Here’s an idea for next year.  Direct marketers know that when it comes to response rate vs. cost, e-mail is the way to go.  So drop the snail mail, at least initially. Start e-mailing progress reports, discipline notices, reports cards, newsletters, etc.  For anything that requires a piece of paper, stamp, or hand delivery by a student, e-mail it instead. If you are worried about people not reading the e-mails, you can easily set up a notification system when the e-mail is opened. If you are worried about students intercepting the e-mails, intercepting teachers notes and schools letters has been a rite of passage for delinquent children for as long as educators have put quill to papyrus. On the other hand, the upside includes reduced cost, reduced labor, and improved school/home communication. So all and all, the pros significantly outweigh the cons.

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now using your own bootleg technology devices to follow Twitter.  If you haven’t done so yet, we want you to join us.  To let you see what you are missing, here are the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of June 24, 2012.

1. Adequacy is based on the standards of a society. Motel 6 is adequate. We invest in the things we value. (By @DrJerryRBurkett)

2. It’s my view that our language of “giftedness” is wrongheaded—intelligence is malleable and can be expanded, cultivated. (By anniemurphypaul)

3. Big difference between testing and accountability. These two issues, although related, should not be confused and addressed separately. (By @DrJerryRBurkett)

4. Why is it difficult to teach at high rigor? Because teachers have to give up control of some of the process and a lot of the outcome.

5. What’s more important? Learning the content? Or learning the content first? What does your grading system actually measure and reward?

6. Grades are a convenient fiction. The most invalid of classroom data sources.

7. It’s funny to see how people react to checks and balances when they don’t work in their favor. (By @DrJerryRBurkett)

8. A Texas Business Coalition threatens to not support school funding increases if accountability is weakened. Funny, didn’t they support the current funding decrease?

9. Based on the Texas Republican Party education platform, I have a student management question? Should we beat the kids who aren’t abstinent?

10. Educators… We have a lot of voting to do this November! (By @cheadhorn)

Think. Work. Achieve. Your turn…

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/Fundamental5
• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “Look at Me: A Cautionary School Leadership Tale” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/lookatmebook
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Plans (Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan Tool); PW Lite (Basic PowerWalks Tool); PW Pro (Mid-level PowerWalks Tool)
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Channelview ISD Leadership Team Kickoff, Bushland ISD Staff Kickoff, Canadian ISD Staff Kickoff, Highland Park ISD Staff Kickoff, Sunray ISD Staff Kickoff, Region 10 ESC Fall Leadership Conference (Keynote)