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FOCUS ON LEADING INDICATORS - Tests are 'Trailing'
Indicators: Balancing a yardstick (or folding ruler/yardstick) in the palm of your hand. This demonstrates
that where you focus your attention is important, and that perhaps focusing on good teaching practices (Leading Indicators,
at the top of the yardstick), and on formative assessments (Intermediate Indicators, in the middle) will help achieve your
goals much better than an obsessive focus on annual test scores (Trailing Indicators, at the bottom of the yardstick).
Assume your goal is to balance the yardstick (as a metaphore for your classroom success at balancing
the learning of worthy objectives with student performance on annual tests. Start by very close focus on the bottom
of the yardstick as you attempt to balance it in your hand. Then try with your focus on the top of the yardstick (representing
effective, proven teaching practices). Note how much easier it is to balance the yardstick. If you want to include
student achievement, split your focus between the top and the middle (representing formative 'performance' assessments).
That is where the powerful feedback loop is, not with annual test scores!
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MAINTAIN VERY HIGH EXPECTATIONS - Stick a Balloon with a pin, or a large skewer, without poping
it! This strategy illustrates the power of high expectations in accomplishing what might be thought impossible.
REMEMBER OUR BLIND SPOTS -
IVORY SOAP FLOATS -
WHAT IS YOUR CATALYIST FOR COLLABORATION? - Sepatate Food
dyes in milk
A GROUP CAN BE A SYSTEM - With a purpose and the benefit
of quality relationships between the parts....
SMITH & JONES DEMONSTRATE THE POSSIBILITIES OF AN IMPROVING
RELATIONSHIP -
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THE PATH TO SUCCESS IS NOT ALWAYS STRAIGHT AHEAD - The lessons from a Chinese Finger Puzzle remind us
that sometimes we need to actually move in the opposite direction, temporarily, to ultimately get what we want.
MIND THE GAP! - Use a rubber band to illustrate the
problem of going from Good to Great....
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DO CRAYONS FLOAT? -
WHERE IS THE REAL POWER IN USING PULLEYS?-
COMMUNICATIONS CAN BE DIFFICULT, EVEN ONE-TO-ONE -
EFFECTIVE TEAMS CAN LIFT THEIR MEMBERS - Pass The
Ball of String and say a strength of the person you throw to -
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