Videotaping

Do you remember your college course where they forced you to record yourself teaching? I remember pointing out all of the umm, ands, and other various habits that had found their way into my teaching. My verbal skills were not nearly where I would like them to be. At the time, prior to that video, I thought I was pretty top notch, but afterwards I was sitting a bit lower in my chair due to embarrassment.   

Like most of you, I didn't just want to be a classroom teacher. I wanted to be THAT TEACHER! I simply needed to improve and I found myself taking the profession and my classes much more seriously. In my first year on the job at Meridian High we also videotaped ourselves...again, not where I would like to be, but a remarkable improvement. 

As I prepared for an observation from my vice principal that year, I videotaped myself again. Not required, but something I thought that could possibly help as I prepared for that formal observation. What did I notice? I had great movement around the classroom, hit every student with my movement and did a nice job of ensuring that everyone did everything, but my wait time on questions was atrocious. I would ask the question and then often wait maybe a couple seconds and then just answer it myself. The kids knew just to wait a couple seconds because I would just give them the answer. 

There is absolutely no doubt that watching that video improved my teaching. In my post observation conference some time later I recall the observer identifying my wait time as a strength. That would not have happened were it not for that video. That video helped my teaching and ultimately my students. 

In a recent post by Ben Gilpin, Principal he noted the following:

"Recently I thought about the value of watching yourself.  A few things came to mind.  

Think of all the professionals that record in some way.

• Athletes
• Entertainers
• Musicians
• Law Enforcement
• Actors/Actresses
• Pilots
• Doctors (operating room)
• Trainers
• Speakers

What are your metaperceptions?  How do you see yourself?

Why record yourself?  In many cases it is to give a different viewpoint, help yourself improve and analyze strengths and weaknesses.  The bottom line, watching yourself on camera is another opportunity to reflect.

Before you dismiss the thought of recording yourself, I ask you this, do you want to improve?  Do you strive to be better each day?  If the answer is yes, then I hope you'll be open minded to trying something new." (B. Gilpin p. 1, 2015). 

Post inspired and quoted from B. Gilpin, The Colorful Principal

Articles you may enjoy: 

Lectures and Choice

Stop Googling

Flip it

Who are the gifted and talented

@

Videos to Check out

Haunted by Columbine (12min)

# Awesome Girls (3 min)

Thank you (4min)

 

Calendar of Events:

OCF Mtg--Sept 28--Noon
TIDE available--Oct 1
Poverty in Mind Due Date--Oct 7
Report Card and Detail Preview available--Oct 8
Journeys training at Slater--Oct 9
Webinar: Training for Cumulative ADM Exit Adjustment--Oct 13, 2pm

Public release of report cards and detail sheets--Oct 15
SBAC/OAKS online practice tests available--Oct 20
K Assessment testing window closes--Oct 22

Number Sense Training Opportunity--Oct 23-24 @ Harney ESD
K Assessment collection window closes--Oct 30

DTC Training online from ODE--Nov 3-5

MMM--Lessons from a Donkey

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. 
The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. 
Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; 
it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. 

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. 
They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. 
At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly.. 
Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down. 

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. 
He was astonished at what he saw. 
With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. 
He would shake it off and take a step up. 

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, 
he would shake it off and take a step up. 
Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up 
over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

MORAL :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. 
The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. 
Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. 
We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! 
Shake it off and take a step up. 

LESSONS we can take from this as educators:
1.  Stay in a success mindset.   
2.  What happens to us as educators isn't nearly as important as how we react to it.
3.  Choose to not give up this year when times are tough.

Post from Principle Principles

Articles you may enjoy: 

Teachers attitudes about tech

Student Strike

@

Videos to Check out

Amazing Teaching (4min)

Prescribing Homework (2 min)

CCSS in Elementary (14min)

   

Calendar of Events:

Class Size Validation Due--Sept 22

Supplemental data due for Report Card--Sept 25
ODE/CIP Indistar Training--Sept 25 @ Harney ESD
Public release of report cards and detail sheets--Oct 15
SBAC/OAKS online practice tests available--Oct 20
K Assessment testing window closes--Oct 22

Number Sense Training Opportunity--Oct 23-24 @ Harney ESD
K Assessment collection window closes--Oct 30

DTC Training online from ODE--Nov 3-5

Just a short one this week as you get back into the groove after the Harney County Fair!

Strive to be an EFFECTIVE TEACHER!

Have positive expectations

Desire success for all students

“Celebrate” the first day of school

Be intentionally inviting

Be welcoming

Remember and use students’ names

Be polite

Smile

Listen

Problem-solve

Be flexible and adaptable

Have a well-managed classroom

Post a routine

Establish procedure early in the year

Be prepared (classroom, work, and yourself)

Ensure safety for all students

Teach the student, not the subject or grade level

Maximize learning time

Have appropriate objectives and expectations for students

Communicate

Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and mentors

Work cooperatively with colleagues

Dress for success

Be a role model

Cultivate a positive reputation

Information taken from Harry and Rosemary Wong’s The First Days of School

and compiled by Audrey Miller; October 12, 2003

Articles you may enjoy: 

Find your Marigold

Dont sniff the glue

Liberating Genius...plan for 1st 20 days of school

@

Videos to Check out

Chat Stations (3min)

Social Media Revolution (4 min)

Life Lessons from Teachers (3min)

     

Calendar of Events:

Kindergarten Assessement Collection Webinar--Sept 16, 2pm ODE

Art Integration @ rural schools Sept. 16-17.

