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34 Search Results for "Florence"

  • Less is More: K.I.S.S. (Keep I Less is More: K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid)

    • From: John_Rimes
    • Description:

      

      Following Your Mother’s Advice:
      Less is More: K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid)
                
      I can remember as a young boy my mother explaining to my older sister how painting herself up like a clown would not equate into her making the cover of Vogue.  Mom encouraged her to tone down the colors and use a bit less blush and eye shadow.  Mom claimed with such natural beauty and great skin color a little here and dab there would be fine.  My sister who was already a beautiful girl got the message and made changes in the distribution and color choices of the make-up.  I can remember thinking clowns around the world could relax; she would no longer pose a threat to their career.
      School leaders need to reflect and remember-
                Most of us, if not all of us were once in the classroom and we should understand how overwhelmed our teachers could become.  In the midst of planning lessons, club sponsorships, staff meetings, individual student plans, scanning test scores, classroom evaluations, and the actual teaching of students, teachers are feeling the pressures and frustrations.  When teachers read the paper and watch the news they are often reminded how they should be better qualified and how the public education system is failing.  Teachers are constantly reminded how it is their responsibility to motivate and discipline students while at the same time providing the student's instruction.  Just like too much make-up can distort beauty, too many tasks for our teachers can distort their instructional focus.  
      Do they need more STUFF to do?-
                Timing and relevance are paramount when introducing new concepts or responsibilities to teachers.  Changes leaders consider a small task could be enormous for the teachers.  Leaders should recognize the overall impact that any change will have on their staff.  When we approach the teachers with one more thing to do it can create a sense of overload.  Many times leaders believe they are providing tools for the teachers and instead the teachers feel it is just something else for them to do.  Continually putting tasks on the teacher’s plate can ensure they will be miserable and possibly unproductive.  Happy teachers will be more productive teachers.  School leaders need to work keep their teacher’s workload manageable.  New programs, initiatives, strategies, and tools need to be relevant to the teachers and students success in the classroom.  Never add something because others are doing it or you want to be the first school to have it.  The types of programs that are not well thought out and quickly thrown together never work in the long run.    
      Dance a little-
                Promote smiles and high expectation.  Let’s all remember that learning should be fun.  No one should come to work everyday on pins and needles in anguish of running into his or her boss.  School leaders are responsible for the good and the bad when it comes to their teachers and schools.  The reality is that the school business is not always sunshine and butterflies, leaders must act as the key disciplinarian and manager along with being the teachers’ primary advocate and leader.  While leaders re-direct and correct, they must also celebrate the individual teacher and their accomplishments.  Form a bond of trust and a culture of caring.  Teachers are important and they must feel they are valued.   
      Inspect what you expect-
                 Teachers are responsible and accountable for their instruction and their student’s learning.  Through observations and evaluations many improvements can be made.  The leader must possess the ability to communicate their finding in a way the teachers are not defensive but instead reflective.  Through reflective practices and conversation new strategies and initiatives may be needed to improve the teachers instruction or the student learning.  Leaders should give teachers ample time and proper training to implement any new tasks or use any new instructional tool.  The leaders should ensure teachers see the specific function and importance of the additional tasks.  Be sensitive to the teacher’s time, both instructionally and personally; be cognitive of how they are holding up physically and mentally.
                
      Throughout the school year many tasks may be introduced to the teachers that will take time and training to implement. It is the school leaders responsibility to keep things manageable for the teachers and show continued support.  With any new initiative or school decision there should be a focus on making learning better for all of our students.  The leader that truly values their faculty and fosters trust, collaboration, and teamwork will be more likely to attain a buy-in from the teachers.  Most importantly, the school leader will not be the clown nobody wants to work for.
    • Blog post
    • 2 months ago
    • Views: 639

  • Advice for School Leaders: Be Advice for School Leaders: Be Prepared

    • From: John_Rimes
    • Description:

      

      School Leaders Should Follow Mom’s Advice:  Be Prepared
                  
      I know you have all heard mom say at one time or another “Wear clean underwear with no holes”.   I always wondered why this was such a big deal.  How would anyone ever know if I had on clean skivvies or if they had holes?  While combing through our states teacher appraisal rubric and the Common Core Standards, I finally understood what advice mothers all over the world have been trying to give: don’t get caught with your pants down: Be Prepared!
                  
