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.

reflections

Reflection on class EDSA 535- School and Community Relations   On June 18, 2012 during the class we discussed meetings and implementing new programs and ideas.  At first when an idea is presented people may fear change. A tactic that can be used is to call a meeting and allow the staff members involved to voice their concerns. This opportunity will often leave participants feeling that they were heard, but they still may not agree on its implementation. What I learned was it is often necessary to have a pre-meeting to get a select few to further understand the program's purpose and request support when implementing the program to their staff members. Often this tactic will help initiate the program and make more staff inclined to willingly participate. Another thing we learned was that sometimes a program needs to be initiated and then all the people who have concerns and questions are met with individually and if possible modifying the program to address valid concerns. This will often remove the majority of dissenters and when more people join/support the program, it makes it easier to convince other support staff that were reluctant to join to now join as well. In the future, when I roll-out a program I plan to use these ideas when running a meeting or working with a supervisor to assist and support the implementation of new ideas.

reflection of Mon.6/18

The picture prompt for us to relate to, was not only an enjoyable informative way to introspect and learn about each other.The idea that a picture triggers strong responses underscores the importance  that in communication people bring with them their perspectives and experiences for better or for worse.

The creative entertaining exercise of having someone convince us to stand up was a blatant example of taking others' feelings into account when you want something done. A good leader sets the tone and develops a relationship. Prof. Monheit noted that we wanted to help our  colleague. Leaders bring people along with them because if they didn't have followers then they wouldn't be leaders!

reflection

One point highlighted during class last night was the importance of good communication skills.  The exercise which was demonstrated in class where one student tried to get everyone to stand up really highlighted this point.  If you want people to listen to you, you must join them and identify their best interests in order to bring them on board.  Being a good leaders requires especially good communication skills as well as reflective practice  and analytical skills in order to tune in and identify how you are impacting others. a good leader must be able to monitor his employees reactions and modifying his own to accommodate the teachers  and get the work done.

---

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reflection 3

The time in class seemed to slip by very quickly as such is the power
of empowering your people. Professor Monheit used his power as the
leader of our class to empower us, and lead us to think we were
directing the lesson. At the start of the class we were each given the
opportunity to express our passionate beliefs regarding educational
reform and leadership, which provided each of us with a voice. He then
channeled what we had said into a conversation, weaving the night's
topic into our discussion, so that his agenda would be covered as
well. Seeing the ramifications of limiting the people's voice provided
even greater strength to the message of the evening.
Thank you for providing us an interactive experience, where we can
learn vital lessons!

Reflection

6/18/12

I greatly enjoyed tonight's lesson (although it did make me realize how much I don't know about using technology to foster communication between the school and community).

First, I really enjoyed learning about the observation computer program that the Professor uses in his school. Before learning about the program, the prospect of observing tens (or hundreds) of teachers seemed very daunting (and quite impossible). However, after the Professor gave us a "tour" of the program, I realized that observing teachers throughout the year can be a feasible task.  The program also seemed like a wonderful organizational tool for administrators.

Second, I really enjoyed the activity where a classmate needed to get the entire class to stand up at the same time by asking the class: "What do I need to do to make you stand up?" I am currently a teacher at a school that demands a tremendous amount from the teachers without any regard to their needs or wants. In Chapter Five of School Community Relations, the authors discuss the importance of having the school board, superintendent, and administrators recognize teachers and address their needs in order to foster positive school-community relations. Teachers are at the frontline of education; without them, schools do not exist. Yet, they are often the first people to be overlooked in many school systems. This activity definitely helped me understand how a collaborative administer behaves toward his/her teachers and staff. I appreciate this class as I get to learn what an administer should do as opposed to only learning what not to do as an administrator-I have plenty of that type of learning taking place already!

reflection #3

I really learned a lot this class; thank you for gearing the lessons to be interactive, interesting, and applicable. The exercise of having someone try and convince us all to stand was a creative and unique way to drive home a powerful lesson. The level of diplomacy and interpersonal skills we possess will only help us if we consciously exercise our ability to utilize them. We all know the theory behind a lot of this - making others feel appreciated, allowing for communal decision-making, taking other's opinions into account, etc. However, all of that takes conscious effort - even when Rachel gave us such logical reasons of why it would benefit us to stand up, we would not, since all these suggestions were coming solely from her; it was only until she asked us, "what would I have to do to make you stand up?" that we did. Rachel, you did a fantastic job, and I commend you for volunteering even when you had no idea what you were getting yourself into. That takes guts! Thank you for playing such an important role in helping to teach me a lesson I will not soon forget... 

reflection 3

• Excel is a valuable tool for an administrator to utilize in their school. 
• How do you get people to do what you want them to do? EMPOWER THEM
•  How do you know which professional development workshops would be of value to your  teachers? Look at your teacher observations to see what the majority of the staff is having difficulty in. 

