Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Innovation RooStars...The Roovolution Rocks On!
I am the new principal of the world-class Curtis Elementary, and I am so excited about the new school year!
Friday, May 1, 2015
Innovation RooStars
I am an Assistant Principal at Curtis Elementary, a world-class elementary school. I believe that the learning opportunities we provide students at Curtis will prepare them for the future! Curtis Elementary is heading the right direction as a Future Ready school that promotes innovation. At this time in education, it is imperative to change what schools are doing for students. We must do school differently in order to prepare students for success in the world.
Teachers at Curtis Elementary are blazing a trail innovation by becoming connected learners. Teachers are connecting with other educators around the state, nation, and world to provide valuable learning opportunities for students. One of Curtis Elementary' teachers is Amanda Rogers. Amanda is the Curtis Elementary Teacher of the Year and the WISD Elementary Teacher of the Year! Amanda provides a connected learning experiences for students each day. Her students have had experiences connecting to authors, business partners of the community, and renowned research scientists across the globe. Amanda challenges her students through Project Based Learning. Students are currently designing zoo enclosures for animals by collaborating with a local engineering company in our community. Students in Mrs. Rogers' class are authentically engaged and learning beyond the walls of this school tapping into their passions and talents. Students are learning beyond the brick and mortar of this campus. They are having fun and developing a love of learning. Because of world - class educators like Amanda Rogers, Curtis is a world-class school of choice!
Teachers at Curtis Elementary are blazing a trail innovation by becoming connected learners. Teachers are connecting with other educators around the state, nation, and world to provide valuable learning opportunities for students. One of Curtis Elementary' teachers is Amanda Rogers. Amanda is the Curtis Elementary Teacher of the Year and the WISD Elementary Teacher of the Year! Amanda provides a connected learning experiences for students each day. Her students have had experiences connecting to authors, business partners of the community, and renowned research scientists across the globe. Amanda challenges her students through Project Based Learning. Students are currently designing zoo enclosures for animals by collaborating with a local engineering company in our community. Students in Mrs. Rogers' class are authentically engaged and learning beyond the walls of this school tapping into their passions and talents. Students are learning beyond the brick and mortar of this campus. They are having fun and developing a love of learning. Because of world - class educators like Amanda Rogers, Curtis is a world-class school of choice!
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Why Do We Wait?
Last week I traveled to Camp Brady Spruce with our 5th grade students, and it was amazing! Our students had a wonderful time at camp. For some of our students, it was an experience like no other experience that they ever encountered. I am so proud of our 5th grade campers.
Student really bonded and learned so much about themselves and others at camp. They participated in team building activities, hikes, canoe riding, and of course, KICKBALL! It was really rewarding to observe students as they problem solved in the team building exercises. At first, students are unsure of how to approach a problem and work together to succeed. The parent chaperones would fidget on the sidelines wanting to jump in and help the kids, but the camp counselors requested that the kids figure it out for themselves. The kids would figure it out! They learned to trust each other, help each other, and even ask for help when they needed it. This experience allowed some of our students to transform and realize their own leadership potential.
At the end of every school year, we offer many opportunities for team building at Curtis. We have our End of Year Celebration in May, which for the older students is preceded by several weeks of KICKBALL practice. I was once one of those teachers that prepared my students for victory on this special day. Some might say that I was way too into it. I learned that if my class worked well together, they could claim their trophy as the champs! It always helps to have skilled players on the team, but when you know you are outperformed athletically, strategy can overcome. As a teacher, I made sure my students operated like a well oiled machine and played well together. (It also helped that I was also a member of kickball team.... and I am not too shabby either). When one of my teams lacking the talent faced an opponent full of talented students that argued and disagreed, we would win! My students would work together and use strategy to outplay the other teams. It is all about building a healthy team and providing students with opportunities to lead others. This time of year is so fun! Then after we had so much fun learning from each other, school would end.
I always have questioned why we save the fun team building experiences for the end. While we do some team building activities the first few weeks of school, we all too often will get caught up in classwork and assessments (which is very important) and lose sight of how important it is to build a strong, healthy team within our classrooms. Think of the possibilities! Building this strong team with some good, old-fashioned competition or going to camp at the beginning of year might build a strong team. One that is trusting, willing to take risks together, and learn together.