      In the business of school leadership the advice of being prepared has never been more relevant than today.  As leaders seek to improve educator quality and student outcomes, they must work tirelessly to improve their own ability to be aware of what they are trying to measure.  Engaging in student-centered classrooms, promoting higher order thinking through strong questioning, and aligning instruction with Common Core Standards are a few examples of the evidence being sought.  While being asked to evaluate teacher instruction and student learning, principals must be able to recognize what is being required.  The evaluation process will be a challenge to many school leaders and will take many hours of training.
                 
      Principal’s leadership styles could be challenged and possibly changed to meet the needs of their school and staff.  The leaders must possess a strong ability to recognize evidence of good instruction and identify areas for teacher improvement.  There must be risk-free conversation with teachers.  These talks should be positive in nature, providing hard truths, constructive feedback, and usable strategies that will enhance student learning.  Effective school principals must be multifunctional and multidirectional leaders well versed in fostering supportive relationships with their teachers, well informed in the pedagogical process, savvy in the areas of curriculum and instruction, and functional in the use of data to improve student outcomes. 
      The challenges are great, but according to Roger Crawford, “Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional”. 
      And……..
      Just like mom advised: Wear Good Underwear and Most Importantly Be Prepared!
    • Blog post
    • 2 months ago
    • Views: 217
    • Not yet rated

  • John_Rimes

    • ASCD EDge Member
    • Points:250
    • Views: 252
    • Since: 3 months ago
    • Not yet rated

  • Technology Integration: Teachi Technology Integration: Teaching for Understanding

    • From: Steven_Weber
    • Description:

       

      "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?" 

      - President George W. Bush,
      Florence, South Carolina, January 11, 2000

       

      Does technology integration improve student achievement? If your child is entering kindergarten in 2013, you may see a SmartBoard instead of a chalkboard. Your child may come home with a blog, rather than an essay. Animoto, Doodle Buddy, Glogster, Story Buddy, Symbaloo, Tagxedo, and VoiceThread may require parents and guardians to purchase a dictionary just to understand the teacher’s assignments.  It is an exciting time in education and students are entering classrooms with opportunities that their parents did not have. As teachers continue to use technology as a tool to teach students key skills and concepts, it is important to focus on the learning targets rather than the technology or online tools.

       

      In 1949, Ralph Tyler wrote Basic Principles of Curriculum and Instruction.  In the introduction to the book, Tyler outlined four fundamental questions which should be answered in developing any curriculum and plan of instruction.

        

      Tyler’s Four Fundamental Questions:

       

      1.  What educational purposes should the school seek to attain?

       

      2.  What educational learning experiences can be provided that are likely to attain these purposes?

       

      3.  How can these educational experiences be effectively organized?

       

      4.  How can we determine whether these purposes are being attained?

       

      These questions are just as important in 2013 as they were in 1949. Tyler never had the opportunity to Skype or create a VoiceThread, but he had a clear understanding of curriculum design.  It is easy for teachers to get wrapped up in the activity and teaching students how to use the online tool. “In the absence of a learning plan with clear goals, how likely is it that students will develop shared understandings on which future lessons might build” (Wiggins & McTighe, 2005, p. 21)? If teachers desire for students to have an Alphabet Soup vocabulary of Web 2.0 tools, then they should focus on teaching every tool that looks fun and kid-friendly.  However, if teachers want students to understand key skills and concepts outlined by standards, then Tyler’s four questions will support curriculum planning.  Prior to mobile labs, 1:1 initiatives, SmartBoards, and Web 2.0 tools, teachers designed lessons which led to student understanding.  While the tools available to teachers and students will continue to multiply, the basic goals of teaching for understanding remain consistent.  President Bush may have been right.  Parents and teachers need to ask, “Is our children learning?" 

        


      Recommended Resources Which Support Technology Integration and Teaching for Understanding:

       

      Ferriter, W.M. (2013). Digital immigrants unite. The Tempered Radical.

