#memspachat Archive
A chat for Principals, Administrators & Lead Educators. Come join the Collaboration and Learning THURSDAY'S at 8pm ET.
Thursday September 22, 2016
8:00 PM EDT
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It's Time!! Welcome to tonight's on "Finding that Balance". Please introduce yourself & tell us where you're from!
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Mike Domagalski - participating in NOW!
Excited to discuss "Finding that Balance"
Thanks to for moderating!
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First one in the door Syndee!
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Danny Brassell. Redondo Beach, CA
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Hi to all my colleagues! Looking forward to learning from principals . Been a while! Michelle Allen from St. Joe
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Ryan Relken bringing it to you live from Goodrich, MI!
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Doug Ammeraal - Principal at Mona Shores Middle School
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Thanks for the opportunity Mike! Great group to work with!!
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Judy from Livonia! Thanks for the invite Looking forward to a lively chat!
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Debbie McFalone always interested in balance!
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Matt Severin, Dowagiac Middle School principal. SW Michigan
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Stacey Johnson Principal at Cole Academy and 's fellow member!
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Hi all! Michelle Barsh from HVS, Elem. Instr. Specialist. Glad to be here!
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Livonia is well represented tonight;)
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Hello all. Betty Rosen-Leacher here from Harvest El in Saline. Glad to be back!
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How great to see all our buddies!!!
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Welcome everyone! Thanks for joining . leading strong.
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Best Under Heaven Cohort 7!!
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Derek Wheaton Kalamazoo, MI Home of the Kalamazoo Promise!
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Hi All. Will Wright from A2.
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Jennifer Goethals from Lake Orion.
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Hello. Chris from Livonia, thanks for the invite, looking forward.
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Great group here already! We will use the Q1 and A1 format for tonight't chat. Question 1 coming up in 1 minute!
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Hi!! Kelli Campbell, Director of Teaching and Learning at Kent ISD
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Good evening! I'm eager to see the storify! Attending open house for my kids! Enjoy the conversation!
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Lots of Livonia admin representing on tonight... is going to rock moderating tonight
Here we go...
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A1: I just started Mindfulness classes. Learning to breath and care for myself from the inside out!
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Hi, Ian, from the UK. Primary Head teacher joining for the first time.
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Hey Hey, Jonathan, 2Paws, Michigan, needed some extra toddler cuddles after one of them days.
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Dawn, elem principal from Grand Ledge.
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A1: I read voraciously. Positive books. ππ
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A1: Family, Exercise, Camp Sunshine , Golf, Reading
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A1: I use mindfulness as a way to maintain balance. Also training for a half marathon
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A1: Running, Hiking, Ham Radio, Making, Building, and others. Challenging my body or mind in ways that school doesn't.
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A1: Exercise (train for distance races), play with kiddos, Netflix and chill with the wife, read, and participate in >>>
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A1: Involvement w/my kids & their activities, exercise, volunteering, FAMILY, travel, finishing Ed.S! Constantly rdg &learning!
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A1 Exercise. Love football season as well, nice break from the action each weekend
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Hi
A1. Kids events, friends, working around the house.
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A1: Exercise, walk my dog w/my wife, hiking, biking, gardening, active in church, now dance lessons-!
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A1:I play indoor soccer through the winter, exercise M-F, watch lots of sports, listen to music, play with my kids.
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A1: Cultivating rich friendships and commitment to Friday night dinners with family! Continuing to perform as a musician.
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A1: Wish I could say I did something consistently. Balance is a struggle.
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You'll have to show off some of those dance moves at the conference this year!
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A1 I also enjoy taking spur of the moment trips with my girlfriend
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A1: Except, actually, college football Saturdays!
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Balance is something I have always found hard to maintain too. This year I am determined
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That's why we're discussing it Dawn:) It's always a challenge in our profession!
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A1 Love to exercise, my number one activity is to run! The more time I have, the farther I run!
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What happens on the MEMSPA dance floor stays on the dance floor!
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Julie Mytych walker principal. Hi!
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So many great activities!! Q2 in 1 minute!
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A1: reading, day trips with the family, trying new breweries with the hubby, swinging in my hammock
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A1: Outside school to maintain balance: Helping with daughters HW (delayed this response, LOL) sports games, farmers markets
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A1 hi everyone. Michelle principal in Saline here. I find balance thru laughter. Find humor in every day. Enjoy eve fam time
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Syndee Malek, leadership development consultant, Wayne County RESA
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A2: Strive to model work/life balance. We always talk about non-work related topics & enjoy our relationships outside of school
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A2: I'm much better at talking the talk w/ staff than walking that walk sometimes. π³
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A2: I encourage my staff to limit added time at the school, especially on weekends & holidays and do the same.
