Holiday Fun

This year I did something super fun for my staff, and I want to share a little bit with you. First I came up with the attached poem of "Un-Secret Santa". Download here: Un-Secret Santa. For the 12 days before our winter break, I left a little treat in each person's mailbox. On day 1, I left the letter with a chocolate Santa. After that, each day had a new surprise with a note. For example, have a "Tea-rriffic holiday!" on a tea-bag, and Hershey's kisses/hugs with a note "Soon we will kiss paperwork goodbye for two weeks!" I got some great feedback from this and think that my staff had a fun time as well.

It is always so hard to think of the right present for my administrative team. I appreciate them so much! This year I worked with the Art teacher on a top-secret project. She had students use a photo of each administrator and draw their portrait. I framed those and passed them out at our annual party. Although a few were just downright funny, most were simply lovely and ended up being hung with pride.

Before You Make the Principal Leap...

When you assume the position of PRINCIPAL, you will have many critical artifacts to move into your new office. You might have a "Someday" file (ideas you've collected throughout the years as you looked forward to your big chance). You may have new stationery/nameplate/id badge with your name and the word "principal" on it. Of course you will have a multitude of books for reference on legal issues, leadership topics, and curricular concerns. However, there are a few other items that no one will guide you on, so I want to clue you in right now! Go ahead and start your Principal Pack. It will contain:
1. An American Flag scarf or necktie. I cannot tell you how many times you will need to pull this out! Veterans Day and other assemblies honoring heroes - you will get some use out of this!
2.A tiara/boa/wand, etc. No kidding - I have worn one of these for various reasons. Many times I have said, "Oh, I have a boa in my office," because one was needed for a skit/dress up day/etc. In what other job could that happen? Well, okay, maybe a couple of other jobs...
3. Music! Play it! We play music prior to the staff meetings starting as a signal for everyone to make their way to the library. On Friday afternoons, I play music when all buses have pulled out. On special mornings we play music as the students arrive. On the last day of school, I play "goodbye" songs over the intercom during dismissal. We definitely play music after all of the buses have left on the last day of school! If you need to raise the energy level, turn up the tunes!
4. A blazer or nice jacket. Just keep this hanging on the back of your door. The odds are that if you choose a certain day for jeans, a spirit shirt, and flip flops, you are going to get a visit from the superintendent, the media, or a crazy parent. Throw the jacket on!
5.A camera. Now that I have finally gotten an iPhone (yeah, me!), I don't leave my office without it. I am able to snap a picture quickly and immediately send it to our Ning. This is a great way to showcase the many events and instructional successes going on in my school.
6. Cute fonts/decorative paper/etc. I know that the minimalists out there will scoff at this "silliness", but Quantum Learning's research based strategies show us that messages "easy on the eye" with color/font/pictures will leave impressions that last longer than a plainly typed memo. If you are not good at "cutening" it up - hire an AP who is! (Yes, I made that word up!)
7. Costumes of any and every sort. I have dressed up as various science terms (I was a cumulus cloud!), action verbs, book characters, etc... Now I have a "swap partner" - a principal at another school. When one of us has a costume need, we email each other. Between us, we are growing quite the collection. Most recently I dressed as Cruella DeVil for book character day (see pic). My poor Instructional Specialists - that's them dressed as dalmatians!

8. A sense of humor. Need I say more?

Celebrate Good Times, Come On!

So, it's been a busy month... I love October - it passes with turbo-speed, staff and students are fully into the school year, and our plates are fuller than Thanksgiving! However, I have come to realize that my "when the going gets busy, everyone is excited" philosophy isn't fully embraced by everyone! :) In fact, October also begins a time where we need to remember to build and maintain staff morale. Prior to the year started, I came up with this monthly list of fun calendar dates to celebrate, then the admin team and I chose one to highlight each week. Note: I copied and pasted. This wasn't a hard research project, so I can't take credit (nor responsibility if some are inappropriate!).
Also, it is in column format, so if you are looking for a fun event to celebrate, print it out and read top to bottom. Ideas for items: PTO/PTA (of course!); different grade levels or departments undertake them; specific parent groups (grade levels, for examle); donations from nearby companies.
Enjoy and use as needed! print file here: Celebration File

I'm Just Sayin'...

I have had the opportunity to teach an Educational Leadership Masters degree course over the past month and 1/2. During their coursework, the students were required to meet with their mentor (typically their principal) and have honest, reflective conversations. I enjoyed reading the feedback provided to my students. One principal wrote, "I'm not going to pull any punches..."

I say, "Why do we pull punches?" Why does it take a required assignment or scheduled meeting to have honest, candid conversation? If we are here for kids, and we all agree that we are, why are worried more about being nice than being honest? It is time to use our Fierce Conversation skill (if you haven't read Susan Scott's book, RUN and buy it!) to keep the main thing... the main thing.

Our "main thing" is kids, plain and simple. Let's not wait to have tough conversations, data-driven meetings, or bold questions. Let's "be nice" to our students and be their advocate as the leaders of our schools.

