How to Create a Culture of Achievement

The book I chose for June 2012 is How to Create A Culture of Achievement in your school and classroom by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Fey, and Ian Pumpian. 





The pillars to remember are:
Pillar #1:  Do No Harm  (Preventative)
Key idea:  Rules don't teach responsible and ethical behavior.  People do. 
Take away idea:  Develop a courtesy policy.
Three dimensions: 

• Take care of yourself
• Take care of each other
• Take care of this place

It's important to look for the motivation for the behavior, not just the inappropriate behavior.

Pillar #2:  Choice Words
Great resource: the book Choice Words by Peter Johnston
We are shaped by the language we use about ourselves, and by the language used by others about us. 
Great resource: the book Mindset by Carol Dweck
The power of "if" and "and" are more positive than "but"
When students (or teachers) are solving a problem ask, "What would be the next right thing to do?"

Pillar #3:  It's Never Too Late to Learn
Presume competence:  The presumption of competence requires a belief that a person possesses the basic ability to do something, however imperfectly. 
View teaching, not remediation, as the primary focus.
Resource:  the book Understanding by Design by Wiggins & McTighe

1. Identify desired results
2. Determine acceptable evidence
3. Plan learning experiences and instruction

Recognize competence, not compliance.  Grades don't teach--people do!  Students can retake competencies to demonstrate mastery, and their grades can change accordingly.

Pillar #4:  Best School in the Universe
Rather than competitive comparisons, this pillar is about internal accountability.  This will require a reflective practice. 

• The Best Place to Work--People love their jobs when they feel their work is meaningful and that they are making a difference.  The best schools focus relentlessly on communication. 
• The Best Place to Teach--Teachers have the tools, supplies, and resources that are necessary to do their job well. 
• The Best Place to Learn--Monitor student achievement and post data about student achievement and have conversations about it to develop and implement an action plan.  Celebrate!

Pillar #5:  Enacting the Culture of Achievement
There is a natural tendency for systems to regress to the mean.
It is the leader's responsibility to purposefully and continually assess and develop the culture of the school and dvelop an "attitude of gratitude."  The crux of leadership is developing others--support and retain high achievers, develop those with promise, and redirect those who are not a value-added asset to the school's mission. 
A culture committed to student learning must be equally committed to the learning of teachers.  Teachers need to see themselves as lifelong learners.

An added bonus to this book are the great templates in the appendix.