Ready?
We hear it all the time: Ready, Set, Go! Ready means there is a level of preparedness for what is to come. Parents ask, “Are you ready to go?” as they head to the car to run an errand or [...]
Culture
Facilitating a positive team culture
From Persuasion to Partnership
Since the fall of 2008 I have sought to persuade freshmen to do their homework. As of today, I am looking to partner with them. The difference is dramatic and the results could disappoint. From the [...]
A Must Read For Teaming
There is one book that I keep going back to when working with teams. It keeps me grounded and focused. It’s The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni. This book has been pivotal [...]
Freshmen @ School for 12 Hours
I’m always amazed at what freshmen can do when the environment is right. We took 24 freshmen who are failing or nearly failing classes and gave them the option to stick around school for an [...]
Celebrating “New Freshman Day”!
In two weeks 450 freshmen will enter our building for a District mandated visit. If it were a holiday, it would be New Freshman Day. The visit is only 90 minutes long and we already have 2000 people [...]
Turning Heads at the End of the Year!
There they are. A group of freshmen staring into the open prairie of summer but from deep inside fourth quarter. The sound of an adult voice is as interesting and informative as a cricket. In order [...]
Five Things I Plan to Say Next Year
It’s the middle of the fourth quarter. As I watch our freshmen, I see that some have missed the boat. They are not on board with habits and skills that are mission critical to school success. [...]
The Six Realities: A Rubric to Evaluate Awareness!
There are six realities that students who do well in high school understand: Eating, sleeping, and relaxing matter. Homework is more than an assignment and it’s every day. Obeying your teachers [...]
What does it mean to be “In the Circle”?
It’s a great place for any of us to be: In the Circle. We are inside of an arc that includes us! We want to be in a circle of friends. We want to be working on things in our circle of interest [...]
Positive Student Recognition Day – A Day to Recharge!
The team was dragging. They were irritated at each other and at students. Nothing grievous, but that low-level irritation that just doesn’t sit right. As a Freshman Academy we put together five [...]
The Freshman Academy 