Category Archives: Blogging

Jun
28
2023

Unleashing the Power of Chat GPT: 5 Ways it has Elevated My Skills as a Writer, Researcher, and Principal

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Disclosure – This post was written with the help of Chat GPT 

In this digital age, advancements in artificial intelligence have opened up new avenues for personal and professional growth. One such tool that has significantly impacted my journey as a writer, researcher, and principal is Chat GPT. This cutting-edge language model has been a game-changer, empowering me to hone my skills, delve into extensive research, and enhance my effectiveness in educational leadership. In this blog post, I will share how Chat GPT has transformed my professional journey, amplifying my capabilities and enriching my role as a well-rounded educator.

  1. Enhancing Writing Proficiency: As a writer, the precision and versatility of Chat GPT have been instrumental in refining my writing skills. By engaging in conversations and seeking guidance from this powerful AI tool, I have received valuable insights, suggestions, and corrections that have significantly improved my grammar, sentence structure, and overall coherence. The ability to interact with Chat GPT has helped me develop presentations, memos, letters to parents and even my weekly email. 
  2. Facilitating Extensive Research: Conducting thorough research is an essential aspect of educational leadership. Chat GPT has emerged as an indispensable resource, enabling me to access a vast repository of knowledge at my fingertips. I am finding myself visiting Chat GPT prior to “Googling”. By leveraging the model’s capabilities, I can explore diverse topics, gather information, and delve into the latest educational research and best practices. The speed and efficiency with which Chat GPT can provide relevant information have significantly expedited my research process, enabling me to make informed decisions and stay abreast of the ever-evolving educational landscape.
  3. Enriching Professional Development: As a principal, continuous professional development is crucial for staying at the forefront of educational innovation. Chat GPT has become my virtual companion, offering personalized insights and guidance tailored to my specific needs. By engaging in conversations with the model, I can seek advice on instructional strategies, leadership techniques, and current educational trends. This interactive learning experience has broadened my perspectives and even in a pinch, I was able to develop interview questions, refine the RTI process and I’ve used it to develop preliminary schedules. 
  4. Strengthening Decision-Making: Educational leadership often requires making informed and data-driven decisions. Chat GPT has proven to be an invaluable tool for accessing relevant information and insights to support my decision-making process. By leveraging its capabilities, I can engage in thoughtful discussions, seek different viewpoints, and weigh the pros and cons of various options. This enables me to make well-informed decisions that positively impact students, teachers, and the overall school community.
  5. Fostering Collaboration and Communication: Effective communication and collaboration are essential in the realm of education. Chat GPT serves as a catalyst for meaningful exchanges, providing a platform to connect with other educators, share ideas, and seek advice. By leveraging the model’s conversational abilities, I can engage in productive discussions, connect with like-minded professionals, and foster a collaborative network that enriches my educational journey. Through Chat GPT, I can tap into a wealth of collective knowledge and collaborate on innovative projects that benefit my school community.

Chat GPT has proven to be an invaluable asset, transforming my role as a writer, researcher, and principal. Its capacity to enhance writing proficiency, facilitate extensive research, enrich professional development, strengthen decision-making, and foster collaboration has been instrumental in my growth as an educator. As I continue to leverage the power of Chat GPT, I am confident that it will continue to propel my journey as a well-rounded and effective educational leader, allowing me to navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead.

About the Author

Spike Cook, Ed.D., Principal, RM Bacon Elementary, Millville, NJ. In addition to being a Principal, Dr. Cook published two books through Corwin Press (Connected Leadership: It’s Just a Click Away; Breaking Out of Isolation: Becoming a Connected School Leader). He is the co-host of the popular PrincipaPLN podcast and a regular on the Unlock the Middle Videocast. His blog, Insights Into Learning, was recognized as a finalist for Best Administrator Blog by the EduBlog Awards. Spike earned his Doctorate from Rowan University and is an Adjunct Faculty member in the Masters of School Administration Program He is featured in Twinkl’s 30 Education Influencers You Need to Follow and Klear’s Top Ten Middle School Influencers. Dr. Cook is also on the Education Advisory Board for Whole Health Ed. Connect with @drspikecook via Twitter, YouTube,  LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.

 

Jun
22
2023

Welcome Back to Dr. Cook’s Insights into Education: Reconnecting and Reimagining!

