Alt Ed Week November 28, 2011

Welcome back from a long Thanksgiving break that I hope found memorable times with family, rest and rejuvenation for all of you. The week moves on and so do we in our schools and programs. New Start Power session starts Monday, CHOICE Parent and Information nights this week and a PCT on Bullying rounds out our week ahead…

Bravo Zulu!

Bravo Zulu to all of you last week for incredible work in student lead conferences before the break. I sat in on a few at and was impressed by the caring and thoughtful approaches I saw taken by staff to support students in accounting for the work and learning they had accomplished. Additionally parent engagement and student enthusiasm was observed at both sites, which is at the heart of what we are trying to achieve in SLCs. Special appreciation goes to Kay Greenberg, Kristie Powers, Richard Taylor and Katy Stone each of whom I saw all or part of your conferences with kids and their family last week. Nice work everyone!

Instructional Point: SLCs: Subtlety in Student Self-Evaluation.
How many times in class do your students self-evaluate their work and learning toward the Teaching Point? Sometimes this is done in the most overt ways where we explicitly plan for and ask students to look at their learning for the day and evaluate “what they got”, or identify what they may still be struggling with. It is good practice to work this into your daily plan and in the more broad scope of a completed unit. I am interested this week in how we more subtly do this through the course of a period.

Could the simple phrasing of a question for a turn and talk, for instance, elicit the meta-cognition we are hoping for? What would that question look like? We can ask students to talk about word problem, experiment or a reading at hand, which is descriptive, or we can ask them to tell their peers what they think or feel about the problem. At first, asking students what they think or feel may seem soft, or not focused on content, but at many levels such pre-planned questioning opens the door to reflection, relevance and even prediction in student talk about their learning.

In your planning, try to push student thinking into another tier which relates the task, explicitly to what kids are learning, personally. Our posed questions to students can force, albeit subtly, student self-evaluation and reflection. It’s a good muscle for students use, and careful planning can give them more opportunities to use it.

The Week Ahead…
As stated earlier, this week begins Power Session for New Start which blocks students into extended classes wrapped around themes for giving back to the community and helping others, very appropriate for the coming holiday season. At CHOICE (Currently embroiled in their own Food Drive) we have at least two evening events. First, the Parent Student Organization (CHOICE PSO) meets Wednesday. And Thursday is our first Information night of the year, for community and those families interested in applying to CHOICE for start in the Fall 2012. PCT will be an all staff discussion on district Bullying, Harassment and Intimidation policy. Please join us in the Math Room at Salmon Creek, Friday, Dec. 2 at 12:30. My Schedule:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
New Start/CHOICE	New Start/CHOICE	NS/ ERAC / CH	New Start/CHOICE	New Start
Nov 28	Nov 29	Nov 30	Dec 1	Dec 2
NS Morning Meeting CH Application Meeting	Planning Time NS AP Meeting CHOICE Student  Intake Meeting	NS In Classes District RTI planning CHOICE PSO Meeting	NS New Staff Intake Meeting EGP Training CHOICE Info Night	PBIS Meeting M/ Kati S Becca Updates PCT at New Start

Have a great week!



Alt Ed Week November 21, 2011

Gobble-Gobble week is here and yummy food is ahead, but first three busy days of conferences and supporting student growth in our programs…

Bravo Zulu!  This week I want to fly a huge Bravo Zulu to Bruce Dearborn at HIPP. In the recesses of the Woodside campus, and at the heart of all our work, Bruce has been doing incredible work that is largely unseen, yet highly successful at keeping students engaged with school. I will not describe the entirety of the Highline Interim Placement Program (AKA HIPP) here, other than to say Bruce is the engine which continues to drive and grow our academic services to kids. At a time of incredible growth and resource challenges, HIPP continues on, muscles through, serving students and almost every secondary school and program in our district, in some significant way. HIPP is quickly becoming a point of pride in our district, and indeed looked to across the state.  In the last few weeks Bruce’s program has enrolled and served over 75 students who would otherwise be on the streets…and that is quite a caseload to go unnoticed! Yet, many of us HAVE seen the commitment and dedication Bruce demonstrates every day…and yes, help is on the way to be sure! But getting to this point, when administrative support and resources have been extremely thin, Bruce refused to crumble. Undeterred by expected frustrations, Bruce and HIPP march proudly ahead…and for that alone he deserves a high and mighty Bravo Zulu for excellent perseverance and service to all. Thank you, Bruce!