Reflection- class on June 18, 2012

Reflection- class on June 18, 2012

            The class was a learning experience in numerous ways.  The "sharing" of the pictures was a learning experience.  It enabled me to reflect on myself again.  Moreover, I learned a lot about my classmates.  It was so nice to hear my classmates' perspectives in a deeper way than ever before.  Professor—Thank you for providing such a unique, enjoyable forum in which to learn about others.  Next, I learned from the "stand up activity."  There are so many things that are able to be learned from the metaphor about relating to people in terms of school leadership.  Based on the aforementioned creative activities, I would like to include "creative activities" in my professional practice, for I personally found it to be an enjoyable, fascinating method of learning information.                              

reflection from class 6/18

I really enjoy this session. The energy and interactions that were going on was amazing. I thought it was interesting how we all described ourselves to the pic that we chose and incorporated our professional aspiration in it. I think we learned a liitle bit more about one another. I enjoyed the activity of tryng to get the whole class to stand up- not an easy task for the person who had to get the class to stand. I learned  a great deal  about myself from participating in this task. I will now approach a meeting having an open mind of what people needs might be.

I have to say that I was a little lost when it came to the excell program but I understood how important this program is for tracking data..

I look forward to the next class.

reflection

Although I was quite overwhelmed by your excel presentation, It was very informative and got me thinking about the importance of  polishing up my computer skills. Your presentation highlighted the value of familiarizing ourselves with the latest technology as this only saves us time and effort. As an administrator it is crucial to spend as much time as we can with instructional leadership as opposed to spending the bulk of our time in the office. 

Reflection

Tonight's class really highlighted the importance of technology and how we can use it as a tool to make our job easier and enable us to be more efficient.
I also really liked the quote your not a leader if nobody is following you.

June 18

I really enjoyed tonight's class. The discussions were thought provoking and relevant to the work place. I particularly liked the activity where one student tried to get the class stand up. It was a cute activity that brought across a strong point. I believe it is very important for people in leadership positions to encourage and allow their staff members to voice their opinions. Every person wants to feel valued and important. This will help the staff members develop a feeling of loyalty and it will enable them to be team players. I also appreciated the demonstration of how to use the program excel. It's such a valuable and useful tool to use in the professional field. Thank you!

Reflection 2

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The vision and mission that I wrote during this class is a written theory of all the important things students need to have when they end school. What I thought about was, "How many students actually graduate with those accomplishments?" In addition, what contributes to the overall success of the students? Is it all about the school? Or, is it a contribution of the school and about the family…?

Weekly Reflection- Monday June 11th class

Weekly Reflection- Monday June 11th class

There were numerous concepts that were taught during the class that were integral and significant.  Firstly, the idea of getting the "right people on the bus" is a relevant quote in the area of school administration, as well as most areas in life.  It certainly got me thinking about my future choices and decisions as related to this field.  Secondly, the entire discussion on "public perception" was enlightening, and provided me with much to think about.  One thing that I would like to use in my professional practice is to actually read the book From Good to Great, by Collins—which was suggested by the professor during class.  Based on the brief overview of the book, it seems like a book that is appropriate for me.  I actually researched further about the book online, and I am confident that it would be something of interest and of benefit for me to read.    

 

reflection

 

Reflection wk 2

Thank you for the highly engaging and informative class.  I found the concept of a "parking lot" an interesting one.  This method helps ensure topic maintenance at staff meetings while validating people's concerns/ issues they bring forth.  This suggestion is one that I hope to use at future staff meetings.

Another important point discussed in class was the use of jargon/ professional language when speaking to parents.    Professionals often use medical/ professional terminology when communicating with parents.  This makes the parents feel inferior as they are unable to comprehend what is being said.  As one who communicates often with parents, this is an important factor to keep in mind. 

