SamTastic Weekly Tip: 11/21/22 - Think About Gratitude

Today’s Tip: Think about gratitude.

With the Thanksgiving holiday this week many SAM teams focus on what, and who, they appreciate.

Leaders who show gratitude, the quality of being thankful and a readiness to show appreciation and return kindness, have a super power. Showing gratitude significantly impacts a leader’s ability to improve teaching and learning.

Staff members are thirsty for authentic recognition and appreciation and are far more likely to engage in improved practice when effort is noticed. US Department of Labor statistics show the number one reason a person leave a job is lack of recognition and appreciation.

Many SAM teams regularly show appreciation and do so in a systematic manner. They don’t just say thanks. They connect their appreciation for how the work effects the mission. They tell a First Responder that their effort makes it possible for the principal to spend more time supporting students and teachers. They tell a teacher who has improved that it has a positive impact on students.

Many SAMs create a gratitude culture by asking the leader what they liked during a “seeing instruction” event. Getting the leader to notice what they like is a powerful step toward gratitude.

All of us at NSIP appreciate the work you do each day. No one does work as important, and as challenging, as SAM teams. Your school community, and our country, benefit from the work you do each day. We appreciate, respect and value you.

Please note: The deadline for travel information for the 16th Annual National SAM Conference is December 5. If we don’t have your travel information you may be moved to the wait list. Send travel information to Peggy@SamsConnect.com If you have a problem please let her know the exact date you will have the information and she will do her best to work it out with you.

You can still register for the conference but will be placed on a wait list as all 500 rooms have been tentatively assigned. As rooms become available you will be cleared. To register: https://bit.ly/3cO5q0z

SamTastic Weekly Tip: 11/15/22 - Group Meetings

Today’s Tip: Group Meetings

Most school leaders spend more time each week/year in meetings than any other activity.

There are three descriptors for working with groups:

• Professional Development

• Decision Making Groups and Meetings

• Planning, Curriculum and Assessment.

Open your dashboard and look at where you are spending time in group meetings.

The SAM process is all about intentionality. Ask if it was the leader’s intention to spend more time with one group than another. Ask if the leader can connect time spent with a group with improved teacher practice. If not, what needs to change?

It is easy for a leader to allow meetings to take far more time than intended. Working with teachers in group settings can have tremendous positive impact if carefully thought out and planned. Asking the leader during the SAM Daily Meeting what follow-up is needed after attending a group meeting is the first step. This causes the leader to be reflective about why he/she attended the meeting in the first place. Was attending intentional or simply habit?

Please note: The deadline for travel information for the 16th Annual National SAM Conference is December 5. If we don’t have your travel information you may be moved to the wait list. Send travel information to Peggy@SamsConnect.com If you have a problem, please let her know the exact date you will have the information and she will do her best to work it out with you.

You can still register for the conference but will be placed on a wait list as all 500 rooms have been tentatively assigned. As rooms become available you will be cleared. To register: https://bit.ly/3cO5q0z

SamTastic Weekly Tip: 11/7/22 - Time To Check Your Focus

Today’s Tip: Time To Check Your Focus

At the start of the year, most SAM teams pick five or six teachers, or other educators, as their FOCUS. This allows the team to get a quick look at how much time there are spending on each and assess whether there is improvements.

Three months have passed so this is a good time to stop and look at the time spent with each Focus Teacher and whether the investment has reaped dividends.

To check, open your DASHBOARD, go to the chart in the upper right, and click on the FOCUS button. This will show you the time spent with each person you identified earlier. You can click on any bar to see a breakout of time spent.

Here are the key questions:

1. Can you identify positive change of practice that is connected with the time you’ve spend?

   • If yes, does the teacher know? What would you like to do next?

   • If not, what do you need to do? Would it help to ask the teacher?

2. Are you comfortable with the amount of time you’ve spent with each person? Have you looked at frequency of contact? (click a red bar, then click the button in the upper left, INTERACTIONS. Then, click the Frequency button in the upper right.

3. Are you ready to select a different set of FOCUS teachers/educators? Go to the orange TimeTrack logo, click Settings, select individual/group set-up. You will see the focus selection options in the first column.

The SAM process continues to grow across the country. Last Thursday/Friday 56 more school leaders in Osceola, Florida completed training and were in the GREEN. Cindy Ramdial-Budhai, Liberty High School, shared her creative way of securing the right SAM:

Please note: The deadline for travel information for the 16th Annual National SAM Conference is December 5. If we don’t have your travel information you may be moved to the wait list. Send travel information to Peggy@SamsConnect.com If you have a problem please let her know the exact date you will have the information and she will do her best to work it out with you.

You can still register for the conference but will be placed on a wait list as all 500 rooms have been tentatively assigned. As rooms become available you will be cleared. To register: https://bit.ly/3cO5q0z