       

      Ferriter, W.M., & Garry, A. (2010). Teaching the igeneration: 5 easy ways to introduce
                  essential skills with web 2.0 tools      . Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree.

       

      Fisher, M., & Hale, J. (Coming in Feb. 2013) Upgrade your curriculum: Practical ways to
                  transform units and engage students      . Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

       

      Tyler, R. W. (1949). Basic principles of curriculum and instruction. Chicago: University
                  of Chicago Press.

       

      Wiggins, G., & McTighe, J. (2005). Understanding by design: Expanded 2nd edition.
                  Alexandria, VA: ASCD. 

    • Blog post
    • 4 months ago
    • Views: 543
    • Not yet rated

  • Florence_Elliott

    • ASCD EDge Member
    • Points:250
    • Views: 80
    • Since: 4 months ago
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  • Florence_Joseph

    • ASCD EDge Member
    • Points:250
    • Views: 21
    • Since: 9 months ago
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  • Debbie_Wolfe1

    • ASCD EDge Member
    • Points:250
    • Views: 50
    • Since: 1 year ago
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  • Nohemi_Winfrey

    • ASCD EDge Member
    • Points:250
    • Views: 23
    • Since: 1 year ago
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  • Michele_McKinney

    • ASCD EDge Member
    • Points:250
    • Views: 56
    • Since: 2 years ago
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  • Florence_Man

    • ASCD EDge Member
    • Points:250
    • Views: 46
    • Since: 2 years ago
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  • Florence_Robins

    • ASCD EDge Member
    • Points:250
    • Views: 55
    • Since: 2 years ago
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  • Tracy_Hanna

    • ASCD EDge Member
    • Points:250
    • Views: 49
    • Since: 2 years ago
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  • Florence_Malave

    • ASCD EDge Member
    • Points:250
    • Views: 48
    • Since: 2 years ago
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  • Florence_Ho

    • ASCD EDge Member
    • Points:250
    • Views: 233
    • Since: 2 years ago
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  • Freeman_Stein

    • ASCD EDge Member
    • Points:250
    • Views: 86
    • Since: 2 years ago
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  • Tammy_Pawloski

    • ASCD EDge Member
    • Points:250
    • Views: 55
    • Since: 2 years ago
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  • Sheila_Sherrod

    • ASCD EDge Member
    • Points:250
    • Views: 54
    • Since: 3 years ago
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  • Brendan_Sampson

    • ASCD EDge Member
    • Points:250
    • Views: 187
    • Since: 3 years ago
    • Not yet rated

  • Leader to Leader News: October Leader to Leader News: October 2010

    • From: Meg_Simpson
    • Description:

      Leader to Leader News: October 2010

      ASCD Leader to Leader (L2L) News is a monthly e-mail newsletter for ASCD constituent group leaders that builds capacity to better serve members; provides opportunities to promote and advocate for ASCD’s Whole Child Initiative; and engages groups through sharing and learning about best practices. To submit a news item for the L2L newsletter, send an e-mail to constituentservices@ascd.org.

       

      Join the L2L Conversation on Twitter

      Add #ASCDL2L to your tweets to share news and resources with your fellow ASCD leaders.

       

      This Month’s L2L News

       

      Your Vote Counts: Cast Your Ballot in the 2010 ASCD Election

      ASCD’s General Membership election opened on September 1. Please take advantage of your privilege as an ASCD member by casting a ballot to help shape ASCD’s future leadership. Go to http://my.ascd.org, enter your member ID and password, and click on the “Vote” box. The election closes on October 15.

      Please e-mail Governance Director Becky DeRigge with any questions.

       


      Save the Date: 2011 L2L Event Dates Confirmed

      Reserve July 21-23, 2011 for next year’s Leader to Leader Event. The 2011 L2L event will take place in the D.C. metropolitan area; details regarding the venue will be announced in the coming weeks.

      L2L Event on ASCD EDge: The 2010 L2L Event group will be disabled; join the
      Leader to Leader group on ASCD EDge for updates regarding the 2011 L2L
      Event!

