with the tools to handle these incidents may have led to better outcomes for all involved. I like the idea of bring in an expert and having an open forum for the parents. It is important that parents are educated in order for them to better help their children deal with bullying! We have to remember times are changing and parents may not always be knowledgeable regarding advanced technology. It is so important that students know that bullying in whatever shape, form or type is not acceptable and there will be consequences for their actions. It is our job as educators and administrators to do our part in keeping children safe so they can learn! 

Principal Interview 2

I asked my principal about to two challenging issues that she deals with regarding special education and students with 504 plans. The first issue she mentioned was awareness, making sure the teachers are aware of the students disabilities. Also making sure the teachers are making necessary accommodations for the students. Providing the support they need in the classroom while at the same time adjusting to meet their needs. She also mentioned making sure teachers are following and supporting the IEP in class.

With 504 plans she mentioned some of the same concerns about accommodating the student to meet their needs. She also said a concern is making sure that all teachers are aware of the plans. Monitoring and making sure the students are not being penalized for their actions regarding their plan for example ADHD. She wants to make sure that the teachers are applying strategies to make sure the child is receiving the correct accommodations to support that child. Proving the students with an environment in which they can learn best.

Where it gets difficult is when the parents don't recognize there is a problem and wont sign off on paper work to help their child. Therefore the school cant receive the outside resources to help the student. At times when this happens she has to try to find other resources for the students and teachers to help them be successful.

NPR court case discussion

Overview of the case:

The Supreme Court gave the parents in the Oregon case the right to sue the school district for the cost of their son’s private education.  This case involves a child who was having attention problems and his parents weren’t satisfied with the schools decision regarding his education. Therefore they pulled their child out and put him in a private school where they felt he would receive a better education and the proper services he needed to be successful in school.

Opinion:

This is a difficult situation and I can see it being a problem that will continue to grow as more and more students become diagnosed with ADHD. It is so hard for me to say if I agree with the decision or not! This case has several factors and items to consider. I am going to say I don’t agree with the parents suing the school district. I feel that they could have made a better effort to work with the school district before pulling the child out. Also, they could have tried to research some outside sources to help their child cope and manage the disorder. Even after they decided they were going to pull them out they have tried to find a more affordable private school to send their child to.

I understand that the parents thought they were doing the best thing for their child but sometimes we have to try several different solutions before we find the correct answer to problems. I think this may cause a trend with parents and students being if they don’t like how things are going you automatically flee without trying to solve the problem. I think that once you have tried to work out the problem at hand and it is not getting at better than you need to take the next steps to correct the problem in a different way. ADHD is a touchy disorder and from what I have heard from being in the schools is it is hard to diagnose and many doctors don’t like to diagnose the disorder. I think schools and parents need to team up and work together to make sure students receive the best possible education! 

Works Cited:

Abramson, Larry. "Justices Rule For Parents Of Special Ed Student." NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR. Web. 17 Oct. 2010. <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105797012>.

Manning, Robb. "OPB News · Supreme Court Backs Family In Forest Grove Special Ed Case." OPB News · News for Oregon and Southwest Washington. 23 June 2009. Web. 17 Oct. 2010. <http://news.opb.org/article/5276-supreme-court-backs-family-forest-grove-special-ed-case/>.

"NPR Media Player." NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR. Web. 17 Oct. 2010. <http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=105797012&m=105796997>.

"Supreme Court Takes Up Special Ed Case - CBS News." Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News - CBS News. Associated Press. Web. 17 Oct. 2010. <http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/28/national/main4974835.shtml>.

The Future

TEDxNYED - Dan Meyer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlvKWEvKSi8
After watching this video I was intrigued to see how I can implement this teaching style into different subjects, I teach Reading, Writing, and Science. I like how he took away so many elements of the math problem and started with a basic object and built on the topic. I can see how students would get so much more out of learning by doing and figuring out elements to a problem on their own. I like how he also added technology into the lesson so it wasn’t just a text book question when he was done with the math problem. I feel like he was creating lifelong problem solvers by creating that method of questioning. Students need to learn lifelong skills not just how to pass a test. The fact that the students can apply the problem solving method to many different aspects of their lives is wonderful.
If I was a principal I would like to implement more of this style of teaching into the classrooms. It is so important for students to learn skills and strategies that will last them a lifetime. It gives the students the opportunity to explore and create different solutions to solve a problem.
Sir Ken Robinson: Bring on the learning revolution!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9LelXa3U_I&feature=channel 

