Good morning. Discover the product slogan/motto that is on your back. You may only ask yes or no questions to discover the motto.

A Kodak moment

Importance

• What product is represented by the motto on your back?

• What about the product is reflected in the motto?

• More to come about mottos/meanings

Imagination taking shape: Play-Doh

uh oh spaghetti o's!

Collaborative Teaching Model

Chamberlain School District 7-1February 2, 2006

Marilyn Hofer & MaryLou McGirrEducation Specialists

Professional readingPart 1: Got Motto?

Twelve Slogans to Help Build School-Wide Community You've seen those celebrity-filled "Got Milk" magazine ads? Now it's time to meet the "Got Motto" poster principals! They're using school-wide

slogans to spur enthusiasm, inspire teamwork, and build school community. Included: the first six mottos for your consideration. "The Key Is Me"

"Every Child, Every Chance, Every Day" "Anchored In Excellence"

Those are just a few of the mottos used in schools led by members of Education World's "Principal Files" team. While the mottos might seem little more than catchy slogans, our principals report that they are far more. Those simple slogans are guiding forces for entire school communities. They help set a positive tone, establish big-picture goals, focus teachers and students, and improve discipline and student achievement.

"A-E-I-O-U" At East Bernard (Texas) Elementary School, "the motto 'A-E-I-O-U: Academic Excellence Is Our

Ultimate GOAL' is on almost everything we send out," said principal Tim Pope. "Our motto reflects that we are the base from which our students will build their education."

A campus planning committee created the motto before Pope came on board, and it continues to serve the school well, he said.

"The motto and our mission statement are posted in classrooms and in other places around the campus," added Pope. "Our students are exposed to it in many ways.“

"LEARNING WITH LOVE AND LAUGHTER"At Rennie's River Elementary School, in St. John's, Newfoundland (Canada), a single

school motto -- "Learning with Love and Laughter" -- has been a strong presence during principal Cathy Finn-Pike's six-year tenure.

"Our motto is easy to remember, it is child-focused, and it highlights our philosophy about how children learn best when learning takes place in a fun and caring way," Finn-Pike told Education World.

Professional ReadingPart 2: Got Motto?Twelve Slogans to Help Build School-Wide Community You've seen those celebrity-filled "Got Milk" magazine ads? Now it's time to meet the "Got Motto" poster principals! They're using school-wide

slogans to spur enthusiasm, inspire teamwork, and build school community. Included: the second six mottos for your consideration. "The Key Is Me""Every Child, Every Chance, Every Day" "Anchored In Excellence" Those are just a few of the mottos used in schools led by members of Education World's "Principal Files" team. While the mottos might seem little more than catchy slogans, our principals report that they are far more. Those simple slogans are guiding forces for entire school communities. They help set a positive tone, establish big-picture goals, focus teachers and students, and improve discipline and student achievement.

"THE KEY IS ME"

Not many schools introduce a new motto each and every year, but at Saturn Elementary School in Cocoa, Florida, principal Michael Miller sees the school slogan as part of an evolutionary process.

When Miller arrived at Saturn seven years ago, he began his team-building efforts with the motto "TEAM Saturn." Over the years, that motto has been spun into a variety of theme-based slogans, including

"Saturn Is on the Right Track," which employed trains as a visual symbol; "We Are on the Quality Trail," which was based upon a western theme during a year in which Dr.

William Glasser's Quality School training was a school-wide professional development focus; and "Student Achievement Is Always Higher and Higher," which was emblazoned on a huge, inflatable "hot-air balloon" that floated over the school's

parking lot all year long.

"ANCHORED IN EXCELLENCE" At Sarah Smith Elementary School in Atlanta, "Anchored In Excellence" is more than a motto. It is a way of life. The school's motto appears on

letterhead, student agendas, and school newsletters. It is included in the school's student handbook and referred to by the Student Council, Safety Patrol, and Beta Club. The motto is displayed during assemblies and awards ceremonies too.

Besides being visible, the motto is referred to frequently enough in conversation that it has become part of the school culture "by osmosis," said principal Sidney Baker. "We remain focused on excellence in all we do -- academically, in extra-curricular activities, in professional

Professional readingCreating a VisionNote: Even though this article discusses visioning and creating a mission statement, the ideas relate strongly to setting a school

motto. Some questions to ask when thinking of creating a motto.In what circumstances might you refer to your school motto?How has the motto helped focus your staff on the big-picture goals of your school?How might some teachers use the motto to support their work with students in the classroom?

As you read the article, most of the time replace the word “vision” with “school motto.” Marilyn Hofer

When you begin the process of strategic planning, visioning comes first. When visioning the change, ask yourself, "What is our preferred future?" and be sure to:

• Draw on the beliefs, mission, and environment of the organization. • Describe what you want to see in the future. • Be specific to each organization. • Be positive and inspiring. • Do not assume that the system will have the same framework as it does today. • Be open to dramatic modifications to current organization, methodology, teaching techniques, facilities, etc.

Key Components for Your Vision• Incorporate Your Beliefs• Your vision must be encompassed by your beliefs. • Your beliefs must meet your organizational goals as well as community goals. • Your beliefs are a statement of your values. • Your beliefs are a public/visible declaration of your expected outcomes. • Your beliefs must be precise and practical. • Your beliefs will guide the actions of all involved. • Your beliefs reflect the knowledge, philosophy, and actions of all. • Your beliefs are a key component of strategic planning. • Create a Mission Statement

Consensus has been reached whenConsensus has been reached when

1. Members have been heard2. Members have been frank and honest3. Information has been shared4. Members own the decision5. Members can support the decision

Consensus Building

Work plan

Goal: To create a motto that represents Chamberlain Elementary School Activity Person

ResponsibleDate of completion

Resources needed

Assessment (Indicators of completion)