The definition of Exemplary is deserving imitation because of excellence. I hear people speak of exemplary daily but when I walk the halls I hear something totally different. For this week’s post, I would like for you to describe in your own words how an exemplary school looks and sounds(halls, classrooms, speech, cafeteria). Even your posts here(which are your thoughts) should reflect “exemplary”!
An exemplary school should be orderly in every aspect...sight, sound, etc. This includes the largest areas (student focus, behavior and appearance)to the smallest details (paper on the floor). An exemplary school should not be noisy in areas of learning and transition. An exemplary school is a place where respect and unity should be easily recognized. With that being said, we are far from exemplary....myself included. I commit to getting myself as well as my students to exemplary!
ReplyDeleteExemplary cannot come about with everyone going in seperate directions. We must be unified with one goal in mind and that is to educate our students. We must feel in the gap for each other thereby exemplary will take shape and become real. I also think if we see something going wrong do not sit quitely. We are all in this together.
ReplyDelete"Broken Window Theory" (the brainchild of criminologists James Wilson and George Kelling) says this: if a window in a neighborhood is broken and does not get fixed, it signifies that either 1) no one is in charge or 2) no one cares. From that, disorder spreads through the neighborhood, crime increases, and a general sense of anarchy ensues.
ReplyDeleteExemplary schools don't have broken windows. They have clear expectations for every part of the building that are consistently enforced. Shirts don't go untucked (broken window). Restrooms aren't left dirty (broken window). The hallways are quiet and orderly. These signs indicate to students that 1) someone is in charge and 2) someone does care. Then once we close our doors, it is up to us as individual teachers to make sure our classrooms don't have any broken windows that would send a conflicting message to students about our expectations.
Again, exemplary schools DO NOT have broken windows, because a broken window sends an out-of-control, anti-exemplary message.
Exemplary can only be achieved when you live in that mind frame every day! It looks like many minds working as one. An examplary teacher will realize that my class is mine as well as every other student in the building. An exemplary teacher will help if you see another teacher struggling. An exemplary teacher will do whatever is needed to be done and they keep their eyes stayed on the goal at hand.
ReplyDeleteStudents and parents should also share in the goal of exemplary and their actions should reflect the prize as well.
An exemplary school should be challenging, hold high expectations for students and teachers alike and be respectful and supportive to all.
ReplyDeleteExemplary is something that must be mimicked in appearance first before it can be replicated in actuality. The catchphrase “fake it till you make it” means to imitate confidence so that as the confidence produces success, it will generate real confidence. To produce exemplary results, we are going to have to “fake it till we make it” by imitating exemplary actions in our day to day routines such as planning, walking in the hallways, dismissal, and the like. However, I do believe that exemplary goes much deeper than appearance. To truly be exemplary, you have to first make the necessary changes within yourself to begin working on becoming a person of excellence; myself included.
ReplyDeleteMr. Keith,
Your blog was very powerful!! I have not heard that particular theory before but it seems so logical and easily related to our situation.
Exemplary should look according to the sound of stating the word EXEMPLARY. When exemplary is stated or spoken aloud you hear a different tone of voice.When I hear that word I automatically think of excellence. We have excellent educators and our students can follow if we lead as a whole. In the hallways, cafeteria, ect, it should reflect and exemplary manner( quiet, respectful when and adult ask a student to do something). First, and foremost we need everyone on one accord, its very conflicting to the students if we do not demonstate the same thing as a entire campus (straight line, hands behind their back, lips sealed). Speech also plays a very important role in being exemplary, I’m guilty of not displaying exemplary at times myself, but I try to approach certain situations differently, then I did before, and reflect upon it to correct it.
ReplyDeleteAn exemplary school is a place where everything is in order. The building is clean and everybody pitches in to keep it that way. Exemplary means that horseplay outside of recess is not accepted. It is important that the school is identified as a place of learning not only by its appearance, but by a sense of harmony and teamwork that exists amongst the everyone in the building.