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I am not sure how many times I have written a “welcome back” post for my blog, but here goes another one! After a brief hiatus, (was it really November of 2021 when I last blogged?) I am thrilled to dust off the keyboard and get back to blogging. It feels invigorating to resume my journey of discovery, discussion, and inspiration in the realm of education.

During the break from blogging, I took time to reflect on the incredible journey I’ve had as an educational leader. I took time to spend with my family and friends, focus on my Principal job and transition back to elementary, teach Graduate classes, start a business, and focus on my health.

The educational landscape continues to evolve, presenting both opportunities and challenges. As I return to the blog, I am excited to explore new possibilities for transforming education. I look forward to weighing-in on emerging trends, examining the integration of technology, promoting equity and inclusion, and exploring pedagogical approaches that foster creativity, critical thinking, and holistic development.

This blog has always been a platform for open dialogue and thought-provoking discussions. I encourage each of you to actively engage in the comments section, sharing your perspectives, experiences, and innovative practices. Together, we can continue to create a vibrant community that fosters collaboration, celebrates diversity, and drives positive change in education.

As I embark on this new chapter, I am excited to announce a lineup of compelling topics that we will explore in the coming months. From examining social-emotional learning and student well-being to unraveling the potential of project-based learning and cultivating a growth mindset, we will delve into areas that shape the educational experience. Additionally, I will collaborate with distinguished educators, researchers, and thought leaders to bring you diverse perspectives and valuable insights.

I value your input immensely. I encourage you to reach out and share topics of interest, questions, and suggestions for future blog posts. Together, we can tailor our discussions to address the specific needs and interests of our readership, ensuring that our content remains relevant, engaging, and impactful.

As the summer fades and a new academic year approaches, it is with great anticipation that I welcome you back,. There are so many areas to delve into to expand my horizons within teaching and learning. Thank you for joining me on this exciting adventure, and let us dive into a world of insightful conversations and transformative ideas once again!

About the Author 

Spike Cook, Ed.D., Principal, RM Bacon Elementary, Millville, NJ. In addition to being a Principal, Dr. Cook published two books through Corwin Press (Connected Leadership: It’s Just a Click Away; Breaking Out of Isolation: Becoming a Connected School Leader). He is the co-host of the popular PrincipaPLN podcast and a regular on the Unlock the Middle Videocast. His blog, Insights Into Learning, was recognized as a finalist for Best Administrator Blog by the EduBlog Awards. Spike earned his Doctorate from Rowan University and is an Adjunct Faculty member in the Masters of School Administration Program He is featured in Twinkl’s 30 Education Influencers You Need to Follow and Klear’s Top Ten Middle School Influencers. Dr. Cook is also on the Education Advisory Board for Whole Health Ed. Connect with @drspikecook via Twitter, YouTube,  LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.

Nov
07
2021

Whole Health Learning in the Era of COVID  

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By Taylor Walsh, WholeHealthED with Spike Cook, EdD, Principal, Lakeside Middle School, Millville, NJ

In January 2019 Lakeside Middle School (6-8) of Millville in Cumberland County, NJ launched a first-of-its-kind series of wellness workshops around activities usually presented separately or in piecemeal fashion: mindfulness, nutrition and kitchen skills, fitness, and environmental learning.  Uniquely, the activities were unified at Lakeside into a single program delivered during the semester.  They were also added to after-school services at Lakeside and at three other Cumberland County middle schools through the 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) program of the US Dept. of Education.

The 21st CCLC commissioned a pre- and post-survey assessment of student attitudes, which summarized:

Overall, across every domain, students reported more knowledge, increased positive behavior, and more self-awareness, from pre- to post- surveys. The 21st CCLC Health and Wellness Program appears to have made a significant difference for the participants of this project.”[1]

Why did a Title 1 middle school in one of New Jersey’s most challenging communities agree to implement this approach?  And then to sustain its development during COVID?

In our online conversation this past summer Lakeside Principal Spike Cook observed:

This was an opportunity to provide something for the school community that would address the mind, body and spirit of wellness in order to transform our school culture. During the past few years, Lakeside Middle School has coordinated and participated in various mindfulness activities, so it made sense for us to take the next step in this initiative.”

The idea of unifying school-based wellness activities into a coherent program was the focus of WholeHealthED’s inaugural symposium in 2018 at Georgetown University.  Senior Advisor Kate Tumelty Felice, a psychology and education faculty member at Rowan College of South Jersey in Vineland (adjacent to Millville), led several discussions.  On returning to Vineland, she worked with county and school contacts to create by the end of 2018 a first “holistic wellness” program.