Student really bonded and learned so much about themselves and others at camp. They participated in team building activities, hikes, canoe riding, and of course, KICKBALL! It was really rewarding to observe students as they problem solved in the team building exercises. At first, students are unsure of how to approach a problem and work together to succeed. The parent chaperones would fidget on the sidelines wanting to jump in and help the kids, but the camp counselors requested that the kids figure it out for themselves. The kids would figure it out! They learned to trust each other, help each other, and even ask for help when they needed it. This experience allowed some of our students to transform and realize their own leadership potential. At the end of every school year, we offer many opportunities for team building at Curtis. We have our End of Year Celebration in May, which for the older students is preceded by several weeks of KICKBALL practice. I was once one of those teachers that prepared my students for victory on this special day. Some might say that I was way too into it. I learned that if my class worked well together, they could claim their trophy as the champs! It always helps to have skilled players on the team, but when you know you are outperformed athletically, strategy can overcome. As a teacher, I made sure my students operated like a well oiled machine and played well together. (It also helped that I was also a member of kickball team.... and I am not too shabby either). When one of my teams lacking the talent faced an opponent full of talented students that argued and disagreed, we would win! My students would work together and use strategy to outplay the other teams. It is all about building a healthy team and providing students with opportunities to lead others. This time of year is so fun! Then after we had so much fun learning from each other, school would end.
I always have questioned why we save the fun team building experiences for the end. While we do some team building activities the first few weeks of school, we all too often will get caught up in classwork and assessments (which is very important) and lose sight of how important it is to build a strong, healthy team within our classrooms. Think of the possibilities! Building this strong team with some good, old-fashioned competition or going to camp at the beginning of year might build a strong team. One that is trusting, willing to take risks together, and learn together.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Got Data; Now What?
We are half way there now, but hopefully we are not living a just a prayer. With the first semester behind us, we are assessing students with common assessments and benchmarks. Why do we spend valuable class time to administer tests? (The question that resounds in the minds of many busy teachers.) There can be many benefits of administering mid-year assessments.
Not only do assessments help us to gauge where students are in closing academic achievement gaps and meeting goals, but assessments also assist teachers in providing authentic testing practice for their students. Curtis Elementary teachers will be pulling out their "Plus/Delta's" and "PDSA's" in the coming week. Classroom conversations focused on what went well during testing and what did not go so well will help to ease the anxious minds of young test takers. Adapting classrooms, providing proper accommodations to alter the testing environment so that it is conducive for a positive test taking experience will be part of this important conversation with students. The ultimate goal is to identify the best testing environment to allow each student to demonstrate what they know.
Our teachers at Curtis Elementary will also utilize the district assessment data in order to make important decisions that will impact student achievement. The data will be disaggregated to determine standards that need to be re-taught. Teachers will be able to determine how to shift their teaching practices and tweak strategies in order to better engage students.
The most important thing our teachers will do with the data they collect from these mid-year assessments is to share the data with students. Whose data is it anyway? It is the students' data! How can our students truly improve and learn if they do not know their weaknesses? By allowing student to understand their data, teachers can empower them to change their own path. Before they can make significant changes in learning, students must be part of the process for change. Allowing student to develop their own plan for improvement will yield higher increases in academic achievement. Curtis Elementary students will be analyzing data, tracking data in their data binders, and making connections regarding their own improvement. Students will develop plans for how they will cross thresholds and move towards reaching their goals!
Not only do assessments help us to gauge where students are in closing academic achievement gaps and meeting goals, but assessments also assist teachers in providing authentic testing practice for their students. Curtis Elementary teachers will be pulling out their "Plus/Delta's" and "PDSA's" in the coming week. Classroom conversations focused on what went well during testing and what did not go so well will help to ease the anxious minds of young test takers. Adapting classrooms, providing proper accommodations to alter the testing environment so that it is conducive for a positive test taking experience will be part of this important conversation with students. The ultimate goal is to identify the best testing environment to allow each student to demonstrate what they know.
Our teachers at Curtis Elementary will also utilize the district assessment data in order to make important decisions that will impact student achievement. The data will be disaggregated to determine standards that need to be re-taught. Teachers will be able to determine how to shift their teaching practices and tweak strategies in order to better engage students.