In part of his speech he mentions how we are obsessed with getting people to college. This week our principal just mentioned how we are going to be rolling out a college initiative.  We are going to began calling of students by the year that they will graduate! They want to start a big push to get students think about college. Well, I think that is a great thing encourage our children, set high standards, and empower them! Then on the same lines I don’t want to discourage students from following after their dreams, which may be a career that doesn’t require a college degree. I believe that people need to be in a career that is going to be rewarding to them and not just what society says they should be doing.  In the video it mentioned an adult who had dreams of being a firefighter and at times it was discouraging for him because everybody said he needed to go to college and be professional. That same child that wanted to be a firefighter ended up saving his teachers life and his wife’s life! Amazing, see how important it is to follow after your dreams.
As an administrator I want to empower and set high expectations for my students and staff! It is important for the teachers in my building to support the dreams of their students and help them to accomplish their goals. I want my students to have passion as well as my teachers in my school! Passion for what they are doing and learning. The more they feel the curriculum and lessons apply to them the more valuable it will be in their lives.
Making Room for Adolescent Literacy
http://www.adlit.org/webcasts/makingroom
This video sounds like so many schools in America. It is sad the amount of students who struggle with reading. It mentions how parents and community members tend to blame the teachers for students lack of reading skills. That in turn leads to teachers being frustrated with dealing with parents and this does not make for a good situation! I makes you think why and how are these students making it all the way to high school without the basic reading skills necessary to be successful…It is sad as well! I can see how it is frustrating for everybody involved at the high school level. There was a statement presented in equation: poor reading is equal to someone being critically ill! They need help and we shouldn’t wait till they make it to high school to get them the help they need. By time they get to high school I can see how and why you tend to see a rise in discipline problems, the students are frustrated and embarrassed!  This video also says how we have to dip into their interest and get them motivated to help them achieve. I totally agree if there are disinterested and frustrated it is going to be hard unless we tap into their interest.
As a future elementary leader I would like to start a literary focus at the elementary level! Why wait till the students are so far behind and disinterested in high school? I would implement a school wide literary focus where everybody has a role in ensuring are students are successful readers. This is critical to all subject areas and it will assist the students in every aspect of life!

21st Century Learning Matters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L2XwWq4_BY&feature=related

What + How + Where = 21st Century Learning

It is true technology is constantly changing and growing. We must adapt our teaching to meet the needs of our students. It is true content alone is not enough for students to be competitive in the 21st century. In many of the videos I have seen a reoccurring theme, we are preparing our students for jobs that don’t exist yet, technology that isn’t invented, and problems that we don't understand or that hasn't occurred at this time. As these things change in society our way we teach and relay information to our students must change and evolve to keep up with the current trends in education.
I feel that it is important to make our lessons relevant to the lives of the children we teach.  The more we capture their attention with things that are important to them, the more involved they will be in the learning process. The way that our parents and grandparents were taught may not be the most relevant way for children to learn today. As society is changing so are our children. We have to meet them where they are and do our best to raise their achievement to a higher level. The end of the clip mentions everyone one must be a learner and a teacher! Let’s give the children a chance to be completive 21^st century learners.

Social issues in the schools

I believe it is the schools responsibility to aid in handling social issues as it does affect student learning.  We were just looking at the school climate chapter and how important it is to create a positive and safe environment. I know that teachers and administrators have a lot of things to teach and handle on a daily basis but if we don’t create an atmosphere conducive to learning then it will be hard for everybody to accomplish their goals. I think it is important to get involved with social issues such as bullying, discrimination, and even abuse inside or outside of the school. I know it isn’t easy but these students need us. They need to feel like they have somebody they can come to, trust, and help them handle issues they can’t deal with on their own.

When students don’t want to come to school because they are afraid of what might happen to them there is a serious problem. In some instances school is the only place where students can feel nurtured and safe outside of what is going on in their community. If we don’t help provide the opportunity for students to learn in a safe open environment students will turn to other means to survive.  As we saw in the video students may turn to crime, drugs, violence, or even suicide to help them cope with these social issues. We have the ability to touch and change the lives of children daily and we should do what we can to help them! Also by getting other students involved in creating the change is important because they will be able to relate to the students on a different level.  Then not only are we implementing yet another policy but we are creating a cooperative learning environment.  Then the more people you get involved the higher success rate of the policy or program.  By giving students, teachers, and even parents duties and responsibilities to help one another gives them a sense of importance and value needed to make a positive environment.