 

Implementation of what is now the Whole Health Studies program at Lakeside was one of the earliest examples of combining multiple school-based wellness activities into a single, coherent learning experience sustained across a semester.  It was also an entirely new way to think about the influence that students’ time in these programs might have on learning, on SEL and on mental and physical health.

Dr. Cook recounted: “As students began to participate in the events, it was clear that these were new experiences.  At first, they were timid, and some were even unwilling to participate.  As time progressed, so did their comfort level with the various activities.  Teachers and students both reported that the impact of the activities had specific benefits such as increased awareness of mindfulness, healthy eating, and respect for the environment.

“Students who participated in the activities were willing to trust the process that this would in fact help them, throughout the various activities. Each student took something special away and was able to better articulate feelings.”

Educators and specialists experienced in discrete wellness fields will recognize this kind of unfolding acceptance.  Combining the activities together as was done at Lakeside highlighted an interesting multiplier effect.  Chef Rebecca Johnson of Wellness in the School (WITS) noted this continuity when she described WITS’ “Cook for Kids” program she led at Lakeside. During our July 2020 webinar Balancing Academics and Wellbeing, she observed: “The students had just come from a mindfulness track.  Because of their heightened awareness they were unusually receptive.  They were ready for what we had to teach.”  (See: Chef Rebecca’s presentation on YouTube.)

2020: Into COVID

With the favorable results from 2019, Dr. Cook re-upped Lakeside for 2019-2020, which of course COVID shut down in early 2020.  But he remained open to program enhancements while everyone wrestled with remote learning and started to consider outdoor classrooms.   We continued to support his vision for transforming the school’s culture with our partners.

Foremost among these collaborations was with the Whole Health Institute (WHI), a groundbreaking clinical and therapeutic non-profit introduced by the Walton Family Foundation in January 2020.  WHI is bringing to healthcare an approach to healing and treatment that empowers patients to manage their own wellbeing.   Whole health principals animate this approach to personalized care; just as they do whole health learning.

But like WholeHealthED and schools everywhere in early 2020 WHI was unable to start its work in clinics and workplaces.  Together we came up with a collaboration to bring whole health principles into remote learning.   This is the unique Whole Health 4 You collection of 60 short videos (3 to 4 minutes), in which kids creatively express themselves through music, art, exercise and yoga, gardening, making meals, and other surprising ways.

Created and produced in collaboration with WHI, the videos were designed to engage kids, families, and teachers during the many months of remote learning.  They were accompanied by specially designed guidelines to support lesson plans for teachers.

Not surprisingly, a Lakeside faculty AVID teacher was the first to integrate the videos in her lessons plan in the spring of 2021.

WHI also made possible significant improvements at the Lakeside campus itself: energizing an unused school garden plot, developing green spaces, including outdoor learning resources and mobile outdoor classroom carts (shown here with 6th grade teacher Cheyenne Langlois and AVID teacher Sandy Lokuta) and a repurposed “Teacher Reset Room.”

Dr. Cook, active on Lakeside social media, noted that after posting about these schoolyard improvements had several inquiries: “In fact, people want more spaces to be created and redesigned.”

He also noted the role of the Teacher Reset Room.  “Parents are very supportive of the program and the impact on the climate and culture of Lakeside.  Especially during the pandemic, parents wanted to ensure that the staff were being taken care of because they know that is important.”

In addition, the regional Inspira Health Network of Vineland made possible the creation and installation of a “Mindfulness Walk,” literally a visual path in and around the school designed by Dr. Felice to encourage students and faculty to pause and reflect as they move through their days.  (Inspira’s Fitness Connection director led the physical activity workshop during the spring of 2019.)

These resources were developed during the challenging 2020-2021 year.  Dr. Cook’s interest in improving the school’s wellness capabilities even as COVID caused such distress, illustrates the potential for such development.  He recalled the progress since late 2018:

“Honestly, when we first began this work, we were unable to see how the seeds of change would take root at Lakeside.  Over the past two years, we have seen an acceleration with the work and the impact on the school community.  This has truly been a labor of love.”

