Tom Waters

 This is an easy one. Over at SpiralWarmUps.com there are some really great free resources for reading teachers. Apparently, they spent the summer updating and creating new resources that reading teachers will love!  1. Free Guided Reading Resources  - This includes a data tool, 5 steps to better reading groups, a Jan Richardson Resources, research, and more! 2. 9 Reading Comprehension Strategies -  A video, explanations, tips, and ideas for improving reading comprehension. 3. 8 Ways to Use Word Study Warm-Ups - This fundamental skill set is critical for bridging gaps in readers.

In case you haven't heard, there's a collaboration going on between TeamTom Education , Nohea , and Schoolhouse 302 that is designed to support the work of newly hired principals and aspiring school leaders. What kind of resources are there for new principals? Webinars designed to increase school management skills . Monthly research-based leadership articles . And there are paid resources for new principals who wish to make serious investments into their professional growth and success: The 3 in 3, which delivers three years of leadership experience in three weeks of time. The principals' club and spotlight courses. As a reader of the Tom Waters' blog, you're invited to explore these resources for principals at Principals' Seminar . Teacher Resources: Ultimate Classroom Management Checklist Effective Transitions in the Classroom How to Teach Context Clues What is High Quality Teaching? Best Books for Teachers to Read Over Summer

We don't really use business cards as educators. The people we run into on a daily basis usually work with us. The "resume" is used as just one piece in online applications, but after submitting who really sees it? What gatekeepers or computer programs limit the reach of the resume? Is the resume dead? No. But it has changed. A blog is the new resume for educators . A LinkedIn page is great, but some educators underestimate its value. ( Have we connected? ) A Twitter profile is great for connections and discussions. But a blog, which is free and easy to set up ( WordPress.com ), is the standard for educator resumes. A blog makes it easy for a school leader or for district personnel to see if you are a good fit. It allows you to share your learning and work ( here's where I share mine ). It also displays your ability to communicate and provide valuable resources to the education profession. I recently toured a few blogs and found valuable insights an...

Are the current shifts in grading practices worth it? Think about all the time, effort, and resources used to shift from a 100-point grading scale to a 5-point scale. Is it actually worth it? Is there, or will there be, an actual return on the investment? The costs are high. The investments are weighty. Is standards-based grading worth it? Here's a serious look at the what, the why, and the cost of standards-based grading. The Costs of Standards-Based Grading If you've experienced a district who changed to "standards-based" grading and reporting, you've undoubtedly experienced some of the costs. Here are a few: Leadership training including principals, curriculum teams, and board of trustees. Teacher training. Public information meetings. Parent-teacher meetings. Changes in grading software. Changes in classroom grading and assessment practices. Misunderstandings by students. Another "new" way with an array of misconceptions. Oppo...

Multiplying results, multiplying your network, multiplying strength in others, multiplying your team's effective - these are all traits of multipliers (here's the amazing book by Liz Wiseman ). On the flipside, there are many actions that can diminish in spite of being spurred by good intentions. In this post, I'll share with you 6 types of accidental diminishers : The Optimist The Rapid Responder The Pace-Setter The Rescuer The Idea Guy Always On Marci Houseman shared the graphic below on Twitter, and I thought it would be perfect to share with you. The Wiseman Group " Being a multiplier means being aware of those times when we have a tendency to be an accidental diminisher. To build capacity we must provide others with the opportunity to learn and grow—even if something is done “differently” than we would have done it." - Marci Houseman The Optimist Being an optimist is a strength, and it's much needed. However, the strength...

These are the top back to school posts for school leaders and school culture shapers. I hope you enjoy finding these great reads for the first time or rereading them and finding golden nuggets all over again. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. How Long Should Direct Instruction Be? Direct instruction is great, but how long should it be - based on brain research? This is a great reminder from Eric Jensen about the length that most students can cognitively engage (in direct instruction, that is) and 5 tips to get the most from direct instruction. Read more >>>  Originally Published August 9, 2017, by @mafost Pin Me! Boost Staff Morale, 23 Tips Here are 23 easy-to-use, and mostly free, tips that any principal can do this week to boost morale and make some morale magic happen! Read more >>...

