reflection 6

I enjoy utilizing what I've learned in this course in my internship
course. Last night we discussed several techniques to use in order to
improve the skills of teachers. The acronym COWBIRDS flitted through
my mind today while orienting a new teacher to our school, who has
been in the field for many years. Though she has a vast skill set she
isn't comfortable with the newer teaching methodology and
automatically reverted to her comfort zone. While talking to her there
were moments where she seemed almost stubborn in her ways, yet she
continued to ask for insight and more sessions. Then it dawned on me
that if I wanted her to succeed I would need to provide her with
opportunities to observe other teachers and that I would need to
observe her and provide constructive criticism. I will also connect
her with a buddy who she can discuss her concerns with and is more
familiar with the grade level.

Reflection

The job search exercise that we completed yesterday was very informative. Looking for principal and vice principal jobs helped me focus on what I am looking for in a job as well as what qualities and qualifications schools are looking for in their administrators. It also helped me realize how a principal really is a "big fish in a small bowl."

I also learned a lot from looking at a school's report card. It was very interesting to learn about AYP (ADEQUATE yearly progress!). I enjoyed learning the "ins" and "outs" of the system.

I thought it was wonderful that we learned through hands on experiences instead of through a lecture. I enjoyed thinking critically about these topics and formulating questions that directed and guided the lesson.

Thanks for another wonderful lesson.

                                                                        Reflection from 6/27

The information on the job search through the state ed website was a good resource to have when searching for jobs. However, the most rewarding comment for me was professor Monheit's acknowledgement that administrators can so easily become detached from reality, often forgetting what it means having to teach a class. His suggestion of having administrators teach or co-teach with other teachers allows for administrators to put things in perspective when dealing with particular issues with some of the teachers.  At the same time, in the case of co-teaching, it would keep others teachers on their toes, thus improving the quality of instruction in that particular class.  

 

refection on Wed.6/27

Thank-you for the tips on building capacity of our future staff.I never heard the acronym of cowbirds before. I hope to utilize it.Thank-you for building capacity within our own class during our sessions. The recommendations, resources, and hands-on activities are broadening our horizons.Realizing that one needs to be aware of the standards of measurement in high accountability positions is a critical piece.

Don't fight the culture really resonated with me. Tolerance and  understanding is a two-way street in developing  a relationship.If you can move past their dress you can enrich their academic growth . 

reflections fron session 6/27/12

Last nights session was interesting. I enjoyed how we could look up the report cards of any school in the systrem.

I also enjoyed the presentation that was given last night- for we had a lively conversation on bullying which is a very heated topic nowadays.

Reflection- class on June 27, 2012

Reflection- class on June 27, 2012

The websites that were provided regarding job searching were a starting point in terms of looking for future opportunities.  Thank you for providing the "starting point!"  Next, the "reality" regarding school building leaders being "out-of-touch" with the classroom environment is an important one.  I like that aside from just stating the problem, two ways to combat the problem were discussed by the professor.  I personally appreciate the fact this class is "solution oriented!"  In terms of my future professional practice, I appreciate the information regarding "job searching." However, I feel that I first need to get through some more of my School Building Leadership schooling and my internship requirements before actually beginning my personal job search! 

reflection #6

Looking up report cards on the NYSED website was very interesting. After learning all about the recent pushes for AYP and principal accountability, it made things real to see how this data is really recorded and made public! Test scores are no joke, and principals have a tough job on their hands helping their teachers balance "teaching for the test" and keeping the students interested, motivated, and learning other important skills and concepts....teachers need to feel that their performance is not only going to be judged on the test scores, and it is vital that principals get to observe their teachers so they have more to go on other than just test scores.  

Reflection

Tonight's class was a very hands on way to understand how schools are rated and how data is analyzed. I also appreciated your honesty about how hard and how much pressure it is to be a building leader.

Sent from my iPhone

wed night class

Tonight we took some time to explore job opportunity websites. I found it hard to navigate those websites and I didn't find any interesting jobs in the areas where I was looking. We also looked up a report card on the nysed website. I found it interesting to compare the ethnic groups scores in the various subjects. I would be interested in seeing this kind of data for our local, jewish schools.

