Happy Holiday Season

Tis the Season

    The Holiday Season can bring a mix of emotions. Some people may associate sadness with this time of year, and others may associate hope with the Holiday Season. The next 15 days of school in Konocti Unified can provide a consistent, stable and safe haven for adults and students. School and work can be a refuge where people connect. School and work can be that place where people feel accomplished as a thriving a student or as a quality teacher; as a skilled bus driver or as the gracious secretary.

School and work can be that joyous abode where we notice four strengths of a person before recognizing one way we can each grow. School and work can be a zone of challenge and complexity yet an area where efforts are appreciated, mistakes are honored, and improvement is galvanized.


   
                                           

All that I Want During the month of December Here in Konocti:

(A gift from the teacher to the student)

1. My teacher to state the goal and recognize my efforts
2. My teacher to say "great to see you".
3. My teacher to stop at my desk and say "let's take a look 
4. My teacher to see that I am "good" at something
5. My teacher to say thank you for............

(A gift from the student to the teacher)

1. My students to recognize my efforts and give the lesson/activity a try
2. My students to complete the class assignment
3. My students engage in the day's lecture, collaboration, and  practice
4. My students to know that I do see them and that I do care
5. My students to stop and say thank you for.............

(A gift from staff member to staff member)

1. My colleagues to speak highly of each other.
2. My principal to visit my classroom and give me some guidance
3. My colleague or coach to sit and plan with me
4. My colleague to highlight a recent accomplishment

Turning the Clock Back

Fall is Here. Welcome November

We are at a place to see and own our reality. 

 Becky shared on November 1 that some of our reality meant understanding the situation of the following:
Academic achievement
Special Education processes
The condition of the budget
Business processes
Technology plan
Staffing, substitutes, and student enrollment

And to have a vision with conviction about where we are headed:      

1) Students that are literate in content knowledge
2) Students that are aware of their surroundings
and can make a plan
3) Students that have the capacity to resolve the dilemma,
and/or to advance their own learning

And a collective effort to improve and achieve. 

The people in the school district work together to interpret the reality and plan steps about how to organize as a whole system to ensure over one year's growth for all staff and students.

As author Patrick Lencioni asserts, people of a healthy organization

1) Maintain strong relationships
2) See how we each can contribute
3) See the ways we are making a difference




Konocti commits to a variety of support beams to ensure such quality instruction: a) professional learning and training, b) collaboration, c) instructional coaching.
As Becky shared Konocti is also committed to working together to
make financially solvent decisions and structure the organization is a way that is efficient, effective, and coherent

Together we are better. 

This picture is of an array of community members in Spain. They are linking together to build the base for a human tower. the tower stands four stories tall: four stories tall of groups of boys standing upright. The final story of the tower stands one boy. As the Spanish community believes, the human tower only works because every single person plays an equal role and responsibility.

October is Here

As the Season Changes

  As we settle into the month of October, our job is to teach, lead, and collaborate in a way electrifies the joy of learning and learning at deep levels.


From the students' point of view:
I learned how to read.  I am reading to find the author's main point with some supporting details
a) I am learning math. What kind of math are you learning? I am learning how to add two-digit numbers.
b) It is important as I grow up.
                                         c) When I am stuck, I try the problem again. I                                                 look at my notes. I ask my teacher

From the recent classroom visits:

Students were talking about their learning (versus the task). For example, students shared how they were learning to solve equations using rational numbers. In another classroom example, students were charting their progress from writing different types of sentences. Students studied the feedback and their progress. As a result, some students re-took the practice quiz.
More and more students are involved in formative assessment practices. At one school site, students and the teacher engaged in frequent and multiple assessment practices. For example, teachers may have called on non-volunteers to response to a reading comprehension question; students maybe have responded chorally to a reading passage; a selection of students showed the class they solved the problem.

This year continue Getting Better at Getting Better

Today, the purpose of education is two-fold, the teaching of knowledge and the teaching of character (Martin Luther King, Jr. 1974).

Konocti has an opportunity to enroll our students in their journey of learning by infusing certain practices in daily instruction:

Clarity: Communicate what is expected of our students as well as what and how to achieve
Relationships: Strong connectivity with their teachers and their peers
Formative Assessment Practice: Check-in regularly about one's progress
Effective Feedback: Regular comments about what is going well and how to improve

As students can answer the following questions, students are becoming self-sufficient life-long learners:

What they are learning
How well they are progressing in their learning
What steps to take next in their learning

When such instructional practices, as listed above, are effectively implemented, then students can answer the following questions and as a result, will learn at the content at a deep level, be aware of their learning and progress, and be able to employ strategies to advance their own learning.


