"If the challenge exists, so must the solution." - Rona Mlnarik

This past Friday, Mr. Thomas, Ms. Covington, and I (via Google Hangout) participated in the first session of the CLC for Charter Schools. CLC stands for Curriculum Leaders' Collaborative.  There will be three sessions and each of these sessions will not just focus on curriculum, as you would expect them to, but they will also focus on the other skills needed to ensure that students are accessing standard based instruction on a regularly basis.

Friday, the NCDPI group focused on the following topics:

• Solution Oriented Thinking
• Communication Continuum
• Implementation Science
• Varied Experiences of Standards Implementation

Each of these sessions were well thought out and our team has a plan on how to communicate the change in ELA and Math standards for the 2018-2019 with all our different stakeholders.

Today, I want to focus on the article entitled 4 Steps to Developing a Solution Orientation.  For those that want to read it, it is linked in the title.  I am going to share the 4 steps and how they relate to problems and challenges here at TCEA.  The author, Daniel Horgan, notes that there are no shortage of problems.  There are problems at home, work, on the way to work, on the way home etc.  Most of the times when we're faced with a problem, we immediately get frustrated and "we can

feel the negativity fast tracking its way through our bodies, affecting our thoughts,

what we hear, what we say and how we interact with those around us" states Horgan.  But he believes, as well as I, that when we allow negativity to affect us this way, we stand down to the problem and problems breed more problems.  Our human reactions to problems need a make over.  We need to gain control over the problems we face.  But how?

Horgan believes there are 4 steps in creating an solution orientation in your life.

1. It starts with attitude: When a problems hits you, we must let it trigger a "spirit of optimism".  Take the time to decide that there is a solution and you will find it.
   
2. Adopting a solution-orientation requires focus and analysis: You have to use critical thinking skills to break apart the big problems and look for the smaller elements and roots to the issue.  This goes completely against the "whack a mole" concept most of employee without thinking. But by using these procedure, you're most likely to solve the problem and find a solution.
   
3. We must employ creativity to surface solutions that break the 
4. boundaries of traditional thinking and surface differentiating solutions: "
When we commit to a solution orientation, we are demonstrating the value we bring to a relationship, a team or an organization. Leveraging our creativity requires us to effectively brainstorm solutions that exceed a short list of average ideas and instead push our thinking beyond our self-imposed limits to get to the ideas that are innovative in their design and approach" write Horgan.  We have to work together to find solutions and I believe truly believe that the strategies to improve schools will not most likely come from big education consultants.  Other companies and industries might have the answers we need...we just have to look outside of what's convenient. 
  
5. After we discipline ourselves to adopt the attitude of a champion, commit to focus and analysis and leverage our creativity, we must take action: This is where the rubber meets the road.  Time to look at all the solutions, decide on next step (individual or collective decision) and MOVE! 

So, what's an issue in your class or grade level you want to tackle or need to?  Take the problems on using this model.  So many times, we get caught up in the emotions surrounded in the issues that we talk about doing something but never do.  The problem dies down but they always return.  I am guilty of this and I am sure many of you are as well.

I am going to post these steps in our PLC Room and I am looking forward to watching us work this plan as we continue to improve and press towards our mark of becoming a C School by September 2018.

I hope you've had a great weekend and I look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow!  -Angela

Monday, February 26- Friday, March 2

Monday, February 26

• 5th Grade Planning at 12:50
• SIT Meeting at 3:30 PM in Theater
• TCEA Board Mtg at 5:15 in Studio 213 (Samuelson's Room)

Tuesday, February 27

• Mid Years Admin Mtg Continue
• Arts Integration Meetings: 8-9
• Middle Grardes
• ELA- Strimel
• Sciemce- Falls
• SS- Pond
• Math- Lanham
• Hill out of office 8:30-10:00
• Village Dental Presentations
• Kindergarten: 8:15-8:45
• 1st Grade: 9:15-9:45
• 1st Grade to Library 9:45-11:00
• 3rd Grade Planning 10:10-11:10
• Admin Mtg 12:45-1:45
• Black History Program 
• K-3 please view in your rooms via Facebook Live on The Capitol Encore Page
• 4th-8th, please be seated in the theater by 1:45 PM

Wednesday, February 28

• PLCs (The Talent Code and Retention Conversation; please make sure you have read Part III: Master Coaching and we will meet at the Coffee Cup again; you will need to record you drink order here by 8 AM Wednesday to speed things up)
• 8-9: Kindergarten (please meet near Hay Street at 8:05)
• 9:05-10:05: 1st Grade (please meet near Hay Street at 9:10)
• 10:10-11:10: 2nd Grade (please meet near Hay Street at 10:15)
• 12:50-1:50: 5th Grade (please meet near Hay Street at 12:55)
• 1:55-2:55: Middle Grades (please meet near Hay Street at 2)
• 4th Grade Planning 12:50-1:50

Thursday, March 1

• Mid Year Admin Mtg Continue
• Kindergarten Planning 8-9
• 2nd Grade Planning 10:10-11:10
• PLCs (The Talent Code and Retention Conversation; please make sure you have read Part III: Master Coaching and we will meet at the Coffee Cup again; you will need to record you drink order here by 8 AM Wednesday to speed things up)
• 10:10-11:10: 3rd Grade (please meet near Hay Street at 10:15)
• 12:50-1:50: 4th Grade (please meet near Hay Street at 12:55)
• Arts PLC 11:30-12:30

Friday, March 2

• Kindergarten Planning 8-9
• Mr. Thomas covers Samuelson's Room
• 1st Grade Planning 9-10
• Hill Out

Saturday, March 3rd

• Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Cane are leading this up and will send out more information and opportunities to volunteer, if needed, this week

🦎👏 Chameleon Clap🦎👏

From Mr. Kline:

Mr. Falls for making my paper curtains for my door windows to make our kids safer in Theatre and Film.

Mrs. Trojan for an amazing Hay Street window display.

Superintendent Kneer for fighting for our Old Street crosswalk, keeping students safe while making arrival and dismissal more efficient.

From Mrs. Hill:
Thank you to the entire staff for making our first Chameleon Crawl a success!!!

Thank you to Mr. Salisbury for getting all supplies needed for Friday night.

Thank you to Mrs. Trojan for putting the special touches on Friday night and for getting all of our parent volunteers.

Thank you to Mr. Thomas for the signage and helping get my stuff done in my absence...each and every time!

Congratulations and Good Luck to Mrs. Samuelson on tomorrow! Tomorrow is her state interview for NC Teacher of the Year! You've got this and we're all behind you!