Wolcott's Weekly "What's Up"
Office of Teaching & Learning Update 12.19.2013
Quote of Note
If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes!
- John Wooden
I believe it is imperative we build a culture for all learners (teachers, students & administrators) that fosters Coach Wooden's message. It won't be easy to do, but when we do, it will be one of the things that helps us go from good to great to unstoppable!
I'll Go First...My Latest Mistake
Last week on a twitter chat Todd Whitaker said (paraphrasing slightly), "a teacher's main responsibility is the growth of the student, the principal's main responsibility is the growth of the teacher, and central admin's main responsibility should be the growth and development of the principal". This is a statement that I have said numerous times as well, but coming from his fingers and not my lips, I sat back and thought about it differently. Specifically, I reflected on how this statement related to our FOCUS. If we want our teachers to FOCUS on students, then we need our principals to FOCUS on staff, and we (central office staff) need to FOCUS on our principals. Do I spend as much time as I should focused on the growth and development of our principals?
After further self-evaluation, I have realized some mistakes I have made or what one might say is a lack of FOCUS on my part. You see, I am not as FOCUSed as I would like. I am just F-O-C-U ed! I have become so fixated on a couple of the letters (concepts) I have neglected to spend as much time on one of the most important letters and concepts- providing timely feedback. Something I pledge to change.
The importance of these changes and my reflection were further reinforced last night when my weekly "Marshall Memos" arrived. One of the articles Kim Marshall highlighted was a piece he titled How Google Helps Its Managers Go From Good to Great (for actual title see citation at the bottom) from the Harvard Business Review. In the article, David Garvin explains how Google set up Project Oxygen to analyze what its best managers were doing. Project Oxygen found a great manager:
- Is a good coach.
- Empowers the team and does not micromanage.
- Expresses interest and concern for team members' success and personal well being.
- Is productive and results-oriented.
- is a good communicator-listens and shares information.
- Helps with career management.
- Has a clear vision and strategy for the team.
- Has key technical skills that help him or her advise the team.
Google managers are then evaluated semi-annually by their direct reports on those characteristics with questions like these:
- My manager delivers difficult feedback constructively.
- My manager gives me actionable feedback that helps me improve my performance.
- My manager does not micromanage (get involved in details that should be handled at other levels).
- My manager regularly shares relevant information from his/her manager and senior leadership.
- My manager helps me understand how my work impacts the organization.
- My manager has one-on-one talks with me.
- My manager has the technical expertise to effectively manage me.
- My manager talks about all aspects of career development- not just promotions.
- My manager has had meaningful discussions with me about my career development in the past six months.
Google managers obviously take pride in their results each year as do I, so I started triangulating the data (ok, my thoughts). I realized again, like I said above, I need to try to do a better job on the "S" this new year. So, you'll see me out in the buildings on a more regular basis and see me taking time to enhance the above mentioned skills along the way. Why? Because we are a team, and I am here to help you anyway I can.
Enjoy your holidays!
“How Google Sold Its Engineers on Management” by David Garvin in Harvard Business Review, December 2013 (Vol. 91, #12, p. 74-82)
Instructional Rounds
We will meet at the District Administrative Center on Wednesday, January 8th at 8:00 am for our mid-year Instruction Rounds. You will not need your iPad's this time around. We believe walking into rooms with the iPAds can be intimating to staff and may send the wrong message. We will be FOCUSing on meaningful engagement, teachers taking chances, and kids having fun learning during our brief visits. Please feel free to share this information with staff.
Teaching & Learning Team Meetings
You may have noticed "Teaching & Learning Team Meeting w/Principals" on the revised Master Calendar. As we start developing our strategy for continuing to implement Common Core, these monthly meetings, will be used for us as instructional leaders to talk about where we need to go as a district. As our friend Tom Hierck says, "If we can predict it, we can prevent it." It is critical that we are all in attendance so we can predict our staff and student needs moving forward. Please adjust your personal calendars, starting in February, so you can be in attendance for these leadership sessions.
TLC/PLC: An Invite
Every Wednesday afternoon from 2:00- 3:30 pm the Teaching & Learning Coaches and I will be meeting at the Professional Development Center for our own little PLC meetings. Throughout January we will be discussing "Better Learning Through Structured Teaching: A Framework for the Gradual Release of Responsibility, 2nd Edition" by Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey. Please feel free to stop by and join in. If you don't feel you can leave your building for the meetings, let us know and we can have you join via Google Hangouts.
Sandye Brown- Coaching
She's Back!!! Part 2 of our coaching development program will be held on January 22nd at the Professional Development Center from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm. All staff members who were in attendance this summer have been invited. Lunch will be provided.
Upcoming Curriculum Writing w/Tom Hierck
January 9th
- Elementary Math
- Junior High Social Studies
- District Physical Education
January 10th
- Kindergarten
- Junior High Social Studies
- Junior High Science
- District Music and Band
*As a reminder, please ask staff members involved in curriculum writing to send a letter/email/ or communique home to let parents know why there is a sub and why they are out of the classroom. We have model letters if you or your staff are interested.
New Math Resource for ALL 2nd through 6th Graders!
After numerous requests by both staff and parents for differentiated math practice opportunities for students, we have purchased a 2nd through 6th grade district license for IXL Math. The license begins in January. I will be sending more information about IXL out to all staff at that time. For more information now, you can learn more at the link below.
Principal "To Do" List
- Relax and enjoy the next two weeks with your families and loved ones!
Stay Strong & FOCUSed!
Greg Wolcott
Email: wolcottg@woodridge68.org
Website: www.woodridge68.org
Location: 7925 Janes Avenue, Woodridge, IL, United States
Phone: 630.967.2035
Twitter: @TeachLearn68