A New Year, A New Beginning

Martha Layne Collins High School

A New Year, 
A New Beginning

As we start another journey together, the excitement is tangible.  That buzz will really begin to take off this week as Seniors and Juniors come in to take care various items.  This was a short summer; but we will be ready to start what is lining up to be an amazing year at MLCHS.




With SCPS' new Strategic Leadership Plan in full implementation mode, there are many opportunities for which we must be ready.  As a teacher who chooses to be in Shelby County, we will model "Inspired Learning."  We will demonstrate "Inspired Leading."  We also must live an "Inspired Life" because we are doing something we love!  So how will you model these?  By being you!  You are an amazing team of teachers!  As we gather together for the last Leader In Me training on August 4-6, let's arrive with a mindset that is open to how this can empower our students as we intentionally develop our students' GRIT.

Over the summer, I took some time to reflect on where we have been, where we are now and where we are going, it has become apparent that we, as a school, must do the following this year:

1. Model and Celebrate Risk Taking
2. Competitively Collaborate
3. Be proud of where WE are, but know WE have a way to go
4. Share!
5. Build Relationships Upon Relationships, Then Create More Relationships 

Too often, teachers do not feel safe to take risks.  If we are moving forward (AND WE ARE MOVING FORWARD) we are going to have to be free to take some new risks (10 Things a Tech Savvy Teacher Does).  We will always be about relationships!  It's who we are!  But have you thought about how you will teach "happiness"?  The definition of innovation includes the word "different."  We will be looking for and celebrating those who are trying "different" things with their students, not just in technology.  

Follow @MikePaul on Twitter, Google+, or just check out his blog: PikeMallTech.com
Follow @MindShiftKQED on Twitter, Google+ or just check out their blog at:  http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/

Upcoming Dates at MLC:
Aug. 4-6     in the LMC     Leader in Me from 8:30-3:30
Aug. 6-7     offsite             Link Crew and Student Council Leadership Retreat
Aug. 8        at MLCHS      8th Grade Orientation
Aug. 7        on your own    Safe Schools Online Training (Can be done anytime before school starts)
Aug. 11      at MLCHS      TPGES:  Developing Your Growth Goal/Data Teams/B2SB  12:00-7:00
Aug. 12      at MLCHS      Opening Day 8:00 AM
Nov. 4        at MLCHS      Data Retreat

Bonfire Hearts

Last week in our faculty meeting, we took a look at our stated Mission.  I cannot think of a better time to do so: midway through the year when things are really rolling and we are all getting ready for midterms while also trying to get ready for Christmas . . . sure, why not this time of year.  A time when we need to stop and reflect about where we are and where we are going.

As I was reading through teacher's postit notes of the five attributes they wanted to be readily recognizable in a graduate from our school, I was encouraged by what I saw.  They quickly listed things like, confident and ready, courageous and secure, thoughtful and compassionate, as well as test ready and proficient.

I was encouraged by this because these are the things I want for our kids at Collins High School. I want them to be intelligent, but not just in academia.  I want them to be talented, but not just in the arts.  I want them to be successful, but not just in sports.  I want them to be ready, but not just for college.  I want them to have "grit," to know how to overcome short term failures.  I want them to be empathetic, to love their fellow man.  But for this to happen, our kids must believe that there is something great for them at the end of it all . . . they must "EXPECT THE GREATER REWARD!" Their hearts have to be as big as bonfires . . . but they need a spark to light that bonfire.  That's where we come in!

I heard a question this weekend that asked, "How does a craftsman explain his vision to a child?"  To extend the analogy to that of a common woodworker, a maker of toys, let me paraphrase for you something I recently read:  

The toy maker, in his wisdom, does not give the children a perspective that they cannot fathom.  Therefore it is rare for the children to clearly see the forest for the trees, or the trees for the lumber, or the lumber for the wooden toy.   The toy maker does not fret over explanations; he does not veer from his course.  For he alone has the perspective of what his creation will reveal.     

Our students cannot fathom ALL that is out there for them.  Our teachers were put in this position, in this school, because they help kids dream.  So we must encourage them, challenge them, love them, push them, nurture them, correct them . . . not for our benefit, but their own.  As teachers at Collins your heart must be a bonfire, radiating with light and heat, ready to ignite another and inspire a dream.

As we go through this process of creating our mission, let's remember that we are teaching the whole child.  We want them ready and believing they can overcome any adversity, pass any test, play any instrument, win any contest . . . because their hearts are on fire, because they are Titans!

Monday Memo 12-1-2013

If you want to see a group of teenagers live out this quote, get to Bowling Green on Saturday afternoon at 4:00 EST.  Something special is getting ready to happen!  As we go through this Championship Week, let's ALL embrace this momentum and channel this positive energy toward propelling our school forward.  We will have a pep rally on Friday afternoon.  Go Titans!