Looking forward to the next class.

Reflection2

Today we learned a lot about the importance of communication. We had to face the role of politics, taxes and collaborating with and informing the community. I found it helpful to learn more about the role these factors play while serving in any administrative position, particularly principal. I feel I gain a lot hearing about others experiences, especially those who are already in a position of leadership and administration. Hearing the way particular situations are dealt with widens the lens and allows for possibilities that weren't previously considered.
I also really enjoyed putting a "vision" down on paper. When it comes down to it, it's important to actually see it for what it is and not just what you picture it to be in your mind.

Your postings

You postings seems to lend a vibrancy to the course.  What are your thoughts.  Are your colleagues comments resonating with you.  How are you affected by what you are reading?

reflection2

Reflection #2

 

There was a lot of food for thought raised during class this past week.  One topic which really got me thinking was the concept of creating a parking lot during a meeting.  What I began thinking about was the importance of having one person guide the meeting to make it the most productive possible.  I sit in meeting quite a bit and creating a parking lot for topics which can be discussed at a later date I felt was a tactful way of redirecting and staying  focused , which can be very challenging sometimes. In addition providing an agenda also contribute to keeping the group leader focuses so he/ she can keep the meeting focused.  I hope to implement these two strategies into my next meeting.  I'll keep you posted on how it went.

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reflection 2

Reflection #2

 

There was a lot of food for thought raised during class this past week.  One topic which really got me thinking was the concept of creating a parking lot during a meeting.  What I began thinking about was the importance of having one person guide the meeting to make it the most productive possible.  I sit in meeting quite a bit and creating a parking lot for topics which can be discussed at a later date I felt was a tactful way of redirecting and staying  focused , which can be very challenging sometimes. In addition providing an agenda also contribute to keeping the group leader focuses so he/ she can keep the meeting focused.  I hope to implement these two strategies into my next meeting.  I'll keep you posted on how it went.

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Notice: This transmission and any attachments may contain privileged or confidential information and is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this information is prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify immediately the sender that you have received the transmission in error, and delete it. Thank you for your cooperation.

reflection2

 

There was a lot of food for thought raised during class this past week.  One topic which really got me thinking was the concept of creating a parking lot during a meeting.  What I began thinking about was the importance of having one person guide the meeting to make it the most productive possible.  I sit in meeting quite a bit and creating a parking lot for topics which can be discussed at a later date I felt was a tactful way of redirecting and staying  focused , which can be very challenging sometimes. In addition providing an agenda also contribute to keeping the group leader focuses so he/ she can keep the meeting focused.  I hope to implement these two strategies into my next meeting.  I'll keep you posted on how it went.

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Notice: This transmission and any attachments may contain privileged or confidential information and is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this information is prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify immediately the sender that you have received the transmission in error, and delete it. Thank you for your cooperation.

reflection 2

 

There was a lot of food for thought raised during class this past week.  One topic which really got me thinking was the concept of creating a parking lot during a meeting.  What I began thinking about was the importance of having one person guide the meeting to make it the most productive possible.  I sit in meeting quite a bit and creating a parking lot for topics which can be discussed at a later date I felt was a tactful way of redirecting and staying  focused , which can be very challenging at times. In addition providing an agenda also contribute to keeping the group leader focuses so he/ she can keep the meeting focused.  I hope to implement these two strategies into my next meeting.  I'll keep you posted on how it went.

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Notice: This transmission and any attachments may contain privileged or confidential information and is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this information is prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify immediately the sender that you have received the transmission in error, and delete it. Thank you for your cooperation.

I liked that give and take is continuously encouraged in class. The

group work was useful because hearing the group's thoughts on the

questions helped clarify my own. The collaborative teaching method is

something I frequently utilize in my own class. How you share your

vision was a useful thing to learn and I look forward to having that

aspect of communication expanded on in other classes.

Response

I agree. It was not my intent that we not address the issue at all. Just either not at that meeting our possibly not in a public forum

Reflection from 6/11

There are many areas where I can reflect on from last night's class. While there were many interesting topics discussed, the one area that was particularly important to me was your statement that making negative comments about students is unacceptable. Unfortunately, school administrators and personnel frequently make extremely derogatory and more disturbingly, judgmental comments about children and their parents. As a school leader, I will set the tone from the very beginning, where all students and parents will be treated with respect and dignity, while at the same time not ignoring the difficulties and challenges presented to me and my school staff.