Differentiated Discussion... and Lunch

I'm not going to lie. It began out of total selfishness on my part three years ago. I had two new assistant principals who were spending quality time collaborating, meeting, and training my teachers - exactly what they should be doing. They were building strong relationships with the staff. I should have been tickled pink, but I was green with envy. After all, these were MY teachers, and I was feeling a little left out. On top of that, I was working on my doctorate. I should have been relieved that the APs were stepping up... but I felt like I was missing the party. Moreover, the more I studied, read, and researched... the more I wanted to talk, train, and interact with my staff.

I'm not really known for being a "soft touch." But, I missed them. That feeling that working moms get when they realize their children actually enjoy the baby sitter? Now I was having it at work, too! So, I masterminded a plan that would include relevant research based articles, hearty discussions, and food (let's face it, teachers are going to join in most training for a great lunch!). I would meet with each grade level for one hour each quarter. We would have parent volunteers cover lunch and inside recess, with staff assistance. I chose articles based on each grade level's needs or interest, and crossed my fingers.

The nerves were high on my part during the first meeting. What if they didn't read the article? What if they didn't enjoy the lunch? What if they grabbed their sandwich and ran? What if they didn't want to collaborate with me? To top it off, I had somehow scheduled my first Lunch Bunch to be my most challenging team.

But they came - with articles highlighted, notes in margin, and strong opinions. It was awesome! Each lunch was insightful: the teachers learned a little bit more about chosen topics and each other. I learned a little bit more about the dynamics on each team and how I could help them. They still needed me!

Three years later, the quarterly Lunch Bunch meetings continue to be the only activity we do that gets 100% positive feedback. I love searching for the perfect article, video, or book passage to send their way a few days before our lunch. I enjoy writing a personal note to each grade level detailing why I chose that selection. Most of all, I love that I get to steal a little quality time with my staff, in small groups, but with big impact. We need each other, and our students need us to keep learning/growing!

'Cause I'm a Wanderer... I Wander Round, Round, Round

    Walking through the areas is the best part of every principal's day, I think! Well, unless it isn't the best part... and then it might be the most frustrating part.... So I am giving some thought this afternoon to being in the classrooms and making the most of it with specific, relevant feedback to help my teachers grow an dmy students succeed. I am attaching the walkthrough forms we are using this year. We created them last year and liked them so much we are giving them a second turn! I know many principals like the checklists and other quick formats. Personally, I like to sit and stay for a while, then give them written comments. We have three different forms that we use (1 for each of the first 3 quarters of school). These focus on my top three instructional loves: Quantum Learning environment, Love & Logic when dealing with children, and Marzano's High Yield Strategies. Walkthrough 1  Walkthrough 2   Walkthrough 3
     This year I stole a great format from my 1st grade teachers and adapted it for my personal use. They use this for all kinds of documentation. Here is page 1 (my chart is 2 pages).  Catherine's chart Each teacher has a square, and I take this with me whenever I leave my office. I might write memory joggers to myself so I can give praise slips to teachers, I might look for a specific quality (ex. no wasted time at the start of class; technology use; teachers monitoring), or if people catch me ("Do ya have a minute?"), I can remember what they wanted. I typed each grade level in a different font to find them quickly. Feel free to steal from me - er, my first grade teachers - and use it!

This is How We Ning It...

So for my first discussion, I want to comment on communication. We started using the Ning at Hamilton Elementary School last year, which I can best explain as a mix of blogging and facebook. Thanks to Mrs. Cheryl Fisher, that smarty pants principal at Keith Elementary, who shared the site and some basic instructions, my staff and I hit the ground running with it. Staff can upload pictures, videos, comments (all of which can be set as "approved by principal" first); events and appointments are added throughout the day; message broadcasts can be sent out (flashy graphics can be added!), and you can add all sorts of buttons, links, etc. We have uploaded all of our handbooks, forms, information, etc. so the teachers can download and print if needed.

Before we Ning'd, I would save up information for my weekly newsletter, but there would still be daily reminders I would need to email. Now I just post it on the Ning. Did teachers forget to check it? Not after I started randomly posting things like, "Jeans tomorrow for everyone who reads this." or "Comment back to the Ning blog within 2 hours for free soda!" They caught on fast!

So, we are in "real time" with our information at HES, and we love it! Check out the Ning at http://www.ning.com/!

Let the Blogging Begin!

One night I was at home looking on line for some reading resources to use when I work with my first grade daughter. I stumbled upon these fantastic blogsites full of classroom tips, collegial support, and instructional links. I thought I could have been such a great teacher if I'd had these blogs as resources (back in the day!), which led me to think about what a great principal I could be if I had them now! I've been searching the net for some sites full of great ideas, and although I have found a couple here or there, the pool is definitely not deep.

So, I have decided to begin my own blog and to challenge other principals to join me by creating their site, too. We can link them together and share great ideas. I work in a district that has over 50 elementary principals, so we cannot possibly get together just to share our thoughts. My "cluster", which is 7 principals, meets monthly to collaborate. We have a great time stealing each others' ideas, and I know everyone would benefit from some of their thoughts.

Join me and let's go global with the principalship!
Leading and learning with you,
Catherine