Do it Right!

This school year our entire staff is reading, studying, and implementing the strategies used in the book, Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov. We are having some amazing school-wide success. From improved behavior to academic gains no-one was expecting, the kids are doing some great things. It is nice to learn how to be more effective at your job - and realizing that everyone has strengths as well as struggles. I think this is one of the best things we have ever done as a staff.

Each month we read and implement a new strategy. The strategy we chose for October is called, "Do it Again" or "Do it Right". This strategy is meant to show the kids that excellence is attainable and expected in everything they do. With 100% participation.

Usually "Do it Again" is used when kids are lining up to go from one place to another. Or in the hallways, where they are required to walk in silence. If a class is noisy, or doesn't line up right, they are asked to "Do it Again". Kids have come to expect that if someone in their group is not doing the right thing, they will be asked to try again. It is a strategy that has them ending with success. Sometimes a single student will be asked to try again. Most often in the hallways when they are talking. A staff member will ask them to go back and try walking quietly. I would like to state here that asking someone to do something, rather than ordering is quite important. We respectfully request that they do it better. And no one has been reduced to tears or has thrown a fit.

The other day, during Christmas break, one staff member was shopping at a store with her family. She saw two of our students (brothers) racing down the aisle. They were almost all the way down the aisle when they saw her, stopped cold, eyes growing wide,turned and walked carefully back down the aisle to the end, and then came back walking slowly and respectfully.

Seems they're expecting excellence from themselves.