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Why We Tribe! There is Power in the Connection

7/27/2018

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I can remember being a 2nd-year teacher, having just relocated and starting at a new school and hearing the words, “Oh, she’ll do it, we can just tell.” You see, the school that I had been hired at also had just hired a new principal, and the lead teachers wanted to welcome the new principal in a meaningful way. They planned a skit to introduce the teachers to the new principal. They brought out a gown and crown and told me to put it on and play a part. And let me tell you, I was very uncomfortable but went along with the group and instantly gained confidence. It was an initiation of sorts to my first tribe! It was also the beginning of a decade of learning and growing with an incredible group of educators. It turned out the new principal, Dr. Jean Quigg was a passionate learner and expected the same of those that worked alongside her. I instantly had a tribe and a group to belong to that was striving for change and making things better. I was lucky.
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I need to be around people who have ideas and who are excited about creating learning opportunities for others. Having felt the power of a tribe early in my career, I have continually sought out communities where I felt connected. Looking back, I have been connected to a tribe at each school that I have worked at over the years.

Seth Godin wrote a book titled “Tribes.” Those who know me well know that Seth Godin is one of my favorite people to read, listen to and watch. I find wisdom and encouragement in his work. I have this AWESOME book that compiles much of his writing. (I just have to show you how huge it is!)​
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Godin makes the point that there has been a shift in how change occurs in the world today. You use to need a publisher, money, and luck to be able to share a message or create change. Today the web gives us all the opportunity to connect and lead without the permission that was once needed.

​Four years ago I found a new tribe through Twitter.  A tribe that spans the nation geographically. The Compelled Tribe is a blogging tribe and Voxer group that provides support and encouragement for learning. The Compelled Tribe is led by Jennifer Hogan, Craig Vroom, and Jonathon Wennstrom.  My journey with the Compelled Tribe has been one of encouragement, learning, and reflection. I have had a love-hate relationship with blogging but have grown to really value it's contribution to my learning through the Compelled Tribe. I love looking back at what I have learned and/or created and seeing how I have changed or grown over time.  But, the struggle to express myself doesn’t come easy.

This post is in response to a prompt the Compelled Tribe put out this month asking each of us “Why We Tribe?” I believe in the power of a tribe because it connects me to other people who have ideas and knowledge that I can learn from. The tribe also encourages me to take new learning and make meaning of it through blogging and sharing with others.  And being in a tribe means that I have the opportunity to be a part of something bigger. Creating change in our schools sometimes feels impossible. My connection and investment in the tribe gives me hope that together we can learn and make a difference collectively.

Have you found your tribe? I would love to know how the connection has impacted you. 

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Lead4ward -  Simple Instructional Strategies at your Finger Tips!

7/1/2018

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At the Houston ISD’s Professional Learning Series this summer I attended a session that featured Lead4ward data reports and the Lead4ward App. I was expecting the Lead4ward app to access data reports on a mobile device. I was surprised to find out that the app didn’t link to data but serves as an interface that provides instructional strategies in an organized way to teachers. The app is a simple tool teachers/PLC’s can use to infuse different strategies and formative checks into instruction. The app is free and available in the IOS store.

Let’s look at the Lead4ward App interface.  Below is the app's home screen. 
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The orange Quickchecks button leads to a list of instructional strategies that a teacher or PLC can chose to use.
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Teachers can simply click on a strategy and the app guides them through the use of the strategy in a very simple format that can be applied to any learning environment and offers suggestions to extend thinking past the quickcheck. In the example below, I clicked on the 3-2-1 summary strategy. 

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The blue Think It Up button leads to a list of strategies that can extend a students thoughts and lead to deeper understanding of the standard. 
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The purple button Resources and Content Builders leads to resources that support Texas TEKS and STAAR testing data. There is good content here for Texas educators, but educators outside of Texas will not utilize this section of the app.  The green button Professional development provides information and links to Lead4ward PD opportunities.

There is a timer at the bottom of the app that teachers can use in instruction. Timers are easy to find on youtube etc., but it's nice to have it accessible in the app.  A teacher can have it open a Quickcheck or Think It Up once time expires. 
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In addition to the App the Lead4ward website offers valuable information to Texas teachers regarding standards. The website has resources that vertically align standards. When planning, teachers can quickly see which standards students have covered in previous grade levels.  Using formative assessment teachers can assess if those standards have been mastered and scaffold instruction for students.  Below is an example from English 1, however the website has content available in all core areas.  The standard below is Figure 19 -reflect on understanding to monitor comprehension (e. g., asking questions, summarizing and synthesizing, making connections, creating sensory images). Take a look at how Lead4ward identifies the supporting standards from previous grade levels for a teacher.  
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In addition to the content from the app and website Lead4ward offers paid features with additional support for teachers.  Having a solid list of strategies at a teacher's fingertips can facilitate conversations during planning within PLC's  and lead to different paths for instruction. I am looking forward to using and sharing these resources with teachers on my campus.  

What other apps have you found that organize strategies or help teachers when planning instruction?
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