The most important thing our teachers will do with the data they collect from these mid-year assessments is to share the data with students. Whose data is it anyway? It is the students' data! How can our students truly improve and learn if they do not know their weaknesses? By allowing student to understand their data, teachers can empower them to change their own path. Before they can make significant changes in learning, students must be part of the process for change. Allowing student to develop their own plan for improvement will yield higher increases in academic achievement. Curtis Elementary students will be analyzing data, tracking data in their data binders, and making connections regarding their own improvement. Students will develop plans for how they will cross thresholds and move towards reaching their goals!
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Great Instruction - Great Teachers!
What makes Curtis such a great place? I say it is the teachers! Curtis is blessed with the most amazing teachers. Teachers at Curtis continue to search for ways to incorporate high-yield strategies in order to increase learning and improve achievement. Great instruction comes from great teachers which leads to great learning.
Education.com reprinted an article from 2007 from the Center for Public Education that stated, "The most significant gains in student achievement will likely be realized when students receive instruction from good teachers over consecutive years." Robert Marzano also states, "Effective teaching is essential to student achievement. " I believe this with all my heart. It does not matter how many students are in a classroom. If the instructionis good, there will the potential for increase in academic achievement. With so little time to teach and so many standards to teach, the first teach is crucial to making a positive impact on student achievement and closing achievement gaps.
One of the reason's Curtis is a great place to learn is because of our 2013-2014 Teacher of the Year! Katie Pitman, a fifth grade ELA/SS teacher, provides rigorous, challenging lessons in her class. Her use of high-yield strategies elevates students' thinking and ability to problem solve. Katie, like many of our Curtis teachers, uses strategies she learned from Lead4ward. Students collaborate and use these high-yield strategies to not only complete assignments but to also think about their learning. She uses strategies like 1 Minute Paper, 3-2-1 Summary, Card Sort, Fact or Fib, and so much more. In this video you will see her use a strategy called, "Commit and Toss" or "Question Toss:" Question Toss Katie is also transforming her classroom with PBL! Project Based Learning is a great way to engage students with opportunities to become true problem solvers. Her students will soon go paperless using technology in more authentic ways!
We have so many amazing educators here at Curtis. Our September teacher of the month this year was Misty Crowley! Misty teaches 2nd grade at Curtis. She has a heart for kids at Curtis. Misty looks for ways to lead her team in order to promote success for all kids. Misty not only connects with her students, but she also connects with parents searching for ways to partner with them. It is all about relationships with Misty Crowley.
In October/November, our Teacher of the Month was Mendi Mahan. Mendi teaches science in 5th grade and is a little bit of a "MAD" scientist according to her students. She makes science come to life. Kids have a lot of fun conducting experiments and investigating theories. There are high expectations in Mrs. Mahan's classroom which is vital to student success. Students know exactly what is expected and meet those expectations in science.
Our latest Teacher of the Month is Vicki Zell! Vicki is an amazing part of our Curtis Team. She teaches our FLS students. These students all have special needs. Vicki is a master at using the Fundamental Five strategies in her class. She frames every lesson with her students. Vicki also helps
her students meet their individual goals each day. She has devoted 22 years to the teaching profession. Vicki also has a strong connection with each and every one of her students' families.
With good instruction being one of the most important components to student achievement, you can see that we are in good hands at Curtis Elementary. Our teachers strive to use high- yield instructional strategies instead of "Sit and Git" worksheets! I am blessed to be able to walk through this building day after day and see the great instruction in classrooms. Just like the name of this blog - Passion Lives Here at Curtis Elementary!
Education.com reprinted an article from 2007 from the Center for Public Education that stated, "The most significant gains in student achievement will likely be realized when students receive instruction from good teachers over consecutive years." Robert Marzano also states, "Effective teaching is essential to student achievement. " I believe this with all my heart. It does not matter how many students are in a classroom. If the instructionis good, there will the potential for increase in academic achievement. With so little time to teach and so many standards to teach, the first teach is crucial to making a positive impact on student achievement and closing achievement gaps.
One of the reason's Curtis is a great place to learn is because of our 2013-2014 Teacher of the Year! Katie Pitman, a fifth grade ELA/SS teacher, provides rigorous, challenging lessons in her class. Her use of high-yield strategies elevates students' thinking and ability to problem solve. Katie, like many of our Curtis teachers, uses strategies she learned from Lead4ward. Students collaborate and use these high-yield strategies to not only complete assignments but to also think about their learning. She uses strategies like 1 Minute Paper, 3-2-1 Summary, Card Sort, Fact or Fib, and so much more. In this video you will see her use a strategy called, "Commit and Toss" or "Question Toss:" Question Toss Katie is also transforming her classroom with PBL! Project Based Learning is a great way to engage students with opportunities to become true problem solvers. Her students will soon go paperless using technology in more authentic ways!
