Welcome to our first online book study! The book, The Leader in Me was chosen by our site-based committee in an effort to improve the quality of education our students receive at Smithfield Elementary. Courtney and I will be facilitating this book study as "Administrative Interns", however we would very much appreciate everyone posting questions so we are all able to grow and benefit from this experience. Greg will be tracking your participation as it will be counted as campus-based professional learning. Please post your reply to Chapter one by Monday, June 29nd. Happy reading!
Great work on the site guys!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Greg. This looks amazing. I am excited.
ReplyDeleteI am so excited to get started!
ReplyDeleteShawn, are you the "I"?
ReplyDeleteyes, it's me:)
ReplyDeleteI love it! Primary greatness seems to be mostly derived from WHO I am, character, rather than my toys and my other possessions! Good study and am underlining and working on it. Thanks, Cheryl Graves
ReplyDeleteI love the site, and the fonts are fun! I will not be here or where I have access to internet all next week. I'll catch up when we're back.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shawn and Courtney for doing this.
Ronda
I know that I am going to enjoy blogging about the book. Patti, Taryn and I have already been discussing it. In chapter one I liked the quote by Michael Armstrong. He said that A.E. Combs is a school that creates well-rounded students who know their strengths. He also said that the staff was there to help the students find their strengths and unleash their potential to influence others. (page 4)
ReplyDeleteI also liked the quote displayed in the school's hallway that said that all children smile in the same language. (page 14)
great job on the site. i too like the quotes in the hallway. i am reading ahead (being the gt teacher and all, i don't always follow the rules) i liked what they said in the book about how schools can't lay off their lowest 30 percent to show a better bottom line (page 28)
ReplyDeleteThanks Courtney and Shawn for doing such a good job. I was so intent on posting that I forget to say, "THANKS, Super Ladies." Cgraves
ReplyDeleteCheryl,
ReplyDeleteWhat you wrote is so insightful. It is about who you are not what you have... but it's hard to see that sometimes.
Karen,
I too was struck by the idea of having quotes in the hallway. But, how do you make them such as they eventually don't disappear into the wall never being seen or read or believed?
Jackie,
I agree with you. The state has now said that we cannot discount a percentage of our students. (Read that as the accommodated test will now count for our TAKS accountability system. I believe if we give the kids the tools to be their own leader, we can spend more time with the kids who really need the help.
I actually read Chapter 1 while awaiting the arrival of my grandson. More rocking and cuddling has been done than reading. Did a reading teacher just say that? I would like to see the quote "Leadership is doing what is right when no one is watching" posted right outside the cafeteria. I have said a version of this quote many, many times, ad nauseum, as the children have come to a screeching halt as they've rounded the corner and spied me standing outside my door in the hall - "Good citizens and Wildcats walk in the halls even when no one is watching." In order to keep the quotes from eventually "disappearing into the walls" a quote of the week could be featured during the morning announcements. The students could then reflect during their moment of silence how they are exemplifying the quote. Once the leadership principles have been taught, students can be spotlighted, (i.e. telling how they are a responsible person; what goals they have set; how they deposited in another's emotional bank account; how they do the right thing without being asked, etc.) The star student form could be set up to address the seven habits of highly effective people.
ReplyDeleteReading these seven habits reminded me of scholarly behaviors and drops in the bucket. Shawn and Courtney, this blog is awesome!
Susan your new grandbaby is beautiful!!!!Those newborn pictures are some of the best I've ever seen:)
ReplyDeleteOne of the keys to keeping the quotes from disappearing into the walls is for them not to disappear to US. If we are waiting to go into the library, during restroom break, etc, we can take a minute to call attention to and discuss these ideas, reminding kids of the importance. If we all do it, it will allow their understanding to grow as they grow up through the grades
ReplyDeleteIf it is true that a learner must see and hear something 6x before he gets it, then could we have a quote a month? A new one a week would be overwhelming, it seems! A focus on one weaving it into our daily activities throughout the day from announcements etc. would seem to have more benefit. I would like to have an eye-catching poster in my room for additional spotlight.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of you about the quotes in the hallways. Not only would they be there for the students, but the faculty, parents, volunteers, etc. Now if I just could think of someone who was artistic and loved to paint! Hmm....
ReplyDeleteJust kidding!!!!!!
I think everyone has great ideas about the quotes. I'm leaving the discussion for awhile to go to San Diego. The high temp there has been 70 degrees and my sister-in-law told me to be sure to bring a jacket for the evening. That will be a change! My niece is gettig married and all the Tellez clan will be there. Vic is looking forward to seeing his brother and sisters. I'll catch up with the discussion when I get back.
ReplyDeleteI hope I am leaving my comment about chapter 1 in the right place. Please let me know.
ReplyDeleteJust from reding the first chapter I am excited about this book. I have been in schools like the one the Patel family found and Smithfield is one of them. You can feel it the minute you walk in the door just like they said. You just get the feeling that everyone there is on the same team from the students, teachers, to support staff. It does make a difference. I have also been in schools that this was not the case and you can feel that too. You get the feeling that everyone is only out for themselves and it is only a job you do to collect a paycheck with no personal involvement.
I like when it talks about that they give everyone a leadership role not just the "gifted students" or the "good" students. I believe that everyone has it in them to be great at something. And they deserve that chance and to get their self esteem lifted and to be shown that we believe in them too.
I concur that all of you have been doing a super job all these years, and I have come on board the last 5 years, and am enjoying the harvest of all your great investments in lives. I sense that we may look like p. 72 with all the arrows going in different directions. I loved the Design Team's question, "What is Smithfield all about?" Can we say, this is what we are all about and align everything at SES with our mission, vision, and strategy? I think this might be a step toward "good to great!"
ReplyDeleteI love Susan's idea of spotlighting students for leadership. Now that we are on the BIG SCREEN, it can be easily done. The kiddos enjoy seeing their peers on the announcements and that can be a powerful tool of encoragement when students are recognized in many different ways...not just for academics.
ReplyDeleteI also like the idea of having quotes in the hallways. We saw more examples of painted murals and other instructional tools that were painted on a school's walls at our Interdisciplinary Instrucion workshop this week.
ReplyDelete