I liked the parking lot idea when conducting meetings. However, you stated that many of the issues placed in the "parking lot" will probably never be discussed. I believe that if most or many of these issues are not considered, eventually we may lose the trust of our teachers and other school staff. Perhaps it would be beneficial to address all of the points in some capacity, whether at the very same meeting or by personally discussing it with the person who brings it up at a later time. I believe that validation of people's comments and ideas by merely placing them in the parking lot may not be sufficient to satisfy (mostly or somewhat) intelligent adults.  

Reflection

 

         Tonight's lesson was insightful and informative. I learned much about communication between schools and the community as well as between schools and teachers.

          First, as a teacher in a large school, I found it fascinating to learn that the professor observes his teachers approximately seven times each year. I believe that those observations are a wonderful vehicle to open the lines of communication between the principals and teachers. It provides the administrator(s) with opportunities to observe the teaching skills/abilities and then communicate with the teachers their teaching strengths (which teachers seldom hear feedback about) and the areas in which they should improve. Such communication between the administration and teachers not only benefits the teachers, but the students as well.

 

           In addition, this lesson changed my view about the importance of communicating with the public and surrounding communities. I used to be under the impression that as long as schools are providing proper education to their students, there is no need for promoting publics relations between the school, parents, and community. However, after hearing the various stories from the professor about the tremendous effects of the public's opinion and perception about the school, I realized how crucial it is to open the lines of communication and communicate successfully with the public.

 

Reflection

I enjoyed learning about the importance of communication. Communication is a vital component of any successful school. For some reason I find it to be a difficult one. An administrator can be great with education and students but if they're lacking in communication they will not get very far. After hearing all the stories, I'm beginning to realize how difficult it is to work in public school. You have to be so careful that every tiny thing is legal and that you're not infringing on student rights or you're in big trouble!! I also feel that the report card mark schools get aren't fair. They don't tell the whole story. It doesn't make sense to be graded according to your student roster. The mark should be based on the students who actually show up to class. I'm looking forward to learning more about communication. I would love to have more hands on "technological activities". I wanted to learn how to start a blog and use all the communication programs and apps you were talking about. Thank you!!



Sent from my iPhone

My website www.neilmonheit.com

6-11-12-reflection

Reflection on class EDSA 535- School and Community Relations 6/11/12   I learned about the connection between drop-out rates, politics, and incidence of incarceration. It was discussed that politicians have to be convinced that schools are doing a good job. The class wondered why schools have to present themselves as benefiting the public and why politicians may take an interest in schools in their voting districts. One reason is that if they learn that schools are doing a good job in their next budgeting meeting they might organize their budgets to allocate more money to support schools. Another reason is that it costs society and taxpayers more to keep a criminal in jail each year than to educate a student and support them in reaching high school graduation. The research states that the higher level of education one attains, the less likely a person will turn to criminal activities. So, if costs associated with incarceration is decreased conjunction with increases in graduation rate. The politicians now might have larger budgets and can decrease taxes or use the money for other projects, such as good schools which have decreased the politicians expenses, making the constituents happy and they now have a reason to help the politician get re-elected to the office that he is working in. This then helps the politician to get what he/she wants. From these areas I have learned why schools' need to present a good faces publicly. Another thing that I learned and would like to use with middle scholars, was that  creativity and collaboration needs to occur to enforce rules and support the students. The discussion about the problems occurring with crossing schools and floors within the same building throughout the scheduled day and its effect on discipline and structure within your school/academy, demonstrated  your collaboration and ingenuity in resolving this issue and preventing cutting and skipping of classes.

week 2

For a mission to lead into a vision, it must emanate from the heart of

the visionary. The visionary who is often the leader needs to feel

passion for their cause, in order to insure that the staff and

students are empowered with these beliefs. As was evident in the class

discussion educators who feel connected to their school and its

vision, describe the school using only the most positive words. This

communicates a positive message to the general populace. They then

view the school in a positive light and are more receptive to allocate

funds and send their children to the school. This domino effect will

remain a priority in my work as a leader since it is a core basis for

success.