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A2. I encourage them too, but work in progress for me.
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A2 By sharing. The staff I work with knows I wear my fitbit, and I usually comment to others about their steps for the day.
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A2: This year I've introduced a wellbeing policy. Mindfulness is an option if they want it, team building day & no late working!
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A2:YES! Relationship building, by sharing outside of school events/activities I do w/others, genuine interest in others as well.
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A1: It's an ongoing struggle for sure! But I do find center in Gardening, cooking, creating and just being with my hubby.
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A2: The best I can. I have a teacher who reminds us all that it's just a job. It's a big rock but not the only one.
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A2: Sharing Brene' Brown's works on admitting vulnerability and being authentic about the struggle for balance are helpful.
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A2: Use Boomerang to schedule emails. Delay deliveries until the work week. Protect their family time (and mine)!
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A2: I would hope so. Work hard..."Play" hard (A1 items). Family First. "Balance" talks w/ ind. staff. Always working on this.
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A2: S, M, W, Th night are work nights, T are non-work nights, Friday/Saturday as needed. I share books and share my run goals
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A2: Best thing I've learned is that I still have a lot to learn. I try to listen as much as possible. ππ
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Jason Gribble, Forest Elementary School principal
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Very good reminder. I often remind the staff that the school will be there long after we have all left
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A2. Kicked off the year reading "The Energy Bus"
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A2 Work in progress. Work all day, little family time, run, work again. Need to walk the walk of balance more.
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Answer number 1: sitting in my tree
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Again Jason...pictures!! :)
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It let's you schedule when you want your email sent. Great tool!
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great idea. I do that - never email at the weekend or during holidays.
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A2: Gary Williams of Keller Williams, in his book, The One Thing, discusses the balance topic wonderfully.
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I'll have to check it out!
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Great message. Once George started taking care of himself mentally, he could take care of those around him better.
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Really like this book and his perspective on balance! Changed my view. I share his perspective often with staff.
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A2: unfortunately, gotta balance right now. Wife just asked me to drive kids to practice. Thx for the chat! ππ
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Thanks for stopping in Danny!
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Gave staff a ticket to get on my bus at opening staff meeting. So far so good!!
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So agree, I was always good at ensuring they put family first, but often times neglected my own :(
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A2: Correction, Gary Keller, not Gary Williams was Maryland Hoops coach. Is is B1G hoops season yet?
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Kudos to for doing an awesome job moderating so far tonight. Great Q's, Great crowd, great collaboration on
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A2: Honoring / protecting weekends and evenings as much as possible & helping others know "it can wait" when it can
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A3: I think by using realistic expectations that both challenge but ensure that they enjoy their childhood
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That's the deal! We can only nurture other people when we're strong ourselves! I had to learn that.
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A2: never send memo after 5 or weekends, ask what'd you do this weekend for you? Use P.I.T protocol to celebrate personal life
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A3. Monitor homework !!! Small amounts and valuable.
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I find not working in the week hard, though. You do very well to manage that Michelle
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A3: strategically planned Brain/movement breaks
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A3:Teach the importance! Leader in Me teaches balance & Sharpening the Saw. School wide Sharpen the Saw day! Add in Mindfulness
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A3: Limit homework & remember it should be independent (review/practice) work, NOT anything else.
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A2: I encourage all the admin in WC to plan date night b4their PTO or any other prof commitments.
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A3: I try to model balance for our staff (personal live, PD, meetings, etc.), I'd hope staff would do same. Balance to Success.
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Start as an educator by As a parent, spend some time with your kids, they're only kids once
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That's what I'm talking about!!
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Schedule your priorities! :)
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A3: 30-minute cap on homework. Zero weekend homework. Our school asks students to belong to at least 1 thing outside school.
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A3: Eliminate homework, stop scheduling kids, provide choice, model outdoor play-Give them an empty box-Creativity is key!
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A3: Intentional Instruction, Student Choice, Intentional creativity. Following learning targets and always reflecting
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These are great life skills for all of us. It's not innate, so it needs to be taught and revisited.
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A3: Eliminated HW. Expect reading nightly, family walks, play together, time together! Great response & support from our fams.
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A2: Camo Fridays and sharing the books that I am reading.
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I agree...we need to practice, model, teach, and then remind ourselves again when we forget!
