SamTastic Weekly Tip: 7/13/20 - Take A First Step

This week’s tip: Take A First Step

We are mid-way through Summer and many SAM teams are going back to work soon. It would be easy to put off doing anything when there is so much uncertainty: what school will be like, when students will come and if the political leaders will do the right thing.

The SAM Process centers on one step at a time. Scheduling your work, management and instructional, ahead of time and talking about it after. So, now is the perfect time to begin taking “first steps”. Here are five to get you started:

1. Schedule time for the management work you know you need to do. Doing a bit each day will make it easier to move forward. This work is not predicated on whether you will have remote learning, in-person or a combination. It is work that needs to be done, regardless.

2. Update your staff list in TimeTrack. Delete staff who have left, add staff who are new and revise your groups. (Click the TimeTrack logo, select settings, select individual/group set-up.)

3. Set your goals. Don’t allow your uncertainty to keep you from setting monthly goals now. You can still do some instructional work but doing so will require planning for it. It is fine to start August with a lower instructional time goal than you did last year. Set the goal for August and slightly higher goals each month. You can always change your goals if you’d like later.

4. Don’t be afraid to schedule instructional work with teachers. You set the tone, and show what you value, by what you do. Working with teachers on their work with students is necessary no matter what school looks like. Start by scheduling meeting with each teacher or group of teachers. Focus on how the teacher is feeling and be supportive. Ask about the remote teaching that worked well—what were their wins? What are they looking forward to trying? How can you help?

5. Schedule your first SAM Daily Meeting. Celebrate your work from last year and pat each other on the back. You have a plan, your TimeTrack, and you are proactive, positive, enthused and determined. In other words, you are a school leader.

Your Time Change Coach can help. Let your coach know what you’d like. Your coach can schedule remote one-on-one sessions with the SAM or principal. Also, The SAM Coffee Break August 6 will feature NSIP founder Mark Shellinger setting up a TimeTrack for the new year. Mark will answer questions and demonstrate how to use a variety of TimeTrack functions designed to make the work of SAM teams easier.

SamTastic Weekly Tip: 7/6/20 - Embrace Confusion

This week’s tip: Embrace Confusion

Do you welcome confusion in your school? Do students learn without confusion? Do staff members learn without confusion? Do you?

Paul Bernabei, Top 20 Training, makes a strong case that confusion is necessary in learning. He focuses on the social/emotional base of teaching—connecting with, understanding and supporting students and staff.

Paul was our SAM Coffee Break guest last week. Take 20 minutes to view his presentation. It

may be just the lift you need as you re-energize for the coming school

year. https://bit.lv/3eV9ZBV If you are asked for a password use: 9O$2N@z1

Paul prepared a handout, too. Here’s the link: https://bit.lv/38lbtTL

SamTastic Weekly Tip: 6/29/20 - Learn a new Principle this Summer

This week’s tip: Learn a new Principle this Summer

Think about the teacher, or group, you did not feel successful in helping this year. You’ve likely thought about what you did and why it didn’t work. You’ve likely advanced beyond blaming the teacher and have moved on to what you can try next.

Dale Carnegie was a popular American writer and lecturer in the 1930’s and developed courses in self-improvement and interpersonal skills. Carnegie developed twelve principles to use when working with people that have been borrowed by most every leadership development program and self-improvement author since.

Take a look at his twelve principles, below. Is there one you might try?

Carnegie’s Twelve Principles

1. The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.

2. Show respect for the other person’s opinions. Never say “You’re wrong.”

3. If you are wrong, admit it quickly and empathically.

4. Begin in a friendly way.

5. Get the other person saying “yes, yes” immediately.

6. Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.

7. Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.

8. Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view.

9. Be sympathetic with the other person’s ideas or desires.

10. Appeal to the nobler motives.

11. Dramatize your ideas.

12. Throw down a challenge.