Reflection

Today's class was very informative on several points. Firstly, we discussed the importance of communicating with the public and why it's so important. One of the reasons given was that when schools communicate they set expectations and goals. We then further delved into the importance of setting goals that are realistic. This got me thinking. As a teacher I've experienced many situations where the administration had great ideas and goals however they were completely unrealistic. As a leader, if you want to set goals that are achievable you need to be more hands on. Observe the classroom, asses the overall atmosphere of the school; familiarize yourself with the culture of the parent/student body.

I greatly enjoyed the collaborative assignment we worked on in class. Working collaboratively is a great way to share ideas and concepts. Overall, I gained new insight on why a public Relations is crucial to your school's success.

Hi,   I enjoyed and used the technique of writing something down when a child wants something that you are not ready to do for them, and I actually used that technique in my teaching the next day and it worked.   I plan on utilizing another technique that was mentioned last night, and offer to do part of my internship in a school that I would like to be hired next year.   Will keep you posted on my success or otherwise THANK YOU

Reflection #2

A point that was discussed that really resonated with me was the importance of communicating to the community and parents your school's good work, achievements, significant events etc. How can a principal expect stakeholders like parents, politicians, local businesss etc. to get involved or collaborate on any kind of project to benefit the school if they don't know about anything going on in it? Additionally, it can serve as a motivation for staff when they know that their hard work is being recognized and publicized whether through a newsletter, school website, etc. In my line of work, I often meet teachers and therapists that work very hard yet are under-rated and not appreciated. I find that it is often the case that these individuals are not doing any "personal PR", so the parents/school are not aware of their significant contributions. I advise those individuals to send home samples of their work or the children's accomplishments, establish some form of a daily/weekly collaboration through a notebook or newsletter, and even take children to visit the principal or director of their program once in a while for the children to "show off" a special project they worked hard on or a new skill they have acquired. PR is important!

reflection 6/11

"What gets measured gets done" That is something I really took away from last nights class. If you want things to get done there must be a way to see how it is getting done, who should be doing it and if it can be done more efficiently. It is also important to set realistic goals. We all have lofty aspirations for our students but we must be practical. Finally I thought that it was very important to stress the difference between a vision and a mission statement.

reflection 2-Mon.6/11

 Tomlinson, a proponent of differentiated instruction lists validation of a student as the first instructional need. I would have assumed that all meetings have an agenda.However, it is easy to get sidetracked.I loved the idea of the parking-lot to validate participants' feelings while dealing with their concerns at a more appropriate time.Prof. Monheit made us feel validated as he fielded and responded to our multiple questions and comments.Breaking up into collaborative groupings promotes validation and contribution of each other 's thoughts.


Sharing a vision or leading one's stakeholders to "own"a vision as theirs, takes planning and effort. Prof. Monheit offered three succinct guidelines:

Set a tone
Build capacity and
Effect change

Instead of "lecturing to", administrators need to empower their stakeholders to develop the school vision as their own.

reflection

I would like to reflect about a few points discussed during tonight's class. Firstly, a mission statement requires thought and time; we are talking about a school's vision. I experienced difficulty expressing my vision within a short period of time. Although, we did create a mission statement, I was hoping to gain more from the exercise. Additionally, I agree that communication is crucial when dealing with the public. Our discussion about the importance of communication provided me with some insight.  Although the community may not be openly involved in the school, they are directly involved since they are funding the school through their tax paying money. Last, I like your method of a parking lot to stay on task. I will make it of importance to always have an agenda for a school meeting.

reflection 2

• Plan your agenda before your staff meeting so that you stay on topic and so that you can pace yourself and cover all your points at your meeting.
• Avoid using educational jargon and acronyms when talking with parents.
• I will be reading From Good to Great  by Collins to use his ideas to motivate my teachers to become great teachers.

reflection of session 2

Really enjoyed this class.I learned so much from you about what can be done in a public school vs. a private school. The situations one can encounter on a daily basis is astonishing!

I liked that we broke up unto small groups and worked together on what our vision is for a graduating student on the tinyurl site.

It was a collaborative effort, interactive and we all express what we felt. 

We each contributive and we learned from one another.

I am curious to see what we will be doing  next session with the pic that we chose..

A side bar note-  the noise level was again distracting to me and I had to ask my peers what was going on at times because I could not hear you with the many conversations going on.