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A3: by helping Parents to help Ss in setting routines that include balanced activities. Play 60!
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A3: Promote outdoor recess and brain breaks that include movement. Teach Ss how short breaks improve thinking and productivity.
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A3: Support teachers so they can support students. Inquire and support student extra-curriculars/outside interests.
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A3: Taking a page out of , "Try something Tueaday" for homework starting in Oct
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A4 Love technology, but sometimes we all need to unplug and slow life down a bit.
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P.I.T. protocol? Can you elaborate?
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So true, Judy. Technology can make lie just a little too hectic and managed.
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Lot's of great advice and ideas for finding balance tonight!! Keep it going
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Thank you for the welcome everyone. 1.30am here and assembly to lead first thing so time to go. Good night
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Appreciate you staying up late to join us!
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Hi just getting to my Chicago hotel. But wanted to check in on a great topic tonight.
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I enjoyed it, thank you. Same time every week?
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Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel!
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A1 One of my absolute favorites, can't believe I didn't add it immediately, listen to music
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Excellent. have a great week everyone
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A4.. Have to bring solutions, not just complaints.
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A4: ALWAYS start w/positive then w/noticings & wonderings as an open door, Criticism must be viewed thru lens of Growth Mindset!
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A4: Be present - A LOT, build culture & climate, compliment 1st and show the good b4 criticism.
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A4 Feedback Feedback Feedback. You can encourage and constructively criticize
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A4: Encouragement is abundant, loud, and available to all. Criticism is minimal, private, and constructive first.
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A4: by keeping the focus on the kids and making sure that everything we do is for the kids
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Q4: Positive, concern, positive. Criticism must be addressed from both sides, open mind with intention as focus. Always growing
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A4: Gratitude walks, Accentuate the positive! Eliminate the negative! 5:1 praise to redirection 10:1 during difficult change
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A4 One needs to be an empathetic listener to understand the "why"
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Always look 4 the positive while coaching someone & follow up in encouraging ways...frequently!
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I love the idea of a Gratitude Walk! AWESOME! https://t.co/d1xdJ2GkzU
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A4: Gratitude walks, Accentuate the positive! Eliminate the negative! 5:1 praise to redirection 10:1 during difficult change
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A4: Balance is not equal...FOCUS on positives, give "criticism" when necessary for growth or needed change.
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A4: Takes less than 30 seconds to give a sincere statement of praise! Do that often, and people will listen to your concern.
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I'm just going to retweet this. Great answer! https://t.co/AUzfoMo4wl
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A4: Encouragement is abundant, loud, and available to all. Criticism is minimal, private, and constructive first.
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Criticism is an opportunity for growth. We can take criticism and cry, or take criticism and get better - I choose the latter
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Thanks Jonathan...I actually did think of how this applies to us as well. We are often our own worst critics!
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Such good discussion. Sorry I can't participate. Love the ideas/comments. You guys rock!
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We have to be careful bc mindset of receiver might not be mindset of deliverer. https://t.co/ef0FXPOyR8
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A4: ALWAYS start w/positive then w/noticings & wonderings as an open door, Criticism must be viewed thru lens of Growth Mindset!
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A4: Seek opportunities to give positive feedback so positives outnumber suggestions for improvement. Foster growth mindset.
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Thanks for a great Off to find balance with a run while it still feels like summer!
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A4: Encourage abundantly - authentically. Celebrate. Offer criticism carefully, privately, & always w/ growth in mind.
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Seeing so many great ways to show empathy, share positives, and be constructive and helpful with feedback!
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A4: Jumping in late, Andy 3-5 Principal, SW MI, frame conversations in a way you'd want feedback...follow the golden rule
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A5: you have to have the relationship established first
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A5: Ss have to know we care b4 we can do anything else. When that's solid teach and frame change v. punitive or punishment.
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A4: Jumping in late... It is all about the relationships. The withdrawls are positive when the deposits are there.
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A5: Relationship, relationship, relationship! Once that's in place, it's easier to connect & coach up w/ empathy & realism.
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A5: you have to get to the root of the matter of why the student is acting out. I have to take my wife for that answer, LLPC
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A5: I always go back to relationships. If you are continuously building that relationship, there's better chance of motivation
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A5: Discipline needs to change/shift behavior...Ss still need coaching, learning, & support. Need to know you care about them!
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A5: get to know the Ss & Ps that need extra support. Take think time before making a decision. Growth area 4 me
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A5: Be proactive in praising positive behavior in all Ss. When there are behavior issues, treat as opportunities for learning.
