Feedback…
I recently read an article titled Preventing the Feedback Fizzle by Susan M. Brookhart about the importance of quality feedback as it relates to student learning.
Brookhart notes, “If students do an assignment simply because you asked them to, that’s compliance. Compliance is reactive, not proactive. Of course, students should do what you ask, but they won’t learn much unless they understand why you’re asking.”
She articluates the need for the feedback to be:
- Based on a learning target
- Linked to clear criteria
- Timely
- Descriptive of the work, not the student personally
- Clear and specific
- Differentiated
- Followed by the opportunity to digest, understand, and use it
Reading her thoughts I was reminded that this is good information for how to give effective feedback to adults – in addition to students.
October is here…. time to look out for each other.
October is about more than fall colors, football, and a Tigers playoff run. For schools, it represents a transition period for both students and staff. The first few weeks of the school year students are (in general) excited to be returning to school. They are meeting or re-meeting people, joining exciting groups, and their classes look enticing.
In October, the work builds up. The amount of sleep goes down. The tests and exams begin. The exciting new projects can begin to feel like tedious tasks. Students often begin to feel overwhelmed. This is also a time when our new staff (and we have several this year) can begin to feel disillusioned by the extensive time commitment as they face the typical challenges of teaching for the first time.
Knowing this, it is up to us as parents and veteran staff to provide energy and support. We can help them by bridging the transition from the start of a new year, to developing the focused routine that will support teaching and learning. Keep your eye out for students and staff that are in need of support.
Strategic Planning Committee Application
SAS Community,
Below is an online application form if you are interested in being a part of the Saline Area Schools Strategic Planning Committee. If you prefer to download the form, click here.
The softer side of Saline High School
Saline High School is a beautiful school. To me, it represents how much the Saline community values education. Since it opened to students in 2004, it has served our students and community well. However, if there was an issue we have worked on it has been to add color and to develop some “softer” areas that students and staff could use for learning and to relax. Over the years we have added showcases, colorful murals, and banners.
This past week, we added some new furniture. The items were given to the school by Resource Office Interiors, LLC for us to develop an area for students to relax and to use as a collaborative learning space during the school day. I am excited to learn more about how our students and staff use this area.
Principal Julie Helber noted in her weekly memo to staff, ”
The furniture was installed on Thursday after school and the students that were waiting in the school for a variety of reasons were ecstatic and thankful. Many students asked, “What is this for?” I replied, “It is for you.” They would then ask, “Is it permanent?” When I told them that the furniture was for them and it was permanent, they were extremely thankful. I watched as they texted their friends, took pictures, and Tweeted their excitement about this new space. As I observed the students in the space, watching their reactions, trepidation, and uncertainty about this new space fascinated me. Some wondered if they should use the space, others just looked and moved on to sit at the cafeteria tables. This small space created a place where students felt appreciated and trusted. Throughout the day, students were thankful for providing this space for them. I am continually amazed at the caliber of student we are fortunate to have at Saline High School.
Next time you are at the high school, be sure to check out the area on the east side of the Commons, near the Media Center.
Off and running….
We are a little over two weeks into the school year and things are running smoothly. In visiting school buildings, it is obvious students are applying themselves and staff are focused on making this a great school year. For the first time in a several years, we welcomed several new teachers to the district. They include:
Natasha Boysal, Heritage Special Education Teacher
Matt Ceo, Middle School Social Studies
Madelyn Clark, High School English & Middle School French
Dean Garbarz, Pleasant Ridge Quest
Lindsay Guenther, High School Special Education Teacher
Sheri Horwitz, High School English
Sarah Krzecowski, Young Adult Special Education Teacher
Terri Pickett, Harvest Social Worker
Terri Redding, Heritage Special Education
Kristy Terech, Harvest 3rd Grade Teacher
Nicole Tucci, Heritage Special Education Teacher
Joe Welton, Pleasant Ridge Physical Education Teacher
A couple of quick notes:
- Oktoberfest will be held in downtown Saline on September 28 & 29. Look for numerous school groups participating in the festival.
- Homecoming is Friday, October 5th at 7:00pm at Hornet Stadium. The Hornets take on the Ann Arbor Huron River Rats.
Welcome Back
SAS Community,
Welcome back! I am very excited to be starting the school year. During the 2012-2013 school year, we will continue to focus on our mission to equip all students with the knowledge, technological proficiency, and personal skills necessary to succeed in an increasingly complex society. Our primary focus is on improving the academic achievement of all students in the Saline Area School District, with the understanding that we must help ALL students reach their full potential.