Takeaways

 Lakeside’s whole health learning experience represents a small sample size to be sure.  It also illustrates how talent, tools, and methods – often readily available — can be organized to offset the negative impacts of the COVID experience, and at the same time start to build a wellbeing mindset for students, and as Dr. Cook intends, for the school community itself.

As the Nation considers massive investment in its K-12 school infrastructure, it is essential that educators make the case that SEL and school-based wellness activities like school gardens are seen as wellbeing hubs in that infrastructure (which they are); no longer just “nice-to-have” ancillary programs, but essential-to-provide components of whole health learning for every Whole Child.

Taylor Walsh is the founder and Executive Director of WholeHealthED, the Project for Whole Health Learning in K-12.

Spike Cook is the principal of Lakeside Middle School, Millville, New Jersey

[1] – Lakeside Middle School, First implementation of Whole Health Studies  — 21st Century Community Learning, Cumberland County.

May
01
2021

Educators: Do you know about VUCA? Here is why you need to ASAP!

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How many times during the COVID 19 Pandemic have you heard this phrase, “We are living in unprecedented times.” No truer words have been spoken. Our entire world has been impacted and we are going to need our educational institutions to be prepared with a different way of doing things.

We were warned about this by thought leaders and future thinking writers. In fact, over the past few decades, as we finally started transitioning into the 21st Century, schools began integrating higher order thinking, problem solving, technology and cooperative learning. We shifted our mindset about education.  Without knowing it, we were experiencing VUCA.

According to Mindtools, “VUCA stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. It describes the situation of constant, unpredictable change that is now the norm in certain industries and areas of the business world. VUCA demands that you avoid traditional, outdated approaches to management and leadership, and day-to-day working.

The term VUCA goes back to 1987 and was developed on the leadership theories of Warren Bennis and Burt Nannis. The characteristics of a VUCA world is an environment that requires you to react quickly, take action in uncertainty, is a dynamic experience and is unfamiliar. Doesn’t this sound like the past year?

source: microtool.de

So how does this impact schools? 

I know what some of you might be thinking…. Not another acronym. We are filled with ACRONYMS in education. Yes we are but VUCA may just be the acronym we need to become fully ensconced in the 21st century. Kids have been telling us for years… they are bored in school and take too many tests and there is little real world connections to their learning.

Our education organizations need to be poised with the ability to do the following:

  • Volatility – Respond quickly and efficiently to an event or series of events that can impact our schedule. For instance, everyone is on their device and the internet goes down. What do we do? The best solution is to be transparent and upfront about the situation and how it was handled. We also need to have a plan B, C, D.
  • Uncertainty – We have been living in uncertain times for sure. How long will this pandemic go on? Social unrest? Stock markets? etc. etc and the list goes on. How do we prepare? One suggestion is to assemble a leadership team with members who operate with a growth mindset and are problem solvers.  The days of the “boss” and “manager” are over. We need to have equal voices to solve some of these issues that we didn’t even knew existed!
  • Complexity – We make decisions all the time. There are days when we make 100 decisions before noon. This can be challenging. How do we revisit “tried and true” or “we have always done it this way” thinking? For instance, we have learned that “school” and “learning” can take place anytime or anywhere, so does it make sense to have 180 days of school each year? What are the implications of revisiting of these complex decisions? According to the experts, we do not need people to make complex decisions more complex due to their fixed mindset thinking.
  • Ambiguity – We have developed a schooling process that is sequential and precise. We value organization of learning, increments of time, and building blocks of knowledge. We know that is not necessarily how the world works but it is easier (or so we thought). Rigid structures in an ambiguous world will not stand. Again, look at the schedule of learning over the year. Districts have used hybrid, online, remote, and in-person interchangeability based on the situations. Some people have really struggled with this because they think that school should be ________ (fill in the blank).

As schools learn more about VUCA, there will significant gains in our effectiveness to provide a relevant, flexible educational experience for our communities. There will be messy times filled with challenges where we will make a lot of mistakes along the way, but isn’t that one of things that characterizes learning?

What do you think? Be sure to leave a comment.

Want to learn more? 

