#ALedchat is a weekly chat on Twitter about education topics. It is held each Monday from 9-10pmCST. While the discussion on #ALedchat continues on Twitter well beyond our weekly one-hour chat session, this platform affords us the opportunity to extend, expand and share the conversation with an even greater audience. Educators from across the state of Alabama, and the world, can come here to find encouragement, support, resources, professional growth opportunities and advice, while providing the same to their colleagues.
We are examining ways to improve overall culture and climate in schools . School climate refers to the school's effects on the people. School culture refers to the way teachers and other staff members work together; the beliefs, values, and assumptions they share. #ALedchat
I help school admin fight isolation and frustration via a leadership community in order to gain clarity and find solutions to their greatest challenges. If I can help you DM me or visit 👉https://t.co/ORLO2GzOSo#BLBS#ALedchat
A2 I'd like to focus on positive change.Mending team https://t.co/qfCZlrUfm7 &Team building.Facilitating healthy conflict that leads to prob solving.Improving communications between all stakeholders. #ALedchat#BLBS
A1: It’s so cliche, but so true: actions speak louder than words. Kids watch your actions, mannerisms, and interactions. Kids deserve world class role models. #aledchat
A1: Positive attitudes and being receptive to change. I want members of my team to be excited to try something new, not spend energy finding reasons it won't work. #positivity#Progressive#GrowthMindset#ALedchat
A1: It’s so cliche, but so true: actions speak louder than words. Kids watch your actions, mannerisms, and interactions. Kids deserve world class role models. #aledchat
A1 - I provide a listening to both the faculty and students! I stand at the top of A Hall and say good morning to everyone that crosses my path each day! I attend as many extracurricular activities I can get to and then talk to the Ts and Ss about it the next day #ALedchat
A1: Positive attitudes and being receptive to change. I want members of my team to be excited to try something new, not spend energy finding reasons it won't work. #positivity#Progressive#GrowthMindset#ALedchat
A1: I go to the kids. It’s important they see me participating in the learning process as much as possible. Building relationships in the classrooms and building not the office. #ALedchat
Love this answer! My school is extremely small. 235 students PreK-6th grade. It’s really easy to tell when a teacher is not present and visible! #aledchat
A1: I try to make an impact by building relationships with my students. This has the biggest impact in my classroom. When they know you care they care! #ALedchat
A1: I want my actions to spread positivity, not negativity! My contribution: I model risk-taking, failure, persistence, encouragement, creativity, and enthusiasm. #ALedchat
A1: Partnership approach, we are all in this together from the custodian to the superintendent! We all make a difference for students. It is important we feel like family and that we count on one another. I have to engage 120%. #ALEdChat
A1: build strong relationships, teach essential social skills, be positive role models, teach effective problem solving skills, praise for good choices and use constructive criticism. #UMedTech#ALedchat
Allowing the kids to fix their mistakes is easy in theory, but they deserve the chance to mess up. It helps them learn how to interact into the future. #ALedchat
A1: build strong relationships, teach essential social skills, be positive role models, teach effective problem solving skills, praise for good choices and use constructive criticism. #UMedTech#ALedchat
A1: Positive attitudes and being receptive to change. I want members of my team to be excited to try something new, not spend energy finding reasons it won't work. #positivity#Progressive#GrowthMindset#ALedchat
A1: Joining in, Jeff Mathheus principal @brookhillelem A leader models the culture. They must show they vulnerability & their growth to their students & staff. Be present, listen, and then speak. #aledchat
A1: Joining in, Jeff Mathheus principal @brookhillelem A leader models the culture. They must show they vulnerability & their growth to their students & staff. Be present, listen, and then speak. #aledchat
A2: In my opinion, HCS has a very collaborative culture. I would like to find even more formal ways to incorporate student voice into our culture. I also want up to continue to build strong relationships among all stakeholders. #aledchat
A2: Our climate is improving and so is the culture. We focus on collaborative planning time (CPT) and #CollectiveEfficacy. Teacher collaboration with student success is the vehicle to get to collective teacher efficacy. #ALEdChat
A2 - there is always room to make the cultured tour school better. Current state is positive but some feeling as if they are valued. Ways to improve it is by give those a voice and providing encouraging words and inspiration to them! #ALedchat
A2: We always joke that we teach in Mayberry, but that’s how the school feels. Sure there’s issues, but our culture is overwhelmingly positive with a focus on the success of EVERY child. We’ve had a rough year, but it’s made us closer. Love my mountain family! :) #aledchat
A2: Data is so important, as we identify ways to push kids forward.
