Austin Represents @ Learning Forward National Conference #learnfwd13

We're just back from the Learning Forward National Conference located down the road in Grapevine, TX!  Over the past few days, several Austin educators were able to attend various sessions on a wide variety of topics (Digital Learning, Supporting New Educators, "Teaching Like A Pirate," etc.).  It was an amazing learning opportunity made all the better by the fact that it was hosted in our own backyard.

It addition to attending the conference, 3 Austin educators also led a session on school transformation. Laurie O'Neill (Principal), Cooper Hilton (Assistant Principal), and Liz Malone (GT Facilitator) hosted a session on "Navigating The Winding Road of School Transformation."  Their objective was to provide a case study of the growth and transformation that Austin Elementary has undergone over the past few years.  They were able to share progress/celebrations/hurdles that they have experienced while continuing to transform.  Below is a "SMORE" outline of their presentation.  Haven't used SMORE?  It's a great tool for creating online newsletters, brochures, etc.  Several Austin educators have adopted it as a tool for communicating their class newsletters each week.

Don't hesitate to contact any of the presenters with questions about the Smore!  Also, feel free to leave questions in the comments section of this post.

"Navigating The Winding Road of School Transformation" SMORE

Want to explore more of the learning from Learning Forward?  Search for #learnfwd13 or #austinlearns on Twitter, and join in the conversation!

"Your Output Is Messing With My Input!"

Wow!  Yesterday's professional learning on "Connectors" was a day of A-HAs and Hmmms.  Check out this video of an activity that got us to thinking about how we are connected as a campus and how everything that we do (our Output) affects others (their Input).

(Hey, don't laugh!  It's harder than it looks!)

 In an overly simplified nutshell, "Connectors" introduced us to the idea that every student and staff member is connected at Austin Elementary, and every word, action, and deed has an impact on our learning community.  Take a look at the connector below (we named her "Mustang Sally").  

 The left side of the Connector, or the Input, illustrates what comes to us; students that are smart, eager, tired, gifted, troubled, innocent, nervous, etc.  See below...

  The right side of the Connector, or the Output, shows how we want students to leave Austin Elementary; students that are encouraged, aware, passionate, happy, creative, playful, independent, etc.  See below...

   As "Connectors" taught us, what helps us make the transition from our Input to our Output are the Transforms (generally verbs) that we do to "transform" our Input to our Output.  Still with me?  Some of our Transforms were: laugh, provide, share, challenge, discipline, celebrate, empower, enrich, motivate, model, teach, correct, etc.  See below...



From there, we began to discuss how within the Austin Elementary Connector (Mustang Sally) there are individual Connectors and even grade level Connectors that, when aligned properly, build toward the desired Output of Mustang Sally.  Now I'm sure I've lost a few people.

Below are pictures of some of the aligning we did with our grade level content-specific Connectors.

Our final Mustang Sally (with the grade level Connectors inside) has been posted and will be used to facilitate discussions of content alignment and vision alignment.

Whew!  What a day!



Happy New Year!

Happy New Year's From Austin Elementary!

It is our first day back of 2012, and we are hitting the ground running!  January will be a month full of Professional Learning for Austin Elementary.  Here are just a few of the things coming up this month:

• January 6- Our first day of E-Time!  (see previous posts)
• January 12-  Several Austin teachers will attend a PBIS training at Region X on "Extreme Behavior Modification."  Should be interesting!
• January 16-  The entire Austin staff will participate in a training on "Connectors."  

Check back soon for some photos and updates of our first day of E-Time!