Finishing up What Makes Schools Great

Fast Llamas,  

It's Memorial Day, the unofficial start for summer and in our district the last week of school.  I have lots of friends who work for other districts and they have been out for a week now.  Time flies!  Make plans to deliberately make the most of every moment this summer, even if that means watching The Young and the Restless!  

I have been meaning to complete Doug Curry's article, Great Secondary Schools and I will today.  Doug is so good at reminding us that middle school and high school kids still need consistency, systems and relationships in order to have a sense of safety and belonging.  Don't make assumptions, just because they are older that will automatically just, "know" how to behave in the hallways, or how to interact respectfully with adults when approached, it is our role to teach students beyond our content.  

How about this from @casas_jimmy

We only have our students for three more days, what will you do to make those days count?  This is an important time to model excellent behavior.  To teach how to "behave when you are transitioning and probably will not see these people for the next 10 weeks or at all".  How will you keep the students engaged, happy, behaved these last three days when some think they have nothing to lose?  

Doug Curry says that in order to have "Great Secondary Schools" you need these elements.  And, when you read them, you will be thinking, "yes!", the next step is up to you to put them into action.

What makes schools great:

1.  Belief - Teachers will not look away at behaviors, but will lovingly step in with consistency students need in order to teach students the ways of success

2.  Relationships - Teachers will get to know as many students names in their building as possible and interact with these students in the hallways, in their classrooms, in the cafeteria and at dismissal

3. Expectations - "Middle school and high school students deserve a school that is both physically and emotionally safe. It is not their job to create it and maintain it. It is the job of the adults. And it is the job of the adults to have the courage and confidence to step in and intervene when students are not living up to the accepted standards of the school." D. Curry

We teach them how to act — how to respond appropriately, how to be kind to others, have empathy and integrity.  We teach them to love school and to love their teachers. We help them and their families have a plan to go from middle school to high school to their future.

Do you know what your dream school looks like?  Can you picture it in your mind?  If you don't, spend some time thinking about it and picturing it in your mind.

Reflective Questions:

- what do passing period look and sound like?  are they loud with happy kids? where are the teachers and administrators?  What are teachers and admin doing while kids walk to class? Do you feel safe?  Do students feel safe?

 - once the bell rings what does it look and sound like? are the hallways clear?  when you see a kid, do they have a pass? if they don't what happens? are students in their classrooms with meaningful and engaging learning from bell to bell?

Can you and do you understand the power of the herd?  In great schools you can sense the feeling of efficacy. We are not powerless. Our schools will be whatever we want them to be. It takes effort, it takes courage and it takes confidence.   But, together, we are stronger than being alone.  If you see a slow llama, help them get faster, in doing so, the whole herd gets faster and that makes our school great.

Until next time...