Thank you for tonight's class.

Reflection 6/25/12

Reflection 6/25/12
On Monday it was interesting to understand a meeting leaders perspective on how to run a meeting. Our attention was drawn to the tone of the meetings participants. I learned that by listening to the participants tone, you can become aware that it is time to redirect the group's attention.
Also, hearing your perspective on copy machines and supplies was useful to apply in my school environment.tWhat I learned from the speech we heard and the group activity was interesting. What I am unsure of is how we are suppose to apply this information to our future leadership positions.

Fwd: Reflection #5

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Shlomo Ehrman <shloimtova@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jun 27, 2012 at 11:33 AM
Subject: Reflection #5
To: neil monheit <reflectionsedsa535@gmail.com>


I thought you really demonstrated the effectiveness of certain strategies when speaking to others in a public forum by playing Martin Luther's speech. It was a creative and interactive way to gain our attention and give us food for thought. As a principal, it would be extremely helpful to master the art of persuasive speaking as much as possible. Making policy or curriculum changes are usually difficult for teachers to buy into - change is tough, and most people are resistant to it, even if the changes make sense and benefit the students. The way in which such changes are presented can make a big difference in how amenable staff will be towards the changes.   

Reflection #5

I thought you really demonstrated the effectiveness of certain strategies when speaking to others in a public forum by playing Martin Luther's speech. It was a creative and interactive way to gain our attention and give us food for thought. As a principal, it would be extremely helpful to master the art of persuasive speaking as much as possible. Making policy or curriculum changes are usually difficult for teachers to buy into - change is tough, and most people are resistant to it, even if the changes make sense and benefit the students. The way in which such changes are presented can make a big difference in how amenable staff will be towards the changes.   

reflection

Listening to MLK's speech was a real learning experience in communication.  It was amazing to see how effective communication techniques really have an impact on the listening audience.   As a school leader, you are often called upon to address parents, teachers, students, community members or school boards.  Knowledge of good communication skills is therefore crucial if you want your message to resonate with those whom you are addressing.     The "sticky notes" made its appearance once again, and proved its usefulness.  Thank  you Prof. Monheit for  sharing effective management techniques  such as having a student move sticky notes and paying attention to the noise level in the classroom when working in small groups.  Thank you Sarah and Yocheved for the informative presentation.  You addressed some very important factors in communication.

Reflection

The activity with MLK's speech was thought provoking. For starters, I never actually  listened to his entire speech this was the first time. It was interesting to pull out the elements that made his speech so successful. For an administrator, public speaking is a big part of the job (much to my dismay!). When writing a speech, administrators should be careful to include these elements to ensure they reach their audience and be successful. I liked the use of sticky notes during the activity. It's a great method to use in the classroom as it allows the teacher to interact with the students as the information is being shared instead of having to write with her back to the class. It was interesting to hear that parents in a special ed school would not allow volunteers due to confidentiality. I never thought that bringing volunteers into a school can become an issue. It was a real eye opener for me. Little things that may seem so simple can become a real issue to parents. As an administrator you really have to consider all angles before implementing a seemingly innocent program.

reflection

While reflecting upon last class, three points came to mind. First, I really enjoyed the MLK audio exercise. By listening to his speech I clearly saw how he used language in a very persuasive manner.  Taking notes about how he used his language showed me what elements an influential speaker uses in his or her speech to reach the crowd.  I hope to use some of those characteristics when speaking publically as a school building leader.  Also, I found your tip of how to identify a successful meeting to be extremely accurate. When observing our class working in groups, it was evident when they were finished working, or if they wanted to continue.   

response to a post

I would like to respond to the reflection on confidentiality and being
sensitive to the needs of parents with children with special needs.
Thank you for mentioning some very good points. Maybe it would be a
good idea to change many educators mindset towards special needs
children before we focus on the parents or the community at large. At
the very least teachers shouldn't associate special needs with a stigma
but I have encountered to many teachers and therapists who surprisingly
have a very negative and pessimistic view of special ed and special
needs children. Perhaps professional developement and community events
that showcase the achievements of special needs children will make
people aware of the possibilites if a child is given the right
accomodations.

