Standards Reflection

Our recent management class focused on three Iowa Administrator Standards but the standard that I now understand even more is Standard 3: "A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by ensuring management of the organization, operations, and resources for a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment."  Every activity, presentation, assignment, and guest speaker discussed how this standard affects school administrators on a daily basis.    Management issues can consume a majority of an administrators time, but through this class I was able to gain new insights into management issues.   Not only did I gain insight but I was able to make some new connections to current administrators within the area.  I am looking forward to the management challenges that administrators face and feeling comfortable to use the new resources from this class.

Instructional Leader VS School Manager

The first weekend together we spent a lot of time discuss the difference between the instructional leader versus the school manager.  We discussed the 21 leadership qualities and what role they fell into.  During this discussion, Jessica made a great point when stating that most people believe that the school manager is a look down upon position.  They would rather be the instructional leader because it seems more elite and the desired title.  Through this discussion we made the realization that a great leaders needs to be both an instructional leader but also a school manger.  The two jobs go hand in hand....there is not one without the other. 

Through my teaching experiences and clinical experiences, I can see how these two jobs need to be considered one.  My first year of teaching my principal was only a school manager.  There was not a lot of focus but on instruction.  With my current principal, I see the balance between the instructional leader and the school manger.  Specific management details have been put into place in order for good instruction to take place. As a future leader, I hope and plan to find the right balance between the instructional leader and the school manager, providing the best learning environment for the students and staff.

Preschool...Can it help close the Achievement Gap?

I recently read an article about preschool and how it's effects can impact the achievement gap.  This article was posted by Educational Leadership.  As a 1st grade teacher, I encounter students every year who have and have not had preschool prior to kindergarten.  The majority of the students who have not received preschool struggle with their education.  The standards for kindergarten and first grade continue to change and students are continuing to struggle.  Parents are unaware of what their child needs to know before they enter school. When students are able to attend preschool they are given the opportunity to become academically ready for school.

Another aspect that preschool provides for children is the opportunity to socialize with other children.  They are exposed to the social behaviors that occur during school.  Socialization gives children the opportunities to collaborate and learn from one another.  I am a huge advocate of preschool and will continue to be an advocate if preschool programs can help close the achievement gap and allow children to be successful.

3rd Weekend Learning

This last weekend of class was was full of learning experiences.  The activities that we completed allowed for us to really think about "real-life" issues that administrators face sometimes on a daily basis.  The activity that I enjoyed the most was placing teachers into classrooms.  The conversations that we had with one another about the issues that could arise when we placed specific grades in specific classrooms was very beneficial.  When we do have our own buildings, we may not have the opportunity to discuss or bounce ideas off of someone when placing teachers.  These conversations gave us different insights and allowed us to discuss in a collegial way.

I always enjoy having class with Tom.  Through the activities, assignments, and guest speakers, I learned about topics that I would not associate with the role of the administrator.  I was also pushed out of my comfort zone as to Tweeting and Blogging about my ideas and/or opinions.  I plan to continue to use Twitter as a future educational leader but I am not quite sure yet about blogging.  A big thank you to Tom for "making" me see the benefits of these technologies!

"Playtime"....should it be part of the day?

I recently read an article Tom posted on Twitter about children's play.  The article was by Valerie Strauss and she shared some interesting facts about play.  As a lower elementary teacher, I see on a daily basis the hard work my students put towards their education. I have students who are in every small group possible, intervention groups and after school clubs.  Their one and only break is our lunch recess which as of last year was cut by three minutes.  The reason for the recess cut was so that we could be back in our classrooms ready for instruction at the exact time our recess was over. 

My question is at what point do we do what is best for children beyond their academic performance?  We continue to push and push our students to meet a level of proficiency but do we ever stop to think that maybe pushing less and allowing more time for play which allows creativity may push our students past proficiency.  Children are not given enough time to be creative in school and when they are asked to be creative they don't know where to begin.

Jeremy tweeted to me that creativity is now the highest level on Bloom's Taxonomy.  So when we are not allowed children the opportunities to be creative such as in play, are we setting our students up to fail??

2nd Weekend Learning

My biggest take away from this weekend was our work with Lara Justman at the Urbandale Middle School.  She was able to provide us multiple opportunities to think about issues that can arise on a daily basis and ways we can solve those issues.  Not only did we discuss our ideas to solve these issues but she shared how she would solve those issues. As a classroom teacher, I can easily solve issues with in my classroom but this opportunity to "practice" for the large scale issues  Thanks Lara!

Another take away was our discussion with Jason Glass. He was able to give me a better understanding of the Blueprint for the Future of Iowa Education.  He made a point to tell us several times that the blueprint was a list of several ideas and we should consider it a starting point.  Thanks Jason!

Adam Tjeerdsma was great to listen and learn from as well this weekend.  He gave me great insights to life as a beginning administrator.  The interview tips will be essential for me to use as I begin to look for my first administrative position this coming spring.  Thanks Adam!

The more classes, speakers, and assignments we complete for this program, the more I solidify the desire to become an administrator.

1st Weekend Learning

This 1st weekend has left me a little overwhelmed but excited for the new possibilities that technology can bring.  I was skeptical with creating a Twitter but once I became familiar with it, the more beneficial I am finding it to be!

One big idea for me this weekend, was the difference between education and edutainment while using technology.  This is an issue I see as a lower elementary school teacher.  Technology is used more as a tool for engagement and/or to entertain the students. 

Another big idea was how technology cannot replace good teaching...it needs to enhance the good teaching that is already taking place in the classroom.

I have already learned quite a bit from just the first weekend...I can't wait to learn more! :)