Getting things in place

Working on an assessment calendar hardly seems interesting but hte logistics of it have taken me a little while to understand and get the hang of. Today I was back at a school I have been at the past two years although last year was the only year that I had substantive time at. Togther with the math coach and math consultant we tried to replicate what we needed for the year. I couldn't work out why it was so difficult last year and now I know why- some people reinvent the wheel every year rather than draw on what they had done and scheduled for the year before- eliminating things that didn't work and adjusting as you go.
It reminds me of the yearly planning where they plan for the next year- the whole year rather than an outline and then use planning time to genuinely plan units of study. Then throughout the year if people reviewed what had worked and what didn't work they could use tht in the planning session the following year. But no they have to have all the mini lessons outlined- what happens if the kids work through the ideas faster/slower than they think they will? What happens if the poor kids are doing the same thing year in year out?
By getting our calendar of assessments in place hopefully we will be able to have data that can be discussed and studied and developed to meet the needs of kids and teachers.

Changing roles

It was a bit of a disaster really. I went back to one of the schools I'd worked in last year and had a meeting with the new principal. It was to be a day's work which meant I could write my log and claim the work. Unfortunately there was miscommunication about what I was doing and what I could do there on this particular day and she left me waiting for 2 and a half hours.

However it made me think about the changing roles one experiences and the things that one must put in place when moving from Assistant Principal to Principal. It is complex when one moves from the AP role to the Principal role in the same school.
I've done it and I know some of the pitfalls and the difficulties.
Sandra (the name I've given her here) is really battling with this
The mind set is different when you are principal- it needs to be and is forced on you.
There are a whole lot of questions and situations one needs to deal with that may seem petty at the time but involve fast thinking and quick response. Things like:
Ho do you deal with people who are accustomed to being always able to stop you and get a response about the little things? Things like their supplies are not in their room- it is the principal's role to ensure they have them but the nitty gritty of that is the AP's role and they are still seeing you as an AP.

Workshop planning

It is uncommon to have the opportunity to jointly plan or think about a workshop they may be given.
A group of consultants met to plan our workshop for schools across the river. The meeting was held at the office with one of the Education Directors and the curriculum manager from the city.
It is a danger that instead of a racehorse we'll end up with a camel but I think the plan for the two hour workshop that is repeated three time across the course of the day will be a good one.
Having said that I have yet to get my planning done. Just because our planning gave us the skeleton and scheduling of the workshop it didn't give us what we would use or necessarily say.
My task now is to put together the writing pieces I want to use as the work is to be centred on using mentor texts for writing as well as a focus on the writers notebook.

Essentail organizing

It may well not be essential for any one else but for me it is. I need to have my head organized and my paperwork in some semblance of order so that I can get through the day and the school year. So today was spent puttering around doing some of that. I had no appointments in schools or arrangements made to meet with schools.
I started on my calendar but until I meet with all schools I can't "firm up" many of the dates until I particularly talk with them and one school more than the rest as I have already mucked up my own organization of days.
But I have managed to organize some of my colour coding for the year! Very important. I have decided on the colour each workplace (so far0 will be on my calendar and have set up the matching folders and notebooks with the same colour scheme. Trivial I know but it makes getting everything together in a rush in the morning as I know there will be, easier.
I still need to write the directions to the schools in the notebooks. I have them in my diary (did a quick double check on Monday that I getting off at the right station!) but having them in the notebook too will be an added advantage I think.
I should also get a better contact list in a prominent place in my diary.

Data gathering

A meeting at the office focused on the new accountability processes. The reports provided to schools and the manner in which they can be interpreted and used was the focus.
The steps I need to use to develop greater skill in the area need to be developed. I strongly believe that one learns by teaching so I need to plan to use what I have learned with one of my schools. The most appropriate school would be the one I met with on Monday.
Steps I need to do between now and Tuesday are:
-to develop a meeting plan for discussion with the principal
-develop a schedule for the implementation of the plan
- use the plan in my first or next meeting with her and adapt given her feedback on what she wants and needs

Looking back on that there is a bit of work to do!

“Who dares to teach must never cease to learn.” –John Cotton Dana

A new year begins....

It's odd to think that the school year begins in September having spent my entire classroom teaching life and my life as a principal with the school year commencing (logically I think) at the end of January. One of the big differences between Australia and New York City- it's possibly the rest of the world really.
Hopefully this blog will continue throughout the year and these reflections on my work as an Educational Consultant will also enhance my work.
Today was a freebie for one of my schools, I think I should maintain anonymity with/for them although in this particular case it is a great place to be.
Meeting with the principal was the major reason for being at the school, unfortunately the finance meeting that was happening when I got there meant that my time had to be later. This aspect of the principal's role is one I don't miss! Having to be available at any time for meetings, having your head around all aspects of the school's budget, having to remember who needed what and why and finding ways to get it for them. But then perhaps that is the major thing principal's are for?!
Eventually we got on to talking about the work and support needed having spent ages editing the school's handbook. A typical activity and necessity for the beginning of the year.