Katie is not a great teacher just because she uses great instructional strategies to enhance the "First Teach." She is compassionate and genuinely cares about her students. She will do whatever it takes to help a student to be successful. Katie is an awesome representative of Curtis Elementary, and our students are so blessed to have such a super star as a teacher.
We have so many amazing educators here at Curtis. Our September teacher of the month this year was Misty Crowley! Misty teaches 2nd grade at Curtis. She has a heart for kids at Curtis. Misty looks for ways to lead her team in order to promote success for all kids. Misty not only connects with her students, but she also connects with parents searching for ways to partner with them. It is all about relationships with Misty Crowley.
In October/November, our Teacher of the Month was Mendi Mahan. Mendi teaches science in 5th grade and is a little bit of a "MAD" scientist according to her students. She makes science come to life. Kids have a lot of fun conducting experiments and investigating theories. There are high expectations in Mrs. Mahan's classroom which is vital to student success. Students know exactly what is expected and meet those expectations in science. Our latest Teacher of the Month is Vicki Zell! Vicki is an amazing part of our Curtis Team. She teaches our FLS students. These students all have special needs. Vicki is a master at using the Fundamental Five strategies in her class. She frames every lesson with her students. Vicki also helpsWith good instruction being one of the most important components to student achievement, you can see that we are in good hands at Curtis Elementary. Our teachers strive to use high- yield instructional strategies instead of "Sit and Git" worksheets! I am blessed to be able to walk through this building day after day and see the great instruction in classrooms. Just like the name of this blog - Passion Lives Here at Curtis Elementary!
Friday, November 14, 2014
Time for a little R and R!
Our pirates at Curtis Elementary are working hard to create engaging learning experiences for students. Teachers have been spending a lot of time planning lessons that will help students to master the standards for the school year. Teachers are getting tired from all of the hard work planning amazing lessons so it is time to take some R and R!
I know what you are thinking. You are thinking that I mean rest and relaxation, but that is not exactly what I had in mind. R and R is Rigor and Relevance! At Curtis we have been focusing on getting the frame right. Framing the lesson is critical because the quality of the lesson begins with the frame. We will continue our work by examining the Rigor and Relevance of lessons. Rigor and Relevance helps to ensure that the lesson frame is addressing the learning goals at an appropriate level. In order to support students in their journey to become critical thinkers and problems solvers, teachers will continue to design lessons with rigor making sure that the content is also relevant to them.
Rigor is depth. The teacher has the opportunity to extend a student's ability to learn. Raising expectations for students will help students achieve academically. Relevance deals with purpose. Why does the student need to know the content? When content is relevant to students, engagement increases as well as effort. Students become excited about what they are doing in class, and they learn not just because it is something they are supposed to do. Students decide that they want to learn.
Next week we will begin to examine the level of rigor and relevance more closely in our classrooms by collecting the data during our Powerwalks. Our powerwalk team will specifically look at the rigor and relevance during classroom walkthroughs to help us continue to provide the very best learning opportunities for our students. Ensuring that the rigor of the lesson is where it needs to be along with relevance for students will help to ensure that students continue to achieve academically.
I know what you are thinking. You are thinking that I mean rest and relaxation, but that is not exactly what I had in mind. R and R is Rigor and Relevance! At Curtis we have been focusing on getting the frame right. Framing the lesson is critical because the quality of the lesson begins with the frame. We will continue our work by examining the Rigor and Relevance of lessons. Rigor and Relevance helps to ensure that the lesson frame is addressing the learning goals at an appropriate level. In order to support students in their journey to become critical thinkers and problems solvers, teachers will continue to design lessons with rigor making sure that the content is also relevant to them.
Rigor is depth. The teacher has the opportunity to extend a student's ability to learn. Raising expectations for students will help students achieve academically. Relevance deals with purpose. Why does the student need to know the content? When content is relevant to students, engagement increases as well as effort. Students become excited about what they are doing in class, and they learn not just because it is something they are supposed to do. Students decide that they want to learn.