I will definitely be using the efficient way to write a speech as Prof.
Mohnheit mentioned. Paying attention to the noise level,chunking, and
generally showing how to run a meeting was demonstrated so perfectly.
The I Have a Dream speech really got everyone engaged in the class.

reflection

The more we use the sticky note method in class the more I appreciate its effectiveness.  I find that it gives everyone the opportunity to share their ideas in an organized and short amount of time.  I also like that it forces everyone to participate.  When brainstorming as a group there are typically the same people sharing their ideas.  However the sticky note method requires everyone's participation and everyone is required to think.

 

The issue of confidentiality was discussed in regard to volunteers helping out at the program.  There were many opinions thrown out about society and that the school can not encourage parents to worry about the stigma.  I was really disturbed by the insensitivity that some of us expressed.  The pain of having a child with special needs is tremendous.  There is a process which parents must go through before coming to the acceptance stage.  I strongly believe that providing a safe environment where parents can learn to trust, and where they will hopefully begin to see their child's strengths and better understand their weaknesses will help parents through the process until they learn , come to accept and share.  We can not speed up the process by force we must encourage and support at the parents pace and within their comfort zone. Parents typically do come through at the end. For some  its more painful then for  others. Cuz as we know parents of special needs children have their special needs as well.

---

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reflection on Mon. 6/25

A good speaker cares  about his content and his delivery. Martin Luther King had both. As a teacher I have learned that pausing, to give my students time to process info is important.Repeating or rephrasing , if done properly is not boring but is a method of emphasis. One must also be sensitive to the reaction of the audience.A communicator has to be willing to shift gears or even drop what he prepared if he feels that he is losing his audience.

As much as we encourage everyone's involvement it was good hearing the prof. say again that a leader shares decisions but not the entire process.A leader has to take the authority and lead. Not everyone should have a say about everything.

Reflection from 6/20

The reflection activity on MLK's speech was rewarding. While I understand that the point of this activity was more about communication and bringing a point across as a leader, it indirectly developed another reflection in me. Although I have heard and read his speech in the past, I was never placed in a position where I had to analyze it or hear other people's thoughts and reflections on the speech. I believe it is particularly interesting to hear comments and thoughts from a segment of society that was not affected by the discriminations and lack of civil rights, addressed by Dr. King.  The use of the parking lot provided professor Monheit the opportunity to demonstrate a hands-on approach to an idea that he presented in the past, demonstrating its effectiveness.

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reflection

Last night we discussed two points that I'd like to address.

The concept and importance of the elevator pitch was mentioned. I found the concept very interesting. There have been times at work that I was placed in a position where I could have done the elevator pitch, but hesitated because I was caught off guard. I now realize how crucial it is to have some sort of mental script in mind and utilize it when applicable.

 During the Chapter 7 presentation, we discussed the importance of improving staff relations. One of the points highlighted, was to give employees information about what is going on in the school before they hear about it from the public. This cannot be stated enough!! I recall a situation that happened a few years ago highlighting this issue.  I was chatting with my neighbor who was a teacher in my son's school.  I casually questioned why school was ending 2 days later than originally planned. It came as a complete shock to the teacher, she had absolutely no idea. Talk about embarrassment on several fronts!

reflection 5

• Don't turn your back to your teachers at a meeting to write on the board, rather ask someone to write out responses or let everyone write their responses on sticky notes and have a volunteer put them up.
• When making a speech, to ensure that your message is conveyed use repetition, metaphors and be passionate about your topic.
• Create a volunteer program, before bringing volunteers into your building.