      E-mail l2levent@ascd.org for questions.

       

       

      Your E-Communications Answered: Join Us for the October 13 L2L Web Seminar

      Tech Me Out: Taking Strategic Communication From Page to Screen
      3:00 – 4:00 p.m. eastern, Wednesday, October 13
      Register Now

      How do you currently share information with your target audiences? Can you share information through new vehicles, while maintaining the quality of what you currently do? Are you looking to transition your print publications to an electronic format? This webinar is your opportunity to address the pros, cons, and strategies around adjusting your communication plan to effectively and efficiently share vital information.

      As the second of a three part series on integrating technology into your work as an ASCD leader, this web seminar is an opportunity to ask your questions and get specific answers from ASCD staff experts:

      Carole Hayward has worked for ASCD for three years as the director of Newsletters and Special Publications and in education publishing for many years. Current challenges include incorporating social networking into the association’s publications, messages, and website; connecting and engaging members while still providing them with quality content; and balancing the perceived needs and wants of readers while offering them options using the latest technology. Hayward received her master’s degree in multimedia production and editing from George Mason University and her bachelor’s degree in journalism/english from the University of Rhode Island.

      Mike Kalyan has been ASCD’s production manager since 2007 and heads a unit that is responsible for the print and electronic production of ASCD’s member benefits and programs, products and services. He has a bachelors degree in communication from American University and a master’s in publishing (specializing in marketing, design and e-publishing) from George Washington University. As a self-confessed technophile, Kalyan is constantly researching social media trends and new ways to showcase content using emerging technologies.

      Submit your questions to Carole Hayward and Mike Kalyan in the online registration form and they will answer them live during the presentation.

       


      Register for the Leadership Institute for Legislative Advocacy (LILA)

      Congress is making education policy decisions that affect you, your local schools, and your students. Do not let Congress make decisions without the crucial information you can provide! Come to the national’s capital for information and insights on the behind-the-scenes action where policy and politics collide.

      The Leadership Institute for Legislative Advocacy (LILA), formerly known as LEAP, will be held from January 23 to 25, 2011, in Washington, D.C. E.J. Dionne, journalist, political commentator, and Washington Post columnist, will be the opening speaker at the LILA kickoff session on Sunday evening, January 23, 2011.  A more detailed agenda and session descriptions will be posted to the ASCD website in the coming weeks.

       


      Season of the Educational Documentary

      We are in the season of the education documentary. Much has been written about the four films coming out for theatrical run and community screenings this fall about the state of the U.S. public education system: Waiting for “Superman,”  The Lottery, The Cartel, and Race to Nowhere.

      Each film portrays somewhat different issues and presents a range of solutions. Waiting For Superman has garnered the most attention and was highlighted on the Oprah Winfrey Show. These episodes prompted a lot of feedback including from Managing Director of Whole Child Programs Molly McCloskey, and an open letter to Oprah from Executive Director Dr. Gene Carter. But far less has been mentioned about what happens after the final credits roll. The lack of any real follow-up discussion materials for the films The Lottery, The Cartel, and Waiting for “Superman” make it appear that these producers believe their films have made their points and any ongoing discussions should not be about their content but about how to rally troops.

      The film Race to Nowhere takes a different approach. This film, which looks at the pressures faced by schoolchildren and teachers in a test-obsessed era and paints a different picture from the other three movies, tells viewers to continue the debate in their communities, schools and homes and search for answers that work at the local level. This approach presumes that the film is the start of the conversation and not the end. It is also, somewhat ironically, the only film that has incorporated direct actions and discussions that actually involve students.

      The film fits with ASCD’s commitment to the whole child and Healthy School Communities in particular, but it was the commitment to an ongoing dialogue that prompted ASCD’s Executive Director Gene Carter to write the foreword to the facilitation guide that accompanies the film:

      “Challenges, when discovered, need to be addressed. Problems, when they arise, need to be solved. This is never so true as when we are talking about our children—their health, their growth, their education and their development. It is not enough to alert people to issues and then walk away. It is not enough to uncover problems and then neglect to work through them. It is not enough to lay blame and then move on.”