However, the culture should focus on students. When we look at data, are we looking at it because it is best for kids, or are we looking at it to compare to other adults? Focus on the kids. #ALedchat
A2: We are building a culture of collaboration. Our staff has grown tremendously through our PLT work on Effective Units of Design. We do a great job of supporting & picking up one another. #aledchat#BestStaffICouldAskFor
A2: Our culture is changing as our community changes. I want to help our teachers learn to maintain high expectations but also understand the students we have now. We don’t have to lower expectations, just change the methods. #ALedchat
A2: The culture of @EdgewoodElem and @HomewoodSchools is one predicated on a deep desire to maximize unique potential and develop greatness in all students, faculty, and staff. We firmly believe that everyone has gifts, strengths, and talents #ALedchat
A2: Positive culture that promotes individualized student learning through a variety of instructional methods. I would like to help my colleagues implement more technology in their classrooms. #UMedTech#ALedchat
A2 Collaborative planning is critical. Too many "teams" have time set aside but do not execute collaboration with the fidelity required to impact student achievement.We must stay focused on our objective-student success! #ALEdChat
A2. We have quarterly student meetings where we discuss schoolwide data with ss and seek their input. We discuss celebrations and areas of improvement. #aledchat
A2: This reminds me of my mom's saying... "You made your bed hard, you gotta sleep in it."
One area I would like to see improved at our school is increasing #stuvoice as a KEY component of decisions.
#ALedchat
A2: We work really hard building trust and relationships with our Ss to love collaborative learning. A culture improvement needed is student self-advocacy in the learning process Ss push instead of teachers pull!! #ALedchat
Yes. I always go back and reflect when chatting about data: Why are we having this talk?
If I can’t circle it back to kids, I change the course of conversation. #ALedchat
Same. One of my students said last week, “I feel like our voices don’t matter” to their classroom teachers and admin. We need to work on making a school-wide leadership approach. #aledchat
A2 Collaborative planning is critical. Too many "teams" have time set aside but do not execute collaboration with the fidelity required to impact student achievement.We must stay focused on our objective-student success! #ALEdChat
Q2: You get the culture you WORK for! I try to be every where my kids and staff are! Balancing time for my email inbox and managerial paperwork...while I’m STILL at work...not home with family...well i’m still a work in progress! #ALedchat
Pretty sure there is not one student who would tell you I don’t love my job. #ALedchat Teenagers don’t have to be defined by their choices-and for that all the adults are grateful.
Q2: You get the culture you WORK for! I try to be every where my kids and staff are! Balancing time for my email inbox and managerial paperwork...while I’m STILL at work...not home with family...well i’m still a work in progress! #ALedchat
A3: This is weird, but I guage a lot about culture and climate of my school and other schools by the general cleanliness and order of the bathrooms. Told ya. Weird. #ALEdChat
A3: Great culture is sometimes hard to define, but you know it when you see it or have it. Surveys and other instruments are good, but listening to what is and is not being said by stakeholders is essential. #ListenMoreTalkLess#aledchat
Definitely speaks to an actualization of a hierarchy of needs of sorts; essentially that type of stuff falls by the wayside if culture is not strong. Non-cert folks need to be supported and lifted up as well as our certified professionals #ALedchat#BSBL
A3: This is weird, but I guage a lot about culture and climate of my school and other schools by the general cleanliness and order of the bathrooms. Told ya. Weird. #ALEdChat
This is just awesome!We did this in charters & the gains were phenomenal.I have sought a program locally implementing on point.All Ts & Ss must know the goal and the data is critical for analyzing skill gaps to teach/reteach for mastery. Student success is data driven #aledchat
A3. I can measure the climate of the day but the sound level in the cafeteria. Culture can be measured if people tell you what you need to hear rather than what they think you want to hear. #aledchat
A3: This is weird, but I guage a lot about culture and climate of my school and other schools by the general cleanliness and order of the bathrooms. Told ya. Weird. #ALEdChat
