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GREAT SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP

Tony Lamair Burks II, Ed.D.

These are all our children;we will benefit by or pay for

what they become.

James Baldwin

This I Believe: Tony Lamair Burks II

3 © 2008

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“And How Are the Children?”

Student Voice and Choice

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Rev. Dr. Patrick T. O'Neill

Rev. Dr. Patrick T. O'Neill, former senior minister of the 180-year-old First Unitarian Church Brooklyn, spoke about the famed Maasai warriors in a classic sermon.

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• Objective (What): What word or phrase grabs your attention?

 • Reflective (Gut): What feelings do you have after reading

this?

• Interpretive (So What?): What issues does this essay bring up for you?

• Decisional (Now What?): What actions will you take?

“And How Are The Children?”

Significant changes in schools begin with

significant changes in what leaders think, say, and do.

Dennis Sparks

Leadership Matters

Significant changes in classrooms begin with

significant changes in what students think, say, and do.

Tony Lamair Burks II

Students Matter

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Three Types of Students

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Puzzled?

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Puzzled? in teams of 3 participants

DIRECTIONS

• ASSEMBLER: One blindfolded person assembles the puzzle according to the instructions of the instructor.

• INSTRUCTOR: One person gives verbal instructions to the assembler; this person MAY NOT touch a puzzle piece or the assembler.

• OBSERVER: One person writes notes about the process of putting the puzzle together; this person also ensures that the others follow the directions of the task.

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Puzzled? Just A Dinosaur

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Puzzled? Course Corrections

DIRECTIONS

• OBSERVER: 1 minute to share notes without commentary and/or interpretation.

• ASSEMBLER AND INSTRUCTOR: 2 minutes to discuss practices and verbal instructions that helped and/or hindered the puzzle assembly process.

ASSEMBLER REMAINS BLINDFOLDED

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Puzzled? Just A Dinosaur

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Puzzled? Role-alike Conversations

• What was it like as the assembler? What was easy for you? What could have been clarified?

• What was it like as the instructor? What was difficult for you? What was your strategy?

• As the observer, what did you see that hindered the puzzle assembly? What helped? What suggestions would you give to your team’s assembler and instructor?

The FIVE As for Student Achievement and Success:

going from student to scholar

Brand YOU: The FIVE As

AttendanceAttitude

AvocationAttire

Academics

Brand YOU: The FIVE AsWhy Attendance?

If you don't show up for school, you will definitely miss out on everything.

Attendance: Regular daily attendance. No pattern of absences. 96% attendance or better (no

more than 7 days absent in a year).

Brand YOU: The FIVE AsWhat Attendance

looks like: • Coming to school on time

each day.• Going to each class each

day. • Staying home only when

sick.• Asking for make-up work

when you miss a day of school.

Brand YOU: The FIVE AsWhy Attitude?

It’s the little thing that makes a BIG difference in determining your ALTITUDE.

Attitude:Good attitude and behavior. No pattern of

misbehavior or disrespect. No Out of School Suspensions. No social media attacks or

inappropriate posts.

Brand YOU: The FIVE AsWhat Attitude looks

like: • Focusing on good people and

things.• Making good choices about

social media.• Solving problems without

violence and cursing. • Showing respect to students

and adults.• Demanding respect for

yourself and others.

Brand YOU: The FIVE AsWhy Avocation?

Find out what you like to do, learn new things, meet new people…all work and no play makes

you boring.

Avocation: A hobby or interest – clubs or sports or service. No consistent pattern of inactivity. No gang or

gang-related activity.

Brand YOU: The FIVE AsWhat Avocation looks

like: • Joining a club at school.• Traveling with a group at

church.• Starting your own club.

• Learning a hobby like running, dancing, kickboxing, golf, or

chess.• Doing something creative like

drawing pictures or writing a book.

Brand YOU: The FIVE AsWhy Attire?

Dress the part of a scholar.

Attire: Standard Mode of Dress or school uniform

worn daily. No sagging pants, no gang-wear. No days out of Standard Mode of Dress .

Brand YOU: The FIVE AsWhat Attire looks

like: • Wearing the appropriate

Standard Mode of Dress .• Knowing when to wear

what.• Developing your own

sense of fashion and style.

Brand YOU: The FIVE AsWhy Academics?

Your job is to be a student and become a scholar. Learn all you can while you can, then share what you learn as

often as you can.

Academics: Good grades – As and Bs. Taking courses that

challenge you. Having tools for success (pen, pencil, notebooks, textbooks, homework). No pattern of poor

performance. Not only taking easy classes.

Brand YOU: The FIVE AsWhat Academics looks

like: • Knowing it is cool to be

smart.• Earning as many As as you

can.• Asking a teacher (or a friend)

for help when you don’t understand something.

• Helping others learn and understand.

Brand YOU: The FIVE AsAttendance: If you don't show up for school, you will definitely miss out on everything.

Attitude: It’s the little thing that makes a BIG difference in determining your ALTITUDE.

Avocation: Find out what you like to do, learn new things, meet new people…all work and no play makes you boring.

Attire: Dress the part of a scholar.

Academics: Your job is to be a student and become a scholar. Learn all you can while you can, then share what you learn as often as you can.

30 © 2008

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THANKS AND BE WELL

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Be well read. Be well dressed. Be well travelled. Be well loved. Be well housed. Be well fed. Be well rested. Be well respected.

I AM by Tony Lamair Burks II

I am from collard greens and cornbread.

I am from the Heart of Dixie,

the buckle of the Bible Belt.

I am from grits and catfish, bursting with flavor;

cooked with love.

…………….

I am from big city USA equipped to traverse the globe.

I am from Mary and ML, Lillie and Tim,

Janice and Tony.

I am from genesis and revelations…what is

and what is to be.