About the Author

Spike Cook, Ed.D., Principal, Lakeside Middle School, Millville, NJ. In addition to being a Principal, Dr. Cook published two books through Corwin Press (Connected Leadership: It’s Just a Click Away; Breaking Out of Isolation: Becoming a Connected School Leader). He is the co-host of the popular PrincipaPLN podcast and his blog, Insights Into Learning, was recognized as a finalist for Best Administrator Blog by the EduBlog Awards. Spike earned his Doctorate from Rowan University and is an Adjunct Faculty member in the Masters of School Administration Program He is featured in Twinkl’s 30 Education Influencers You Need to Follow and Klear’s Top Ten Middle School Influencers. Dr. Cook is also on the Education Advisory Board for Whole Health Ed. Connect with @drspikecook via Twitter, YouTube,  LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.

Apr
02
2021

How to Develop a Daily Gratitude Practice

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A daily gratitude practice can be a transformational experience in the way that you see the world. When you lead with gratitude, you begin to see the value in what you have as opposed to what you do not have. By spending a few minutes a day focusing on gratitude you can literally rewire your brain and catapult yourself into a new way of life. Sounds like a lot of work but it really is very simple.

The Why

The first time I was ever asked to name 5 things I was grateful for I froze. It was October of 2016 and I was working with a consultant hired by our district to help administrators improve their practice. Unfortunately, I was too focused on all of the issues, problems and shortcomings as opposed to all of the things that were going well. I couldn’t see the forest or the trees 🙂

Gratitude helps you …

  1. Reduce stress
  2. Develop a new perspective on the world
  3. Get through tough times

Gratitude Journal 

In order to develop a daily gratitude practice you need to find some way to capture 3-5 things you are grateful for. There are many journals out there that have prompts and areas for you to write or draw. You can use a note book or even post its. I like using the Notes App in my phone. No matter what you choose, just make sure it is something you will be able to use on an ongoing basis and it is convenient.

How to develop a Daily Gratitude Practice

Step 1

  • Carve out 5 minutes in the morning where can find a comfortable spot to reflect on the previous day.
  • Go back through the day and think of situations, people, places or things that you were grateful for. Specifically, it could have been a phone call to a loved one, the fact that the sun was shining, that you got paid, that you had a relaxing shower, etc.

Step 2

  • Write down 5 things that you are grateful for in your journal, notebook or phone.
  • Be sure to date the entry and maybe write a sentence or two about the day in general.

Step 3

  • Take 3 cleansing breaths to get centered
  • Read each of the entries and start with “I am grateful for …” and breathe as you read each one.
  • After you are finished, read them again and after each one say “Thank you, thank you, thank you”

Start now

Take a moment and think of one thing you are grateful for and say “thank you.” Decide that you are going to dedicate 5 minutes a day to developing a gratitude practice.

Feel free to use this post or this presentation that I made to help others with gratitude. Let me know how you make out on your journey!

About the Author 
Spike Cook, Ed.D., Principal, Lakeside Middle School, Millville, NJ. In addition to being a Principal, Dr. Cook published two books through Corwin Press (Connected Leadership: It’s Just a Click Away; Breaking Out of Isolation: Becoming a Connected School Leader). He is the co-host of the popular PrincipaPLN podcast and his blog, Insights Into Learning, was recognized as a finalist for Best Administrator Blog by the EduBlog Awards. Spike earned his Doctorate from Rowan University and is featured in their Alumni Spotlight. He is featured in Twinkl’s 30 Education Influencers You Need to Follow and Klear’s Top Ten Middle School Influencers. Dr. Cook is also on the Education Advisory Board for Whole Health Ed. Connect with @drspikecook via Twitter, YouTube,  LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.
Dec
06
2020

10,000 Steps a Day: One Step At a Time for 6 Months!

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Get ten thousand steps wherever you can.

On June 6, 2020 I made a promise to myself to integrate a walking program into my life. Previously, I have tried so many different exercise regimens into my life and accomplished a few things along the way (finished a marathon, few half marathon, 5Ks, triathlon etc.) but these all happened a few decades ago and often lead to injuries. To me, walking was just a way to get from one point to another or something that I did when I was “hiking.”

My new walking companion, Rico. He doesn’t always make walking easy.

I approached walking 10,000 steps differently because I was looking for different results. I wasn’t looking to lose weight, set any records or to get myself ready for anything else. I just wanted to walk to ground myself, maintain balance, experience weather changes and practice mindfulness. In reality, I just wanted to enjoy the walk and I did.

As I got closer to the 6 month streak I started to reflect on the magnitude of steps. I went through my Setpz App and analyzed the data (I use the free version). I walked an average of 11,000 steps a day for 189 days which is about 2,079,000 total steps since June 6. Prior to starting this journey, I never imagined that I could have walked that many steps.