A3: I think it is easier to gauge climate than it is to gauge culture. Climate is gauged by watching Ts and Ss attitude, by listening to Ts and Ss and by the quality of work being presented by Ss and lessons by Ts.#aledchat
Being present, watching, and listening. You can feel and see climate and culture when you walk in any building. Surveys and exit tickets for reflection and evidence. @DrJimmyShaw king! #ALEdChat
A3 - I gauge the culture and climate by talking with and listening to the students, faculty and stakeholders to gather their insights on how things are going in our school #ALedchat
A3: Engagement, Engagement, Engagement this will tell all in a school. When this isn’t taking place @branowar can enlighten on the restroom situation! #ALedchat
A4 Sawubona. It's an African Zulu greeting that means “I see you”. When we see@our colleagues, our students, our parents, and community members, that speaks volumes. I am amazed at how we try not to see not people, in particular children. #YouSeeMeThereforeIam#ALedchat
Q4 Did you know you are a weatherman or weatherwoman? How you “show up” at school impacts the climate. Share 4-5 words that describe YOU at your BEST (PRO TIP: not aspirational goals, but use real words that describe you at your best) #ALedchat#BLBS
A3: The overall happiness of all stakeholders in the building. Do teachers, admin, students want to be there, or do they feel like they have to be? #ALedchat
I too would love to learn more about your Ss led conferences as this is on my radar for the 2018-2019 school year. We have multiple KSHAC’s/SWAG groups in my district who are eager to learn & change their school & community #Aledchat
In reply to
@mzbowlin11, @Jennifer_Hogan, @mkiser2
A4 Sawubona. It's an African Zulu greeting that means “I see you”. When we see@our colleagues, our students, our parents, and community members, that speaks volumes. I am amazed at how we try not to see not people, in particular children. #YouSeeMeThereforeIam#ALedchat
A3 Are your teachers smiling? Are discipline referrals high or low? Forget the superlativesof ideals. That is the quick assessment of how your culture is headed. #ALedchat
Q4 Did you know you are a weatherman or weatherwoman? How you “show up” at school impacts the climate. Share 4-5 words that describe YOU at your BEST (PRO TIP: not aspirational goals, but use real words that describe you at your best) #ALedchat#BLBS
A3: I'm always looking to see who's willing and able to jump on board and try things. Here's my grade level team dressed up for our Staff play to get Ss pumped up for the state test. #ALedchat
A2: Our culture is awesome @ HHS! It’s very obvious the faculty loves the Ss. We teachers also look out for another and we are competitive! 😳😂@DrHSutherland#ALEdChat
Q4 Did you know you are a weatherman or weatherwoman? How you “show up” at school impacts the climate. Share 4-5 words that describe YOU at your BEST (PRO TIP: not aspirational goals, but use real words that describe you at your best) #ALedchat#BLBS
A3. I think you can't count discipline referrals until a true expectation of behavior has been set by the adults in the building. I totally agree with smiles! #aledchat
A3 Are your teachers smiling? Are discipline referrals high or low? Forget the superlativesof ideals. That is the quick assessment of how your culture is headed. #ALedchat
Q4 Did you know you are a weatherman or weatherwoman? How you “show up” at school impacts the climate. Share 4-5 words that describe YOU at your BEST (PRO TIP: not aspirational goals, but use real words that describe you at your best) #ALedchat#BLBS
A$b @mkiser2@Jennifer_Hogan I do a group coaching session live called "Live and Lead at Your Best" ... anyone in #ALedchat that wants the video and worksheet I created can have it free. Just DM me your email and I'll send it tomorrow 💯
Q4 Did you know you are a weatherman or weatherwoman? How you “show up” at school impacts the climate. Share 4-5 words that describe YOU at your BEST (PRO TIP: not aspirational goals, but use real words that describe you at your best) #ALedchat#BLBS
Q4 Did you know you are a weatherman or weatherwoman? How you “show up” at school impacts the climate. Share 4-5 words that describe YOU at your BEST (PRO TIP: not aspirational goals, but use real words that describe you at your best) #ALedchat#BLBS
I agree. The discipline referrals as a reflection of teacher attitude and failure to set expectations clearly. Expecting but not communicating. I see it as a cycle of dysfunction. And those are symptoms. #aledchat.