See next week!

reflections on June 6th class

Two things I really enjoyed were:- a)   the way things were resolved democratically. b)   the quote about leadership "bringing people to a place where they weren't ready to go without you. There was something that was mentioned about internet learning that I would like to know more about. Thanks,

reflection on wed class

The first class of any session is always a bit unnerving. What does the prof. expect of me? What do I expect from the prof. and the class?  Even though there was a lack of communication before the class started, I feel that it was handled pretty well once the class got under way. Your expectations were made pretty clear. As a parent who has a text messaging system with my child's school, I cannot tell you how important that way of communicating is. I always know if a bus broke down, if my child is stuck in traffic on the way home from a trip or if school is closed due to bad weather etc.

The most important thing that I took away from the class is the quote "A leader takes you some place that you are not ready to go alone" I thought it was very profound and as a school leader as well as a parent, I would like very much to put this into practice.

Class Reflection

I appreciated hearing about your experience as an administrator. Administrators will always face adversity and it requires intense strength and commitment to work through it. Getting parent phone numbers is a safety issue and is a tremendous accomplishment. Creating a safe education environment is important. The application that I took from the class is the extent that a leader must work on safety. I learned about the amount of energy that should be put into precautionary acts for safety in a learning community.

Reflection

The idea of two-way communication between a school and its parent-body resonated with me. There is a need to inform, nurture, and be able to express one's needs. Much conflict and misinterpretation could be avoided if clear communication is in place.I also liked the idea of readjusting goals and de prioritizing as the need arises.Sometimes we get stuck on what we're doing that we waste resources on what is least essential.The color coding is a great visual to clarify how to proceed.

Reflection

The first class of ESDA 535- Organization of the Community Relations Program
was an interesting and informative one. The point made that every meeting should be
considered "your meeting" resonated with me. I attend many meetings during the
course of my workweek and it's easy to lose focus at times. However, upon reflection, I
agree that advance preparation would ensure that one would be an active participant in
a meeting because of ones preparedness.

On a side note, I would like to add that the method Prof. Monheit used to
determine which classes to drop was fascinating. This method empowered the
students while maintaining class decorum. I hope to incorporate this technique in my
role as a school leader.

Reflection

This past class provided me with food for thought. Firstly, I especially liked when we were introduced to new methods on how to reach out to parents and community members. Although not too tech savvy, I look forward to going into more detail and learning how to use social networking for the purpose of connecting to the public school members, families and community. Additionally, the little bit that you shared about your job, enlightened me about the key importance of staying organized as a school leader. You obviously have a system in place that works. A school leader must find an organized and effective system thats workable for both the leader and the school. I particularly liked your red light green light system. You successfully keep all the members involved in the project focused on what needs to be done. As a future school leader, I look forward to implementing this tool when emailing colleagues about tasks and projects that must be tackled.

Reflection

There were two statements in class which really spoke to me and the truth and depth of the statement
has made an impression on me. The first was that "leaders bring people to a place where they were
not ready to go." The strength of a good leader is that he creates an environment where people trust
and are ready to take risks and experiment with new ideas and methodologies. It is the support and
encouragement of the leader which fosters learning and growth. The second statement was that if you
don't reflect you are the same person as you were before. The only way one can learn and become a
better person, a better leader or professional is by reflecting on his own practices and analyzing what
worked or what did not work. The first step to learning is by being open to learn and aware that there
is so much to learn. One who just teaches without analyzing themselves and their impact on others
obviously does not have an open mind to learn. The ability to self reflect is probably one of the hardest
practices however I feel it is the most important component of good teaching and leadership. One who
does not reflect is the same person as he was before this experience. One who reflects is constantly
modifying his actions, and his character in both his professional and personal life.

Reflection

      From the various things that were discussed in this class, I would like to reflect on two things that I learned.  Firstly, I learned much from the "voting exercise" regarding class scheduling that was done with the post-it notes.  Although the results of the vote were not quite to my personal preferences, I felt that the method was a fair, appropriate manner in which to ensure that each individual has a "voice" in the decision-making process.  It truly was a learning experience for me to actually see the issue at hand addressed in such a fashion.  Secondly, I learned about meetingwords.com, which I never heard about prior to this class.  Although it does sound like an intriguing, useful tool, I would like to learn more about it prior to using the tool, so that I will be able it effectively and efficiently.  Additionally, meetingwords.com sounds like something that I may use in my professional practice—after I obtain a greater understanding regarding how this resource works.