This was when I was walking in a Nor’easter

Walking 10,000 steps a day required patience and time management. I learned a lot of things along the way. Here are 10 insights about my first six month streak walking 10.000 steps a day:

  1. Don’t chase steps – The earlier you get your steps in, the better. I definitely had some times where I was trying to get my steps in later in the evening and that lead to stress.
  2. Break up the walks – You don’t have to get all your steps in at once. I rarely had walks longer that 6 or 7 thousand steps. I liked chunking the steps throughout the day.
  3. Communicate to friends and loved ones – Let the people you spend the most time with know your goal. This helps with accountability and even a conversation.
  4. Invest in good sneakers – I wear running shoes that I get from the South Jersey Running Company. They specialize in matching shoes with your specific biomechanics.
  5. Be prepared for the weather – I walked in the rain, heat, wind and in the morning, afternoon and evening. I paid a lot of attention to the weather to see when the best time would be to walk.
  6. Vary your path – I am fortunate to have a bike path near my house which makes walking very easy, but I get bored. I like changing it up by walking other places.
  7. Park far away from your destination – If I am going to a store I usually park away from the entrance. Not only do you get more steps, but you avoid all of cars trying to get in and out of spots.
  8. Make calls – Nowadays, almost everyone who talks to me on the phone asks if I am walking.
  9. Listen to music or a podcast – When I first started out I listened to a lot of podcasts and music. As time went on, I found myself just enjoying walks without my ear buds in.
  10. Look up at the sky – Since it is getting dark earlier, I get to see a lot more of the stars and planets. In one walk this month (December) I was able to see Mars, Jupiter and Saturn with the assistance of a Star Map app.

My next goal is to make 10,000 steps a day for an entire year. I have 6 months to go, but I know I just need to take one step at a time.

Drop a comment if you plan or have embarked on a walking journey!

A hike with my son, Henry in Virginia.

About the Author

Spike Cook, Ed.D., Principal, Lakeside Middle School, Millville, NJ. In addition to being a Principal, Dr. Cook published two books through Corwin Press (Connected Leadership:It’s Just a Click Away; Breaking Out of Isolation: Becoming a Connected School Leader). He is the co-host of the PrincipaPLN podcast and his blog, Insights Into Learning, was recognized as a finalist for Best Administrator Blog by the EduBlog Awards. Spike earned his Doctorate from Rowan University and is featured in their Alumni Spotlight. Dr. Cook is also on the Education Advisory Board for Whole Health Ed. Connect with @drspikecook via Twitter.

 

Mar
27
2020

5 Observations on Education During a Pandemic

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Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

Schools across the globe have been forced to close their doors in a sweeping response to the COVID 19 pandemic. Many educators found this out with little to no time to prepare and it has been challenging for everyone. The school buildings are closed but the learning is continuing and it is revealing a lot about the state of education.

Here are 5 Observations on Education During a Pandemic:

  1. Socioeconomics continues to be one of the major factors impacting education. This debate (and unfortunately it has been a debate) continues as many people are seeing that those families living in poverty do not have an equitable access employment, technology or food. This hasn’t changed with the closing of school, it has just become more apparent.  The big question is…. what are we doing about it?
  2. Educators who lead with a Growth Mindset in regards to technology and remote student learning are having the most successes. If you are being asked to change your mode of instruction (sometimes with less than 24 hours of notice) there is not a lot of time to remain fixed about what teaching and learning is going to look like. By and large educators have taken risks, tried new things and gone out of their comfort zones to ensure that students continue learning during this unprecedented time.
  3. The need to “play school” in the 19th century sense is still alive and well. Those who are trying to play this type of school are struggling. Many educators report that they are “business as usual” or that they are “keeping the curriculum moving forward.” This can be a troublesome approach since the variables of educating students remotely have been drastically increased.  How can we approach business as usual when parents are responsible for balancing their jobs (if they still have them), ensuring that their children are following the remote learning plans, all while everyone wonders what the long term impact of this pandemic will be?
  4. Collaboration is key. Educators collaborate all the time during the traditional school year. Teachers use formal and informal ways to collaborate while in a traditional school setting. During remote learning, educators have had to investigate new forms of communication, attend virtual meetings, use back channels and recognize the importance of social media. Teachers are doing this while also taking care of their own children.
  5. Many were prepared for this. There are countless educators who have sacrificed their mornings or evenings to attend Twitter Chats to grow and connect with others outside their school walls. They listened to Podcasts, joined Voxer groups all in the hopes to learn something new or connect with like minded educators. Numerous educators gave up their Saturdays to attend EdCamps where the un-conference model allowed for an innovative, learner-centered professional development that they were not getting inside the school walls. Thought leaders such as Will Richardson, Eric Sheninger,  Diane Ravitch, Baruti Kafele, and Rafranz Davis were telling us over the last few years that we needed to look at the education paradigm differently, uniquely because we are in a new age.