ReplyDeleteExemplary schools seek to develop the ability to continuously focus attention on ways to support instruction and learning, focus on instructional leadership, campus-wide involvement in improving student achievement, and to share a campus vision and implement that vision for improved teaching and learning. The students' should also be involved in the decision for effective change, growth, and high expectations. The school should enlist strong parent and community involvement in planning, implementing, and evaluating school improvement activities. “Begin with the end in mind.”
ReplyDeleteAn exemplary school is everyone coming together and helping each other,it is also everyone helping the students, giving encouraging words to each other and students. I agree with Ms. Woods in her statement when she said that it is important that the school is identified as a place of learning not only by it's apperance but by a sense of harmony and teamwork.
ReplyDeleteIn an exemplary school I would think to see hallways crowded with work and even working students and teachers. That would mean of course that classes coming down the hallway were respectful in their behavior so that this could continue to go on without interruptions. I would think to walk into a classroom and see ALL students engaged in the lesson. It would be a collaborative/integrated/engaging lesson with the teacher facilitating the learning. It would be a place where students and teachers showed respect among each other. It would be a place where teachers/students/parents all worked as one for the good of the students.
ReplyDeleteEXEMPLARY
ReplyDeleteI THINK EXEMPLARY SHOULD LOOK LIKE SUCCESS. It starts with the teachers who should carry themselves in a way that reflects that they are educators with high expectations of themselves and their students. In the classroom, there should always be a learning environment present where students are actively engaged and participating in what the daily instruction requires. Students should be sharing ideas in the classroom and the teacher should be providing feedback. The cafeteria is also a place where students should still display exemplary behavior as far as using good judgement, behavior and manners. Hallway behavior pretty much dictates how the students will behave in the classroom. If they go into the classroom out of control it will take the teacher a while to get them settled down and into a learning frame of mind. Exempary students use hallway time to prepare mentally for classroom activities and behavior.
I believe exemplary looks like a balance of positive reinforcements and tough love. It is a school that actively seeks solutions to any problem, large or small. It models hands that build up and mold the minds of the students. Metaphorically, I think of it as colors...bright and bold colors that radiant outward.
ReplyDeleteExemplary is taking no excuses for anything. Doing what it takes to get the job done. Stepping out of your box to try something new and still holding on to things that are proven to work.
ReplyDeleteExemplary is doing the best you can possibly do. It is never backing down from a challenge, always striving to do better, and being proud of your accomplishments. An exemplary school shows this both in its administrators, teachers and students. Uniform expectations in all areas of the school are a non-negotiable in an exemplary school. Everyone,as in all, must consistently enforce all policies and guidelines. Otherwise mediocrity sets in and may stay.
ReplyDeleteWhat does exemplary look like? Engaged students, teacher’s teaching(maximizing time/effort), ALL ADULTS monitoring ALL the time, scholarly dialogue and a culture focused on excellence. Orderly hallways with an absence of yelling. We speak of exemplary but we only have pockets throughout the building. Great teams don’t exist with pockets of isolation, i.e.-a team can’t have a great defense and a poor offense, a company can’t have a great product and poor production and schools cannot exist with pockets either.
ReplyDeleteHere is where I see our pockets of exemplary:
It is the way PK quietly takes care of their business. Whatever internal struggles they have, it rarely goes beyond their area.
It is the way the Kindergarten teachers work together to make sure that they put their best foot forward. Have you all seen their area? Their fundraisers? Wow!!!
It is the way the 1st Grade Team have flexed and worked with what may be most challenging group of students on our campus.
It is the way that 2nd Grade is balanced. The unique personalities and experiences of the individual teachers have made that team one of the stronger teams on campus.
It is the way 3rd Grade has shown resiliency as they have dealt with issues both personally and professionally.
It is the way 4th Grade has reflected on their performance, accepted the facts and then responded positively to the challenges.
It is the way 5th Grade just puts it down. Very rarely do I ever see any of them sitting. They are always up and teaching.
It is the Specials teachers’ willingness to help out in the core academic areas. Their schedules are so confusing that even I don’t know where they are supposed to be sometimes and not once have they complained.