Konocti commits to a variety of support beams to ensure such quality instruction: a) professional learning and training, b) collaboration, c) instructional coaching.



Together we are better. This picture is of an array of community members in Spain. They are linking together to build the base for a human tower. the tower stands four stories tall: four stories tall of groups of boys standing upright. The final story of the tower stands one boy. As the Spanish community believes, the human tower only works because every single person plays an equal role and responsibility.

September is Here

Galvanizing the Joy of Learning

Over 35 newly hired teaching staff joined Konocti for the New Teacher Academy days on August 8 and August 9.
Excitement ran high as people described their reason for teaching, their reason for teaching in Konocti. I shared that I look to teach and inspire people, adults and students, so that, after each interaction, they and I are in a "better" place.
Many shared a story about wanting to make a difference due to a common thread,  "a teacher believed in me and now I can believe in my students".

Konocti Unified classified and certificated met their new superintendent on August 12. The superintendent shared her purpose through a story and asked us to draw upon the reason we work in the field of education.

Students arrived at school with thrill and curiosity. 

As we embark on the month of September, our job is to teach, lead, and collaborate in a way electrifies the joy of learning and learning at deep levels.

As I traveled around school and classrooms, I saw the energy and learning and I felt the energy and learning being reinforced in these ways:
" Now before we clean up, turn to your partner and tell them "good job".
" It is up to us as the adults to create that culture of acceptance, hard work, pride, respect.
 Staff and kids taking time every day to stop and read. We are reading for life - that is how important reading is for the future of young people.
Over 15 people gathering after school for 1.5 hours to talk about targeted instruction and services to assist in the education for and in the inclusion of our English language learners.
"We are a community. We are here to help. It is hard work. We got it".
"I did this well. Yet I could talk less and let my students talk more". The two not only talked about ideas, but the idea was also observed and modeled and then practiced.

From the students' point of view:
" I like my teacher"
" I enjoy seeing my friends".
"I am learning to speak English in a safe setting."
" My teacher makes me set goals".
" I am learning my letters and that is important for reading".
" He teaches math in a way that I understand".


I know there is more. Send me an email about how you are doing this. I will post some of the responses in this blog.
Invite me to your class, I can also capture the techniques on camera and post to the blog.

This year we are going to continue Getting Better at Getting Better

Today, the purpose of education is two-fold, the teaching of knowledge and the teaching of character (Martin Luther King, Jr. 1974).

Konocti has an opportunity to enroll our students in their journey of learning by infusing certain practices in daily instruction:

Clarity: Communicate what is expected of our students as well as what and how to achieve
Relationships: Strong connectivity with their teachers and their peers
Formative Assessment Practice: Check-in regularly about one's progress
Effective Feedback: Regular comments about what is going well and how to improve

As students can answer the following questions:

What they are learning
How well they are progressing in their learning
What steps to take next in their learning

When such practices are effectively implemented, then students can answer the following questions and as a result, will learn at the content at a deep level, be aware of their learning and progress, and be able to employ strategies to advance their own learning.


Konocti commits to a variety of support beams to ensure quality instruction: a) professional learning and training, b) collaboration, c) instructional coaching.



Together we are better. This picture is of an array of community members in Spain. They are linking together to build the base for a human tower. the tower stands four stories tall: four stories tall of groups of boys standing upright. The final story of the tower stands one boy. As the Spanish community believes, the human tower only works because every single person plays an equal role and responsibility.

August

Happy Dance here in Konocti Unified

I hope this blog finds you rested and well. I look forwarding to hearing highlights from your summer months. At the moment, I will take the opportunity to share a summer highlight with you. I was able to sneak away and backpack with my partner and dogs for 3 days in the mountains overlooking Lake Tahoe. The site was a four-mile and 2000 foot climb on jagged terrain. The swims and views of the Upper Loch Leven Lake were absolutely magnificent. I return re-energized. 

With the first few days of school approaching, I invite you to tap into that childhood curiosity and thrill as we prepare for our first few days of school (by the time you read this, the school may already be underway)

Our new superintendent invites us all to remember our "why", and to keep climbing to new heights. 

I want to show up every day, and teach/inspire adults and students in a way that "betters" themselves and their situation.

I want to continue to define what one year's growth means and looks like for adults and for students.

Here is a glimpse of evidence conveying where we are at in comparison to where we are headed:

I continue to reflect and refine the beliefs that guide my actions. Right now, I sit with the following:
- use a 'whatever it takes" type of attitude
- act until all students under my wing achieve
- make sound decisions from evidence and research
- operate in a very collective and collaborative manner





"We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future" - Franklin Roosevelt.