Q4 Did you know you are a weatherman or weatherwoman? How you “show up” at school impacts the climate. Share 4-5 words that describe YOU at your BEST (PRO TIP: not aspirational goals, but use real words that describe you at your best) #ALedchat#BLBS
A5: Consistency of purpose is key. We have to define our current reality and then our desired state. We must define our purpose and then lead every decision towards that purpose. #aledchat
A5: Make sure each kid has positive adult interactions. Each student deserves an authentic, caring adult who is his/her biggest champion.
Track it.
Reflect.
Establish a committee.
Just make sure each kid has a champion teacher in their corner. #ALedchat
A5: I want to build upon celebrating others through social media or other platforms. HES has knocked this out of the park, and I want to encourage others to do more as well. It has had very positive impacts on culture. #aledchat
A5 - Allowing for the students to have more of a voice on things that have an impact on them and truly listening to the teachers instead of just asking to say we asked! #ALedchat
A5: Jumping in late - but one thing we did was launch a whistle-blower campaign to blow the whistle on all the positive things happening in our district. We showcased students and teachers. #ALEdChat
A5: I want to build upon celebrating others through social media or other platforms. HES has knocked this out of the park, and I want to encourage others to do more as well. It has had very positive impacts on culture. #aledchat
A5. Attend events talk to parents! Team up with students, parents and teachers-building bridges not walls. Show you are human and expect mistakes but treat all involved with dignity. #ALedchat
A5 It may seem simple, but as leaders if we Do what we say and say what we mean it goes a LONG way towards establishing credibility to enhance culture. Walk the walk! #ALedchat
A5. As a district we are implementing restorative practices, getting the offender and offended to view situations from different perspectives. #aledchat
The simpler the better! The more complicated we make something the worse it tends to get. Many times the cure ends up being worse than the disease (problem) was to begin with. #aledchat
A5: It’s the little things that matter. We have #AHSBingo, where teachers tweet out different things they do, and it fills out a Bingo Card. A lot of it is different ways of serving other teachers, which goes a long way towards building a positive culture. #ALedchat
A5: Walking the walk we talk! If we as Ts and As model the behavior we want from our Ss: attendance, positive attitudes, doing what we need to do on time, Ss will see and try to live up to the examples set. #ALEdChat
A5 I love social media but one strategy I love is face to face real time with students focused on relationship building. Mentoring, facilitating random acts of kindness groups or "If you really knew me" real life friendship circles.Kids need caring adults.#ALedchat
A6 The power of the handwritten note to staff does wonders. #GoodNewsCalloftheDay can be a game changer for families and their perspective of school. Amplify the positive!! #ALedchat
A6: Powerful question! Each day I aspire to thank those that make the difference for so many; our teachers, staff, parents, and students #ALedchat#BLBS
A6 I try to greet my Ss at the door with a smile. I try to highlight times when my Ss when really shine! Finally, just showing genuine interest in my kids. Ss can't learn from someone they don't like or connect to. #aledchat
A6 - I try to leave at least one hand written note a day to a teacher that I saw doing great things in the classroom! I also try to recognize our students that are doing great things through social media and face to face! #ALedchat
A6: By communicating to people how great they are. We think positive thoughts about people, but we don’t always tell them. People want to feel valued and appreciated. They need to hear that reinforcement, and that we are grateful they are working with us. #ALedchat
A6: I am thankful each day for where God has placed me. I try to maintain a positive attitude with my students and try to make sure they know that I am thankful for the work they put into what we are learning. I try to always thank them for a great class! #ALEdChat
I did this while in a local school too. Kept a spreadsheet with everyone of the staff on it. That challenged me to write TY cards to even individuals that I wouldn't naturally write too. #ALedchat#BLBS
A6 - I try to leave at least one hand written note a day to a teacher that I saw doing great things in the classroom! I also try to recognize our students that are doing great things through social media and face to face! #ALedchat
A6: I try to celebrate teachers and students on social media. I also do a weekly newsletter highlighting a great teacher(s) and someone who has gone the extra mile. #aledchat