Instructional Point: SLCs: A Student’s Moment in the Sun.
Student Led Conferences are as much about learning as teaching is. As you embark on these wonderful sessions with students and families this week, please watch closely to see what your student has accomplished and the dedicated effort, they too, have put into their own academic experience. Watch for where they are struggling, and perhaps need more help from you. While SLCs, in part, are about student’s self-efficacy and growth, for you SLCs are perhaps the most informative assessment you will observe about what your student needs this year.

Student Led Conferences are a culture across our district, and so important on many levels for the child. Highline students begin this act in elementary and carry it through annually to graduation. In many respects the Senior Project, IS the culminating (and final) Student Led Conference in their time with us. Therefore all Student Led Conferences should be transformative and laden with the demonstrated learnings of the past, and a vision for the future. Look for it.

I cannot help but be touched when students (more and more each year) describe what they are learning, and what they intend to do this year. It is helpful for me to arrive at such conferences with a (quiet) lens of inquiry as to how I can help this child learn and grow. It puts my role in a student’s life into place, and I hope it does for you too.

Enter each Student Led Conference -- as should each student -- with an eye toward celebration and inspiration for moving ahead. Take them with the upmost sincerity and respect each deserves. You already do this, but it helps to be reminded from time to time as we often get burdened by the sheer logistics of scheduling and putting good conferences together.

This week’s point is a reminder that SLCs are much more than a basic verbal review of grades and credits remaining to graduate. They are a part of the student’s own narrative through life and learning. Enjoy and learn from each conference, for they are your student’s moment in the sun.  

The Week Ahead…
Obviously a short week is ahead, with a well deserved four-day break for us all. Student Led Conferences are the sole focus of the week at both sites. If you have completed quality conferences with all students assigned to your advisory, please take a complimentary afternoon off Wednesday. If you need other arrangements please talk with me personally. More importantly perhaps, please enjoy our first nice holiday break of the season with family and friends. You deserve it.

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
New Start/CHOICE	New Start/CHOICE	New Start	OFF	OFF
Nov 21	Nov 22	Nov 23	Nov 24	Nov 25
New Start SLCs CHOICE SLCs	New Start Office Attendant Interviews CHOICE SLCs	New Start SLCs	Thanksgiving Day	Thanksgiving Break

Best wishes for a restful and relaxing break. Have a Happy Thanksgiving, eat well!

Mike

Alt Ed Week November 14, 2011

November Staff Meetings and Student Led Conferences are in the air. Let’s get going on another exciting week in Alternative Education…

Bravo Zulu!

Bravo Zulu Jennifer Browning at CHOICE! Without the usual office support for our programs Jenn has stepped up her game wonderfully last week that I must give praise. While we work out the details of reorganizing Alt Ed support, Jenn will be our money person crunching all budgets for both New Start and CHOICE, and managing the financial processes which include payroll, purchasing, pcard, travel, ASB and grant funds…a lot of work, and a lot to learn in a short amount of time. This week Jenn showed she is well on her way, working hard to get the training and access she needs to hit the ground running with her new responsibilities. Furthermore, she gets my additional praise and a big Bravo Zulu for holding our payroll and money shops together while learning this week, truly a hands-on and on the job learning curve which she has taken so well. Thank you Jenn!

