Lists, Lists, Everywhere are Lists

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Amy's Reflections

I am a list person. I think in lists. I stay organized with bulleted lists. Lists, lists, lists…

CCC licensed flickr work

CCC licensed flickr work

To do this month:

  • Get back into blogging mode!
  • Read Organizational Culture and Leadership chapters before class at the end of the month
  • Reread data chapters before co-teaching weekly admin credential classes
  • Maintain websites (work, personal, etc.)
  • Heal my back… rest, meditation, yoga, etc.
  • Walk 10,000 every day
  • Go to the beach!
  • Stay on the healthy bandwagon
  • Clean! There is always something to clean (laundry, house, office, car)
  • Catch up with old friends
  • Celebrate my birthday!
  • Chill out once in awhile!

 

Do you think in lists?

What are you most looking forward to this month?

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August Break Picture Update

Posted on August 31, 2014 by Amy's Reflections

For the month of August I am participating in the #AugustBreak2014, started by Susannah Conway, like I did last year, in August 2013.  I have truly enjoyed taking a break from a weekly blog writing schedule to focus on finding pictures throughout my day.  The prompts, that were accompanied by daily emails, forced me to look at my surroundings with a new set of eyes, a new focus.

  image-5 image-1 image-3 image image-2Looking for words like “soft”,  “blue” and “shadow” were fun challenges.  Planning out how I would capture “jump” was so much fun, especially when it was at the end of a long work day and it led to so.much.laughter with colleagues!

image-4I have truly enjoyed a focused effort to notice more of my life- to literally stop and smell the flowers (or the sea air).  It is my hope to continue to find inspiring photo challenges that will push me outside of my comfort zone as I explore the world through the lens of my iphone (or maybe even my regular old point and shoot camera!).

Reflective questions to consider:

  • What have you stopped and noticed recently?
  • What do you enjoy photographing?

 

 

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Educational Hot Topics

Posted on August 13, 2014 by Amy's Reflections

During one of my recent classes we had an opportunity to hear from a lawyer who specializes in educational law, representing many California school districts. He shared his thoughts on some of educational hot topics related to the law and his perspective on these issues. These were the hot topics he identified:

  • Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF and the accompanying LCAP)
  • The Vergara case ruling and future implications
  • Public Records Act requests (and conflicts of interest)
  • Common Core State Standards (CCSS and the connections to negotiations with unions)
  • Technology (influx into education, demand for use and improvement, relation to facilities)
CCC licensed work by pixabay.com

CCC licensed work by pixabay.com

This list was interesting and definitely topics that are of great importance to or impact on our work. It is making me reflect on what other hot topics I would add to the list, from a curriculum and instruction or leadership perspective. Here are some ideas that have come to mind:

  • Trusting, genuine, professional relationships
  • True Professional Learning Communities, PLN’s, and collaboration
  • Creative, sound pedagogy in every classroom that leads to high levels of student learning and efficacy
  • Social justice leadership at all levels

What are the hot topics that come to mind based on your work? What should we be talking about? What do you wish leaders were discussing?

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Picture Round Up

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Amy's Reflections

For the month of August I am participating in the #AugustBreak2014, started by Susannah Conway, like I did last year, in August 2013. I love the random word prompts that spark such creativity in photography. This year Susannah added an additional feature, where she sends out a daily email that reminds you of the prompt, has some sample pictures, and often some hints for ways to take a more meaningful picture based on the theme of the day. While I am nothing more than an amateur photographer, and I am using my iphone for all these pictures, I am having fun playing around with setting up the “scene” for some pictures and using different angles and perspectives.

Day 9’s prompt was “In my bag”. This day happened to be the last class of my summer semester so I happily emptied my school bag to take an overhead view of the stuff inside.

In my bag...

In my bag…

Day 10’s prompt was “Drink”. I took a number of picture of drinks throughout the day but I liked seeing the sun shine on this drink, out on my peaceful balcony, with some other characters and items that make me smile.

Day 10 Drink

Day 10 Drink

Day 2 called for Pattern. I was surprised to find patterns of all shapes and sizes in different areas of my life.

