National Conference 2018 - Instructor Talk
#1 – Burning Questions
• Edward Williams – mixed age range classrooms, with & without experience – how do you work curriculum into that arrangement?
o Build relationships w/ counselors, break class out into student-led sessions, cadet-led program
o Must be aware of maturity levels too, can stretch 6th graders and help 8th be better leaders
• CSM Woods – similar situation, have multiple age ranges coming into class at all points
o Remember that you can adjust time to fit needs, instructor-led
o Classes shouldn’t change past a certain point.
o 2nd year cadets should have a 2nd year course available, 3rd, etc.
o School needs to see program as a leadership program, NOT a disciplinary dumping ground.
o Maintain a grade book, set what they need to know by the end of the semester, grade them daily.
o Engage student leaders to help catch late/struggling students.
o Realistically, know that you will have battles to fight in school (AVID, IB, Core, Electives, counseling, etc.)
o Program should have a good section of your student population.
o Present the program to the staff during in-service. Will show the program in a new light; give them a newfound respect.
o Bribe counselors with cookies! 😊
#2 – First Day Aha Moment
• Chief – Learned about Winning Colors strategy with scarfs from Veronica
• Trager – different types of programs – levels where everyone is
• Sanders – fundraisers – many different ways
• Shellie – Cadet Portfolio
• SGM – using CHiSL with phones
• Huard – Cadet Portfolio resume side – keep track of community service hours – create an experience event – when get to end of high school will have everything from 6th grade on
o Challenge is initially getting it started but once they start bragging about themselves they will take off with it. Does instructor management part of it transfer to a different school? Ask Brian for sure but Veronica says email the new instructor or teacher all you have to do is put it in your cadet roster – all his stuff will pop up. Veronica mentioned it has an option for Spanish.
• Huard cont – enjoyed the interaction
• Artie – For schools with individual technology – iPads, etc. everything is digitized – bringing in the parents- having a demo for parents on parent night – sell it that you can track progress
• Evan – likes portfolio – likes the idea it connects to curriculum
• Winning Colors – we will modify Huard’s team building
• Differentiating – having different levels in the same class – can scale it. With CHiSL you can work it
• Make your program into a nation
• Need to be able to contact Brian
• Introducing CHiSL to the other teachers – will be value added – going to give t-shirts to the rest of the teachers and parents and make sure they understand what it means
• Secret is to have it ready when school starts. Or the spring before – it is building a brand
• Veronica – providing results of WC with other teachers
• Darden – common denominator is many do not know who to reach out to – few people showed up – they either don’t want to change, or they have surrendered.
• Required to be certified in PE and eventually Health – who else? Ft Worth, Austin received a notice that they have permanent emergency certification along with sign language. In
o San A they are trying to make us certified teachers – needs copy of Austin’s letter – Ft Worth – certification is good if the district pays for it you are protected and it might affect retirement. You have to do the emergency certification each year – unprotected
• Veronica – If you don’t A.S.K. you don’t G.E.T.
• Pittman – There are so many programs. Principals need to be at this conference.
#3 – Major Wins or Wisdom to Share
• Huard Harral – elective showcase
o Highlights the program
o Silent fundraiser
o Opened communication with entire teaching staff
• Greg Duplessis – seeing is believing!
• You don’t need to TEACH military, show through values. Not recruiting, just showing manners, citizenship, leadership, discipline, etc.
o Share CHiSL flyer!
• During first year, seemed like kids weren’t “getting it.” But at the end of the year, they were REALLY understanding concepts.
• Parent’s testimony – first time my kid is doing stuff at home, being respectful, changing behavior at home.
• When hear, “You’re a racist!” – Ask, what do you mean when you say that? Do you mean prejudice – pre-judge? Stereotypes? Racism = demean a group of people.
#4 – Lessons Learned or Favorite Resource
• Veronica – Think outside the box!
• Milton –
www.donorschoose.org /
www.gofundme.com • Shellie – CNN10 (10 min current events) – Fri, 4 short segments & fun
• Greg – Become friends with the HS secretary/funding person. Any letter they send out and receive for HS, you can send out your version for MS.
• Greg – handwritten cadet letters to organizations
• Huard – Chick-Fil-A, Peter Piper Pizza, Chipotle, Coldstone Ice Cream, In & Out Burger truck to school
• Veronica – magic trick?!
• Huard – TurningPoint works and is easy!