As a campus, it is our family atmosphere. We care about each and reach out when someone is hurting. As much as I fuss, I try to be attuned to EACH one of you and your needs(personal & professional) which ultimately play out during each school day.
For us to reach exemplary, we are all going to have to learn from each other and take the best of everyone. Take a walk around the building and look at the grade levels and see the great things that are going on with them. Take notes, ask questions and see if/how you can implement some of these extraordinary
Another definition of exemplary is, "serving as a model or pattern". We as educators set the mold. We set the standard, goal or expectation and communicate it. We must care enough to encourage students to rise above even our expectations. We must care enough to encourage students to look and act their best. Being a lady or gentleman is not dead. We must care enough to motivate one another to improve and excel. We must care enough about ourselves to strive to become the best God has called us to be. We must care enough to respect one another no matter what our personal opinions or personalities are. We must learn how to be positive & encouraging not critical & negative! We must all respect the process that we are all going through to get to exemplary and provide each other the tools we need to get ourslves and our students there.
ReplyDeleteBiblically speaking the principal is best addressed in Philippians 3...
"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind."
One goal...one mind...one focus! Moving to exemplary together!
Exemplary campus means working well with others and meeting our goals as a school. We should not only be positive toward our students, but towards our peers, as well. Starting as a new teacher is always very challenging and hard work. When you have a team who supports you and administrators who want you to do well shows what an exemplary campus is. An exemplary campus does not only reflect good grades for your students, but a positive environment, and wanting the very best for all the staff.
ReplyDeleteMy interpretation of an exemplary campus is one where ALL individuals on campus and in the community work together to achieve both grade level and campus goals. An exemplary campus has both reliable human and material resources to acheive their goals. An exemplary campus DOES HAVE faults but an exemplary campus has mastered the art of working collaboratively to identify the problems and handle them without assigning blame. An exemplary campus never backs down from a challenge.
ReplyDeleteAh...Exemplary! As NBA Coach Phil Jackson would ask the Chicago Bulls when they were facing extremely tough basketball adversaries, "How bad do you want it?" Phil knew that he had one of the best, if not the greatest player in basketball history. However, he was smart enough to realize that the NBA did not have any one-man teams, that there couldn't be any big "I's" and little "U's, and that every man who wore a Chicago Bulls jersey brought something vital to the court.
ReplyDeleteLike Phil, do we at Rolling Hills realize this?
An exemplary school is filled with excellence. When you enter the building, the faculty, staff and students are greeters. The building is neat and orderly. Student expectations are high and the 4C's are evident:
ReplyDelete-courageous and collaborative leadership
-challenging curriculum
-commitment from everyone(own it)
-community involvement/service
Therefore, we must continue to strive for excellence to obtain exemplary status.
An exemplary school means expecting each students personal best, in every situation. Students WILL live up to OUR expectations of them. They WILL become what WE tell them, even if the level achieved may vary widely. Students who doubt themselves rarely strive for their personal best, so we must make our kids BELIEVE that they ARE the most wonderful and intelligent children in our universe. Exemplary means that each child is filled with hopes and dreams for tomorrow, and feels worthy to be a positive contributer to the community around them. If we show them that WE value THEM, THEY will show US their value. The more appreciated they feel, the more they will be motivated to achieve. A child with high expectations for himself will always reveal exemplary EFFORT at least, and PERFORMANCE at best.
ReplyDeleteMs. Rostad and Mr. Keith - Totally agree with your comments!!! Well said!
Based on your definition, exemplary looks like something YOU would want to imitate. Not everyone has the exact same standards. A reading class doesn't sound like a science class so some things are left to the expectation of the teacher. What they both should have are a respectful culture in which all students can feel successful.
ReplyDeleteExemplary is simply put, a mind set. We must first have a heart/mind of excellence in order for it to be portrayed daily. An exemplary school has an atmosphere of clear expectations and respect for all.