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A5: When they know you care about outcomes, you can help them to correct the course.
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A5: celebrate the victories because there are more of those. Give honest feedback and cheer on the next try!
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A5: Students need to be both cherished and challenged...They need us to be warm demanders.
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A5: build relationships and foster internal motivation
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A5 Agreed, it's all about the relationships. Solid relationships with students gains trust
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Another plug for the Annual Conference in Traverse City, MI. It's a can't miss -Check it out at: https://t.co/6k6mPma8zM
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We are SOLID on our Relationship building in this group! Q6 picks up on this in just a minute!
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A5: For a number of our students, we need to teach the expected behavior and discipline doesn't accomplish that goal.
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A5 praise what they do well, let them know you believe in them, brainstorm better choices to change the behavior
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A5: Relationships! Must get to the heart before the head!
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A6: Early mornings for paperwork & reports... during the day out and about be visible, present and engaged w/ Ss & staff!
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A6 Again, relationships pretty much trump everything else. Prioritize, and the important paperwork will fall in place
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Covey said it best! The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities. Relationships 1st
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A6: I literally set a timer & force myself to quit so I honor my commitments to him, too. Two loves - but he's still tops!
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Model & have patience. Crockpot...not a microwave! Thanks https://t.co/HUSoX0cSN1
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A5: For a number of our students, we need to teach the expected behavior and discipline doesn't accomplish that goal.
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A6:Relationships and people are always #1. Somehow when by putting that big rock first, the compliance still gets β
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Q6: Calendar! I try to NOT use instructional leadership time or relationship building time to fill out reports. It's scheduled
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A6: I'll often grab the laptop and work in classrooms. Allows me to hear and see things I can ask about/mention later.
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A6: Relationships always come first though. Without relationships, what do we have, really???
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A6: Do tasks outside of Ts & Ss time that take me away from being 'fully present'
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A6: Maximize the time you have in-person to cultivate relationships... Paperwork and reports go great with πand π· π
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A6: Get into your classrooms!! Pace yourself and know you will get it done. Share the load with your leaders.
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Satellite office! Great time management technique! You da man!
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A6: Early mornings are great for busy-work of it all. Prioritizing time for staff and kids during the day is key.
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I'm hearing a lot of "intentional" planning when it comes to scheduling time for relationships & visibility. Priorities!!
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A6: Ask yourself the "end of life' question: At the end of my long life, will what I'm doing right now matter?" Make memories!
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Thanks for the follow. Hope to see you on - Thursday's at 8pm EST. = GREAT GROUP!!!
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What kind o books do you like? Loved Essentialism. Start with Why. Rome 1960. I'm eclectic. πππ
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Final Question in just one minute! The time is flying by!!
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A6: Complete reporting/paperwork outside of staff/student hours in order to focus efforts on people. Be part of the action.
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quick staff survey of 1 personal success, 1 interpersonal shout out and 1 task they'd like to accomplish
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A6: Priority#1 is to be out of the office with Ts & Ss, shift the load & empower others to lead. Lead to your TEAMs strengths
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A6 Never let what's not important outweigh what is
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Whenever your best time is! For some, at the end of the day. Always tackle hardest tasks first, then easy
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I shouldn't admit this, but 4:30 am is a great time for uninterrupted work time at school https://t.co/uk0ePsWjg0
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A6: Early mornings are great for busy-work of it all. Prioritizing time for staff and kids during the day is key.
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It's the Hero himself!! Great to see you Sean:)
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A6: set times 2 Chk email, do paperwork etc be visible be intentional
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I'm doing better at using my amazing secretary to protect my time when doing this.
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This sounds like sage advice from a "Goodenoughist!"
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I think my balance would be shot at 4:30 Matt;)
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I'm right there with you both! calls it the 5 am club. calls it MiracleMorn
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Just sayin' you are doing a great job as moderator! You kept us moving!
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You have to make the relationship building your priority. Not let the paperwork/reports turn you into an ostrich in your office
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A7: Balance consists of 4 rocks, Admin, Staff, Students, and Parents all working together to what is best for kids, period!
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It's easy with a great group like this!! Ideas are flowing!:)
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A7: Sign me up for a hot stone massage!
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Great caption. Can't improve on that. ππ
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A7: Balance=Strength Thanks for the inspiration principals!
you rock!
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A7: The Stone Age: Iceage Prequel starring Sid the Sloth. Sorry, have toddler, couldn't resist. https://t.co/HFkOQV16t3