So where do we go from here? 

Eventually we will head back to the school buildings but the hope is that this experience will force educators to reflect on the current mode of education and to determine what changes they will need to make moving forward to connect with students on a deeper level. Maybe the teachers will be able to take charge of the curriculum again and force state and local legislatures to put the kid’s needs first. Maybe, just maybe the public will see that all of the teacher bashing that has been en vogue over the last 20 years needs to stop and we need to work together for our kids!

Spike Cook, Ed.D., Principal, Lakeside Middle School, Millville, NJ. In addition to being a Principal, Dr. Cook published two books through Corwin Press (Connected Leadership:It’s Just a Click Away; Breaking Out of Isolation: Becoming a Connected School Leader). He is the co-host of the PrincipaPLN podcast and his blog, Insights Into Learning, was recognized as a finalist for Best Administrator Blog by the EduBlog Awards. Spike earned his Doctorate from Rowan University and is featured in their Alumni Spotlight. Connect with @drspikecook via Twitter.

Feb
03
2019

Standing Tall with @StandTallSteve

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Spike Cook with Stand Tall Steve

Recently, our school hosted Stand Tall Steve for a motivational assembly and it had such an impact on our school I had to blog about it. Maybe your school could benefit from his enthusiasm and message.

Stand Tall Steve is focused on inspiring students and educators to “Stand up” as leaders, innovators and learners. Throughout his high energy presentation, he motivated our students to understand the following:

  • Importance of a healthy morning routine
  • Importance of respecting each other and adults in the building
  • Standing up as leaders to achieve your best
  • Remembering to have fun!

His assembly was fun! Kids and teachers were up and out of their seats, dancing and most importantly learning. He also involved staff in the presentation so it impacted everyone!

As the Principal I felt he was able to impact our climate and culture throughout the day. It was clear that everyone was able to enjoy his message while learning what it takes to Stand Tall!

If you would like more information on Stand Tall Steve checkout his website.

About the Author 

Spike Cook, Ed.D., Principal, Lakeside Middle School, Millville, NJ. In addition to being a Principal, Dr. Cook published two books through Corwin Press (Connected Leadership:It’s Just a Click Away; Breaking Out of Isolation: Becoming a Connected School Leader). He is the co-host of the popular PrincipaPLN podcast and his blog, Insights Into Learning, was recognized as a finalist for Best Administrator Blog by the EduBlog Awards. Spike earned his Doctorate from Rowan University and is featured in their Alumni Spotlight. Connect with @drspikecook via Twitter.

Dec
30
2018

Top 5 Posts from 2018

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Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Each year I take some time to reflect on the blog posts on this site. It is a very cathartic process as I re-read the posts from the year, and it also inspires me to keep blogging. At it’s core, this blog serves as a digital footprint of my year as a learner!

Here are my Top 5 Blog Posts from 2018

5. You Can’t Pour out of an Empty Cup 

This was originally posted on December 2, 2018 but was shared throughout the Holiday Season. I wrote this to both remind everyone (and myself) of how important self care is to our longevity!

4. How to Spread Gratitude at your School 

This January 7, 2018 post was one of my most meaningful posts of the year. Gratitude has been an integral part of my life since October 2016. The daily practice of Gratitude has transformed the way I see the world. As I become more comfortable with the practice, I shared it with the staff and students at Lakeside Middle School. It is amazing how much it has grown!

3. Celebrate Two Staff Members a Day 

I wrote this post on January 15, 2018 after interviewing Lindsy Stumpenhorst on the PrincipalPLN Podcast. Lindsy developed a system of recognition cards with her secretary to celebrate teachers throughout their building. Her secretary keeps track of the list to ensure that everyone is included. When Lindsy comes into her office every morning there are two cards with teacher names. Lindsy’s sole mission for the day (on top of all of the tasks she already has) is to fill out the cards and get them to the teachers. I tried this and received a lot of positive feedback. As with anything, if you do not stick with it then it goes away. Re-reading this post has encouraged me to go back to this recognition process.