Like a baseball player on a fly-ball, I cannot assume you are going to take care of that, as a leader I have to take charge and make it happen #makeithappen#ALedchat#BLBS
A6.2 For our staff, we tried as a Social Committee to accentuate the positive things we see in our classrooms. Many staff members have received these handwritten notes this year! #aledchat
A6 - I try to leave at least one hand written note a day to a teacher that I saw doing great things in the classroom! I also try to recognize our students that are doing great things through social media and face to face! #ALedchat
A6 I teach K so for my Ss we like air high fives, hugs, and doing the cabbage patch! With other TS, simply saying that I like their idea goes a looooong way! #aledchat
A7 Try to involve stakeholders through our social media platforms. Always looking for more ways to include parents and community members. Any suggestions would be appreciated! #aledchat
A5: We began using social media to share our story. Telling your story is vital in creating good culture within your School and community. Highlighting achievements and success focuses on the positive while keeping stakeholders informed. #ALedchat
A7: We try to involve as many community partners as we can in our school. Sharing our story and building our brand has helped our community feel a part of our school. We work to show appreciation for all our community does for us! #aledchat
A7: Go to the community, do things that involve the community, bring the community into the learning process in PBL’s. Teach students to give back. #ALedchat
A7: Inviting them into the school and have a place for them. And if they won’t come to you, go to them. Hold events that make community members feel like they are part of the school. Remind them how appreciative you are for their help whenever they help with something. #ALedchat
I use it all the time. https://t.co/kHXNl4yPrB Mastermind members are using it to deliver feedback from lessons like @Voxer you can show your enthusiasm with your voice #ALedchat#BLBS
A7 I am proud of how we celebrate student successes with families throughout the year. Students learn to appreciate the sacrifices/Support and know we are all working together to uplift kids! #aledchat
A7: I try to involve stakeholders by social media and email. Also a phone call goes a long way. I have a unique opportunity to work with community stakeholders because I am the NHS sponsor and I live in the community I teach in. Really helps with getting Ss involved.#ALedchat
A7 - My family and I are in the community every time the community has an event and by doing this I am able to share with them the different things the school has going on. To be successful in the schools you have to have the community backing/support! You have to serve #ALedchat
FQ: Startbucks is known as the “third place” … a place all about community & connection … coffee is just what they sell. If we take away the idea that we are about education, then what is your school really about? #ALedchat#BLBS
A7: We have to remember that not all members of the community/parents feel comfortable in the school because of past experiences. We can’t be afraid to take the school to them - an environment they are comfy in. This builds culture beyond school walls. #ALedchat
A7: One thing my school does is hold report card conferences with community leaders. The students reflect and set goals but also develop relationships with their mentors. It has been effective at getting stakeholders involved in our school. #aledchat
When you invite your community into your school, they become an voice for your students and staff. They enter as a visitor and exit as an ambassador. #ALedchat
FA Our goal is to serve others. In every thing we do at school, we should strive to change the trajectory of the lives we are blessed to work with! Make each moment count! #ALedchat
A7: Empower them. Give them opportunities for their voice to be heard via meetings, surveys, etc. Keep them informed and up to date . Communicate clearly. #ALedchat
FA Our school is about embracing diversity. It's about embracing what makes us unique and different in a positive way. Our school is about finding the untapped potential of each student, no matter how close or far away they may be. #aledchat
FA. I get up everyday and go to work for the students. I send my son to school everyday knowing his teachers are there for him. Everyday every student no excuses #aledchat
FA Our goal is to serve others. In every thing we do at school, we should strive to change the trajectory of the lives we are blessed to work with! Make each moment count! #ALedchat
A: We are in the industry of relationships. We are helping communities across the globe to build a better, brighter tomorrow.
Teach kindness.
#ALEdChat
A7: Develop a plan. Have a timeline for specific target goals of how to reach out to the community stakeholders. Many groups want to build a partnership but aren't sure how to bridge the gap. Have an "ambassador" with a plan. #ALedchat