The strategic plan displayed in the graphic is one way to build up our youth, readying them with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions so as to thrive in their ever-changing world.

You can see more detail regarding the Konocti Strategic Plan in this shared Google Folder https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1yT5-Sw0kbKqH6uHleqkOCbJSvhGV_H_5?usp=sharing



The first few days back will include the teacher academy, the welcome back staff collaborations per site, and district-wide welcome back message and will the precedent for our systems of inquiry and impact around the implementation of these fundamental instructional practices. We have high caliber people returning and we have high caliber people joining the Konocti family.


I look forward to the return of our students on Monday, August 20. I look forward to visiting schools in the first two days to see you and the kids! I also look forward to witnessing and feeling the special connections being initiated and the deep learning being launched by our inspiring and skilled staff. 

April is Here and the daffodils are Blooming

Students in Konocti are also Blooming in their Academics and in their Civility.





                               The Konocti Way

The Konocti plan envelopes two absolute beliefs and values for the organization, all students can learn, and a collective/collaborative approach.

The plan also incorporates other important principles and actions that uplift these critical beliefs. Principles and actions such as:

** Collaborate regularly and routinely

**Using student evidence and staff as feedback to adult progress

** Making informed decisions

** Students as partners with staff in their learning

**Act in a welcoming and appreciative way

How are we doing so far this school year? 

Principals and I collaborate every month to ensure our impact on staff instruction and student growth.

Above are the collective agreements to positively impact instruction and student academic improvement, (a.) provide supports for staff to grow in their instructional practice, (b.), be present in the classrooms to monitor instructional growth and student improvement, (c.) compile the results to communicate, inform, and guide continued support.

Here is how I continue to evaluate my impact:

One main way that I influence growth in the school district is by working closely with and through the principals. The principals and I support instructional growth and then influence student improvement.

We use different supports to develop staff.

We use to gather evidence of growth in multi-ways

We use multi data points to evaluate growth in adults and in students against targets set throughout the school year (see the targets established for each trimester at this link https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1yT5-Sw0kbKqH6uHleqkOCbJSvhGV_H_5

Classroom Translation:

Principals and I have been fortunate enough to visit almost every school between January through March.

One way is to measure progress is how well the students respond to the three fundamental questions:

When students can answer some version of these three questions it represents a student on track to make over one year's academic gain.

Below are some model responses.

What are you learning? The word "when"

How are you going along in your learning? I am doing good because I can accurately say "when"

Where to next in your learning? I will say the sentences with "when" in it. I will write the sentences with the word "when" in them.

What are you learning? Identifying the symbols for inequalities. And solving for inequalities.

How are you going along in your learning? So so. Graphing the solution is new. I need more practice.

Where to next in your learning? Not sure. Maybe more practice solving inequalities and on the graphing of solutions.

Spring is Upon Us

And so the Love of Learning Continues to Flourish in the Month of March

A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning         - Henry Brad

           

The Higher Purpose of Konocti Unified

The Konocti plan envelopes two absolute beliefs and values for the organization, all students can learn, and a collective/collaborative approach.

The plan also incorporates other important principles and actions that uplift these critical beliefs. Principles and actions such as:

** Collaborate regularly and routinely

** Monitoring progress regularly and routinely

** Making informed decisions

** Students as agents of their learning

** Provide regular feedback

** Be clear in one's expectations

**Act in a welcoming and appreciative way

How are we doing so far this school year? 

LLES - students are teaching to the staff a strategy called R.A.C.E. The demonstrated showed how they internalize this valuable strategy while modeling teacher clarity and progress monitoring.

The student ambassadors increase student and staff involvement around the clarity around deep learning of the essential concepts and skills. 

Carle - the students truly embrace the C.A.R..L.E way, Here are some quotes by the students:

“They truly want to see you succeed each and every day at Carle’”
“I think the school works with the students and their struggles.”
“Carle’ is known for helping kids improve their education regardless of other situations.”
“The fondest memory from Carle is simply when I would show up each day and all the staff greeted everyone with smiles.”
“As I see it Carle’ is known for helping people graduate and getting us to succeed.”

Burns Valley - most classrooms show students on track to make over one year's growth this school year. Teachers are training fellow teachers around ELD strategies. As a result, the staff are closely monitoring students growth, particularly growth in the EL students.
Furthermore, kids feel welcomes in a civil setting as conveyed through their attendance, their low suspension rate, and student testament statements.