2. 5 Takeaways from the National SAM Conference

I love learning at conferences and the 2018 SAM conference was such an amazing experience. Not only did I turn 44 during the conference, I got a chance to hear inspiring keynotes, breakout sessions and to connect with educators from around the country!

1.  School Security: A Serious, Comprehensive Issue 

I wrote this post after the Parkland, Florida tragedy. I was very specific with my intentions of this post which is why I wrote a disclaimer, “This post, however, is not about the politics, mental health or gun debates that are currently filling up social media networks as well as local, state, and national news. This post is about the seriousness of school security and the reality of being a principal having to deal with it.” Since this post our district has increased our training and preparation to better equip students and staff in case of an emergency. I have learned so much more and have enjoyed working with local, state and federal law enforcement officials.

I want to thank you all for your support of this blog. Very soon in 2019 Insights Into Learning will turn 7 years old! Stay tuned for more and Happy New Year!

About the Author 

Spike Cook, Ed.D., Principal, Lakeside Middle School, Millville, NJ. In addition to being a Principal, Dr. Cook published two books through Corwin Press (Connected Leadership:It’s Just a Click Away; Breaking Out of Isolation: Becoming a Connected School Leader). He is the co-host of the popular PrincipaPLN podcast and his blog, Insights Into Learning, was recognized as a finalist for Best Administrator Blog by the EduBlog Awards. Spike earned his Doctorate from Rowan University and is featured in their Alumni Spotlight. Connect with @drspikecook via Twitter.

Dec
02
2018

You can’t pour out of an empty cup

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Photo by Braden Barwich on Unsplash

This is a busy time of the year for educators. On top of al the professional responsibilities such as teaching students, dealing with the demands of lesson plans, assessments, Professional Learning Communities, Student Growth Objectives, Observation and the list goes on and on, it is the holiday season, winter, daylight savings time etc. Wow is that a lot to balance! So, how do we ensure that our cup is filled so we can help others?

Here are 5 things you can put into place to get you through this tough stretch:

  1. Unplug. Chances are (and the blog stats would back this up) you are reading this on you phone having been exposed to the link through social media. Although I have written extensively about the benefits of social media (here is a link to my book) there are a lot of drawbacks. The one big draw back is the impact this is having on your brain. Don’t believe it? Watch this Manoush Zomorodi talk about what technology is doing to us.
  2. Exercise. There are countless research studies and anecdotal stories about the power of exercise. If you do step one (and unplug) you could use 15 minutes that you would normally be cruising through social media to go for a walk.
  3. Go to bed at the same time (and probably a little earlier than you currently are going to bed). Getting at least 8 hours of sleep should be more than just a goal for you, it should be a requirement. When the body doesn’t get the proper rest the results can be catastrophic! Check out this research by Dr. Matther Walker.
  4. Start a Gratitude List. Every morning, upon waking, I take a few minutes to reflect on the prior day and write down 5 things that I am grateful for. This has transformed my world view and it has reprogrammed my brain to always look for the things I have rather than what I don’t have. Here are a some resources from my experience with Gratitude: School resources, personal Gratitude Practice.
  5. You are in control of how you react. I love the quote, “I didn’t cut you so don’t bleed on me.” This is particularly powerful as we deal with people on a day to day basis. You can’t control others but you can control how you react and many situations can be disarmed with a calm, kind response. Not everyone will appreciate that but then again you can’t control that.

So as you go through this holiday season with all of the added pressures and responsibilities, remember that you can’t pour from an empty cup. Be sure to take some time for yourself and recharge your batteries. Remember… breathe 🙂

About the Author

Spike C. Cook, Ed.D., Principal, Lakeside Middle School, Millville, NJ. In addition to being a Principal, Dr. Cook published two book through Corwin Press (Connected Leadership:It’s Just a Click Away; Breaking Out of Isolation: Becoming a Connected School Leader). He is the co-host of the popular PrincipaPLN podcast and his blog, Insights Into Learning, was recognized as a finalist for Best Administrator Blog by the EduBlog Awards.  Connect with @drspikecook via Twitter.