TO DO:

• Please add this to your calendar: The TELL Survey (for all certified educators in Oregon) will be coming in February.  Two years ago we piloted a similar survey for our classified staff and are planning to concurrently have this available again this year. In addition to receiving and being able to review your building’s results, there is also a District Leadership Team that reviews (and creates goals) based on our district’s data.  Because we’d love your staff input, I’m thinking of offering a prize for the MS with the highest percentage of staff participation.  Let me know if you have any ideas (without breaking my bank) of what might incentivize your staff!

THIS AND THAT:

• As you know, having an authentic audience for students to demonstrate her/his learning to adds value and accountability.  Quite simply, it makes learning more meaningful to the student (and very likely for the teacher as well!).  Along this thinking, I recently ran across some examples of student speeches presented as part of Project Soapbox.  I don’t know a lot about this initiative, but believe the students get to choose her/his own topic to speak on (another obvious learning engagement strategy) and it appears they present their speech to an audience (which I can only assume includes more than their class) at a “real” setting (auditorium with a podium and microphone).  Creating a moment of learning and sharing of that learning like this wouldn’t take much additional effort on a teacher’s part, but I’m willing to bet the lasting memories and authentic learning on the student’s part would be forever.  Here is an example of a Project Soapbox speech given by high school student Christopher Watkins on bullying.  Let me know if you are aware of any teachers in your building creating other “moments” of learning for students – I’d love to share those in a future TRIBE update.

REMINDERS:

• Principals, if you haven’t already, don’t forget to complete your SLGGs in TalentEd.  I’ve met with each of you to discuss what your goals are (or your plan for them), which I’ve greatly appreciated.  Thank you for making your goals meaningful to the work you are engaged in.