Grit-lurking to learn more about the research behind GRIT

AP Annual Conference 2013 Keynote: True Grit-Angela Lee Duckworth

     Our Cluster is very interested in helping all of our students attain/develop the resilience and grit needed to gain admission and to be successful in college. To be honest, most of our students will attend college. We have high expectations for our students. We are not, however, a "No Excuses" school.
     Our student population, as a public open enrollment charter school, differs only from the local school districts in that we are  schools of choice. Our parents choose every morning to bring their students to our schools. We do also provide city bus passes. So, our parents have grit. They made the choice and stick to their choice daily for the educational benefit our Cluster can offer their children.
Our test scores tend to be above the state and regional scores.  We desire to continue to encourage our students to strive for their own personal success.
    LISA Academy Cluster, under the direction of APSRC, is implementing Dr. Jane E. Pollock's GANAG lesson planning format to use research-based neurological best practices with our students. We know that all students can learn-but that the students must do the work to achieve their dreams.  With this in mind, my mind was piqued by  Educational Leadership, Volume 71 Number 1 regarding resilience.  We need students who can stick to it, who can stay the course. The majority of our AP students have this ability. Our regular students, are quite a different story. They have learned to be persistent in ducking assignments. They have learned to function as a pack. Both of these are useful skills, but will not help these students achieve the fruitful life of their dreams.
     I began my journey into Grit by reading Angela Lee Duckworth's interview in Educational Leadership regarding grit. I committed the time to re-view the entire 45 minute AP Conference Keynote. It was well worth my time. In addition to the myriad data sets that we currently use to inform the educational decisions in our cluster, we also need to seriously implement  research-based psychological best practices with our students. This Keynote was well worth the 45 minutes. Our AP and regular teachers will view this video for professional development. Grit is defined by Duckworth as "perseverance and passion for long-term goals,"  which is exactly what our Cluster desires for our students.
     What is your school doing to encourage grit with your students? What are your best practices?
Please share.



Perkins-Gough, D. (2013, Sept). The significance of grit: a conversation with Angela Lee Duckworth. 
      Educational Leadership. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-
      leadership/sept13/vol71/num01/The-Significance-of-Grit@-A-Conversation-with-Angela-Lee- 
      Duckworth.aspx

First week of school 2013-A simple question.

I've have the privilege to serve as the Cluster of Director of Curriculum. Huh? I lead the development and implementation of curriculum across 5 campuses in Central Arkansas. I spend 2 1/2 days on each side the Arkansas River at LISA Academy. This is a thrilling time for LISA Academy. It is a thrilling time for me, personally. After 7 years on the West campus in a variety of positions, I am now straddling the river (perhaps unfortunate phrase) serving 5 schools on two different campuses.

Our first week continues to be inspiring. Our triad of passionate teachers, parents and students have made this first week of this year very satisfying as an educator. Our teachers on both sides of the river have spent the summer creating common units and common assessments so that LISA Academy can become even more data driven. Watching colleagues begin/continue to collaborate for the good of our students has been heartening.

Having worked in a 6-12 school for 8 years, I am especially enjoying spending time on our elementary campus. The smallest darlings and their parents kept me smiling all day on Monday.  I am truly blessed by this experience. Bouncing between similar, yet divergent campuses is a challenge, but it helps keep my eye on the importance of the Triad of passionate teachers, parents and students.

My question is simply. How does your campus keep the passion level high?

Summer Melt-alleviated through the use of Social Media

This spring, our HS alumni were asked to prepare to be peer mentors for the current seniors who were about to become graduates. Our graduates have a Facebook page and a Twitter account. The Facebook page was used for the post below.

"Peer Mentors for our class of 2013
Nationwide 40% of students intending to go college change their minds during the summer.(http://scholar.harvard.edu/files/bencastleman/files/castleman_page_-_summer_nudging_-_april_2013.pdf)
As the new graduates begin joining this group, please reach out to them and encourage them-expecially if they will attend your college. Help them maneuver through the process of beginning college.
They will begin joining the week of graduation."


As is the spirit of our students, several chirpped right up to volunteer to peer mentor our graduates who would attend their specific university. Today, after reading "Summer Melt" in the Ed.gov Blog, I posted the article for our graduates, and reminded them to check in on their fellow graduates. Together, our graduates can prevent the dreaded summer melt by supporting each other. 
 While we won't know the summer melt statistics for our graduates until the fall, I know that by simply encouraging them to reach out and support each other we've taken steps that will help. 

Some colleges are extremely proactive regarding summer melt.Hendrix College  @hendrixcollege continually sends mail (weekly! sometimes with small gifts!) to incoming students and parents and invites the parents to attend orientation-all in a huge effort to alleviate summer melt.


What steps do your schools take to minimize summer melt?

http://www.ed.gov/blog/2013/07/summer-melt/ by Alejandra Ceja 

Let's help each other have "Grump Free" days

 

  This morning, as I was wrapping up my morning perusal of my PLN on Twitter, I read a tweet from +Darin Johnston, @anIowaTeacher. He was looking for a bit of positive inspiration to help him have a "grump free" day.  While I am not typically a cheerleader type, I am more analytical and want to figure out a way to solve the problems in life; I do see the value in helping each other through the rough spots.