       


      Tune in to This Month’s Whole Child Podcast: The Critical Role of the Arts Throughout a Whole Child Education

      Arts play an essential role in providing each student with a well-rounded education that meets the needs of the whole child.  Although classes strictly focused on music, visual arts, drama, dance, and art history are crucial, integrating the arts across the curriculum is also key to ensuring that students are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. How can we provide students with a well-rounded education that includes learning through and about the arts? How can policy and practice support the integration of arts across the curriculum? Join us to hear a discussion about how the arts can increase students’ college, career, and citizenship-readiness in all subjects as well as keep them engaged in school and contribute to their social and emotional health. You’ll hear from exceptional arts educator Vanessa Lopez; recording artist and founder of Operation Respect and United Voices for Education Peter Yarrow; and Senior Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of The National Association for Music Education Mike Blakeslee.

       


      ASCD Unveils New Android App

      For customers with Android-based mobile phones, ASCD has released a new application that can be downloaded within Android’s app store Market. This new, free app allows users to stay in touch with all of the latest freely available ASCD news and content, and already has 350 downloads. The app includes Latest News, which compiles all of ASCD’s dynamically served RSS-content and individual content feeds for categories such as Educational Leadership (current issue/previous month’s issue, open articles only), ASCD Inservice, ASCD on Twitter, Whole Child Blog, Whole Child Podcasts, and ASCD YouTube videos.

      To Download the Application: Go to the Market icon on your Android phone and then search for “ASCD.”

       


      Alabama ASCD Hosts Annual Conference November 1-3, 2010

      Alabama ASCD will hold its annual conference, Building a Leadership Team: Connecting Collaboration, Assessment, and Instruction at the Marriott Shoals in Florence, Alabama, November 1–3, 2010. Tommy Bice, Tim Brown, and Nancy Weber will be this year’s keynote speakers. Session topics will include State Department Updates, Connecting Positive School Culture to Academic Achievement, Grading and Examining Student Work, Using Assessment Results for Decision Making, and Collaborating to Enhance Student Achievement. ASCD Director of Constituent Programs Walter McKenzie will attend to meet with the affiliate board and present concurrent conference sessions on instructional technology.

       


      Arkansas ASCD Supports the Whole Child

      Arkansas ASCD Executive Director Mary Gunter and her Board will welcome ASCD Managing Director of Public Policy David Griffith in November to plan advocacy work around the Whole Child Initiative. The first affiliate to pass a Whole Child Resolution through both the state Senate and House, Arkansas ASCD seeks to strengthen its Whole Child resolution through additional state legislation that will provide specifics for implementation. At the same time, Arkansas ASCD is looking to work closely with the state department of education in leading the implementation of common core standards for Arkansas.

      Learn more about the Common Core State Standards Initiative.
      Take action to support the whole child.

       

       

      Quick and Easy Time Saver: Now It’s Easier to Connect with ASCD Leaders

      Now you can get an e-mail notification when someone responds to your comment on ASCD EDge! Change your profile to receive these timely updates in less than 30 seconds. Here’s how—

      1. Log in to the ASCD EDge online professional networking community.
      2. Under “My Categories” on the left hand side of the screen, click on “Edit Photo/Settings” in the gray box, second item from the bottom.
      3. Under “Send Me an E-mail When:” Select both boxes, “Comments are left on my profile or media” and “Comments are left after me on media and profiles.”
      4. Click “Update Profile.”

      Now you’ll receive notifications regarding your online conversations on ASCD EDge.

      Questions? E-mail constituentservices@ascd.org.

       

       

      Indiana ASCD Hosts Annual State Conference October 7, 2010 in Indianapolis

      Take Action, Indiana - Educating the Whole Child was a full-day event focusing on Indiana’s support for ASCD’s Whole Child Initiative. Executive Director Tami Hicks shares that Alfie Kohn, Stephen Wessler, Tom Jenkins, Kevin Dill, Barbara Resch, Michelle Henderson, the Indiana Department of Education, and ASCD Managing Director of Whole Child Programs Molly McCloskey spoke on the theme to attendees. In a separate Indiana ASCD event, ASCD author Debbie Zacarian is presenting at the ESL Conference on November 3.