Instructional Focus:  Our focus for this month is goal setting.  We begin this week by focusing on our daily goals in our classrooms . . . our Learning Targets.  At MLCHS, the way we do things requires students to know what they are to learn before the lesson begins and prove that they learned it before they leave the room.  We do not "fly blind" in the classroom.  We will be defining what a target is and is not during our time together on Tuesday.  Prior to Tuesday, take a look at this article from Educational Leadership:  

Midterms:  Talk to your students about the importance of studying for your midterm.  Encourage study groups in any way you can.  Remember, you are teaching them how to prepare for your midterm.  Many have never done this before and need to learn this from you.

Grades:  Parents will be checking grades this week.  Carve out some time to get your grades fully updated.  Remember, we do not penalize students with an excused absence.  TableTop Wednesdays should be assigned to students with missing work.  Is your grade book a "zero free" zone?

Quote of the Week:  "It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it."  -Lou Holtz

I've seen so many signs in the past two weeks that we are moving!  We are carrying the load effectively and efficiently.  There is real momentum here at Collins.  We need to take some time to celebrate that in the past two weeks:

• Our XC teams earned two state championships.
• Our 8th grade KYA team had a bill that made it to the Governor's desk
• Our 8th grade KYA rep was named Governor for the next year
• Our Cheerleaders advanced to Nationals
• Our Academic Team continues to roll in matches
• Our arts programs are not only growing in size, but producing great works
• Our language department has students really thinking about working in other countries
• Our JROTC program . . . wow.  Not only did they put on a great Veterans Day Program, but they also are providing color guard for many groups around the area.
• Our FFA is hosting the regional leadership conference . . . again
• We took 15 ACT packets to the bus lot offering them to juniors on the last day to sign up for the December ACT test.  10 of them signed up.
• We already have 100 seniors College or Career Ready.  Some are both.  

Our programs will continue to grow as long as they are led by good people who are doing things for the right reasons.  What we are seeing is evidence of great kids being around great adults for four years.  

CCR:  The numbers shared by Mrs. Settles last week are EXCITING!  Collins HS saw twenty four more students prove that they were college ready by passing the Compass test in either math, reading or English.  Some of these students now have the academic portion of their Career Readiness attempts as well.  This is a great number; but more impressive are the overall numbers that moved a step closer to proving "readiness."

These students who have not made it have a very clear target.  They can take some time to reflect on one or two things they must do between now and the next assessment to improve.  But their target remains the same.  It has not moved.   They can get there.  We can help them.

(Junior teachers, now would be a great time to remind your kids of the way to avoid the CCR math and reading courses)

Goal Setting:  With four weeks to go in the semester, what are your goals with your students?  Have you talked with them about your Midterm exam?  8th and 9th grade teachers are setting MAP growth goals with their kids.  I was in a math teacher's room watching this happen.  The students are focused.  Again, they are given a clear target and they are shooting for it.

Faculty Meeting:  On Tuesday, we will meet briefly in the Library before going to our breakout sessions.  The focus of our time will be growing in our different areas that each of you selected.  Make this time productive for all be being totally engaged in the process of growth.  We can all get a little better each day!

College Application Week:  The goal is 100%.  Figure out who the outliers are and communicate.  We will find someone who has that connection that will help seal the deal.  Even if they are going straight to the workforce, getting them in some continuing education courses makes great sense.  Let's help them figure this out.

Student Reflection

Monday Memo 11/10/13

Great Quote:  "We assume that reflection is an inherent ability in all of us and that students do this regularly; the reality is that students either don't reflect on their own learning or come to the wrong conclusions."

Our learning on Tuesday was bolstered by the comments and questions offered during the session.  YOU ARE AN AMAZING GROUP OF TEACHERS.  The encouragement you offered each other will allow us all to grow in a way that will build our students' confidence in their thinking.

The reflection time that you are requiring is habit forming.  The more students do it under your guidance, the more they will do it on their own later.  I watched a geometry teacher on a Friday afternoon get her students to reflect on their new understanding of postulates and angle relationships.  As she walked around the room encouraging and praising, she saw some misconceptions and was able to correct them before students left for the weekend.

As we work through the key elements of lesson design (workshop model), let's ALL keep practicing the art of getting our students to reflect on their learning for the previous 45 minutes of class.

Here is one more quick link on reflection:
http://whatedsaid.wordpress.com/2011/06/11/10-ways-to-encourage-student-reflection-2/

Monday Memo 1-1-12

Monday Memo 1-1-12  Just click on the title to watch our Monday Memo to start the year!

STEM Fair Highlights