Alt Ed Week March 5, 2012

Here we go, well into March already. First, I want to thank Andrea and Dolly for their presentation work at the PBIS Conference last week. They represented you all well. HSPE is next week. This week we have Staff meetings and a very important PCT.

Bravo Zulu!

Bravo Zulu to Andrea Love for her work and presentation to parents last week helping them transition into next phase of their experience at CHOICE Academy. Andrea worked into the evening with a good turnout of CHOICE families last Tuesday. She helped families think about and begin planning for their children’s upper-grade level years. The meeting was informative and a key piece to connecting our outgoing students with college and career. Good Job Andrea. Bravo Zulu to you!

Also, a quick shout out to Jackie Miller, Bev Mowrer and George Wheeler, who “held down the forts” in the absence of our PBIS team last week. Each site (New Start and CHOICE) had student incidents that were handled swiftly and professionally to a safe and positive outcome for students. I am comforted to know our schools are in good hands when I am away. Thank you Jackie, George and Bev. Well done.

Instructional Point: PBIS starts in the Classroom
Among quite a few highlights last week, the PBIS Conference was one. This has been my fourth such conference with NWPBIS, and they never cease to amaze me how many good folks are working to change entire school cultures of how we support students in positive ways. The work is harder than one would expect, especially in secondary settings. In this week’s note, I intend to remind our work begins in classrooms.

One of my favorite quotes is from anonymous, “The system is designed to create the results you see.”

Success begets success. PBIS is a series of structures (a system) which supports a positive approach to making students achieve, both socially and academically. We know that students with strong soft skills, like perseverance, resourcefulness or focusing, can achieve academically. Many of our students, however, have never been taught to do things like self-advocate, be independent, articulate their thinking or remain dedicated to a task at hand. We need to teach students these things and reward them for demonstrating as such. It is not fair to punish kids for things like low motivation skills or lack of follow through. We need to teach them. It is our responsibility.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Kent McIntosh from the University of British Columbia, made the connection clear using data to demonstrate how student social behaviors directly correlate (if not impact) academic performance. The message I left with was that student behavior affects an ability to learn. Yes, we teach content, but we are also teaching them to learn. When we have done that, with all students, we will have reached a holy grail of sorts.

Again, this work starts in the classroom. Even when looking at our own referral data from New Start, classrooms seem to be the locations where our students choose to disengage from school. By comparison, student incidents are far less around the school campus. This data does not suggest that all students disengage while in the classrooms. It tells us that the 15-20% of students who do disengage, do so while in a classroom.

So teachers…the question is, “how do you approach that handful of students who aren’t connecting with your class or lesson?” Are you supporting them in positive ways to change their behaviors, or taking a consequential punitive approach?  I’ll push even further, and ask what is the evidence you can show me (or anyone) that positive reinforcement strategies and structures exist in your practice?

In one of the breakout sessions at the conference a speaker laid out some bedrock of PBIS thinking. Here it is in my bullet notes:

1.       Teachers need to be VERY clear with students what the learning and behavior expectations are for every single class period.

2.       Teachers must explicitly teach students the skills -- all the skills -- they need to meet those expectations. (or ensure they have mastered them beforehand)

3.       Always model the expectation, and reward those who meet or exceed expectations.

a.      That is always show them what success looks like, if you truly expect it.

What about those who aren’t meeting the expectation? Well, simply, students who do not meet expectations do not have the skills needed to do so. Or, they have not learned the skills well enough to apply.  We must teach them, again, differently, until they learn.

1.       If they can’t read, we teach them

2.       If they can’t research, we show them how

3.       If they can’t take notes, we demonstrate for them

4.       If they can’t get to school on time, we teach them time management

5.       If they lose their work, we help them organize

6.       If they don’t self-motivate, we inspire them

…you get the picture. And yes, it is hard work.

What we do not want to do is punish, impugn or alienate those who don’t meet expectations. In either the short, or long, term this is a sure fire way for a student to disengage. They will eventually act out or drop out. We all know this, but it is good to remind.

So to close…How do you keep it positive in your class? What pro-active strategies do you have in your tool box to ensure we aren’t inadvertently celebrating failure (in some odd way)? I’ve given you a few just above. Remember, “The system we’ve designed will create the results we see…” What are the components of your system?

More News:
Golden Apple Update: I just thought you should know that Bev was recognized by the school board for her achievement last Wednesday. I presented her to a full house, which happened to be for our new superintendent’s approval vote, but still, the timing and mood were such she received a standing ovation from the board and many colleagues and principals. There was a link posted for her video portion of the ceremony, but there seems to be some bugs. If the site comes back up I’ll let you know the link.

HSPE Next Week! Just a heads up. You have all been good about attending training. So remember that New Start (only) has an alternate student schedule for late arrivals next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. This does not affect staff scheduling. Please check in the conference room at 8:30 for your HSPE assignment on those days.

Monthly Staff meetings are this week. New Start @ 3:15 Wednesday / CHOICE @ 2:00 Thursday.

Friday PCT: March 9, 2012. 12:30 at Woodside: All Certificated Staff Required
This Friday we will receive a joint presentation from the HEA and District regarding the new evaluation system. We touched on this briefly in January, but will get the full explanation of what implementation will look like, and how the new evaluation will affect us and our professional development. 12:30, Sharp, be there. (Also, we will have guests so please no lunch at this one.)

My Schedule:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
ERAC/New Start	New Start/ERAC	NS / ERAC / NS	HS3 / CH / NS	PSSC / CH / NS
March 5	March 6	March 7	March 8	March 9
ERAC Meetings Morning Office Meeting Teaching Class NS Observations M/Katy re: Frameworks Weekly Counselor Observation Writing	Teaching Class Staff Meetings Prep District Principal Meeting M/ Carla Jackson re: ALE	Teaching Class Staff Meeting Prep District D/A Committee HIPP Advisory Meeting NS Staff Meeting Observation Writing	District Learning Walk at HS3 Pro Cert Project Staff Meeting Prep CHOICE Staff meeting Observation Writing New Start Night (Evening)	PSSC Symposium PCT: Evaluation Presentation at Woodside NS Summer Planning Meeting NS Energy Efficiency Audit

Whew, that was a long note. Must be a busy week. J Have a good one!

Mike