Patterns all around

Patterns all around

Day 5 asked us to look for “3”, but not just the number. Three objects or items we put together or find together. I did stage a picture of three books together, which was fine. Then I walked around the building at lunch for a quick stretch and I looked up and saw this:

Three

Three

Day 4 was “orange”. I was panicked all morning, wondering where and how I would find something orange to photograph. As I left to go to work, I hadn’t walked 20 steps out of my front door before I noticed this:

Orange

Orange

Right in front of my eyes!

One thing this photo challenge has taught me is to truly notice my surroundings. It is important to stop and look up once awhile, to smell the roses, notice the beauty of nature. This is great advice for leaders as well, as time for reflection is so important to build into your regular habits.

Here are the rest of the prompts for the month. What would you photograph? Where are interesting pictures hiding in your everyday life?

August Break 2014 List

August Break 2014 List

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August Break 2014

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Amy's Reflections

Last year I stumbled upon the August Break 2013 accidentally (mere hours before the month began!). This year I was anxiously awaiting the announcement. I enjoyed participating in the #30SummerDays photo challenge in June, and I have been looking for another photo challenge ever since. When Susannah Conway announced this year’s list of words (i.e. daily photo challenges), I was hooked and ready!

The daily photo prompts are below. I hope to share some of my #AugustBreak2014 pictures here in a few blogs throughout August. Feel free to follow along on Instagram, twitter, or via comments here. Happy picture-taking!

 

August Break 2014 List

August Break 2014 List

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Are you strong enough?

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Amy's Reflections

Recently I had an amazing opportunity to hear Dr. Terrence Roberts speak. Dr. Roberts was one of the original Little Rock Nine- the 9 Black students who entered Central HS in Little Rock with National Guard escorts for protection during the mandatory desegregation.

Little Rock Nine

Little Rock Nine

His life experiences and the way in which he shared them were rich and vivid and inspirational. His message is so important, as much today in 2014 as it was 60 years ago after the Brown v. Board of Education verdict.

Dr. Terrence Roberts

Dr. Terrence Roberts

Some of the sound bites that struck me (or my colleagues who were tweeting live during his presentation!) included:

Every human being is charged with the responsibility to repair the world.

Kids need to feel loved and respected by their teachers.

Be the CEO of your own learning.

You find a way to do that which you want to do, that for which you have a passion.

Levels of commitment:

  1. High level self-awareness
  2. I’ll try
  3. I’ll do what I can
  4. I’ll do what’s expected
  5. I’ll do whatever it takes!

Level 5 commitment

Are you strong enough to confront the issues?

“What issues?,” you may ask. Dr. Roberts asked us to picture “the south” and to visualize the geographic areas of America where we imagine there are still issues of racial bias, inequality, and a lack of social justice. Then he asked us to re-imagine that map because, “The south is everywhere south of Canada- there are issues everywhere in America.” Are you strong enough to confront the issues that stand before you?

This was such a powerful statement that really resonated with me. The more we consider the achievement gap across school systems, the more we see the inequality that still exists. Social justice is about providing EVERY CHILD with the opportunity for an equitable education. In order to do so, we need leaders who are strong enough to confront the issues. Are you? If not, what can you do to get stronger? Our students need your strength!

 

 

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Flagged for More Follow Up

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Amy's Reflections

A year ago I wrote a post about blogs that I had flagged for follow-up. Since then I have flagged hundreds of more blog posts (literally hundreds – I just found the easy way to see all my flags in my RSS feed and it was overwhelming to view!), hoping to remember to go back and use them for a variety of purposes later.

Flagged 2

I have recently heard a lot about the organizational tool Pocket, especially from my friend and colleague Barb. So I decided to give it a try.

For anyone unfamiliar, Pocket is very simple. You set up a free account. Then anytime you are online reading something you want to save, you click your “save to Pocket” button (easily installed as a Chrome extension on my browser or an app on my phone and ipad!). When you click to save, you have the opportunity to add tags. What I quickly realized is that I would have to create a useful tagging system if this was going to help me later.

Here was my thought process as I reviewed posts I had previously tagged for follow-up:

  • What is the topic of this post?
  • Would I want to share this with others? If so, who: teachers, coaches, leaders, friends, PLN?
  • Does this post inspire a blogging idea for me?
  • Does this post make me want to research a topic or read more?
  • Have I commented on this post? Would I like to comment or tweet out this blog to share it with others?
  • What tags (key words) will help me remember the answers to all the questions above?