Building Trust Through Change How do a principal and school leadership team lead change without starting a mutiny? Because you very well know that mutinies are real, and even good principals can be thrown overboard if they make the wrong missteps. Namely, if there is strong distrust on campus. So let's stay on the ship. Safely with our crews...so to speak. Today I want to share the great advice from other educational leaders and principals that can help you build trust through times of change. Building Trust With Your Staff Let's start with a big challenge: staff members or teachers who we perceive aren't "keeping up" with the profession. Change for them is usually the hardest. "Yes but how do we get that thought through to those who aren't keeping up with their professions...without it looking like "top-down" initiatives? Blame-shame for 3rd parties is so much easier." @LaneWalker2 Blame and shame usually lead to...

I was listening to the Better Leaders Better Schools podcast this week and came across a great episode on grant opportunities, building relationships in the community, and creating business partnerships. I'd like to share a few key points from the podcast that you might find helpful as a school leader. Make A Million with Grants This episode is literally about how David Kincade generated a million+ dollars for organizations. The premise, and catch, to getting grants is understanding where they are and why they are given.  And of course, the fact that they are called everything but "grants" is an important first understanding. Grant Money is Everywhere! Grants are everywhere just waiting for schools to ask for it. Money for furniture, for technology, for agriculture, and more is just waiting for principals to apply for it! Three Areas for Education Grants The Rotary Club Corporations Specific Project Grants "Grant" Money, Rotary C...

It's summer, and here are three principal podcasts that really will keep you inspired, thinking, and focused through the summer months. If you drive, exercise, walk a dog, sit by the pool, or do anything for a minimum of five minutes, then grab hold of a good educational podcast. It's not going to change your world, but it will keep your mind sharp and focused on fresh ideas. So, here are the three educational podcasts I recommend for this summer . You can sample the podcasts here and then subscribe in your favorite listening app by simply searching at (Overcast, Google Play, Apple Podcasts). The Mafost Mashup This one is brand new, and the first two episodes really were rookie, but by the 3rd episode this podcast proved it's worth as a fast-paced podcast rich with innovation. Each episode is less than 8-minutes and there a few bonus segments. This is a must-listen if you enjoy being challenged. It's a podcast for principals and school leaders that is: fa...

School culture is not the sole responsibility of leaders. Each of us has an impact on culture (and You Don't Need a Title to Impact Culture ) and a shared responsibility to shape it in positive ways on our campuses. That said, positional leaders have a title and the hierarchy of the organization behind each of their actions, so their impact is magnified. Whether you are an instructional coach, a curriculum designer, team leader, or the boss behind the desk - you have a magnified impact on the school culture. And the culture is a reflection of the leadership in your school. There's no need to buy that new full-length mirror for your closet - the school is your mirror. The school reflects your confidence and your passion. And on the flip side, it also mirrors your fear and insecurity . [side note: this is why district and regional leaders have an obligatory role to feed the principals ] Does a Leader Need to be Perfect? That's a fair question given the enormous...

There is one variable at the root of campus culture - humans. This variable is responsible for all of our school culture concerns and strengths. Whether you've measured it or not, your culture is on a continuum from healthy to toxic. The quickest route to a toxic school culture includes de-valuing humans: Don't smile. Don't talk. Don't compliment. Criticize often. Don't listen. Here's the great news: leadership controls all five of these campus habits! And each of these habits/actions is a pitfall, and I'm going to show you how to avoid them. Notice that none of these leadership pitfalls mention instructional leadership . You could be the world's greatest instructional leader, curriculum guru, or assessment expert, but still build (unintentionally) a toxic school culture. So enough of the negative, let's talk how to avoid the pitfalls of this quick route to a toxic culture. Here are some ways to avoid the trap of a toxic school c...