--I or Janet will be out to your school and give you 30ish minutes to have an in depth             discussion with our art integrationist Karin Putnam. Please simply prepare as you would for a sub. 

Webinar: K Assessment Data Collection--Sept 16 @ 2pm
Public release of SBAC/OAKS results--Sept 17
Homeless Liason Training--Sept. 18 @ Harney ESD

Class Size Validation Due--Sept 22

Supplemental data due for Report Card--Sept 25
ODE/CIP Indistar Training--Sept 25 @ Harney ESD
Public release of report cards and detail sheets--Oct 15
SBAC/OAKS online practice tests available--Oct 20
K Assessment testing window closes--Oct 22

Number Sense Training Opportunity--Oct 23-24 @ Harney ESD
K Assessment collection window closes--Oct 30

DTC Training online from ODE--Nov 3-5

Are you that voice for students?

"Educators who believe in effort-based ability believe that all students can do rigorous academic work at high standards, even if they are far behind academically and need a significant amount of time to catch up. Educators who carry this belief into practice are not unrealistic about the obstacles they and their students face. They simply have not given up. And we know for sure that they will get results if they translate this belief into appropriate practice" (Saphier, 2005).

As I made my way through each and every classroom in Harney County this past 2 weeks, I stopped by a classroom in our county and in that classroom the teacher had shared a list of qualities or traits that that her students wrote on the board, these included things they did and did not want their teacher to do. In other words, what they wanted to see in a quality teacher. Along side it was a list of qualities of a top notch student.

The list mimiced that of Robert Marzano, Danielson and/or Archer.  They know what good teaching looks like.  It articles suggesting the keyattributes of great teachers; luckily, there appears to be no shortage of such lists and research. Jeff Zoul, education scholar and author is cited as saying, "I still find myself going back to one such list that was comprised by a researcher fifteen years ago (Traina, 1999). Although I typically cite more current research, this one still rings true to me today. Moreover, I think these traits are also ones covered by my colleague's students and would likely be met with approval from all students—our primary customers. The author sought to identify characteristics that are consistently cited by students and parents as those exhibited by their very best teachers. Traina maintains that these three traits are critical to effective teaching and have been so for generations..." (Zoul, 2014). 

What Makes a Good Teacher:

Command of subject matter. Effective teachers know their subject matter inside and out. In addition, they convey a love of, and passion for, their subject matter.

Caring deeply about each student and about that student’s accomplishment and growth. Effective teachers take time to consider each student as an individual and a unique learner. They take the time and make the effort to get to know about each student, inquiring of their interests, family, and so forth.

Distinctive character. Effective teachers add a special flavor and zeal to their instruction that creates a memorable impression on their students. Whether it is an eccentric sense of humor or a tragedy overcome, such teachers stand out in the minds of their students (Traina, 1999).

Zoul (2014) goes on to say in a blog post, "One thing we can do to fulfill the second trait is to communicate—and embody through our actions—that we believe in the ability of all students to achieve at high levels. We must communicate on a daily basis that being smart is “something you can get” and not simply something with which you are born. In schools that value effort-based ability that Saphier alludes to above, teachers constantly remind students of three crucial messages:

'The work we are doing is important.'

'You can do it.'

'I (We) will not give up on you' (p. 1). 

Remembering back to my elementary days I can remember one such teacher, Mr. Art Payne. Mr. Payne got me energized about school and gave it both life and meaning.  In my high school days, that person was Mr. Jerry Peacock, a former elementary school principal and then high school principal.

Mr. Peacock believed in me during a time in my life when--truth be told--it didnt feel like many did.  I did things that I perhaps should not have during these exploratory days, but Mr. Peacock still believed in me.  As teachers we and most definitely YOU will have a long-term impact on your students.

We can consistently send messages to our students about our belief in effort-based abilities. Whether it be our most high energy student, that student that might get on our nerves now and again, or our greatest student...they all need the consistent message that effort can bring successes. This message is the basis of the American Dream and can assist our students in a lifelong journey to success.

Be that voice for your students. Be the champion to your students!

EN

Articles you may enjoy: 

When we miss the point of the technology 

Building a Culture of Bravery in Writing Workshop

9 Ways To Make Your Days Simple Again @

Videos to Check out

DuFour Phony Crisis? (3min)

Origins of the Redneck Jokes (3 min)

Carpe Diem (3min)

       

Calendar of Events:

Kindergarten Assessement Collection Webinar--Sept 16, 2pm ODE

Art Integration @ rural schools Sept. 16-17.

--I or Janet will be out to your school and give you 30ish minutes to have an in depth discussion with our art integrationist Karin Putnam. Please simply prepare as you would for a sub. 

Webinar: K Assessment Data Collection--Sept 16 @ 2pm
Public release of SBAC/OAKS results--Sept 17
Homeless Liason Training--Sept. 18 @ Harney ESD

Class Size Validation Due--Sept 22

Supplemental data due for Report Card--Sept 25
ODE/CIP Indistar Training--Sept 25 @ Harney ESD
Public release of report cards and detail sheets--Oct 15
SBAC/OAKS online practice tests available--Oct 20
K Assessment testing window closes--Oct 22

Number Sense Training Opportunity--Oct 23-24 @ Harney ESD
K Assessment collection window closes--Oct 30

DTC Training online from ODE--Nov 3-5

Blog post idea from the great Jeff Zoul!