Title Body Celebrate professional transitions and successes to drive and sustain implementation Source: Armstrong, A. (2013, Fall). Celebrate professional transitions and successes to drive and sustain implementation. Tools for Learning Schools . 17(1). (p.1, 4-5). Available at www.learningforward.org/publications/tools-for-learning-schools.
implementation • Tool: Celebration brainstorming, p. 6 to drive and sustain and successes transitions professional eVery eduCATor eNgAges iN effeCTiVe ProfessioNAl leArNiNg eVery dAy so eVery sTudeNT AChieVes leArNiNg sChools Vol. 17, No. 1 • Tool: Planning celebrations, p. 7 • Tool: A dozen reasons to celebrate, pp. 4-5 Download the article and accompanying tools This presentation is a supplement Tools for Inside Fall 2013 to the full article. Download more CELEBRATE information, resources, and tools By Anthony Armstrong T he teachers at Hogg Middle School (Hous- saw someone doing something nice’ type of compliments. ton, Texas) are accustomed to celebrating Instead, they have a more instructional focus.” each other’s professional learning. “Cel- Schnitta’s teachers can also earn PRIDE tickets. “Tie ebrations are a non-negotiable collabora- instructional leadership team passes these out to teachers to help you implement these ideas tive compact, or norm, for us,” said Mina who are exhibiting politeness, intelligence, discipline, and Schnitta, the school’s principal. “Adults need to support engaged behaviors,” said Schnitta. “Tie teachers can accrue each other in their learning. We need to focus on each these and trade them in for things like new supplies or 30 other’s strengths and celebrate them.” minutes where I teach their class.” A large bulletin board, their “Honk Board,” sits According to Kent Peterson, celebrations are an im- prominently in their stafg lounge. Tie board provides a portant component for high-quality learning communities. place for teachers and stafg to post compliments about each “Celebrations are critical to efgective change. Celebrations other. “Tie compliments are on things we see in improving bring people together at important times during the life of a instruction,” explained Schnitta. “Tiey are not the usual ‘I Continued on p. 2 Your membership in Learning Forward gives you access to a wide range of publications, tools, and opportunities to advance professional learning for student success. Visit www.learningforward.org to explore more of your membership benefits. in Tools for Learning Schools (2013, Fall). Available at www.learningforward. org/publications/tools-for-learning- schools.
“Celebrations are critical to efgective change. Celebrations bring people together at important times during the life of a school and reinforce the social fabric.” -Kent Peterson Co-author of Shaping School Culture (2009)
Build a sense of purpose Too much of a focus on following procedures turns change efgorts into mechanical procedures and often misses opportunities to connect the change to core values. Use ceremonies, informal or formal, to sustain stafg commitment and motivation during change efgorts and connect school improvement to core values. Source: Armstrong, A. (2013, Fall). Celebrate professional transitions and successes to drive and sustain implementation. Tools for Learning Schools . 17(1). (p.1, 4-5). Available at www.learningforward.org/publications/tools-for-learning-schools.
Plan ahead Educators are so overwhelmed with things to do, slowing down and making time to acknowledge small successes can be a signifjcant challenge. The fjrst step to planning celebrations is to look for natural transitions within the change efgorts. Source: Armstrong, A. (2013, Fall). Celebrate professional transitions and successes to drive and sustain implementation. Tools for Learning Schools . 17(1). (p.1, 4-5). Available at www.learningforward.org/publications/tools-for-learning-schools.
Plan ahead “We set aside time at each meeting to invite celebrations large and small, and we build in structures to acknowledge great work. When the rituals of an organization emphasize its values, the culture shifts in ways that support both gratitude and collaboration.” -Stephanie Hirsh Executive Director, Learning Forward Source: Armstrong, A. (2013, Fall). Celebrate professional transitions and successes to drive and sustain implementation. Tools for Learning Schools . 17(1). (p.1, 4-5). Available at www.learningforward.org/publications/tools-for-learning-schools.
Mark transitions Any efgort to bring in new skills or techniques inherently has critical transition points that should be recognized and celebrated. “If you don’t mark the beginning of a major change efgort, such as using data for decision making, people won’t see it as important.” -Kent Peterson Source: Armstrong, A. (2013, Fall). Celebrate professional transitions and successes to drive and sustain implementation. Tools for Learning Schools . 17(1). (p.1, 4-5). Available at www.learningforward.org/publications/tools-for-learning-schools.
Bring everyone on board Making teams comfortable with celebrations starts with consciously planning time during daily activities to take a moment and focus on their strengths. When it is important to recognize the individuals, show how those contributions couldn’t have been accomplished without the support of the team. Source: Armstrong, A. (2013, Fall). Celebrate professional transitions and successes to drive and sustain implementation. Tools for Learning Schools . 17(1). (p.1, 4-5). Available at www.learningforward.org/publications/tools-for-learning-schools.
Learn more with Learn more about professional learning at all levels of education with Learning Forward , an international nonprofjt association of learning educators: www.learningforward.org Membership in Learning Forward gives you access to a wide range of publications, tools, and opportunities to advance professional learning for student success.
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