The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy December 18, 2010 The Extra Mile


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The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy
December 18, 2010
The Extra Mile

Here is the simple but powerful rule - always give people more than they expect to get.

                                           Nelson Boswell

Yesterday I took packages to my local UPS store to mail for holiday delivery. Wrestling those bulky boxes into the car is never a joyful task, and I really wasn't looking forward to hauling them into the building and waiting in line at this busy time of year.

Imagine my surprise when I pulled into a parking space, and was greeted by two smiling clerks in those distinctive brown UPS shirts before I even got out of the car. They offered to help carry in my packages. While the room was bustling, there was no line inside. "We do whatever it takes to limit your wait and make this easy for you," explained the clerk who weighed my boxes.

One of the simplest ways to give students, colleagues, and community members more than they expect is to meet them on their territory with a smile and an assist. It is literally going the extra mile in moving out of your classroom or office, and spending more time at the arrival point for community members and guests. I read this week about the new Ritz-Carlton opening in Hong Kong next year, which will be the highest hotel in the world. The hotel occupies the top 16 floors of a building which is over 100 stories high. Below the hotel are dozens of of businesses, shops, and restaurants. How will guests get from the first floor up to the 102nd floor, where the hotel lobby is located?    They will each be greeted at the ground level by a Ritz-Carlton employee and taken directly to the hotel, rather than left to find their way on their own.

Hey, it's the Ritz, so they can afford that level of service. But when you think about your school, there are probably many opportunities to greet and assist others when they aren't expecting it. At Choice Literacy CAFE Workshops, Joan Moser and Gail Boushey greet each participant as they walk in the door, look them in the eye, and thank them for coming. Franki Sibberson, Jennifer Allen and our other presenters take turns manning the registration tables and passing out binders of materials. Such small things, but that personal connection and service is what is commented on most by participants.

When I visited the Opal School in Portland, Oregon this fall, I was struck by the teachers at the school entrance first thing in the morning, there to greet students and family members as they were entering the building. I've written before about Beth Lawson, a second-grade teacher at Russell Academy in Portland, who stands outside the classroom door each morning. I know many teachers have a cheerful good morning for their students as they arrive for the day.   Beth goes the extra mile to establish eye contact and converse with every child before they cross the classroom threshold. That quiet focus gives each student a sliver of attention before they can even begin clamoring for it, and starts the morning with calm energy.

Who is outside your school this holiday season, greeting family members before they arrive for special events? Who is there for them on parent-teacher conference night, or first thing in the morning before the bell rings? Where and how do you greet students? Move into new territory to welcome others, and you might be surprised at the results.

We're heading into our annual two-week winter break. We'll be back on January 8th with new content and a renewed commitment to go the extra mile for our subscribers all year long. Happy Holidays!

Brenda Power
Editor, Choice Literacy

Free for All

If you want to get the first grade-level team meeting or professional learning group gathering of the new year off to a good start, begin with what is going well. Ruth Shagoury provides an example of a successful format to try in Team Sharing of Writing Curriculum Innovations from the Choice Literacy Archives:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/public/518.cfm

Our newest two-minute quick take vodcast features Principal Karen Szymusiak talking about some of the core elements of ongoing professional development in her school, including literacy chats and case studies:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/public/1386.cfm

Tell Me a Story is a simple and fun idea for a family literacy event. There is almost no preparation required, and it's easy for anyone attending to participate:

http://emdffi.blogspot.com/2010/11/tell-me-story.html

Ditch the daily lesson plan? Here is a provocative blog post to get you thinking about why our profession is still so invested in discrete, stand-alone short lessons:

http://bit.ly/eKSYwl

Ms. Mimi remains one of the most fearless, frank, and refreshingly funny teachers writing on the web. If your "plate runneth over," she sympathizes. If you're a literacy leader, her words will make you think harder about how you can relieve some of the responsibilities of your colleagues:

http://bit.ly/cEEXeA

We had a very positive response to our first online course, so we are offering it again. Demonstration Lessons is a three-week online course hosted by Tammy Mulligan and Clare Landrigan that will run from January 25th through February 8th. Participants receive a copy of the Demonstration Lessons DVD, a $199 value. For details and a registration form, please visit this link:

http://workshops.choiceliteracy.com/courses/category/24531


For Members Only

Martin Luther King Day is less than a month away. If you're looking for a read aloud to spark some discussions about making a difference in the world, you might enjoy Ruth Shagoury's new booklist of children's literature with a social justice theme:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/members/1378.cfm

Tensions arise when there is miscommunication or misunderstanding about basic protocols for a school or district. In Coaching Codes, Heather Rader shares a simple list of expectations for coaches that is revisited periodically. If you don't have a similar list for coaches or teachers, it might be something worth developing early in the new year:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/members/1384.cfm

We've posted a new cluster on Intermediate and Middle School Reading Strategies which includes writing and video from Katie Doherty, Franki Sibberson, and Karen Terlecky:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/members/1378.cfm

Bill Prosser and Maria Caplin continue their series on a Newbery Club for fifth graders in their school. In a new installment, they write about the launch of the club:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/members/1391.cfm

Video Updates: We continue to repost many videos in new formats and players (with higher resolution and full-screen options). As we make these improvements, we'll announce them in the newsletter. Here is an updated video you may want to revisit -

Aimee Buckner uses the mentor text Old Elm Speaks in her fourth-grade classroom to teach observation and writing skills. This is Part 2 of a three-part series, with a catch-up link provided if you missed the first installment:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/members/1392.cfm

That's all for this week!