Dr. Seuss Day!!!

Dr. Seuss Friday Focus

Thought of the Week: I was listening to "The Dave Ramsey Show" the other day. He stated a quote that stuck with me, he said that failure is not the result of one single catastrophic event...failure arises from a culmination of bad decisions over time. He then went on to use the analogy of money. People don't just suddenly wake up and find themselves broke with no money. Rarely does is just "happen". Becoming broke happens with several bad money decisions that added up. In example...buying vehicles when you can't afford them, buying houses with no money down, buying "stuff" that you don't need, buying starbucks coffee rather than making it yourself, and having the habit of living beyond your wage for a period of time.

Wealth happens the same way. Years of making good financial decisions add up to being financially stable. Years of sticking to a budget, only paying for items with cash, and (when you don't have debt) investing for retirement. Again, wealth didn't happen over night, it was a culmination of good financial decisions that paid off (no pun intended) over time.

I was reflecting on this statement in relation to education. Ineffective instruction and poor classroom management don't just happen over night. It is a continual lack of expectations, procedures, professional development, poor attitudes about students/parents, and a lack of work ethic over time that add up to a less than stellar classroom experience for the student and the teacher.

In contrast, effective instruction doesn't magically appear! Effective teachers make many good decisions everyday to positively impact their instruction. They build relationships with students, set clear expectations, holds students accountable, contact parents, spend time planning/researching, and assessing what students have learned that makes effective teaching.

Education is not a microwave...its a crock pot. Its about good decisions and small victories day after day.

Friday Focus 2.10.12

Ulrich Apple Awards: Mrs. Nelson for her organizing of the Iowa Assessment and following up with make-ups. Connie for being superwoman. Last but certainly not least...a huge apple goes to Mr. Hector for the great job he has done over the past month filling in for Mrs. Alesch! I appreciate his willingness to take on the challenge and commend him for a job well done!

Thought of the Week: One of the greatest challenges we face as teachers is to make students think. I'm not being sarcastic or witty. But truly, the hardest thing for students is to research, formulate an opinion, and give rationale for the decision they made based on research.

Truth be told, this is also one of the hardest things for teachers to do as well. We live in a "real time" world for information. Everyone on twitter has an opinion, facebook post are all true and evidence based (slight sarcasm there, sorry), and newspapers only give a snapshot of reality. It this type of world, deep critical thinking based on true reliable research is fading. It is our obligation as educators to stop this trend.

My challenge to us as educators is to do our own research. Formulate our own opinions. Create our own rationale. Start telling people what we are doing and why. If we can't do this, then we can't ask our students to do this either.

Through this critical thinking process, we will learn about ourselves and more importantly, be able to look parents, the community, and each other in the eye and say: this is whats best for our kids...and this is why...

Thanks for what you do,
Jess

Jesse Ulrich, Principal
Graettinger-Terril CSD
712.859.3286
http://principalulrichscorner.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @jdulrich76
Skype: jesseulrich

International Comparisions in Education

Courtesy of: OnlineSchools.com

Retention Revisited

Yesterday I had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Jason Glass, the Director of Education for the Department of Education. He was summarizing many of the proposed legislation dealing with education reform in Iowa. Many topics were covered, but as always, one of the most emotional discussion was about "3rd Grade Retention" for students not proficient in reading.

After I listened to Dr. Glass, I think we need to take a step back and focus on what the core issue is. We are NOT talking about the traditional model of simply holding a student back (we know that this has not been an effective strategy). What we ARE talking about, is a structured PK-3 system for literacy instruction.

Within this system, there would be processes in place for students to receive interventions and differentiated instruction for students who are not reaching the level of competency we need for them to be successful.

When listening to all of this a light bulb went on in my head...isn't this what we should be doing anyway? We can not like a system that helps students read by the end of 3rd grade, or we can continue to socially promote them and set them up for failure and an academic career of frustration. Lets pull together and make some positive changes.

Happy Holidays...

Thought of the Week: Question...who is cheery, checks to see if kids are naughty or nice, and gives great gifts??? Its TEACHERS of course (you thought I was going to say Santa)! We have the opportunity to give students the greatest gift on a daily basis. The love of learning should never be underestimated. Amy and I choose to give our nephews books for Christmas. Our hope is that when the excitement of all the expensive gizmos and gadgets are gone, the books will remain. Our hope is that they will read them and see that reading can open their future to whatever they choose. Lofty goals for "Five Little Monkeys", but we have high expectations :)

Next week I will be around with a special gift for each of you. I want you to know that I appreciate all of your efforts to make our school the greatest it can be. Amy, Breckyn and I are very blessed to be a part of a wonderful family and community. From our family to yours, we hope you have a Merry Christmas! (and don't forget to read a book)

Friday Focus 12.2.11

"Isn't the principal a dummy!" said a boy to a girl.

"Say, do you know who I am?" asked the girl.
"No."
"I'm the principal's daughter."

"And do you know who I am?" asked the boy.
"No," she replied.
"Thank goodness!"

Quote of the Week: "Teaching is the profession that makes all other professions possible." -Unknown

Shout Outs: I want to thank the elementary staff for all of their hard work collaborating celebration days and also their open and honest conversations to make the building the best it can be!

Thought of the Week: Don't take this personally...but I want you to leave. There, I said it!

I want you to leave your classroom and go watch a peer teach a fantastic lesson. I want you to leave and attend a professional development training and bring it back to share with your peers. I want you to leave your comfort zone and find out that you don't have to work harder than the students for them to learn. I want you to leave ineffective past practices in your desk drawer. I want you to leave your comfort zone (again) and fail, learn from it, and make it better. I want you to leave your boring worksheets in the binders.

I want you to leave if you are negative, cynical, and poisoning our wonderful learning environment. I want you to leave your presumptions and prejudices at the door and welcome every student into your classroom (no matter how naughty they were the day before). I want you to leave the politics out of your classroom. I want you to leave the belief that not every student in our school can learn.

Leaving isn't always bad. You should try it sometime.