       

       

      Wisconsin ASCD Fall Conference a Success

      Navigating Change: Innovation for Transformation, held September 29– October 1 in Appleton, Wisconsin featured Richard Cash of Minnesota ASCD, Robert Marzano, and James Popham. Wisconsin ASCD Executive Director Denise Pheifer shared a highlight of the conference when Marzano and Popham agreed to a lively discussion comparing and contrasting their views on assessment. While the discussion was not in a debate format, it gave both gentlemen the opportunity to share their ideas while affording the audience the opportunity to consider varying points of view on this crucial topic in education.

       

       

      How to Follow the L2L Conversation on Twitter

      Now you can get access to interesting education resources and ASCD news each day on Twitter! Not sure how to follow the #ASCDL2L hashtag conversation? Follow these step-by-step instructions:

      • Log in to Twitter and go to your homepage.
      • To view the hashtag conversation, type “#ASCDL2L” (no quotes) in the search box on the right hand side of your screen.
      • Click on the magnifying glass to see all the tweets that ASCD staff and leaders have sent out over Twitter recently on that conversation.
      • Find the small, green plus sign in the upper right-hand corner of the list of tweets, and next to it a link that says, “Save this search.” Click on that to save the conversation to your right hand navigation under the search bar.

      Any time you want to see the L2L twitter feed, click on the #ASCDL2L link on the right hand side of your screen, and the conversation will show up.

       

       

      New Group Features Launched on ASCD EDge

       

      This month, ASCD launched a new groups experience on ASCD EDge that significantly enhances the site’s usability.

      What’s New:

      ASCD EDge group members can now:

      • Upload documents (e.g., Word, PDF) and share with the rest of the group.
      • Upload content (e.g., video, audio, and blogs) only for that group.
      • Engage in new threaded messaging (replying to someone’s post rather than writing another separate post) on the group wall.
      • Create links and paste in HMTL on the new group wall.
      • Take advantage of Facebook’s “Like” status icon.
      • View My Groups and other lists of groups in streamlined format.

      Now there is a group owner for each group page. The group owner has the ability to

      • Edit group content and participants.
      • Schedule and edit events in the new group calendar.
      • Promote an event or link in the group header bar.
      • Edit and add RSS feeds specific to the group 
      • Make the group private if they so choose.   

      If you’d like to start a public or private group on ASCD EDge, e-mail constituentservices@ascd.org  with the name of your group, the name of the group owner, a short description, and a .JPEG image of the logo or image that represents your group.

       

       

      Something To Talk About: ASCD EDge Blog Roundup

       


      Association News

      • New ASCD Book Helps Stressed-Out Educators Take Ownership of Personal Wellness—Combating teacher burnout can seem like an endless battle, but author Mike Anderson outlines practical steps for teachers to take ownership of their physical, mental, and emotional wellness in his new ASCD book, The Well-Balanced Teacher: How to Work Smarter and Stay Sane Inside the Classroom and Out. Anderson documents struggles, bad habits, and eventual successes from his own classroom and from other healthy teachers. Follow Mike on Twitter.
      • ASCD Statement on the Oprah Winfrey Show’s “The Reaction” Episode—On September 21, 2010, ASCD Executive Director Gene R. Carter wrote an open letter to Oprah Winfrey explaining ASCD's response to the September 20 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show about the movie Waiting for “Superman.” On September 24, The Oprah Winfrey Show aired an episode detailing the reaction from parents, educators, and politicians. Read ASCD’s response to the episode.
      • Read David Griffith's opinion piece in District Administration magazine—Griffith's commentary focuses on the importance of broadening K12 curriculum in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization, and it highlights ASCD's recommendations for how the federal government can better support a well-rounded education for each child.

       

    • Blog post
    • 3 years ago
    • Views: 1045

  • Thomas_Davison

    • ASCD EDge Member
    • Points:250
    • Views: 72
    • Since: 3 years ago
    • Not yet rated
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