     So, I sent Darin a Voltaire quote. "Life is a shipwreck but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats. " ~Voltaire   In retrospect, this quote is rather negative. It implies that life is horrible, but we must try to enjoy it.  LIFE IS GREAT!  We need to support each other!
In the movie For a Few Good Men, Colonel Jessup, a foul-mouthed Marine Commander posted on the Cuban border, played brilliantly by Jack Nicholson said, "We look after one another or we die.”  In the world of education, teachers don't literally die as soldiers do. They do choose other occupations. Supporting and encouraging each other is simply part of what we do. We commiserate; we attempt to understand and encourage.

     So, after thinking about my initial response to Darin, I sent a positive song by Chelsea Basham.  "I Make My Own Sunshine" http://youtu.be/wJNFF_N5ngs
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/wJNFF_N5ngs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Because, if a little snail named Turbo can win the Indy 500-we can make our own sunshine!

Prospective teachers-helpful hints

      Prospective teachers this summer are calling to inquire, sending their resumes, and approaching our doors to inquire about available teaching positions.  Applicants! Please know this. We want to hire you!
Now, it is up to you to prove that you desire/deserve to be hired.  We know that your are nervous. It is completely natural to be nervous in your first job interview. Please look through the tips and resources below

     Some helpful interview tips from tonight's #ntchat

Megan van Deventer @megvandev suggested  writing down your teaching strengths & weaknesses... memories, words or specific accolades so you don't forget under pressure.
Sit up & sit forward, be engaged in the conversation. Make appropriate eye contact with everyone in the room.

David Hochheiser ‏@DavidHochheiser suggests if there is a student and/or a parent in the interview, ALWAYS ask them about there perspective on the year and hopes for next.

philgriffins ‏@philgriffins not all interviews have people with nametags. I write names down and refer to them by name when responding.

Join Lisa Dabbs @teachingwthsoul  for the New Teacher Twitter chat #ntchat on Wednesday
Visit her Evernote for a list of interview questions teachingwithsoul.com/so3j 

Visit   Jerry Blumengarten  +Cybrary Man @cybraryman page for Teacher interview resources

Visit @Teachersnet article "10 Tips to Help You Break to the Front of the Interview Pack!"
By Randee Kallison 

     It is my desire to provide help and inspiration to educators. We need to kindle our flames so that together we can be mighty.  Feedback is always desired!

Suzanne Rogers
Suzanne rogers 
@Rogers_suzanne
rogerssuzanne.edublogs.org

Together We Are Mighty!

     Together we are mighty! Yes, educators are mighty.   Amber Teamann,@8Amber8,  wrote about the importance of sharing and ended with "Blowing out someone’s candle doesn’t make yours shine any brighter."   She is so very correct. It is easy to snuff someone's candle even without intending to do so. Educators need to band together, not as a union, but in simply understanding that we are our own best support.

     I included Sitting Bull's quote, as a reminder that together we are  mighty. When we keep ourselves separate in our own rooms and worlds, we are easily broken. There are so many connected educators who are worn out and seeking to be rechallenged this summer. Daisy Dyer Duerr, @DaisyDyerDuerr , wrote about reminding her husband about her passion, "I simply smile and remind him it’s not a job honey, it’s a Passion. -  It is this passion that keeps us in our chosen career. It is also the same passion that can separate us and easily lead to burn out. 

     By connecting with each other f2f or through social media, we can become mighty! We are more united as an educational force through CCSS. We now have common standards and can better unite and help each other. We can lift each other and help our students. Let's ignite each other's passion for education.

     If you are worried about sharing, Theresa Gray, @TheresaGray, returned to blogging after a year and wrote , "This time - no pressure, no worries.  I'll post about what I am reading or learning.", as she pulled away from the exhaustion of the year. We can support our passions and encourage each other through sharing.

     Thank you Amber, Daisy and Theresa for reminding us all to glow, rechallenge and recommit, because Together we are mighty!

Suzanne Rogers

Be Inspired by  Amber, Daisy and Theresa

http://connectedprincipals.com/archives/8687

http://daisydyerduerr.com/summer-recharge-or-re-challenge/#sthash.ZH2Clg5t.dpuf 

http://grand-rounds.blogspot.com

Edu-reform and the Opt-Out movement

         I viewed the July 4th proclamation purporting to reclaim public education. The organizers/administrators of the Unitedoptout movement  are suggesting that parents, teachers and students join together to stop what they perceive as the corporate takeover of public education. Please do not be swayed by the pathos of their argument. It is merely a fearful response to change.

     The administrators define opt out as 
"Def: (verb)To opt out is to take any and all actions to end corporate reform of public education.

Actions include: Refusing to participate in high stakes testing which is the life’s blood of the destruction of public education."  High Stakes testing is not new. Students in countries around the world take tests that determine their future. In the USA, students are blessed to be able to take the tests (ACT and SAT) as many times as they can pay the fee. Students in other countries are not so blessed.  The administrators of Unitedoptout see the annual state exams and next generation tests as a threat to public education. WHY? The data from these exams will now be used as part of the evaluation of teacher effectiveness.

    The education world is on its way toward a data informed model. If we want to be perceived as professionals, it is time to allow the data to inform our decisions. We need to value the data. More importantly, we need to make the changes necessary to provide a better education for all of our students. Running fearfully away from the data, encouraging parents and students to opt-out is not a professional reaction. Professional educators need to stand united facing the data and do the work of changing to meet the needs of our students.

       

http://unitedoptout.com/the-opt-out-revolution-reclaiming-public-education/