How do we use This We Believe?

I did a Voice Thread for last week but, I realize it was late so I jotted down a few of my points here, maybe some of my classmates will see them!! They aren't very well organized but, hopefully it makes sense.

I think middle school leadership needs to be the first to adopt the "This We Believe" positions and then need to lead staff at middle schools in preaching and practicing them. I've seen a lot of copies of "This We Believe" passed out but, I think that it is about making those tenants clear through everything that the leaders of a school do.

Ed mentioned a mission statement at Warsaw and I totally agree that that's what a lot of schools need.. We have a code of conduct at our school that is posted everywhere and that everyone knows about, teachers, kids, parents. I think we need to do the same for This We Believe.

I agree with Jen that "This We Believe" should be used more in staff development too. I also agree with Denise in that I think that we still need buy in amongst a lot of teachers and, unfortunately we need to be able to give people statistics or at least more concrete information to create that buy in. But, maybe Ed's right about it not being about the stats but that that is just an excuse.

This whole idea of buy in goes along with what Ed mentioned about these same people's preconceived notions of middle level and the adverse reactions to the mention of anything middle level. I see that a lot, especially with the mention of Bright Futures by our leadership. I remember Ed mentioning the "name" thing in the first face to face; that the name of middle level philosophy isn't important. It's so frustrating that "middle level" brings about such negative reactions but, I completely agree with Ed, we need to have those conversations about why "their eyes glaze over". I really like the idea that it's not about what we call it but what we do. However, I think the conversations have to come first and again, this is where leadership has to take the initiative. Hopefully I'm not just passing the buck!

I did like the accompanying book to "This We Believe" especially since it highlighted two Maine schools. Unfortunately, too many of my colleagues keep using the excuse that "their school doesn't look like ours" when other schools are used as examples. I think Mike Muir mentioned that as a classic excuse to NOT implement things and it is so sad.

I also agree with Lee and Lindsay and like the idea of giving information from "This We Believe" to all 6th grade parents. Again, I think school leaders have to be first in promoting this to parents.

The adolescent piece is crucial especially to first time parents. But it is also important to parents who are stuck in the "That's not the way we did it" mentality which so many are. I think if we can refer to a nationally, state, and school approved document and research based philosophies, it would help in explaining how our schools are set up or explaining what we do in the classroom.

Ok, I posted on the Voice Thread too about this stuff and technology, sorry I got behind guys!!