ReplyDeleteAn exemplary schools looks much like a close-knit family. Everyone supports eachother and helps out in any way he/she can. The halls shows work that is a true representation of student work and not that of worksheets or regurgitated information. Teachers hold their students and eachother to high expectations. As the post said, everyone begins to duplicate or imitate the work of their peers because he/she does not want to be left behind. The focus is on making the school look better by taking pride in the work performed by all. No one is all about themselves. Exemplary looks like a unified front by all stakeholders with everyone doing things above and beyond to make their "family" stand out!
ReplyDeleteAn exemplary has many looks and sounds. I believe some sounds include students collaborating, discussing, sharing, and comparing. It also includes teachers teachers collaborating, discussing, sharing, and comparing. In an exemplary environment, each student and teacher feels like they make a contribution, feels comfortable sharing ideas and knows that he/she will not be put down, but accepted.
ReplyDeleteBefore coming to Lancaster, I had the priveledge to work in an exemplary K-6 school as a substitute teacher. The school was located in the worst part of Dallas and the children looked just like Lancaster children look now. High standards were put on these children even though their backgrounds may have been a little shakey. The principal met them at the door as they entered the building and were turned around or sent into the office if they were not dressed appropriately. She made the same announcement everyday to all students that they were to obey ALL adults entering the building the "first time" or they would deal with her. She reminded teachers and substitutes to give students "one chance" to obey or send them to the office. The halls were orderly. Teachers stood at their doors to welcome students into learning. Children came into class and immediately got to work on the daily assignment (written on the board). I became a facilitator because the children knew how to learn. If they were stuck, they knew where to go find answers. Teachers constantly walked by and poked their heads in the door to make sure everything was going good and that I needed no assistance. Teachers ate lunch together and collaborated about how lessons went. Everyone wanted to help no matter what grade level they were. Teachers were a part of the family but so were the children. They all looked out for each other so that all classes were exemplary.
ReplyDeleteAn exemplary school is one that operates under a clearly communicated vision that places students at the forefront of all decisions. Team members would be valued for their strengths and supported through their weaknesses.
ReplyDeleteAn exemplary school looks, feels, and breathes success. It has effective and supportive administration, dedicated teachers and staff, and students that have bought into the idea that they can succeed.
ReplyDeleteExemplary defined..Administrators, teachers, students, parents working together collaboratively for the common goal of success for all invested.
ReplyDeleteYou have to work to do your best at all times in order to be exemplary. When I think of what an exemplary school looks like I see students quick and eager to listen so they can understand and strive to do their best. I see students and teachers taking responsibility for the team by helping to improve what they see that needs to be better. I hear teachers helping students understand what it means to always strive to do your best and why it is important. I see exemplary expectations and I hear those expectations communicated. I hear teachers and staff helping students understand "the why": why it is important to always strive for your best and why high expectations are important. I don't think many students really understand why these things are so important to us (and the students who already demonstrate the exemplary look).
ReplyDeleteThe exemplary look is the showing of a style of doing things that causes others to observe and try to copy. This look is a daily attitude that leaks into every aspect of ones life. It causes you to want everyone to see you or your organization at your best no matter where you are seen. It is a way of life that keeps you on the fore front in all arenas of your life. Therefore start now to observe, watch, spy on, and copy the look of those who are at the "Exemplary" level so that you may attain this level. Remember the best is the best because for them it is a way of life.
ReplyDeleteExemplary Look
ReplyDeleteClassroom
*Students are engaged
*Cooperative learning
*Hands on
*Child centered
*Teachers are facilitating than instructing lessons.
*Have access to computers when needed and other technology that will be helpful to address the needs of all students.
*Feel safe at all times and know that their teacher(s) care.
*Focus on preparing all students for the 21st century, therefore higher leveling questioning and the students being able to problem solve is very important.
Hallways
*Students are to be on their best behavior at all times. *Abide by the rules that have been set school wide.
*Display students work
*Print rich environment
Cafeteria
All staff members are involved in a school wide discipline plan. We as staff members need to not always look at the negative behavior but focus more on the positive behavior.