SamTastic Weekly Tip: 9/29/25 - See Instruction Differently

This week’s tip: See Instruction Differently

Good SAMs make sure principals see teachers in action each day and follow up by scheduling time for thoughtful conversation, feedback.

Great SAMs make sure the principal does this in ways teachers and students appreciate.

Do you think silently observing a teacher in a classroom, completing check lists, or writing notes, is enjoyable for the principal?  Do you think most teachers like this practice? 

There are ways to see instruction, enjoy the process and have teachers and students thank you for the time.  Here’s two:

1. Be the teacher’s assistant while you observe.  Enter the classroom.  Say: “I’d like to be your assistant for the next 45 minutes while I watch you teach.  Put me to work.  Which student or group would you like me with work with today?”  This gives the leader a way to engage in the lesson by working with a student.  It is easier to stay focused on the lesson and makes the feedback conversation that will occur later meaningful and authentic.

2. Support great learning behavior when you observe.  Do a walkthrough in four classrooms, ten minutes, each.  Look for students exhibiting great learning behavior.  Select a student who impressed you the most.  Leave a ticket on the student’s desk: “Join me for lunch today at my table in the cafeteria.”  Do this in each of the four rooms.  In the lunchroom, if a ticket holder asks if they are in trouble, say: “No.  You are in good.  You got the ticket because I liked your learning behavior.”  Then, lead a discussion on what you saw.  Principals who do this say it is really fun.  They report teacher’s love it.  Selected students get face time with the principal.  All students get schooled on what the principal values.

Bonus: Flip bus duty to connect with teaching.  As students exit the building, tag three.  Ask what homework each student has today.  Ask each student to stop and see you the next morning when they arrive to show/share their homework.  For students who don’t have homework, give them a task.  For example: “Find one word in a book, magazine or on a screen that you aren’t sure of the meaning.  Figure out how you could use it in a sentence.  I’ll ask you tomorrow when you arrive.”  Then, the next morning, place a student desk on sidewalk with two chairs.  Talk to each of your three tagged students about their homework.  Principals who report doing this say it has an amazing impact on students.  It is also a lot of fun and, again, demonstrates what the leader values. 

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Last week’s Tip, Consider an AI Warning Label, generated a lot of thoughtful discussion.  We had requests to use the warning label and to share the Tip with others.  You are always welcome to share the SamTastic Weekly Tip with others and do not need permission.  You’ll find these weekly messages archived at www.SamProcess.com

To access and share last week’s tip directly, use this link:  https://bit.ly/48FWFjB

Here’s the label.  It is easy to copy and paste. 

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Note: 81% of the seats have been taken for the 19^th Annual National SAM Conference.  Use this  link to register: https://registration.samprocess.com/ 

You will also find a registration link at www.SamProcess.com

19^th Annual National SAM Conference

Registration link:  https://registration.samprocess.com/ 

A few things to consider when planning to attend:

Ø The conference is January 15-18. 2026.

Ø To be eligible to attend, you must be a SAM team member doing the process with efficacy, NSIP staff, Board member or presenter.

Ø The conference will be in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Marriott Harbor Beach Resort

Keynote Speakers

·      Will Parker, Principals Matter: Living your Best Life as an Educator

·      Will Bowen, You Can’t Complain Your Way to Success

·      Tracie Swilley, The PrinciPAL Effect: Setting the Vibe, Energy, and Excellence Every Day

·      John Antonetti, Personal Response: Am I safe to share my thinking?

·      William Martinez, Signing the Song: The Power of Belonging

Pre-Conference All-Day Workshop Presenters

·      Jim Masters, Beyond Why and What – Getting to How School Leaders Make a Difference

·      Ken Williams, Better Teachers, Better Results: Where Students Learn Because Of US

·      Willow Sweeney, Top 20 Moves for Building Effective Staff and Student Relationships

·      Executive Speaking Coaching Seminar, New York Speech Coaching