Friday Memo 2/6/15

Today's Friday Memo will look a little different than other memos. I am going to focus on two main events I attended this past week. I hope you find the memo interesting and informational.

Today I am reminded why we do what we do. I am in a public middle school observing administrators, teachers, and students.

Dr. Mike Rutherford

I am currently on a lunch break from an incredible opportunity to which I was invited. The Fort Zumwalt School District has been working with Dr. Mike Rutherford, author of The Artisan Teacher, for the last 18 months. Administrators and teachers have been learning and implementing strategies and tools for developing teachers and teaching in their district. Today Dr. Rutherford is presenting to a group of district administrators how to implement teaching studies as one of many possible feedback opportunities for teachers. Teaching Studies is a facilitated small group of teachers observing teachers. A Teaching Studies session involves approximately 4 teachers observing another teacher's classroom for 15-20 minutes. The observed teacher then joins the observing teachers and facilitator for a 15-20 minute facilitated discussion.

I have enjoyed joining the administrators and teachers as we watch middle school teachers at DuBray Middle School and then observe Dr. Rutherford go through the facilitation process with the teachers. This is a wonderful model of teachers sharing with other teachers and administrators playing an important role as the facilitator. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to go back to the building where I taught 8th grade math for 5 years, but more importantly I have LOVED observing classrooms! This morning we observed a 7th grade industrial technology teacher and an 8th grade gifted teacher.  This afternoon we will observe two more teachers and then watch Dr. Rutherford as he facilitates the after-observation discussion.

I have two main takeaways from my time spent at this meeting:

1. We have to stay current with the practices being used in PK-12 schools in order to prepare effective teachers and leaders to enter the field.  I challenge all faculty to find a way to visit local schools.

2. Participating in opportunities like this is not only good for our own curriculum development and instruction, but it is good PR for the university and our programs. As I interact with current practitioners in the area and they see our interest in current best practices, perhaps they may decide to join us for graduate work. It is also good PR because administrators see that Missouri Baptist is serious about staying current. One of my goals in attending events such as this is that administrators will want to hire MBU education graduates for teaching, counseling, and leadership positions.

Dr. Mike Rutherford providing opening comments. Zoom in to see information he shared on the board.

Look closely and you will see Savannah Muise, one of our student teachers!

Savannah and other teachers learning from each other and Dr. Rutherford.

Fort Zumwalt Administrators 

Teaching Studies in action

More Teaching Studies in Action with a different group

Backpack to Briefcase

Another event I attended this week was Backpack to Briefcase. Great job to Career Services for conducting this event. I thoroughly enjoyed the information shared by Jordan Cox and Tammy Cardona. Jordan and Tammy are MBU graduates now working in the field. They did a great job sharing their thoughts about the transition from being in a college program to entering the profession.

Jordan Cox

I jotted down some of the information shared - see below. Feel free to share this information with your students who may not have been able to attend.

Jordan Cox - "start praying for your students now."

10 Things you should know about teaching

1. Pray
2. Professional organizations
3. Network
4. Soul search -knowing God's call on your life
5. Research school districts' websites - tells you a lot about schools, who the administrators are 
6. Talk to current teachers
7. Learn the jargon
8. Resume
9. Interview questions 
10. Workshops

The key to behavior management is relationships, relationships, relationships. Jordan commented that he remembered this tip from Dr. Stanfield. 

Jordan also shared the following survival tips. 

1. Pray
2. Plan, plan, plan
3. Be flexible
4. Keep your head down
5. Meet your colleagues
6. Find a mentor
7. Be confident, but modest
8. Relationships, relationships, relationships
9. Be a communicator
10. Keep learning

Tammy Cardona

Tammy Cordona -principal Seckman Middle school shared interviewing tips with the students. She talked about what administrators are looking for when reviewing resumes and when interviewing candidates. She showed her portfolio that she takes to interviews.

She made the following statement, "Do something that makes you stand out."

Students participating in Backpack to Briefcase

 In addition to these events, the students and faculty were blessed by an excellent chapel speaker on Wednesday and Thursday. Thanks to those of you who were able to attend. The president appreciates our involvement. The preacher's stories demonstrating God's relentless pursuit of us were powerful.

Upcoming events:
Monday, February 9th 3:30 Faculty Meeting Recital Hall
Tuesday, February 10th 9:00am DESE webinar
Tuesday, February 10th NO DIVISION FACULTY MEETING
Tuesday - Wednesday, February 10-11 METC Conference - Michael Broombaugh, Sheri Brandes, Alicia Noddings, Sharon Sumner, Tyler Pitts and I will be presenting.

Thanks for the good work you all are doing. Please be encouraged by the following scripture:
Deuteronomy 32:2 - Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants."

Blessings on this beautiful Friday,
Melanie