#PrincipalPLN Episode 47: Conquering Email with Curt Rees

In this episode we are joined by Curt Rees, Elementary Principal and Recess Kickball legend in Onalaska, Wisconsin. Curt’s school is recognized by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction as a model school for their implementation of Response to Intervention.  Curt is also a current doctoral student at UKSTL. You can find Curt online at @CurtRees and http://curtrees.com/ Curt is also mentioned in chapter 4 of Spike’s book, Connected Leadership.

Some of Curt’s Email Wisdom:

Don’t sit down and browse email. Sit down and “crank” through them when you’re ready to work on them. Don’t touch an email more than once. Decide on your action for it once you read it. If it takes more than 2 minutes to respond, he sends it to his to-do app (OmniFocus) to schedule when to work on it. Don’t let a read email sit in your inbox, schedule it and get it out of your inbox!

Curt recommends not having work email on your phone and was so convincing that Jessica “ripped the bandaid” off and took work email off of her phone while listening to Curt explain why.  Can you do it?

Curt’s Top 5 Tips:

1. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen (or anything by David Allen)

2. Have a system: this is beyond just email, to keep track of what you’re going to do and when

3. Don’t let email dictate how you’re going to spend your time. Our jobs are busy enough!  Make yourself available in other ways.
4. Don’t let your email inbox be your to-do list!
5. Don’t clutter up anyone else’s email inbox. Recognize when you need to go and talk instead of sending an email.

Other resources/thoughts on email…

OmniFocus

http://five.sentenc.es/

IFTTT If This Then That

Jessica’s blog post: The Email Monster

Nudgemail

Audio Download Soundcloud
Video Download Soundcloud

In this episode, Jessica and Spike explore the ever present “to do list.”

The show starts out with the realization that the modern day Principal probably needs ADD or ADHD to survive (or it is just induced by the many interruptions to our day!). Jessica then shares her tools she uses for organizing the “to do list.”

Jessica’s Tools:
Remember the Milk
Google Calendar

Spike shared how he is very traditional in dealing with his “to do list.” He uses note pads, post it notes, and Microsoft Office to create his school calendar and monitor his email.

Both Jessica and Spike felt the 20 minutes went just too fast. They agreed to do a follow-up show dedicated to email. Until tonight, Spike didn’t think a show on email could work. Now he is not only convinced, but ready to tackle the subject.

Jessica also shared about her experience at the National Distinguished Principals Program and joining in the press conference for the release of the Early Learning Competencies for principals.

Check out the video

source: flickrhivemind.net

I watched this TEDx video and I absolutely loved it. What a great message, and I look forward to buying the book. It is so interesting that the speaker begins his presentation with the reality of his book being banned in Australia. Wow, did they even read it?

It reminds me of the article that was published a few years ago titled, “Bubble wrap Generation.” In the article, the author discusses how we have created a group of kids who are put in a “bubble wrap” like existence where they don’t walk anywhere, climb things or take risks that were common place just a few decades ago.

I hope you will enjoy this video as much as I did. Now it’s time to go let my kids lick a 9 volt battery and climb a tree. Perfect timing because my wife is running errands!

source: Badass Teachers

As I was scrolling through my feed, I saw a picture that really caught my eye. In schools, we are becoming very data-centered. Take a peek into any PLC meeting or Teacher’s Conference room and you will be sure to see a “data wall.” For the most part, especially if the information is being used for best intent, analyzing data can improve student learning. Who can argue with teachers working collaboratively to understand student learning?

It gets complicated when we continue to avoid one of the most telling aspects to student performance….. poverty. No one is talking about it (well, there are a lot of people talking about it, and you should support them) and in some cases, teachers are being told to NOT look at it. Why? The impact of poverty seeps into all aspects of education from reading levels, mental health, discipline, and nutrition to name a few. When we look at “under-performing schools and districts” we have to look no further than the zip code.

Here is the irony. Now that we have been trained to analyze data, when are we going to start taking in all forms of data into the discussion? When are we going to work with politicians, municipal governments, and civic groups to solve the problem? When it is all boiled down, poverty is not just an education problem, it is a societal problem.

What do you think?

source: www.ilovegenerator.com

What are the 4 words that all principals want to hear? “I love my class.” It is also very special to hear that at this point of the year. To me, it shows that routines, trust, and collaboration have been established.

How do you end up loving your class? As I stated early it shows that you have established a few important things. Chances are you know what your students are passion about, you can motivate them and they motivate you. When it is time to learn something new, both the class and the teacher charge in together.

So what if you don’t love your class anymore? It is still early enough to get them back. I would suggest that you start over. Take some time to re-establish norms, expectations, and trust. Be sure to reintroduce yourself to them, and learn more about what makes them tick. Let them show you what they know. Don’t give up. They are depending on you…

source: www.dcsdk12.org

There is a power in being connected. I think each and every educator should be on social media learning and sharing. We need to hear everyone’s voice. Then there is reality.

Talk to any educator and ask them how they are balancing the increasing demands of teacher evaluation, student growth objectives, transition to the common core, discipline, poverty, assessment, data, and the list goes on and on…. I’ve been asked, “So now you want me to get on twitter?” Hmmm, really good question. Sure, I want you to, but I would never mandate it… You have to want it!

Here are some things that I will say about the laundry list of initiatives that are legitimate concerns (There are only so many hours in a day)…. Ask yourself these questions about your current list of initiatives in your classrooms, school, or district:

• Are these initiatives making learning better?
• Are these initiatives making students more engaged? Better prepared for the 21st Century?
• Are these initiatives making you better?

Well, if they are … great! If not, I would highly recommend that you see what everyone else is learning in the connected world….

Check out this presentation I did today to help educators learn more about becoming connected

source: www.ampsinc.net

I really like Animoto. Since learning about it last spring, I committed to using it each month (sometimes more if necessary).

My goal is to take all of the pictures and videos from the RM Bacon Weekly and put it into the Animoto. This way, we can reflect each month on all of the things we accomplished. One of the best features of Animoto is that it is super easy to use and it is free for educators!

It is paramount to tell your classroom, school or district’s story! Animoto is an effective and easy-to-use tool to help you accomplish this task!

Checkout the October Rewind

photo by Stephanie Muhlbaier

I am amazed every year how the interest in Halloween grows (and I am not just talking kids). The lead up to Halloween is filled with excitement, costume planning, scary movies, and lots of activities. Kids and adults spend time in corn mazes, haunted hayrides, and carving pumpkins. In schools, we generally have activities that coincide with the lead up to Halloween.

In our school, planning for the Fall Frolic and Halloween Parade begins in the summer. We select dates, chairs for each of the committees, and people volunteer to begin making decorations. It is serious community engagement. We average between 400 – 450 people each Frolic, and about 100 parents at our parade. In fact, I would say that the Halloween activities at our school are the top opportunities for parent and community engagement.

Each year we continue to top ourselves. We try new things, and work to make it a better experience for the kids. As parents and students leave the Halloween events they are so thankful, appreciative, and report such positive comments about the events. They love seeing the hard work from the staff. They love our energy, and how serious we take it.

source: www.wired.co.uk

I stumbled across this video (as did about 12 million other people). I am not a musician, but I appreciate music. In fact, my son is currently studying the drums and often plays the xylophone.

When you first watch this video, I am sure you will wonder why I posted it (or better yet, why did they spend so much time setting this thing up just to play a song), but the meaning is much deeper.

What do you think?