Schools can’t do it all by themselves but it is important to start the process and then involve as many other people as you can to help your initiative. There are community workers, different agencies, and programs to help create a good school climate. If we teach our students how to respond to these social problems then the more time we have to teach and create lifelong learners. I agree with the video we must invest in our students now rather than later in a negative aspect. Get involved first and create the environment that you would want your students and staff to work in.  As I read in the principal book, strong school cultures equal motivated teachers! When you have motivated teachers you tend to have motivated students.

Decision 2

Currently the principal is involved in a decision that has carried over from the previous year.  There was a second grade student who was recommended to the retention committee at the end of last school year.  The committee reviewed all the proper documents and decided to retain the child with an opportunity for the child to retest in the fall. The parents are in the process of contesting this decision with the school board.

The teacher involved has taken all the proper steps in retaining the student but the parents strongly disagree with the decision of the committee. The teacher alerted the parent several times during the year with action alerts and notes home.  The school also put interventions in place to help the child progress during the year, although interventions were in place and some growth was noted not enough to be promoted to the next grade. The student also received small group instruction in a group called Reading Club.

The parents have currently decided to agree with the testing but have put limitations on the test setting.  The test will be conducted off campus at a neutral location and it will be scored by the learning community where the test will take place. The principal still has the ultimate decision in this situation.  She has decided that if the student scores a seventy or above she will promote the student and if below seventy she will retain the student.

This problem seems to fall into the Maier Model upper right quadrant (Q*A).  The decision requires great knowledge in order for a good decision to be reached. It also calls for expertise of the team involved in the decision. The facilitative leader model is necessary in the fact that they have to gather information and input for the team to come to a decision.

This problem seems to have gone on too long.  Unfortunately the parents are not in agreement with the school and team of teachers who have evaluated the situation thoroughly.  I like the fact that the administrator is supporting her team and teacher involved in the situation. If I was faced with the decision to retain the student I would have made my final decision at the end of the school year that way the problem doesn’t have time to linger and grow bigger. I would have tried to gain the support or agreement of the parents at the end of the school year in order to save the problem from going to the school board. I know in some situation it is hard to get parents to see your team’s side in the situation regarding retention. If at all possible I would try to put a plan in place for parents who do not agree with retention. It is hard on a child and parent to be retained but at the same time it is hard for a school to continue to move students up and down during the school year.   It is frustrating and stressful for all who are involved in this decision, including the parents and not to mention the student! After the test the principal has put the test scores in place to end the decision. Wow what a decision!

Decision 1

Recently our principal was notified that the school had the budget to hire another teacher assistant.  In the past when hiring teacher assistants it was the leader's decision.  The school had a set of standard questions they would ask the applicant. This year the school is in the process of changing administrators and the Interim Principal is currently in charge of hiring.  She has decided to use the advice of her current teacher assistants in hiring the new teacher assistant.

Not only is she including the teacher assistants in the process, she is changing the questions for the interview and allowing the teacher assistants to be in the interview. She is soliciting the input of her current staff by having the teacher assistants create the questions to be asked of the potential candidate. Now the teacher assistants have created questions and will be asking the questions in the interview.  At the end of the process the assistants will be rating the candidates and giving their feedback to the principal.

She felt it was important to include the people who would be directly affected by the new staff member.  Also she wanted to empower her teacher assistants by giving them more of a leadership role.  It was important to her to involve her staff in making this decision, even when ultimately it would be her final decision. I see this model to be similar to the Maier model upper left quadrant (A*q). She wanted to make sure her decision was a fair and sensitive to the needs of her staff and students.  Also it goes along with the facilitative leader model where she gathered input from individuals and decided.

If I was an administrator I think I would handle the situation similar.  I feel like it is important to empower your staff and give them opportunities to be in a leadership position. I would have had the same assistants sit in on all the interviews in order for the assistants to get a clear picture of each applicant. That way they can make a decision and rate the applicants accordingly.  When you see two out of four applicants it makes it hard for you to decide which applicant you would choose.  I think it was a wonderful idea for the assistants to help create the questions because they are in the position and know what is expected of that individual.