Tonight's class

I really enjoyed the activity where we had to think about communication and students/teachers/parents and the greater public. Although the information presented was basic it was interesting to hear my colleagues's thoughts and ideas. I enjoyed listening to Martin Luther king's speech and feel that when I was listening to his speech I was trying to create more profound thoughts on it but I was not really being successful. It was interesting to listen to his dream and vision which he portrayed using smilies and metaphors and was able to deliver a message in a simple way

And were back

Thank you for your patience

Reflection

Wednesday's class was really interesting. I loved having your principal as a guest. It was great to be able to ask questions and learn about the public school system. Experience is definitely the greatest teacher and hearing about his was really informative. All my experiences have been in a Yeshivah so it was a real eye opener and gave me plenty of food for thought. Hearing him speak made me realize how huge the responsibility of a principal is. Principals are ultimately held accountable for everything that happens. I find that very scary. I also realize how important it is to have staff that you can trust, depend on and that have your back!

class 6.20 reflection

--

This class was extremely informative and gave me food for thought. I like what I heard about the budget. I also like what I heard about leadership management and delegation. The challenges that face a principal cause me to think, "Why do they want to be a principal." In addition, I enjoyed observing the self-confidence the principal exuded. I also found it interesting that "compliance" is most of the job with today's setup…

 

Administration

Phone: 718-951-1589

Fax: 718-307-6406

yochevedwasserman@gmail.com

reflection

This past class was extremely informative in many ways. Firstly, in the past, we've had professors who are retired PS principals; I find it refreshing learning from people who are currently an AP or principal. The idea of a principal rating is frightening. Principals are responsible for way more than they can handle. However, I like the outlook that your principal has: He focuses on improving the school, rather than focusing on what can go wrong in the school. As a school leader, I will work on maintaining that same attitude. Last, the chart of 4x of teachers is very accurate. When I thought of teachers whom I have worked with in the past, they definitely fit in to one of those categories.

Reflections on monday's class

I really enjoyed the activity where Rachel had to get us to stand up. What I took away from it was possibly not really what I was supposed to. As a supervisor you will probably end up with staff on yr team that however reasonable an instruction that you give might seem, there will always be someone who refuses to be obliging. It was really impressive to see how resourceful Rachel was yet we were united in our non compliance. It also made me think about how to rephrase my requests to my students. The activity where we had to find common ground with a picture of our choice was also interesting. It got me thinking because I wonder how much we would have said about ourselves had there not been the ice breaker picture? Thank you

Reflections For Wednesday 20th class

I really appreciated listening to our guest speaker. It was interesting to learn. How tenure works in the DOE. As someone who is looking to change jobs I am very excited for our next lesson where we will be learning how to utilize the information available on line to help us network. 5thank you

Reflection from 6/20

I enjoyed the presentation by your guest speaker. Hearing an honest (maybe too honest) viewpoint from a school leader is quite refreshing. I believe the Q &A session provided a hands-on perspective on day to day operation of a school. Graduate school serves mostly to prepare future leaders with a variety of methods and theories, but at the end of day, they stay as theories. The reality is that in order to be successful leaders, we must take a practical and common sense approach for running a successful school. On a side note (although very relevant) the mutual respect and overall dynamics between professor Monheit and his principal are not the norm and should not be taken for granted. It is imperative for a school principal to be able to develop a trusting relationship with his administration based on mutual respect, loyalty and belief on his immediate staff's abilities. These mutual feelings were very evident during the session.

The Danielson chart appears to be very practical and useful. While relatively concise, it covers all areas of teaching. I am looking forward to familiarizing myself with the entire chart and use it as a guide.    

Look another educational message

Learn about a flipped classroom;  Another way of communicating with students and families.
http://esheninger.blogspot.com/2011/11/flipped-classroom-explained.html?m=1

Reflection

Thank you for the guest speaker. It was a great way to get a clearer understanding of what being a principal is about. The practical way that the Danielson observation tool was discussed, made it clear and feasible for me to actually use it.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

reflection on Wed.6/20

Danielson's components of professional practice are a great way to inform good instruction.I believe that I have said on a previous post that I love rubrics. They clearly state criteria and ratings.The process of making a teacher more effective takes time and effort. We learned that a  leader should not state what should be changed. Rather the teacher is asked, once a problem is noted,how they could have done it differently. That way they get to "own' the solution.

Our class provides so many tips! The "buy the kid a pizza" really illustrated the need for clear communication.