So far I love the convenience of Pocket. I am still testing out my tagging system and I have not yet had a need to go back to get something specific from my saved posts. However, I am hoping that as I continue to refine my saving technique, that it will be useful to me.

  • Do you use Pocket or any other online curation tool?
  • How do you save things you “flag for follow-up”?

 

 

 

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PBIS for a PLN

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Amy's Reflections
PBIS: Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports
 Through my doctoral journey, I have completed a study of my district’s discipline data and a closer look at one of our site’s implementation of the PBIS system. I also attended two days of the Restorative Practices workshop. As I was reviewing the expectations of PBIS and the possibilities of a school that fully embraces the ideals of restorative practices, I reflected on adult Professional Learning Networks (PLN).
The expectations of PBIS are simple:
  • Be respectful
  • Be responsible
  • Be safe
PBIS Expectations Poster

PBIS Expectations Poster

What does this look like in a PLN?

  • Adults engaged in meaningful discussions where everyone’s voice and opinion are respected
  • All members of the PLN contribute to the shared learning and collaboration, balancing their time between giving and taking
  • PLN members feel comfortable taking risks with one another, taking initiative to “go big or go home”, seeking out feedback on those “out there” ideas from trusted colleagues, mentors, and friends

Does your PLN, whether you meet in person or digitally, meet the expectations of PBIS?What could you do to enhance your PLN?

Does your school implement PBIS or Restorative Practices with students and staff? What does that look and sound like?

 

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Honoring the Middle Times

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Amy's Reflections

As I was recently reading a Young Adolescent novel, Half a Chance by Cynthia Lord, I was struck by this line:

Last times and first times shouldn’t matter more than all the middle times, but somehow, they do.

Not only was this a powerful quote within the story, but it struck a chord in me as I connected to leadership work.

So often we focus on the beginning of new initiatives, spending hours upon hours preparing for a new roll-out, gearing up for the big event, and planning for the opening ceremony so-to-speak. Later, we spend as many hours dissecting the results, analyzing the data, or doing an autopsy of an idea we have already put to rest.

But what about the “middle times”? How much time, energy, effort, and support do we provide to our stakeholders when they are in the thick of it? Fullan’s change theory addresses the fact that with most big changes, or new initiatives, you should expect and plan for an implementation dip. This dip would fall in the middle times of many plans. How often do leaders make a strategic, focused plan to address the implementation dip so that the initiative doesn’t fall apart or lose steam?

The middle is where we also tend to forget to provide feedback. Both positive and constructive feedback about the work- the process- the effort- are important to continued success. Leaders would be wise to remember to appreciate the efforts of their teams as much in the middle as they do at the beginning and end, to celebrate the changes.

CCC licensed work by www.meem.com.au

CCC licensed work by
http://www.meem.com.au

I am capturing these thoughts for a reminder to myself and other leaders: honor the middle times. Celebrate the work before, during and afterwards!

 

  • How do you honor the middle times?
  • How do you plan for the implementation dip?
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#30 Summer Days Wrap Up

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Amy's Reflections

Throughout the month of June I participated in a daily photo challenge called #30summerdays (check out the hashtag on Twitter or Instagram to see more!).  If you missed my first two posts on this topic, you can see my Photo Challenge, Week 1 and my summer photos posts to catch up.

staples.com

staples.com

Here are some of the pictures I took for the end of the month:

Sunday morning routine

Sunday morning routine

Say Cheese!

Say Cheese!

Happy Playlist

Happy Playlist

Favorite sandals

Favorite sandals

 

Safari Park on Saturday

Safari Park on Saturday

 

Friday Farmer's Market

Friday Farmer’s Market

Cool off with lunch at the bay

Cool off with lunch at the bay

 

Since the #30summerdays of June ended, I have been wishing and looking for another photo challenge.  I have saved a few ideas, but nothing struck a chord for this exact moment in time.  For now, I take random photos for fun and will occasionally share them here. Anyone know of a fun photo challenge?

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