Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Why Grade?

There are many different ways to report progress to students and parents.  Some teachers use letter grades (A, B, C, D, F), some use percentages on a 100 point scale, some use a coding system (+, -), while others use anecdotal feedback.  Regardless of the grading system you use, take a minute to reflect on the "Why."  What is the purpose of the number, or the letter, or the code you write at the top of your students' papers?  How does that grade help them learn from their mistakes or reflect on what they did well?  What exactly does a 92% tell a child about what they learned in the previous unit?

The purpose of grades is to provide students with feedback on their learning. It gives them the opportunity to correct mistakes and utilize positive feedback to grow as a learner.  Also, appropriate feedback allows parents to see what their child is doing at school on a daily basis, so there are no surprises when the report card comes home later in the year.  If the grading system you are using does not provide corrective feedback and an opportunity for students to reflect on their growth relative to an educational standard, perhaps it is time to reexamine your grading system and begin to think about whether is it serving its purpose in your classroom.

In a recent article by @rickwormeli2  he calls for a Timeout on Rubrics and Grading Scales. Wormeli reminds educators to focus on grading to a standard that clearly communicates to students what they learned and what they still need to work on.  He warns that educators should not let reports of compliance distort reports of learning.  Essentially, students should not be graded on neatness, effort, or other components that are not included in the educational standard being taught. Those are categories that can be reported, but should be reported separate from the overall grade, as they do not provide evidence of student learning relative to a standard.  This process may require a mindset shift for many educators who are accustomed to more traditional methods of grading on a 100 point scale. But, this modern grading system provides more accurate and descriptive feedback to students and parents as to the learning that is occurring on a daily basis in the classroom.

Grading should not be a "gotcha" enterprise.  Grading should not be a carrot we hold over our students' heads to force compliance.  Yes, it is easier mathematically to average grades and points on a test, but that does not make it pedagogically correct. As Wormeli states, it is what kids carry forward from a unit of study, not what they demonstrate on a summative assessment that reflects true learning and proficiency. I encourage all educators to take a minute to truly reflect on your grading practices and determine whether you are accurately reporting your students' learning relative to the standards being taught.  If the answer is no, perhaps it is time to consider a change.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Reflection on My First Year as a Principal

When I was interviewing for the position of principal at Kerby Elementary last year around this time, I was asked to complete a writing prompt that addressed how I would know if I had been successful after my first year of becoming principal of the school. I recently pulled it out to reflect on the year.   I believe I am working in the right direction as a leader, but definitely still have areas in which to grow. I am lucky to have such a great team at Kerby to help me along this journey! What I wrote is shared below.
       
 “Relationships are Everything” and “Leadership Matters”. When reflecting on the success of my first year as an elementary principal, these two ideas will weave themselves throughout all of my work with teachers, parents, and students. Although school buildings have many pieces that come together to create success, strong relationships and effective leadership play a major role in each and every one of them. 

 Relationships are Everything: The importance of building positive relationships weaves itself into each and every part of a school community. From the school’s behavior management system to the teacher evaluation model, all of these areas will be better when relational trust exists between school leaders and staff. To evaluate whether I have worked to develop that relational trust in my first year as a principal, I will reflect on the following questions:

Have I made connections with staff, students and families that go deeper than school? Do I understand teachers’ personal and professional passions and what motivates them to get out of bed in the morning? Have I connected with students and their families on a level that extends beyond the classroom? Have I gotten to know the community and participated in neighborhood functions and events? Everything that goes on in a school is better when strong relationships exist. 

In an effort to build these relationships, have I truly connected with students on all levels? Have I recognized student achievement and milestones, academically, socially, and behaviorally? Do I check in frequently with students who are in need of that “extra push”? Have I been there to support students who are struggling and helped redirect their path toward a more productive one?

When working with teachers, have I celebrated with those who are experimenting with new technology or teaching strategies? Have I been there to listen and support them when taking that first leap to try something new? Have I encouraged teachers to explore their passions and continue their professional learning and growth in areas that interest and motivate them? If I can answer yes to the above questions after my first year in this new role, the process of beginning to build relationships with students, families, and staff will be well underway and headed in the right direction.

Leadership Matters: John Maxwell said it best when he stated, “Everything rises and falls with leadership.” Everything! Good leaders inspire and empower others to discover leadership qualities in themselves.  When a school is successful, great leaders inspire teachers to keep the expectations high, while searching for new ways to challenge themselves and others. When a school is experiencing periods of turmoil, great leaders help to maintain focus and keep morale high. Great leaders are also role models for their colleagues, leading by example and inspiring others to follow suit and lead from where they stand.  When reflecting on my leadership after my first year, I will ask myself if teachers and students feel empowered to become leaders of their own learning. Also, have I modeled and encouraged reflective practices for personal and professional growth goals?

As the Principal of Kerby Elementary, I will consider my first year a success if I have maintained the focus on developing the leadership capacity and relational trust among all stakeholders in the school building. Leadership matters because people matter, and in education our main priority should be the continued development of people, students and adults alike.

Friday, April 24, 2015

Relationships Are Everything


Time and time again in education I am reminded that building relationships with our students is the absolute most important thing we can do as teachers.  In my opinion, it even trumps content knowledge.  As an adult, I am much more likely to want to go above and beyond the norm for someone that has taken the time to get to know me and connect with me as a person. It is the same with kids and their teachers.

Now that we are getting close to the end of the school year, it is important to remember that relationship building is something that needs to be sustained throughout the year.  At the beginning of the year, when we are just getting to know our students, it is at the forefront of our minds.  However, as the year progresses, some of these activities seem to fall by the wayside.  However, maintaining a strong connection with kids, and continuing to build your relationship with each child is important all year long. Here are a few simple ways you can build relationships with your students on a daily basis.

  • Greet them at the door: Every morning, greet your students at the door with a smile, a handshake, and a "good morning".  Allowing your students to enter the room with a positive greeting can set the tone for the rest of the day.
  • Encourage classroom discussions that feature students as the center of attention: Teachers should not always be the center of attention in discussions.  It is important to share information about your life; however, be sure to intentionally choose topics that will focus on your students interests and successes as well.
  • Attend extracurricular activities featuring your students: It means so much to students and to their families to see a teacher at one of their extracurricular activities.  I still remember when a teacher attended one of my dance recitals as a child.  I smiled extra bright on the stage that day knowing that my teacher was in the audience watching.
  • Protect the students' self-esteem: Whenever possible, handle discipline issues with empathy and without an audience.  Call students into the hallway or keep them after class to discuss an issue, rather than doing it in front of their peers.  Remember that we as teachers are providing an example of how to behave, so if we wouldn't want students to embarrass a peer in front of an audience, we shouldn't do it either.
  • Learn about their lives and share about yours (appropriately): Ask students questions about their families and their interests, make connections with things that you enjoy as well. Showing genuine interest in who they are outside of school will show them that you care and help them to open up to you in class.
  • Answer journal and blog entries personally: Letting kids see that you read their work and responded to it will encourage them to continue to put forth their best effort with these types of assignments.
These are just a few of many simple ways to continue building relationships with your students now and throughout the end of the year.  You want your students to leave the school year with positive memories and experiences, and continuing to focus on these positive strategies will help ensure everyone ends the school year with a smile.  :)