This year we will be working to update and refine our Strategic Framework, which is made up of five goals:
Goal #1
All Students will acquire the essential skills and knowledge to meet or exceed standards in reading, writing, and mathematics by the end of Grade 3.Goal #2
All students will acquire the essential skills to be learners and leaders in an ever-changing 21st Century global society.Goal #3
Strengthen family-school relationships and continue to expand civic, business, higher education, and community partnerships that support improved student achievement.Goal #4
Enhance a positive work environment that promotes student and employee well being, satisfaction, and positive morale.Goal #5
District shall establish short-term financial stability and long-term fiscal solvency.
We will keep you informed through conversations, newsletters, websites, forums, open houses, and phone messages.
I look forward to seeing you in our schools.
Sincerely,
Scot Graden
Planting Shade Trees….
Earlier today we had our annual “Welcome Back” event for all Saline Area School staff in the High School Performing Arts Center. It’s the one time a year when all of our staff are in one place. It is an opportunity to recognize the staff that have reached a milestone with their years of service to the Saline community. It is also an opportunity to look at the new faces that we welcome today and to consider the impact they will have on the students that come through our doors on Tuesday. It was also a chance to thank all of the year round staff – Buildings & Grounds, Clerical, Technology, Business & Human Resource Services, Community Education and Administration for their work getting ready for the new year.
I spoke to the staff about a saying that I learned from my grandfather many years ago. He used to say, “A great person plants shade trees that they will never sit under.” As a staff, whether we recognize it or not, we are planting these trees. We have the opportunity to inspire our students and instill in them the desire to be lifelong learners. We may not ever know the full extent of their accomplishments – but we must deliberately set out to help each child reach their potential.
I also reminded staff that we are planting trees for the staff that are yet come. We are fortunate that those who came before us planted the trees that we benefit from today. What we do today and moving forward will have an affect on those who come after us. There is a tremendous amount of talent within the Saline Area Schools staff – we need to make sure we are focused on investing in our students and each other.
It was a chance for all of us to renew our commitment to the profession we have chosen. The start of the year presents an opportunity to sharpen our focus on what is important… on “why “ we are here. We are here to meet the needs of ALL of our students…. and to help each student reach their fullest potential.
I am looking forward to facing new challenges and seizing new opportunities – and to being the 2012-2013 school year!
Pursuing Less
I recently read a blog post called the, The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. It explored the idea of why successful people and organizations don’t always become very successful. One explanation laid out was what the post termed “the clarity paradox”:
Phase 1: When we really have clarity of purpose, it leads to success.
Phase 2: When we have success, it leads to more options and opportunities.
Phase 3: When we have increased options and opportunities, it leads to diffused efforts.
Phase 4: Diffused efforts undermine the very clarity that led to our success in the first place.Curiously, and overstating the point in order to make it, success is the catalyst for failure.
The ‘clarity paradox” could have been developed specifically for the education profession, where we frequently talk about “initiative fatigue” and seem to roll out new program after new program. It is most often driven by the desire to provide the best opportunity for success to our students. As we adapt to new government regulations, new curriculums, new instructional strategies and more – it is important for us to consider the need to eliminate an activity before adding a new one.
As the school year begins, this post was a nice reminder to stay focused and to remember that just because we “can” do something…. it doesn’t always mean we should.
Bus Safety
With school starting in 8 days, it is time to get ready to have school buses back on the road.
On August 20, 2012, The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) released the final results of the 2012 survey on the number of drivers who broke the law (and put children in danger) by driving past the stop-arm of a stopped school bus with red lights flashing.
“The second national stop-arm running count found 88,025 violations in a day, up from last year’s count of 76,685.The increase in violations counted comes despite the fact that there were fewer school bus drivers involved in this year’s survey: 99,930 bus drivers in 2012, compared to 111,914 in 2011.”
Here is a video a 90 second video produced by the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District that reminds us all about bus safety:
Leading from the Classroom
Leadership is important. Last spring we talked about the need to select the right leader for Saline High School. As the November election approaches, we will again be choosing persons to be our leaders. We talk about developing leadership skills in our students. However, we seldom talk about how important teacher leaders are to the success of a school district. The ability of teachers to be leaders is essential to students, to schools, to communities and to the teaching profession.
Teachers often have formal and informal leadership roles within a building or district. They become leaders by being respected by their peers, by being approachable and using their influence to improve learning environment for students. When I think about the teacher leaders in Saline, they are student focused. They understand that a collaborative culture where they share their knowledge can have a significant impact on student achievement. On the administration front, we need to give teachers opportunities to participate in decision making at both the school and district level. Using the expertise that already exists in our teachers will only serve to improve our results.
As we bring on new staff, the role of our teacher leaders has never been more important.
Scot Graden's Blog 