Pomo - staff and principals are currently involved in many venues of training inside of school and outside of school regarding fundamental training particularly in teacher clarity and formative assessment to increase student learning and student engagement. As a result, there is an increase in the frequency of these instructional practices embedded in the classroom, and as a result, more students are able to decide their learning at a deep level.

KEC - 27 students shadow people or intern in the workplace, and 40 students are enrolled in middle college. As a result, the students are living into the professional and literate culture that fosters college and career readiness.
Staff and students provide an alternative measure as well as serve as a consistent presence around campus. As a result, students attendance increased, behavior has improved, and students feel like they belong.
With a heavy focus on teacher clarity and routine formative assessment, more students can articulate a deep understanding of their learning, explain how the knowledge applies to real life situations.

Highlands - each of their 16 students made over 2 year's growth in reading so far this year. Students working closely with staff, principal, and counselor to learn coping skills that lend to a higher degree of social-emotional stability as the students' look to successfully integrate back into their neighborhood school.

East Lake school - over 70% of their students are on track to make over one year's growth in reading this school year. Staff and the principal are diving deep into their instructional practice particularly around teacher clarity at the surface, deep, and transference level. As a result, every room visibly displayed the grade level criteria and 100% of the students interviewed could describe their learning in that particular class/subject.

Lower Lake High School - the principal and staff are working together to closely monitor every student. Every student on the D and F list met with a teacher, counselor, or AIA, As a result, every student with a failing grade is aware and has an action plan to improve.

More students are completing a CTE pathway as another indicator on their belt for being college-career ready.
There were students who placed in the recent state FAA speech contest.
There were four migrant education winners in a recent county speech and debate contest.

The Love of Learning

Having fun learning math, gaining confidence in their math skills, learning strategies about how to support their own learning in math

Hip hip hooray for the love of reading!












"Stick with the people who pull the magic out of you and not the madness" - unknown

Through our individual and collective hard work, we can ensure every student makes one year's gain or more.  What a magical day!


Here is how we are progressing so far

District-wide Local Reading Results 2018-19 at MidYear

                                                                   using Renaissance

A greater % of students grew over one year and higher % of kids reached grade level or above compared to the 2017-18 school year.

Here is an example when students can answer the three questions at a high caliber level and are on track to make one year's gain or more

A synthesis of the student interviews and teacher interviews.

             Focus group teachers’ synthesis:

1.)    Most excited about or proud of so far this year. “My students are learning. Their understanding is sticking.

“Today, I persevered and even when kids resisted, I said we are going to learn today. There was evidence of this learning at the end of the year”.

“Every one of my students has their own book from scholastic to read”.

“A portion of my students are making significant gains in their reading”.

2.)  Knowing One’s Impact. Teachers could describe their impact. Teachers could describe where their students were academically. Example. Teachers identified strategies where students responses.

3.) The four fundamental strategies: Student-teacher relations, clarity, formative assessment, and effective feedback. Teachers were aware of these fundamental strategies as the focus of the school district. Each teacher evaluated themselves as a component in these areas. And each teacher provided some evidence around this level of componence.

4.)  Other strategies that work with your students? “A clear and consistent daily routine. Celebrating students’ progress. Setting individual goals with students and monitoring progress with students”.

5.)  Describe a good learner. I did not ask this time around. I will ask in the future.

6.) Describe a good instructor. I did not ask this time around. I will like to ask in the future.

Focus group student synthesis:

             

1.)        Most excited about or proud of so far this year? 

"Involvement in extracurricular activities".

 "Passing my college courses".

 "Doing better in school than last year".

       

2.)        What are you most excited about or proud of this school year?

Doing better than last year.

Doing well in my college courses.

Enjoy my internship

  

3.)        Adults, do that support your learning? 

      "Care about me……excited by the subject……….can tell they are there for us –more than a job. Explain the information in a way that I understand. Show me examples. Let us practice. Walk around and answer my questions one on one. Talks to other teachers about how to teach the subject in a way we can understand. The doors are open for extra assistance."

     

     3.) Do to advance your own learning?

Ask……..think, skip the difficult problems and return to them later,

Read and re-read, t

Reflect and then try to figure it out a different way.

Ask three people first

Draw and think

Take notes and then re-write my notes

    4.)    What makes a good learner?  did not ask this time around. I will like to ask in the future.

    5.)    What makes a good instructor?  did not ask this time around. I will like to ask in the future.

These different evidence points allow Konocti to track progress and impact in the areas of learning and well-being as we strive to ensure 1+ for every student.