The guest speaker was so chilled yet exuded a professional demeanor in executing his responsibilities.
What resonated with me was, even when correcting a teacher, more is gained by doing it privately, because even if you are totally right, the audience will say that their colleague was disrespected. I worked in a high school where the principal echoed the same sentiment about disciplining inappropriate students publicly.It was an eye-opener for me that faculty members at a meeting would jump to blame rather than accept the deserved response,   and move on. The interpersonal relations is a key factor. It is more effective to deal with non-compliance privately and avoid public confrontation and conflict.

Finally, I loved the link for summarization and  I plan on using the ideas with my students.

Two way communications Neil Monheit

As we discussed, it is important to establish two way symmetrical conversations with our publics.  Asking you to blog makes use of summarization.  A good resource for summarization can be found at http://tinyurl.com/793ebrn

Summarizing allows students to process the information they have heard in class and try to make sense of it.  Tonight we mentioned Marzano.  Marzano is known for Marzano's nine.  The nine are a series of high-impact interventions that can be used in a classroom.  Using meta-analysis, Marzano identified the interventions that offer the biggest bang for the buck!

One of the interventions is compare and contrast.  By allowing students to relate information they are learning to information they already know, we teach the new concept while also deepening understanding of the older topic.

To create meaning during class, you can also use sticky notes.  If you record a chunk of information on each note, you can document the flow of a lesson by attaching the notes in a pattern in your notebook.  These small chunks of information may assist you in access and recall of the information shared during class, and guide reflective practice.

Reflection

Loved this class! Enjoyed the Q's and A's between principal and students. It was a very informative session. We all know how challenging a role of principal can be but when one hears directly a principal sharing his experiences it takes on a new reality. I enjoyed hearing how the public sector works vs. the private. One thing that I learned is that you should surround yourself with people you can trust and hire a good staff!

Reflection

I really gained a lot of insight hearing from a principal in a public school. It's amazing how many things one has to juggle yet he seemed to feel like he had a genuine responsibility to the kids (which is quite refreshing these days!) he seemed to really love what he did and the kids. It restores a little faith in the public school system.

Reflection

I gained great insights from tonight’s class. It was great having your principal present. He has vast amount of knowledge both as a leader and educator. Since I work in the private sector my mindset is not geared towards the public school mentality and procedures. I personally found the presentation very helpful in enlightening me on the day to day running of a public school. During the class we discussed how to handle ethical/problem situations that arise? The answer was PRIORITIZE. My current job description is specific and clearly defined. But I need to remember that as a future school leader I’ll be wearing many different hats, and I need to constantly remember that although each issue is important, I need to focus and prioritize what issue warrants immediate attention.

Reflection

Tonight I appreciated learning about the evaluation rubric taken from Charlotte danielson. I like that this assessment gives detailed explanations for each domain. I especially liked the idea of hi-lighting the phrases of what was observed in order to be able to rate the teacher as accurately as possible. When I observed a teacher according to the danielson model I was bothered by the fact that I was grading the teacher as basic, proficient or distinguished based on my own subjective opinion. I also enjoyed meeting and listening to the principal of your school. Thank you for making our classes so interesting and relevant to the professional field.

Reflection

I enjoyed doing the activity with the pictures. It was really interesting to see the way each person was able to find a connection between themselves and the pictures. It gave us a small glimpse into each persons background and helped us connect. The activity where Rachel had to get us to stand up was a real eye opener. As an administrator, you have to be able to get people to listen to you. Many times administrators try all different methods they think will work to get teachers to listen. What they don't realize is that they are overlooking the obvious. If they would just take a minute to communicate with their teachers by asking their opinion and really listening, they would have a lot more people on their side. The end of class was truly fascinating. It was amazing to see what can be done with excel and how life can be made so much simpler when technology is integrated. The program for observations is really cool. It's a genius idea that is a great time saver. I'm sure principals will love it!

Reflection

Reflecting upon the last class, I especially enjoyed the photo sharing exercise. I appreciated the manner in which the activity was introduced. I found it to be non-intimidating, open-ended, yet personal. Also I found your mini Excel lesson very useful. I'm somewhat familiar with the program; however, you provided extra insight of how helpful Excel can be with managing school data. Last, I like your method you use to get teachers to work with you, and hope to incorporate that method as a school leader.