Instructional Point: The Rotating Seminar
This week I want to share a fascinating classroom practice I saw during observations this week. First I will share that the activity was conducted by two of our teachers, Mr. C Alexander at New Start, and Ms. N Starkey at CHOICE. Thank you for letting me see the rotating seminar method in action. (I have only seen this in east coast schools before.)

The Rotating Seminar can be used for review or sharing new information learned amongst students. It encourages small group work, choice in learning and gets students moving around the classroom. The model can be used after a mini lesson for set up and during the break out portion of a workshop instructional model in the classroom.

In planning, 4 - 6 stations are assigned with a “main idea” attached. In what I saw this week with Casey and Nicole’s classes, each station had a math problem or formula which was to be discussed, practiced and a solution found by the students who chose whatever station. Students had a set amount of time at stations, at which they would rotate by choosing which table they wanted to work at next. Students had choice, but they were accountable to check off each station.  

The teacher work during the active seminars was to monitor time and call for rotation when time was had. During each mini-session, teachers move amongst the tables coaching students and assessing individual student’s participation and knowledge in each of the given idea stations. The teacher also identifies and assigns students to share out when the class comes together at the closing portion of the period.

Active, moving, choosing, helping each other and engagement are all hallmarks of this learning activity. The Rotating Seminar is a great strategy to watch students and assess their learning and engagement levels. It is simple to plan, and a lot of good learning, assessment and activity “bang for your buck”, so to speak.

Best yet, the Rotating Seminar can be applied in any discipline and is appropriate for all secondary grade levels. It’s fun. Try it out in your class and let me know how it goes!

PCT This week.
This week PCT is Team Time. It is self-directed to work with your building colleagues in collaboration. The time is not to be used individually. Power Session planning at New Start with a peer would be a good example of how to use your PCT this week. I look forward to walking around both sites and seeing what you and your colleagues are working on for PCT this week!

The Week Ahead…PCT This week.
First and foremost on my mind are monthly staff meetings for us all to get together (New Start on Wednesday, and CHOICE on Thursday). Hard to believe it is November (middle November) already.  Student Led Conferences are also in the air and will be occurring next week. We will discuss expectations for conferences at each staff meeting. My schedule for the week follows…

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
CH / NS /CH/ ERAC	New Start / ERAC	NS / CH / NS	CHOICE	New Start / ERAC
Nov 14	Nov 15	Nov 16	Nov 17	Nov 18
CH Advisory re: Bullying NS Rounds CH M/PSO Pres. District PBIS (ERAC)	Planning Time Library Install Meeting District Principals Meeting (ERAC)	NS Film Fest CH PBIS Meeting NS Staff Meeting	CH  Presentations and Classroom Rounds CH Staff Meeting Screen Office Asst. Applications  (ERAC)	NS PBIS Meeting Becca Update PCT Team Time Weekly/Andrea Love District RTI Planning (ERAC)

Thank you for some of the great teaching I’ve seen in classes this week. Thank you for helping keep our offices running during our time of supports transition. You are a wonderful team for which I am so thankful and proud. Have a great week, and see you at staff meeting!

Mike

Alt Ed Week November 7, 2011

Set your clocks back! We have an extra hour this week…

Bravo Zulu!  We have a Golden Apple Award winner among our ranks. Bravo Zulu Mrs. Beverly Mowrer who was announced this week as one of eight statewide winners of this prestigious state and national award. Beverly’s commitment to keeping students engaged in their learning by way of highly active hands-on experiences and wrapping the local community and industry around her school has leveraged resources and visibility for New Start and inspired many of our students to not only pursue, but continue their learning beyond high school.