Next week we will begin to examine the level of rigor and relevance more closely in our classrooms by collecting the data during our Powerwalks. Our powerwalk team will specifically look at the rigor and relevance during classroom walkthroughs to help us continue to provide the very best learning opportunities for our students. Ensuring that the rigor of the lesson is where it needs to be along with relevance for students will help to ensure that students continue to achieve academically.
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Staff Development..... Time to "Do" it Differently
I have been thinking about how to make a positive impact as an instructional leader at my school. I am an administrator, but my role has not changed all that much. I am still a teacher. Only now, my students are adults. With the help of my awesome librarian, Shawna Ford, I have also tried to "Bring It" to my students. Shawna has helped me to "do" staff development differently, and she is leading the way for our teachers to "do" school differently.
Instead of making 70 staff members at my school sit and suffer through the titillating details of the staff handbook, I created a Padlet. My teachers loved it! (At least they told me that they loved it...) Teachers were able to participate in this type of staff development on their time. Padlet allows you to upload documents and link videos. It is one of many alternative presentation styles for sharing information whether it be for professional development or just to share information!
I recently created a professional development screen cast using Screencast-O-Matic. This was really easy to do. However, it was a little scary for me. Those of you that know me just love me for who I am, but in case you don't know me, I can be a bit of a hick talking goof ball. Once I got over the high pitched twang of my own voice, I had a lot of fun creating a screen cast for the TAAS (Texas Alternative Appraisal System) training for my teachers. Teachers liked being able to open the document when it was convenient for them, which also gave them the ability to go back to it at anytime to any part of the training session for review. After having a weekend to watch the screen cast, teachers came to the Monday faculty meeting prepared to ask questions.
Searching for innovative and creative ways to lead teachers will have a positive impact on Curtis teachers and students. Racheal Rife, the Curtis Principal, and I are committed to always moving forward to provide the best experiences and education for our students. We also like to also have some fun. Several years ago, Racheal and I decided to start "Cart Service." We choose one day each month to stop by teachers' classrooms to brighten their day with a little treat. It is our way of thanking teachers and celebrating them. They work so hard. About three years ago, Lindsay Fuller and I were planning our year of "Cart Service" themes. The September date we chose happened to be the opening day of the State Fair of Texas. That is when I decided that every year we would celebrate the opening day of the Texas State Fair. We serve lemonade, State Fair Corn Dog Bites, and caramel apples to our teachers. The fun part is we dress like Big Tex. Here is a picture from yesterday.
We are not afraid to have fun at Curtis Elementary. We want both our teachers and students to love coming to school every day.
Instead of making 70 staff members at my school sit and suffer through the titillating details of the staff handbook, I created a Padlet. My teachers loved it! (At least they told me that they loved it...) Teachers were able to participate in this type of staff development on their time. Padlet allows you to upload documents and link videos. It is one of many alternative presentation styles for sharing information whether it be for professional development or just to share information!
I recently created a professional development screen cast using Screencast-O-Matic. This was really easy to do. However, it was a little scary for me. Those of you that know me just love me for who I am, but in case you don't know me, I can be a bit of a hick talking goof ball. Once I got over the high pitched twang of my own voice, I had a lot of fun creating a screen cast for the TAAS (Texas Alternative Appraisal System) training for my teachers. Teachers liked being able to open the document when it was convenient for them, which also gave them the ability to go back to it at anytime to any part of the training session for review. After having a weekend to watch the screen cast, teachers came to the Monday faculty meeting prepared to ask questions.
Searching for innovative and creative ways to lead teachers will have a positive impact on Curtis teachers and students. Racheal Rife, the Curtis Principal, and I are committed to always moving forward to provide the best experiences and education for our students. We also like to also have some fun. Several years ago, Racheal and I decided to start "Cart Service." We choose one day each month to stop by teachers' classrooms to brighten their day with a little treat. It is our way of thanking teachers and celebrating them. They work so hard. About three years ago, Lindsay Fuller and I were planning our year of "Cart Service" themes. The September date we chose happened to be the opening day of the State Fair of Texas. That is when I decided that every year we would celebrate the opening day of the Texas State Fair. We serve lemonade, State Fair Corn Dog Bites, and caramel apples to our teachers. The fun part is we dress like Big Tex. Here is a picture from yesterday.
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