Tag: Instructional Soul

Student freedom

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The cheerless depictions of our public schools from the 1800s are famously etched in our minds by writers like Charles Dickens and memorialized in countless black-and-white photos of pupils staring forward, blankly, with arms folded, behind rows of wooden desks. As we fast forward a couple of centuries, these images have been replaced by a more colorful assortment of engaging lessons and student interactions more befitting a 21st Century education. Yes, yes, have no worry. It is true that across the wide landscape of public schools we have made progress in discovering greater collaboration among children, richer technologies in use, and even deeper relationships among teachers and students. The monochromatic curriculum and routines of the past are harder to find, and that is a good…

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No matter what schools look like in the future, success will come when all decisions are made with each student’s best interests in mind and with relationships at the core. This will include deep consideration of each child’s strengths and passions and even how curricula and lessons are designed to enrich the home lives of children and families. Deeper human connections will be paramount because schools must be focused on developing students social-emotionally and not just academically. If we do this well, the entire experience of schooling will feel more organic and personal for all students, from the relationships they form with their teachers to the assignments they interact with. Creating such schools will require districts to build systems and processes from the student outward.…

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high standards; instructional vision

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That ding you just heard was another text or email coming in to a principal who is already overworked and underappreciated as he or she tries to get through the last lunch of the day without having to call an ambulance or calm down an irate parent. It leaves us to wonder how in the world a principal might have the time to set forth an instructional vision and if that vision can somehow, someway mesh with the increasing demands we all feel related to state accountability measures and teacher appraisal. To wrap our arms around these disparate initiatives and bring them together under one unifying vision, a top-notch instructional leader must know the key levers to pull to make it all work. That means…

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leadership, instructional leadership

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All great instructional leaders worth their weight have to know what great instruction looks like when they see it. There is simply no way to successfully lead school improvement and turnaround initiatives if you don’t know what you’re looking for when you walk into a classroom. The problem is that we often have different definitions of what those things are and it begs a myriad of questions related to a principal’s role in guiding teacher growth. Instructional coach? Mentor? Evaluator? Visionary? This debate found its way onto the internet recently and that made for some frustrated school leaders who chimed in on the discussion. For me, the discussion provided some deep thinking about what we mean when we say that our principals should lead instructionally.…

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Go ahead. Look deep into the eyes of young children, deep into the recesses of their souls. If you do, you will see goodness and only that. You will see purity and innocence and hope – the fragrance of spring. You will see this even in the eyes of troubled kids, the ones you may not want as your own. Look past their behaviors for a moment and you will see goodness in them as well. I know this because I’ve seen it time and time again – as a parent, teacher, and leader across many, many schools. I know this because I have spent my life encountering people, especially young people. Teachers will tell you if you ask them. For they know best. They…

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childhood memories

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Sometimes the next time never comes. I wish someone had taught me that. Instead, I had to figure it out the hard way. Like everyone who has ever lived, I have had many, many last times that I never saw coming. This has become increasingly apparent to me as my son grows older and I reminisce with long-time friends and colleagues about great times that have long since passed. That is why today is a good time to remind us that our opportunity as parents, teachers, and leaders to impact the lives of children is upon us now, in the present. Yes, I know. We convince ourselves that our best days are ahead and that we can (and will) solve this problem or that one…

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Getting a promotion

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There is a common refrain that is heard among most employees in most industries related to building strong resumes and the role they play in getting a promotion. That tune is often coupled with complaints from many of us that the great changes and innovations we seek would be possible “if only we were in charge.” While having a great resume is helpful, and while having a fancy title looks good on a business card, the world is full of great leaders who had neither of those. In fact, we have to wonder if a great resume and a fancy title are precursors to one’s success as a leader or the outcomes of it. No matter what you believe to be true, there is plenty…

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Kids Learning, Discussion

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It would be funny if it wasn’t so sad. You know what I mean, those black-and-white photos that we’ve all seen of students from the 1800s sitting quietly in rows, silent, and in fear of reprisal like something out of a Dickens novel. And there on the wall, if you look closely, are the classroom rules for all to see and heed: Be silent during class. Do not talk unless it is absolutely necessary. I’m not kidding. This was actually a common rule in most classrooms. As someone who prefers to honor our history and not belittle it, I point this out only to say that we have come a long way as educators and as school systems. Still, as we stumble and perfect better…

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Educational Leadership, A tribute to principals

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The best I have I give to my school. That is the reality and nobility of selflessness and sacrifice that forms the measure of every great principal that I know. Though teachers get a lot of credit for the great work that they do (and they should), principals are too often overlooked or mischaracterized as school building managers. Not the principals that I know. The principals that I know and admire are true believers, deep thinkers, innovators, problem-solvers, teachers, motivators, mentors and care-givers to the children, faculty and staffs in their schools. For those who have never been a principal, let’s take a look inside a school to better understand what is happening this morning.   School Principal: The Most Demanding Job in Education 7:28…

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student hands of hope

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Personalized learning to improve student engagement Though all educators are quick to tell you that schools are about children and meeting their needs, the level of disengagement among kids paints a much bleaker picture. In fact, most students do not describe their schools and classrooms as “child-centered.” The good news is that we are getting better at it. We are learning and growing as an industry and don’t let anyway tell you that schools are not more engaging than they used to be. We’ve come a long way in the past 20 years in giving more learning over to students and providing more time for students to engage with each other. These are good steps for a community of educators that is evolving in positive…

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