I do not need to tell you about Bev’s energy and excitement for teaching, and involving the community in the support of our students. As the B-Town Blog wrote, “This isn’t Mrs. Mowrer’s first award”, and we all know it.  Since last year Bev has kept the honor and recognition coming to our school and students. Bev was named last year as the Highline Schools Foundation’s Outstanding Teacher of the year. Her students and class were named Earth Hero’s by King County Executive and Council last Spring. Though she is truly humbled by the hype, have no doubt, Bev’s recognition is well deserved. Beverly’s efforts have fundamentally changed the overall learning experiences our kids have in public schools and classrooms, and it is her incredible fortitude, commitment and enthusiasm for learning that I, and others, thank, and recognize her. Congratulations Bev, I and many more in our community are very proud of you.

 http://www.b-townblog.com/2011/11/04/highline-teacher-beverly-mowrer-honored-with-kcts-golden-apple-award/

Head’s up: The Golden Apple Award is a national foundation and network committed to recognizing excellence in teaching. Local PBS station, KCTS 9, with Pemco insurance, are sponsors and affiliates of this project which has been active in Washington State since 1992. The award is more than a Trophy. The Golden Apple is a process of media coverage, ceremonies, video and web presence throughout the year with the intent of fully recognizing our great teachers, such as Bev! There will be cash awards and television broadcasts and web events ahead honoring Beverly Mowrer and her selection as a Golden Apple Teacher.   

Instructional Point: Student Talk
Can you assess student learning through their talk? As an observer of many classrooms, over many years now, a critical indicator for me that students are engaged, learning and making connections is what they say, and how frequently they are talking in a class. This week I want to ask you about your beliefs around Student Talk.

Last week I visited an elementary school (Mt. View). My colleagues and I visited four classrooms. I believe I can tell what students are learning simply by listening to them talk to their teacher, the class or their peers. Even in an elementary setting, we cited talk-based evidence that students were engaged in high cognitive activities. Students helped and explained to each other on their assignments. They made connections from what they were currently reading to their real life, emotions, feelings and early aged beliefs.  They connected characters to others they had read about in previous books and stories. Less demanding, we saw students describe and identify. There certainly were mixed levels of cognition in each class, but the teachers worked hard to push students to their higher levels. The teachers used strategies that we use in secondary levels to bring out student talk.I witnessed  turn and talks, holding all students accountable to answer questions, strategically calling on students, and conferring individually…in first grade.

Interestingly, I saw teacher’s internal struggles finding balance between all-out student talk versus a quiet order for classroom management. I found that interesting, wondering which is most important. Good classroom management or students freely expressing or sharing their thinking, ideas and learning. What I found encouraging, though, is we will see these students in a handful of years.

Will their talk experiences be the same when they come to us? Will they come to us well practiced in communicating ideas, core content and what they honestly think? I hope so, and that the forums we provide for such talk are familiar to them.

Talk structures are an expressed interest of ours at both sites, in deed a focus ofour professional growth this year. Also, I saw Mrs. Greenberg lead a wonderful Great Books Discussion protocol with her students last week. We’ll learn more about such activities this year, but know these structures and protocols hold great promise for us in the arena of student talk. Please share with me some of your beliefs, and thinking for Student Talk.

PCT This week.
No PCT for you this week. We are off for Veterans Day! Though it is a short week please remember that all schools in Washington State a constitutionally driven to conduct some sort of recognition for Veterans. I will leave it to CHOICE and New Start to decide how that will be done. At any rate, enjoy the short week.

 The Week Ahead…Here is my schedule. I am looking forward to a visit to Career Link on Wednesday, and Kim Thomas from the District to visit CHOICE on Thursday.

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
NS / CH	NS / ERAC	NS / CL / ERAC	CHOICE	OFF
Nov 7	Nov 8	Nov 9	Nov 10	Nov 11
NS Observations NS Lunch Duty CH Observations SPU Ed Forum	Planning Time M/Navos Victor Place re: D/A Counseling NS Observation HIPP Advisory M/Tech Serv. Re: ALE Reporting	NS Observations Career Link Visit Principal Planning Meeting  (ERAC) ALE Budgets Meeting (ERAC)	Host CHOICE Visit by Kim Thomas CH In Classrooms Weekly M/ Andrea Screen Office Asst. Applications  (ERAC)	Veterans Day

Have a Wonderful Week - Mike