2nd Staff Meeting

Today was our second staff meeting. We reviewed some of the material that was presented last week and discussed further how we're going to implement the concepts/suggestions offered from the book, Brain Rules.

Still working on Brain Rule #1: Exercise Boosts Brain Power, we talked about some of the implementation strategies. Staff were presented with the following choices:

1. Choose to do nothing around this work. (Essentially, staff have the choice whether or not to participate in this work and to what degree do they want to).
2. Choose to wait. Some staff members aren't sure what this all implies and would rather wait and see.
3. Choose basic implementation. What basic implementation means is that staff will gain a cursory knowledge of the material but not attempt to fully implement it in the classroom.
4. Choose full implementation (without the aerobic exercise component). If teachers decide on full implementation teachers agree to the following:

• > know that the decisions will be made based upon scientific research whenever possible.
  
  > to commit fully to implementing all aspects of the plan.
  
  > to be willing to learn and synthesize the "Brain Rules" and be willing to read and study brain research. The initial work beginning in January 2010. The experiment is to begin September 1, 2010.
  
  > to be willing to throw away any preconceived notions regarding almost anything related to brain and educational research.
  
  > to be willing to attempt new strategies.
  
  > to keep exceptional data. Your data must be thorough, punctual, and objective.

5. Chose full implementation (with the aerobic component). Expectations are the same from the above list, except that teachers would agree to lead 3 20-minute workouts with their class per week.

At the end of the staff meeting, teachers were asked to fill out a survey and choose which option they preferred. It was optional if teachers turned in the survey or not.

Here are the preliminary results:
Option 1: Do nothing:::::::::::::::::::::: 0 responses.
Option 2: Wait and see::::::::::::::::::: 2 teachers.
Option 3: Basic Implementation::::::: 2 teachers.
Option 4: Full Implementation without workout::::::::: 6 teachers.
Option 5: Full Implementation with workout:::::::::::::: 7 teachers.

Next steps:
-We will have one more staff meeting before winter vacation, at which time all teachers will need to choose one option.;
-Purchase the book, Brain Rules (paperback) for all staff willing to do full implementation.
-Begin meeting in February around each Brain Rule and discussing implications and ideas for the following year in terms of implementation within the classroom.
-Continue the cursory study of the material